A greet from a welcoming face as you enter, a coterie of guests who are at once clique-free, casual and content, affable service, and when noticing the even friendlier rapport amongst front and back of house only perpetuate the good vibes served here. It’s the food, however, which ensures these feels are more than part of a trend-seeking hashtag.

I went into this excited. High expectations, really; my timeline inundated with pics of the ADB Biscuit Sandwich and Smoked Beef and Cheese since this follow-up to Here’s Looking At You opened its doors back in late November of last year. A sticky menu, dirty napkin & fork (ironically) and a concha with a hair on it quelled any further reason to feel enthused.

We were comped a broken slice of 'Dulce de Leche Banana Cream Pie' from our waiter, who either grabbed what was left in the pie tin, or so haplessly cut the piece out of urgency to see us leave that he would had better wanted us to not 'Eat Pie' as both the menu and glaring neon from the restaurant's dessert carousel suggests.

East Coast transplants like myself … are always on an unending, if not, unnerving quest for comfort that can only be brought on by good greasy spoon Chinese or the perfect slice of pizza. More on the former at another time, but for now let’s talk about a little gem of a place called Gracie’s Pizza.

Located in the Byzantine-Latino Quarter (sounds romantic, doesn’t it? It’s not, but should be), Dino's Chicken and Burgers is an LA institution amongst locals. An unassuming counter-serve option that calls attention to itself via a heady and inviting aroma of char-grilled smoke; leisurely billowing out over the parking lot as you enter. This is a taste buds yes moment.