At the nexus of comfort and romance is Little Beast, an intimate Eagle Rock restaurant that just begs for cuddling up on the patio or in one of the restaurant’s leather booths. Founded by husband-and-wife Sean Lowenthal and Deborah Schwartz-Lowenthal, Little Beast is now operated by Monique King and Paul Rosenbluh, who also run longtime Cindy’s across the street. The original couple brought a touch of elegance to this repurposed Craftsman-style bungalow, but new ownership has kept the New American menu up to date with dishes like beef stroganoff and pan-roasted ocean trout. It’s the kind of fare that’ll keep you warm from within while the gorgeous yellow glow of bulb lights and the ample heaters will keep you comfy and toasty year round.
What makes a restaurant cozy? For some diners, it’s the feeling of a lived-in relationship or maybe the warmth of a bar’s central hearth or fire pit on the patio. For those few months when L.A.’s temperatures dip, perhaps there’s nothing better than a night eating corn cheese at a pojangmacha-style bar in Koreatown or sliding into a booth at one of the city’s old-school haunts or cozy, ultra-casual dives. No matter how you define hygge (the Danish concept of coziness), we’re likely to have it covered in our guide to the.coziest restaurants and bars in Los Angeles.