If you’re looking for skyline views and a vibe, 71Above certainly delivers. Perched on the 71st floor above downtown Los Angeles, the sprawling restaurant feels almost like a labyrinth as staff guide diners through multiple dining areas to their tables.

Just don’t expect things to move quickly. It took a while to receive water, let alone cocktails and the chance to order. Thankfully, once drinks arrived, the evening started looking up, or perhaps down, given the view. The El Segundo ($20) resembles an innocent green juice, making the smoky mezcal and cigar-like finish feel especially unexpected. Meanwhile, the Downtown ($20), made with toasted hazelnut bourbon and cognac, may look approachable but quickly proves otherwise. Both cocktails are deceptively strong in the best way.

Once the order is finally in, the pacing improves significantly. An amuse bouche of roasted carrot tart arrives first, brightened nicely by a slice of kumquat on top.

To tide us over, we added oysters ($21). In hindsight, I should have asked what variety they were serving. Our server mentioned they were sourced from Mexico, and the results were inconsistent. The smaller oyster was crisp and clean, especially with the chili salt, while the larger one tasted noticeably fishy.

Their prix fixe menu ($107 per person) orders dishes from light to hearty under each category. To start my friend and I shared the yellowfin tuna tartare which arrives hidden under a half of avocado. Normally, I like a taro chip or crostini with my tartare, but the dish hardly needed them. Pine nuts mixed into the tartare added plenty of texture alongside the fresh tuna. Sumac, mint, and a faint jalapeño heat kept everything bright and refreshing.

The short rib triangoli pasta was flavourful overall, though slightly sweeter than expected. I just wished each piece contained more beef filling, even if it meant serving fewer of them. Personally, I feel like the dish may work better in a simpler pasta format altogether.

Suspecting the balsamic jus with the grilled centre-cut ribeye would lean tart, I wisely asked for it on the side. My instincts were correct. It’s ideal for diners who enjoy acidity, but I preferred using it sparingly. The steak itself was nicely seared and properly cooked to medium rare, though surprisingly lean for a ribeye. Oddly enough, the standout component ended up being the braised beef croquette, which was rich, meaty, and echoed the same flavour profile found in the pasta.

At one point, staff dropped off bread we hadn’t ordered and frankly didn’t need. It wasn’t until the bill arrived that we noticed the additional $8 charge. Not a major expense, but something diners should be warned about upfront.

There’s a strong selection of desserts. My first instinct was the strawberries and cream, which takes a fairly classic approach with chiffon cake, mixed berries, and plenty of whipped cream. The sesame crumble adds a subtle graham-like nuttiness and welcome texture.

Surprisingly, the chocolate semifreddo ended up being the better dessert despite me not usually gravitating toward chocolate. The semifreddo itself was airy and lightly sweetened, while the green tea ganache, brownie brittle, and fragrant bergamot cream added depth without making things overly heavy.

Despite positioning itself as fine dining, the service feels stretched thin. Staff were friendly throughout, but it was clear servers were juggling too many tables. Empty cocktail glasses went unnoticed, and we had to flag someone down to order wine for the ribeye moments before the mains arrived. To their credit, the wine appeared quickly afterward, but the pacing felt reactive rather than polished. Perhaps the tucked-away back dining section contributes to the issue, as it simply didn’t feel as staffed as the main room.

Ultimately, the food and service are perfectly fine, but neither is what makes 71Above memorable. You come here for the view, and on that front, it delivers.

After walking around Main Street in Huntsville, we wound up in Mill on Main after an unfortunate wait at 1858 Caesar Bar up the street. The dark cool interior was welcoming during a hot summer day, but we were just excited to sit down in a restaurant that’s properly staffed so a glass of water and menus arrived at a proper time… I know, lowered expectations.

With an oven on display and a significant portion of the menu dedicated to wood fired pizza, I had to try one. The classic pizza ($22.50) seemed like the ideal choice, essentially a pepperoni pie. While it wasn’t terrible, it also wasn’t good - the crust too hard and the tomato sauce tasted canned.

It’s certainly not the thin blistery Napoli pies their menu describes. If anything, it’s something you’d find at Boston Pizza. At least it was covered with a decent amount of mozzarella to make it nice and gooey.

Their lunch special, a Korean fried chicken sandwich ($20) was a popular choice. If they just charged a couple dollars more to use a thicker slice of chicken it’d be delicious. Unfortunately, the thin cutlet was too dry and the sweet sauce overwhelming. Even the coleslaw couldn’t counteract the sugariness of the glaze. If anything, the potato wedges were the best part of the dish – an abundant portion of the hot and crispy spuds.

Walk too quickly on Queen Street West and you’ll breeze by Simpl Things tucked away on Dunn Avenue. It’s a cute and cheerful establishment swathed in pastels with a retro feel. It’s a place that locals know given their rotating customer groups during our late Saturday lunch.

The brisket croquettes ($9) are a great snack or appetizer. Hot from the fryer, the crispy potato nuggets are stuffed with shredded beef. Offered as a daily special, I feel it deserves a permanent spot on the menu.

In fact, an order of the croquettes with the mini wedge salad ($7) makes for a nice light lunch. The side salad is surprisingly large, almost half an iceberg lettuce topped with a creamy and zesty herb sauce and sprinkled with crunchy corn nuts, hazelnuts, and cashews. The excess dressing would go wonderfully with the croquettes.

