Vegan? Carnivore? Hipster? Starchaser? Homeboy? Early riser? Party boy?
Whatever your type, or his, there’s a place for you in West Hollywood. For a second date we’d recommend a place where you can hear one another talk.
The most famous of those is The Abbey, 692 N Robertson Blvd. It’s the place where Elizabeth Taylor would wander in for a drink in her dotage. Now it’s host to guys (and gals) of all ages. The tables on the outdoor patio are perfect for brunch because you see that ever sunny Southern California sky. And at night there’s something romantic about being able to look up and see the sky. There’s not a drink you can imagine that The Abbey doesn’t serve. The menu includes soups and salads, a wide range of appetizers, burgers and sandwiches and basic entrees like steak and fries and pasta dishes. There’s no cover charge but be warned: It gets crazy crowded on weekends and late on Thursday nights. Oh, and then there are the go go boys, always a fun subject for a second date conversation.
You’re likely to find yourself surrounded by other second daters at Basix, 8333 Santa Monica Blvd. One of West Hollywood’s gayest restaurants, it offers a casual vibe where it’s easy to talk and listen. It’s rarely too cold to forego a table on the front porch, where you can watch the cars and people make their way down Santa Monica Boulevard. That the best place for a second date because you can snag a table far enough away from the others to be comfortable your awkward conversation isn’t being overheard
The margaritas are fantastic. The menu offers a typical assortment of modern American dishes. But one there’s also an unusual offering of flatbread pizzas that let you eat pizza while eating healthy. And this is also the big gay place for brunch.
Behind Basix is Marix, owned by the same couple. It’s known for its raucous Tuesday night taco crowd and pitchers of drinks. It’s wonderful, but best saved for Date No. 3 or 4.
Another great second date spot is Bar10 at 8933 Santa Monica Blvd. west of Hilldale. Bar10 replaced the short-lived Horn, retaining its great decor but with a more reasonably priced and casual menu. The brunch menu is available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and options range from the vegan breakfast bowl (quinoa, avocado, mushrooms, grilled corn and onions) to steak and eggs. Dinner is served 5 p.m. to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The focus is on burgers and flatbread pizza.
If you want to see stars all around you rather than in the sky, consider Craig’s, 8826 Melrose Ave. It’s not always easy to get a table (try skipping the reservation line and grabbing a seat at the bar.) And it can be pricey. But in addition to paying for a fantastic assortment of dishes that range from linguini pomodoro to ribeye steak to vegan pizza, you’re paying for the chance to see celebrities like Sidney Poitier, Joan Rivers, Alec Baldwin or Sharon Stone tuck in a napkin. If you and your date found yourself bonding over a love for movies at that coffee bar, this might be the place for you.
In many ways, Laurel Hardware looks like a first date. From the sidewalk at 7984 Santa Monica Blvd. it looks very nice — a small and bright space with well-spaced tables. But walk through that and you’ll see there’s so much more (which is what we’re hoping you’ll discover about that guy on your second date). You’ll walk into an enormous room with a dozen booths on the side and a seating area at the back that faces a two-story wall of glass with a view of a magical garden. It’s that seating area at the back where you guys want to be (or even better the garden). The appetizers range from the somewhat exotic (hamachi) to house cut fries. The entrees include burgers, scallops and lamb sirloin. And there are pizzas. The crowd gay and straight. But what they all have in common is a certain sense of style.
