"Chef Chris Sayegh’s Jordanian and Levantine-inspired restaurant on the ground floor of the new Sonder Beacon in Santa Monica, which was previously the iconic Shangri-La, has already drawn the flash photography of clout-seeking influencers. Behind the early adopters, Layla’s food is grounded in Sayegh’s grandmother’s kitchen (her name was Layla), where stuffed grape leaves, mezze platters, and blistered Meditteranean sea bass display strong flavors and top-notch ingredients. Just be prepared to deal with some folks recording the entirety of their meals. — Matthew Kang, lead editor" - Eater Staff