There are a lot of incredible breakfast sando ($22) around town. Simpl Things is fine, a tower of scrambled egg, bacon, avocado, cheddar cheese, pickled onions, and lettuce sandwiched between thick slices of soft house made milk bread. While filled with great ingredients, they just weren’t hot enough – the bacon was cold having been premade and the omelette merely warm. Maybe it’s a matter of preference, but I like mine steaming to cast of an enticing aroma.

While it doesn’t rock in the sando department, Simpl Things is where you go for boozy brunches. They offer an array of cocktails. I tried the butterfly effect ($18) that looks and tastes fruity, but not overly sweet so it makes for a great summer sipper.

And if I were in the mood for more, I would have went with the cocktail flight (three for $30) or just ordered the “teeny” sized ones that are $10 each and make my own flight. Just a little tipple, a great excuse to knock back a few without getting smashed. 

It was an excellent idea to start off the evening in Evangeline, the Ace Hotel’s rooftop patio, as it created a casual beginning. A tray of cava awaited as I exited the elevator and while mingling in a room of strangers, it felt like I was there for a dinner party.

Trays of canapés flowed throughout including a delicious rabbit croquette wrapped in a green goddess salad leaf. The pea and strawberry tart was sweet, tangy, and savoury but a bit too floral so the jamon Iberico became lost. Many dashed for the oysters topped with caviar and crème fraiche, alas once I got one mine was gritty. Yet, I was so chill and relaxed that I didn’t care nor wanted to take photos… at last, I ate first.

Drinks were flowing with more cava and two Herradura tequila cocktails available around the hour. The strawberry and shisho Cointreau mix sounded refreshing but was too sweet for my taste. As was the “cabana cocktail”, a concoction of tequila, cacao bitters, vanilla, coconut oil, toasted coconut, and wildflower honey.

But at least it got everyone buzzing. By the time the Herradura rep explain their logo, an inverted horseshoe, represented pouring out the last drop of luck for their customers, I felt like Don Draper was in the room.

Dinner was served downstairs in Alder and soon generous pours of Pearl Morissette wines came by. It made my evening hearing they were supplying the drinks as the limited bottles rarely circulate outside their winery aside from some Toronto restaurants.

Alder’s first dish was a hit. The Hokkaido sea scallop and sea urchin featured two barely cooked through poached scallops, shaved in half and served with smoked buttermilk that had a tartness that’s like adding lemon to seafood but finishes with a rich creamy touch. The uni was flown out the day before for the dinner, balancing the dish with sweetness.

Fat Rabbit’s beef tartare included honey and golden raisins, which gave it a sugary taste. The addition of pickled vegetables helped bring out some acidity, but it was the mint and cilantro blossoms that added a brightness that impressed.

I can see why they left the tartare less salted as the breaded and deep-fried Guernsey Girl cheese it sat on top was savoury. It was just a waste as it wasn’t hot, so the dairy felt hard and rubbery. A great idea to feature local ingredients from the Upper Canada Cheese Company, just not showcasing it at its best. 

Alder’s lobster raviolo was so good. The bisque-like sauce was bit salty, but the pasta was cooked to perfection and stuffed with large chunks of lobster, each bite bursting with flavour.

While the roasted pork collar was meaty and almost like a pork loin, it was a tad tough and likely would be better cooked as slices rather than a huge steak. Perhaps Fat Rabbit wanted something that would hold up against the spicy aji amarillo sauce? We all agreed the pancetta wrapped shrimp stole the show and would have been happy with two of these served with more vegetables.

A generous slice of coconut cream pie finished the meal; its crust made from toasted coconut meringue so it’s crumbly and a bit nutty. Despite not being able to finish my pork, I happily consumed the entire slice.

Since hearing about the Fat Rabbit, I’ve always wanted to try the restaurant. This Visa Infinite dinner was a nice compromise before heading out to St. Catherines. Chef Zach Smith also announced a second restaurant opening sometime in the late summer or fall. The fat rabbit becomes a warren. 

What is your ideal social habitat? For some, it’s a buzzy place with music pumping and a frenzy of activity underway. And at the other end of the spectrum, a cozy corner with a comfy couch that people can just sink into and chat. Habitat Social is in between the two, the dining room adorned with items that beg for a picture and there’s music, but it’s not played at a splitting decibel that detracts from a heart-to-heart conversation.

It’s surprisingly quiet for 7pm on a Saturday. In no time our crimson palomas ($18) arrived containing a healthy slug of tequila and Cointreau that gives the fruity looking cocktail that kick I needed. And we’re off to the (not overly hectic) races!

Our waiter raves about the coconut ebi mayo ($23), a dish that’s been a staple on their menu and he claims is a favourite amongst patrons. For me, it’s too soft, the batter lacking crunch and coconut textures. If anything, it’s simply fried shrimp with a couple of sweet sauces for flavour. Not much coconut and no definitely mayonnaise. Perhaps the dish just needs to be renamed to “tropical fried ebi” for clarity.

We did enjoy the chicken cobb salad ($22), a hearty dish that’s more of a “bowl” than “salad”. With only a scant amount of salad mix, the dish combined fresh avocado, torched corn, tomato, and of course a generous fillet of crispy fried chicken. I loved it for a lightish but hearty dinner and would push for this to be a staple if it isn’t already.

There’s something about Habitat’s not overly busy environment that lends itself to diners being social. David, our server, came by regularly to check on us and answer questions. Even the table next two us, two ladies having a reunion and about to embark on a debaucherous night out, struck up a conversation. All the while, I still had more than enough time and privacy to catch-up with my friend. My kind of social habitat.