Real Guides: Bi-Coastal N.Y. & L.A. by Lex Corwin
The Stone Road founder shares his munchie guides.
Originally from New York, friend of Real Guides Lex Corwin found inspiration when he moved West. In 2016 (when he was just 23 years old) he founded his marijuana company Stone Road, now based a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean in Venice Beach, California.
Unsurprisingly, Lex was (and continues to be) years ahead of the times. He is a forward-looking, rebellious, energetic and inspiring person with excellent taste. His marijuana company has since expanded from California, and will soon reach as far as the East Coast. Like his company, Lex is bi-coastal. He also loves to eat (and drink) well.
We are lucky enough to have his top tips for the next time you find yourself with a case of the munchies in New York or Los Angeles.
Bi-Coastal N.Y. & L.A. by Lex Corwin
Where to eat and drink in New York City
Sofreh - Park Slope. Persian cooking. Hard to get a reservation so advise doing a walk-in.
Rucola - Boerum Hill. Piedmontese northern Italian cuisine. Seasonal ingredients. Try the octopus. Great pastas in cozy atmosphere. Order dessert.
Fradei Bistro - Fort Green. Intimate spot offering set menu dinners with inventive, French dishes sourced from local producers. Now offering a la carte. Only beer and wine. No dessert. Menu is only 6-8 dishes. Order them all.
Soothr - East Village. Highly rated Thai, famous for their pad see ew.
Locanda Vini & Olii - Clinton Hill. Northern Italian restaurant in a beautiful neighbourhood. Amazing food and wine. Great service.Â
Olea - Clinton Hill. Greek/Mediterranean spot on a pretty street with ample outdoor seating. Good service. Solid food. Good ambianceÂ
June - Boerum Hill. Small plate European wine bar.
Bar Birba - Bed-Stuy. Hip Italian food with long Italian wine list.
Bunna Cafe - East Williamsburg. Ethiopian spot featuring live music.
FOB - Boerum Hill/Carroll Gardens. Filipino BBQ restaurant.
Theodora - Fort Greene. Mediterranean wood fired and aged fish.
Nabila’s - Boerum Hill. Modern Lebanese food with Lebanese wine list. Great mezze dips and wine by the glass.
La Vara - Cobble Hill. Apparently best Spanish restaurant in BK with some Middle Eastern influence.
Saint Julivert - Cobble Hill. Spanish wine bar with esoteric seafood and wines.
Eavesdrop - Greenpoint. Trendy watering hole with specialty cocktails, creative bar bites & a sophisticated vinyl sound system.
Deux Chats - Williamsburg. Trendy French bar.
Studio 151 - Lower East Side. Japanese listening bar with $80 Omakase meal.Â
Ask for Janice - Greenpoint. Vinyl bar with good cocktails and sound system.
Mr. Melo - Williamsburg. Trendy vinyl bar with Greek food.
Blueprint - Park Slope. Quiet, upscale bar/lounge offering meticulously mixed cocktails & bites like cheeses & charcuterie.
Rolo’s - Ridgewood. Easygoing venue featuring a cocktail bar & a wood-fired grill, plus brunch at weekends. Famous for wood grilled lasagna.
Madre - Greenpoint. Lobby restaurant at Franklin Guesthouse offering elegant plates with international flavors. Good soufflé. Get the octopus and truffle croquettes.
Sailor - Fort Greene. New American by chef from The Spotted Pig (now closed).Â
Roman’s - Fort Greene. Hip, vintage-chic neighborhood spot preparing locally sourced Italian and New American small plates.
Colonia Verde - Downtown Brooklyn. Latin American cooking by the Cómodo team in an airy, rustic space with a greenhouse-like back room.
The River Café - Dumbo. super fancy spot right on the river. Live music and amazing flowers. Super expensive but incredible views and ambiance.Â
French Louie - Boerum Hill. Trendy bistro features creative French-American meals in a stylish, sleek venue with patio seating.
Gertrude’s - Prospect Heights. Jewish-American with full cocktail bar.
Alchemy Bar and Restaurant - Park Slope. All-day bar/eatery serving gastropub fare in a wood-&-brick-lined interior & sunlit back garden.
Zou Zou - Hudson Yards. Modern Mediterranean cuisine with large format dishes and inventive cocktails.
Cafe Balearica - Williamsburg. Disco club w large warehouse space.
Estela - East Houston. High end gourmet American in intimate setting.
Peter Lugers - Williamsburg. Iconic NY steakhouse. Incredible steaks and creamed spinach and bacon. Kinda pricey. Cash or debit card only.
Maison Premiere - Raw bar in Brooklyn. Amazing oysters and cocktails.Â
Old Town Bar - Flatiron. Vintage dive bar with tasty burgers. Classic NY bar with great wings and burgers. Pretty affordable.Â
Soda Club - Lower East Side. Wine and pasta in small intimate space.Â
Lullaby - Lower East Side. Upscale DJ cocktail bar.
