DADA ECHO PARK
Bar & grill · Greater Echo Park Elysian ·
Kumquat margaritas, disco DJs, and a hidden alley entrance
Kumquat margaritas, disco DJs, and a hidden alley entrance
"A visit to Dada feels a bit like sneaking into somewhere you’re not supposed to be. There’s no sign or sidewalk entrance—just an unmarked door in an alley behind Little Fish and Dada Market. But despite the mysterious entrance, what this bar-restaurant hybrid offers is simple: a tight menu of simple Mediterranean-ish dishes prettied up with herbs and flowers, plus wines and cocktails. The smaller plates are good for splitting over drinks, and there are a few shareable entrees (the branzino is a good call). Dada makes for a nice under-the-radar weeknight dinner that won’t take up your whole evening, and the bar scene stays mellow, even on weekends." - brant cox, sylvio martins
"A visit to Dada feels a bit like sneaking into somewhere you’re not supposed to be. There’s no sign or sidewalk entrance—just an unmarked door in an alley behind Little Fish and Dada Market. Once inside this bar-restaurant hybrid, things get more intriguing: off to one side, there’s a white-walled skylit dining room with couples in vintage denim picking at crudo, on the other, a dance-friendly listening bar where DJs spin vinyl on weekends. Despite the mysterious entrance and layout, what Dada offers is fairly straightforward: a tight menu of simple Mediterranean-ish dishes prettied up with herbs and flowers, plus wines and juice-infused cocktails. The smaller plates—like cannellini bean spread with toasted sourdough, and a vibrant green risotto—are good for splitting over drinks, and there are a few shareable entrees if you’re sticking around for a full meal (the branzino is a good call). Dada makes for a nice under-the-radar weeknight dinner that won’t take up your whole evening (you can be in and out in about an hour), and the bar scene is the right amount of mellow, even on weekends. If you need a place for a group of friends who’ll be happy spending Saturday night eating grilled lamb chops, sipping on gin spritzes, and grooving under a disco ball, Dada can handle it all. Food Rundown Cannellini Dip This will hit the table first, and there’s a high chance it’ll be gone before anything else shows up. It’s got a nice pool of chili oil in the middle, and the thick slabs of Bub & Grandma’s sourdough are exactly what you want to drag through it. photo credit: Cathy Park Green Risotto Despite reading like a juice cleanse on the menu (spinach, kale, asparagus—you get it), this decadent and shareable risotto is a satisfying way to bulk out your meal with creamy, cheesy rice. photo credit: Cathy Park Grilled Branzino The elements of a nice piece of fish are here: crackly skin and soft, flaky meat. The fresh fava beans break up the soft fish with a pop of texture (though you might have to chase them around the plate). photo credit: Cathy Park Lamb Chops Use your hands for these—it’ll probably leave a streak of lamb juice on your wine glass, but you’re going to want to gnaw every piece of meat from the bone. photo credit: Cathy Park" - Cathy Park
"Dada Echo Park is a semi-hidden spot that looks like you might need a password to get in (you don’t). The doorway is in an alley behind Little Fish, and inside you’ll find a dark lounge leading to a fenced patio with a tree rising through the center. Mysterious entrance aside, Dada Bar stays on the cool side of the speakeasy trend, mostly by embracing its breezy bistro side. You'll have the option of sipping kumquat margaritas with shaggy art couples at the candlelit bar, or a sit-down dinner in the skylit dining room. On weekends, disco DJs take over the stereo system, turning every room into a dancefloor. But even on quieter weeknights, Dada is a perfect under-the-radar hang (at least for now). " - brant cox, sylvio martins, garrett snyder
"There’s a good chance you’ll end up on the dancefloor at some point during a night at Dada, the semi-hidden restaurant/bar behind Little Fish in Echo Park. Though if you prefer to hang out at the candlelit bar sipping kumquat margaritas with shaggy art couples, or have a sit-down dinner involving a juicy pork chop in the skylit dining room, you can do that, too. With three spacious rooms, a massive patio, and a DJ booth, there's plenty of room for groups. Plus, even when the late night scene at Dada gets busy, it never feels too packed. " - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren
"Head to the alley behind Dada Market in Echo Park to find this mysterious restaurant and bar. Try the Orange Velvet, a take on a gimlet with orange and carrot, or the Manifest Yes, a kumquat and fennel margarita. Espresso martini fans should try the Carpool, which is made with vodka, creme de cassis, cocoa, cold brew, and coffee liqueur." - Rebecca Roland, Mona Holmes, Eater Staff
