Descanso Restaurant - Los Angeles

Beautiful restaurant with great food !! They have a la cart or you can dine at their plancha dining for a fun dinner! They make the food in front of you making it perfect for a birthday or date night. I had my son with me and our waiter took such good care of him and was so thoughtful with him so I appreciated the restaurant that much more. They also have a location in Costa Mesa

🚨 Descanso is opening up a new location in Los Angeles. Grand Opening is on January 23 2025. We went in to celebrate with La Plancha Dining. You can accommodate up to 10 guests at your party with this unique experience. The chef prepares your dish right at your table. I had the Sea Bass, it was perfectly made and that sauce was the cherry on top.

Delicious Mexican street food, best bar and atmosphere in the area, friendly staff, mostly locals 😍, and the owners always come by and ask how I'm doing. In the SAG building- Definitely a place for VIP. Cheers!

Very promising Mexican restaurant with relatively authentic food. Michelle, our server was excellent from my standpoint, through and through. She did a great job attending us and demonstrated she really enjoys her job and the food she serves. I ordered the Mayan taco. Achiote flavored small chicken chunks in a blue corn tortilla. On the side were pickled onions, a smoky salsa and cilantro sprigs. The achiote flavor was good but far too subtle for my taste. I would suggest they shred the chicken which is very commonly done in Yucatán. It would help the chicken absorb the achiote better. The salsa was good and just the right amount of hot. The onions have habanero sauce so I didn’t touch them. I also tried the red pozole. It’s actually pretty decent. It has small pork chunks and white hominy which are both cooked to perfection. The broth is actually not bad but it kind of misses what a truly authentic broth would have in flavor. The aftertaste isn’t exactly perfect. Something is off. Maybe the preparation of the two chiles you use for pozole isn’t done perfectly. The octopus taco is very good. The octopus is flavored very well. It also is in a blue corn tortilla. The tacos have tortillas that are bigger than the street taco ones and they’re hand made. The cocktail that uses charanda which is a liquor from Michoacán was pretty good as was my espresso martini which is made with mezcal. I didn’t really like the arroz con leche cheesecake as it was too dry. My mango crème brûlée was amazing. The caramelized sugar wasn’t too well done. It was uneven but if they are aiming for a rustic dish I guess they hit the nail on the head. The restaurant is gorgeous. It’s spacious and has big windows in front. It’s kind of minimalist. There are a few works of art on the walls. They have a nicely stocked bar and a taco bar. You can eat outside if you like. The music is ok. I’d say too much reggaeton and ska. They do play some decent rock en español. They have a large parking lot in the rear. They validate.

I’ve only been to the restaurant twice and it is a very welcome addition to our neighborhood. They have a great happy hour, and all products, including tortilla chips, tortillas are made in house. Service is prompt and friendly, food is delicious and drinks are fab.

We've been in the area 17 years and have been very excited for something to replace Marie Callenders. It seems they put a lot of money into this restaurant but it's just not a warm inviting place to go grab dinner and a drink. It's wide open, minimalist, very dark and very, very expensive. The food and experience don't warrant the price. The service was great though. They have hired lovely people. If their goal is to be an upscale place meant for business dinners or special occasions, then they achieved it. It's unfortunately (for us) not a 'let's go grab dinner and a drink for fun tonight' place. We'll maybe give happy hour a try but won't return for dinner. One last note, I know they have to cover costs but it was annoying that we had to pay extra for tortillas when they didn't give enough for the size of the appetizer in the first place.

The food here is amazing! These guys know what they are doing. I also really appreciate how the majority of the menu is gluten free naturally by the ingredients they use. I have now gone a few times and have not been disappointed. The drinks are some of the best I have ever had - I highly recommend the Cucumber Sal and La Chilanga - so yummy! And the ambience…it’s beautiful, it’s classy, it’s fun! I also really love how creative this spot is with all the different dining options to choose from - Private Plancha Room, Abuelas Kitchen, regular dining, main Plancha room, the taco bar, or the bar itself (which is massive! So many seats). I highly recommend.

Amazing authentic Mexican food. I highly recommend the Arroz con Leche cheesecake & the flan Kendra was an amazing chef, she told us the history of the restaurant and she was very knowledgeable about the plates.

We went to the new restaurant in LA last night for New Year's Eve and we had an amazing time. The ambience is fantastic and the food is to die for! We also really enjoyed the cocktails. They came round with champagne at midnight to add to the experience. We even got to meet the owners too who are lovely people. We have a real gem on our hands here and feel lucky it's on our doorstep so I advise anyone to give it a go.

Food was not my style at all. Very strong heavy tasting cheeses in and on top of my enchiladas. Also tacos were tasty but very small portion. Guacamole was good but chips were bland. Loved the restaurant space and central bar. Parking in back but have to pay still. Overall disappointing. Will maybe go back for happy hour some time. Everything was on the expensive side though.

