When Hilary and I started making plans to meet up, I knew one thing for certain: I didn’t want to stay in the Valley. I wanted something with a little more character, a little more edge. So I turned my attention east and set my sights on Highland Park, a neighborhood that never seems to disappoint. After a few minutes of searching, I landed on Checker Hall – and from the moment I walked through the door, I knew I’d made the right call.
There are places you stumble upon that genuinely stop you in your tracks, and Checker Hall was absolutely one of them. I could hardly believe how stunning it was. The space had a kind of effortless beauty that felt both considered and lived-in – rich details at every turn, a bar that commanded the room like a piece of art, and an atmosphere that struck the rare balance between cool and welcoming.
Hilary and I settled in at the bar and fell into easy, unhurried conversation as we browsed the menu together.
First to come out was the Oaxaca Old Fashioned (tequila, mezcal, chocolate better). This was sensationally delicious.
Hilary and I also shared an order of the FRENCH FRIES (za’atar, harissa aioli).
But the absolute star of the afternoon? My CHICKEN SCHNITZEL (spiced honey, herb lettuce salad, citrus slaw trio of sauce: tahini, harissa aioli, chili jam). The sauces, in particular, were just damn good. I found myself cycling through all three, unable to commit to a favorite because each one brought something new to the schnitzel.
Everything – and I do mean absolutely everything – was delicious. Not a single misstep, not a single moment where the food or the setting fell short of the promise of that first impression. Lunch at Checker Hall was the perfect combination. Highland Park delivered yet again, as it tends to do.
Checker Hall
104 N Ave 56Los Angeles, California 90042
