365 Places to Eat

Some friends suggested that we meet for dinner at Hal’s Bar and Grill on Abbot Kinney before heading over to a photographer’s showing down the street. Always eager to try a new place, we agreed.

By the time we arrived, our friends were already at the bar enjoying a cocktail and a glass of rose. The long bar rides the entire length of the south wall and there is a small area with tall tables near the hostess stand. I’m not sure if Hal’s serves the full dinner menu at the bar, or just their bar menu, but I did see a number of people eating at the tables.

Our 7:30 reservation was waiting for us when we arrived. Apparently, the main dining room was full until 9:00 so we were seated upstairs. Both seating areas are nice, but very different. The main dining room has very high ceilings and is well decorated, but was very crowded and very loud. The upstairs area was a bit more minimal in design, but much quieter; not in a somber way, I actually liked that we didn’t have to yell across the table to be heard.

On to the food.

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