Shoutout to Nora! She is an absolutely amazing server who was super attentive, gave amazing suggestions, and made our visit smooth. In fact, everyone was super attentive from the post to the bussers. We had the Pozole which had a great flavor with a hint of spice, and the chilequiles which had a great lemon and spice. We also have the burrito, but I probably wouldn't recommend it, I think the beef needed a little more flavor. I saved the best for last, the shrimp taquitos were so surprisingly delicious. They are fresh shrimps wrapped in a blue corn tortilla topped with a salad of lettuce and onion and mango. Highly recommend.

Beautiful new restaurant that just opened on Wilshire that's within walking distance of Miracle Mile museums. It's across from Equinox. Enjoyed the Descanso margarita and appetizers. Portion size may be on small side. My favorite appetizer was the taquitos; good flavor & they looked like mini shrimp tacos. Empanadas are similar to tacos. It looked like they have many more tables in the back to accommodate large parties. This would be an excellent place to celebrate a birthday or other occasion. I think happy hour is 4 to 6 weekdays and I'll definitely be back!

Soft opening during Dec 2024. Location: Museum Row in Miracle Mile area. Old Marie Callendar restaurant spot. Walking distance from Petersen Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, LACMA and Academy Museum. Ambiance: Remodel did a great job with the huge space. Outdoor patio seating kept the old brick & vine garden vibe. Meanwhile, inside has high ceilings dominated by the wrap around bar evokes a clubby modern casual vibe. My only complaint, despite the large bar, TVs are small for watching sports games. Lots of big tables, would be great for large groups and celebrations. Price: A little pricey for Mexican food given lots of options nearby. Service: staff was friendly and attentive. Note, 18% service charge automatically added but unclear on bill whether this charge is for waitstaff, kitchen or restaurant itself??? Food: Mexican with California flavors. One complaint, for Mexican spot - no free chips & salsa. You have to pay for that (and no free refills). Liked: Guacamole & Chips - Fresh house made tortilla chips are fresh and warm. Guac portions (one ice cream scoop size) is small and served on a plate. Tasty but a bit of a value issue. Nachos - Huge plate of chips and fully loaded. Tasty. Salmon Wrap - Tasty flavors and keto friendly. Lettuce wrap with good portions. Carnitas Hash - Tasty brunch item. Decent portions. Misses: Shrimp Taquitos - Not really taquitos. 4 whole shrimps partially wrapped in a blue tortilla strip and grilled. Good value for the price and shrimp was tasty, but tortillas strip was so hard, I just ate the shrimp. Pozole - Nothing wrong with it, just needed more flavor. Would come back for drinks and bar food if I have a big group. Or large group meal. The space is great for that and menu has something for everyone. The outdoor space will be great during the summer as well. A but pricey for lunch (hope they'll add some discounted lunch specials) and likely go elsewhere for dinner if it's all about the food or just couple.

Had lunch here about a week ago with friends. More of an upscale Mexican restaurant. I had a lobster taco and the chips and guacamole. The taco--although delicious--was a bit pricey at $18. Our server, Emma, was lovely, attentive, and gave us an overview of their Plancha area in the back and the accompanying menu. Will be back to try out their Happy Hour menu.

We stumbled upon this place while passing by and noticed they were open, so we decided to check it out. The ambiance and atmosphere were really nice. We particularly loved the circle bar, which added a unique and fun dining experience to our visit. We visited this location in Costa Mesa and wanted to compare it to the one we had been to before. The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. They recommended some of their best dishes based on our preferences and made sure our drinks were on point. The appetizers were great, especially the oysters, which we highly recommend. The tropical ceviche was also a hit. For entrées, the tacos were phenomenal, and the Carne Asada was delicious. The lobster enchiladas were so flavorful and satisfying. But the showstopper for our table was the red snapper. It was so delicious that we couldn't stop talking about it. If you have any room left over, make sure to try their Mexican brownie and mango crème brûlée which were both incredibly tasty. Overall, we had a fantastic time at this place. It's a beautiful venue that's perfect for date nights, dining out with friends, or even a party. We can't wait to go back and try their Plancha dining experience.

This most amazing experience! The food is SO delicious. We had the plancha experience which is definitely the way to go. It was so delicious and so much fun! We went with friends and had the best time! Jamie and Jay were so incredibly attentive! The restaurant is gorgeous and has a 360° bar! i highly recommend it and hint hint Valentine's day is coming!

Great place. Interesting that it's Mexican food and also has a Benihana room experience as well! I remember it when it was Marie Callender's!