The Noortwyck - West Village. Seasonal from Eleven Madison Park alums. Very tasty food. Great cocktails. Light and open interior. Pretty expensive.
Red Rooster - Harlem. Comfort food by Marcus Samuelson.Â
Sala Thai - Upper West Side. Highly rated Thai food.
Mama Jo - Midtown East. Greek food cart. Located on 47th and Park.
Little Ned -Â Flat Iron. High end cocktails. Serves food - caviar and steak tartare.Â
Uncle Lou 快樂人- Chinatown. Cantonese cuisine spotlighted in a roomy, casual eatery with a festive atmosphere.
Kissaki Sushi - Bowery. Intimate setting for creative seasonal plates served in tasting menus & Ã la carte.
La Mercerie - SoHo. French brunch/lunch in beautiful setting.
Habibi The Restaurant - Bushwick. Lebanese restaurant on rooftop with hookah lounge in large warehouse.
Bar B - Chelsea. Hole in the wall Italian wine bar. Good wine. Small food menu. Affordable.Â
Aurora Brooklyn - Williamsburg. Italian eatery with large outdoor garden.Â
Rezdôra - Flatiron. Italian eatery highlighting handmade pasta, traditional meat, and fish dishes plus local vegetables.
Pop Up Bagels - West Village. Best bagel in NY. Now in multiple locations.
Il Posto Accanto - East Village. Casual Italian food.
Monkey Bar - Midtown. Old school NYC steakhouse.
Sauced - Williamsburg. Affordable trendy wine bar with large back patio and small plates.
Torrisi - Nolita. From the creators of Carbone. High end Italian. Must try: dry aged duck and ravioli with prawns.
La Nacional - Casual Spanish food in Chelsea, well-priced.
Jua - Gramercy. Michelin Korean wood fired tasting menu.
Casa Mono - Union Square - Small-plate fans gather at this intimate Gramercy nook for upscale Spanish fare & a deep wine list.
Taqueria Ramirez - Greenpoint. Best tacos in NYC.
Mama Louisa’s - Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Hero shop. Home of the artichoke parm.
The Back Room - Lower East Side. Speakeasy bar. Entrance is downstairs with a little gate.Â
Coppelia - Union Square. Cuban restaurant, 24/7 food in a popular setting.
Freeman’s - Lower East Side - Old townhouse house, multi-room restaurant with American fare. They named the alleyway for this place. Food is tasty but basic. Cool environment. Â
Le Crocodile - Williamsburg. In the lobby of the Wythe Hotel. High end French with cocktails.
The East Pole - Upper East Side. Farm to table American food w private dining rooms in a large brownstone.Â
Gage & Tollner - Downtown Brooklyn - Oldest restaurant in Brooklyn serving steaks, seafood, and top notch martinis.
Thai Villa - Union Square. Best Thai in NY.
Where to eat and drink in Los Angeles
With a focus on the Westside.
Dudley Market - Venice Beach. A few feet away from the ocean. Great seafood and wine menu. [Note from the editor: this was my favorite meal when I last visited LA earlier this year. If it is busy and you’re doing walk-in, grab a bottle of wine and sit below the fairy lights on the curb. Watch the sun set over the Pacific until your table is ready.]
Dear Johns - Culver City. Best old Hollywood spot on the Westside. Ice cold martinis, steaks and seafood.
Great White - Venice Beach. For casual lunches or dinner this place is amazing.
Rustic Canyon - Santa Monica. For fancy farm-to-table vibes.
Breakfast By Salt’s Cure - Santa Monica. As the name promises, this is the spot to hit in the AM.
Shirubi - Santa Monica. For interesting Japanese.
Scopa Italian Roots - Venice Beach. Good for birthdays and large groups. A little cheesy.
Ospi Venice - Venice Beach. A block from the ocean. Consistently good service. Order the cacio e pepe, aubergine salad and spicy ragu. Huge wine list with amazing Italian reds.
The Brig - Venice Beach. Big, open bar.
Roosterfish - A gay bar that is now full of bros. Still fun but can get crowded. Expensive.
Gjusta & Gjelina - Venice Beach. Both Westside classics. Also offer high quality take away.
Additional LA notes:
If you’re looking to do something other than eat and drink, learn to surf! The Venice Breakwater is a great, accessible place for beginners to give it a go.
If you rather stay on land try mountain biking in the Santa Monica Mountains. It is easy to rent a bike for the day.
Not sporty? Go see a show at the iconic Hollywood Bowl.
Finally, a must-do is a day trip to Malibu. It is only a short drive from Venice and always worth it.
As a closing note, it feels right to finish with a recommendation for herbal remedies… if you’re in the market, check out the Malibu Community Collective.
Due to Substack’s restrictions we had to cut the NYC recommendations short (if you can believe that). If you want the full list, comment or message us. Happy to share.