Been meaning to give a stellar review to this place since I popped in during their soft opening, but slightly distracted with the wildfires. BUT, this is a fabulous addition to the neighborhood, and I'm so glad they are here. Kat and Diego provided amazing service at the bar, and I'm happy that the bar has so many seats! For someone that often eats out alone, I love sitting at the bar, so I'm glad I probably won't have to wait long for a seat when I visit. The decor is also beautiful, with local art...some available for sale. This will be a frequent dining stop for me. If you're in the neighborhood, I recommend you stop in and check it out!

The food was wonderful and a very good deal for Dine LA. They have some service and managements issues to work out, which is understandable because they are new. But the table behind us sat dirty for a very long time, we were a table of two at a four top and they never cleared the additional place settings which crowded our table the whole meal. The waitress seemed a bit frazzled and the beginning of our meal was a bit slow. But then the entrees came as we were still finishing our appetizers. They will find their groove hopefully and it'll be a great addition to the neighborhood!

Came here with the family to check out their Plancha menu option. So glad we did! Everything was delicious from the engaging chef to the mouthwatering dishes. Everyone started with either a Caesar salad or Fideo Soup. Then we each got a bowl of rice and then watched our dish being cooked in front of us. They were really helpful when making accommodations for the kids. After dinner, we were given a separate dessert menu, but I was too full to eat dessert so we took a couple home to eat later. Definitely coming back for their brunch menu!

Food is so delicious and cooked right in front of you making it a fun and interactive dinner! Great place to celebrate a birthday or date night. I went with my son and the waiter was so attentive to him which I appreciates so much!! They also have a la cart so toy can enjoy their food in their dining area without the plancha if you wanted. Their new location in LA is so beautiful!

So glad this place finally opened up. It officially opened January 23rd. We went for lunch on the 24th. Food is really delicious, space is beautiful ( in the old Marie Calendars space on Wilshire) and the service was excellent. We started with grilled street corn followed by both a chicken and a steak Mexibol bowl with a Cesar salad. All were amazing. The street corn was my favorite. Didn't have any cocktails but they have a huge bar. We be back. 100% yum.

Try this place and then it only been open two or three weeks. Parking is not listed for a parent and be aware there's lots of construction related to the LACMA but apparently if you drive behind them into the immediate parking garage, they will valet enough time for free for lunch time and maybe five or six dollars parking fee for dinner The space is big large and actually pretty nice and spacious with lots of tables or booths kind of a casual plus environment The bar itself is kind of cool with a giant pillar full of hundreds and hundreds of various tequila and Mezcal's We had various drinks they were tasty, but I would say, in terms of comparing Javier's or sol agave just give it a little bit more practice, and you might improve your drink, making abilities a little bit better Food was delicious. We tried the hanger steak, the lobster, and Chilada's, sautéed vegetables, and the shrimp taquitos, which where my favorite. The Los Angeles were delicious as well, but I will have to admit the Javier's loves enchiladas have them beat The steak was well cooked meaty. It seem like a decent cut of meat and the presentation on a hot sizzling skillet was pretty cool. The shrimp taquitos I'll just give a five star and take a look at the picture but they're very good and would 100% order again Service was friendly, but I won't knock them down for not really knowing everything since the restaurant is new and I'm sure they're still going through the early learning phases Over I would say a fabulous place for lunch, but the dinner overall experience has some room for improvement but again when we went, the restaurant was only open for 2 to 3 weeks. I will definitely give them a second chance. My only real complains that you have to pay for chips and salsa. I'm a born and raise California and the Mexican food is probably my favorite especially fine dining Mexican, but come on chips and salsa should be a standard at a Mexican restaurant. You shouldn't have to pay for it or at minimum the first salsa and bowl of chips should be free and you can pay for a second refill, but it was kind of silly FYI, Javier 's and sol agave chips and salsa are endless and are both pretty damn good Especially since those two restaurants are probably your main competition

This was such an amazing experience! I'm not one for cocktails but Luke walked me through everything and made me an amazing drink! Service was excellent and food was delicious! I walked in and thought the place was beautiful! Couldn't help staring around the restaurants decorations! Will definitely be back!

Beautiful ambience. The only thing that kind of took away from it though was that the music was way too loud. The guitarist was incredibly talented, but it was seriously way too loud. The margaritas were pretty good. The mixologist uses very fresh ingredients. The guacamole was so creamy and delicious. And the chips were so fresh and just addicting. The pork belly taco was delicious. And the oysters were very fresh. The staff was very friendly specifically the women. The restaurant seems to be more dog tolerant rather than dog friendly. They need to work on their attitude regarding that because we love our dogs out here. How my dog is treated is a huge influencer into whether I go back to a place.

I am so glad the neighborhood now has an upscale, full service restaurant option. The staff, ambience, and food were all amazing and I'm excited to go back soon to try additional food items and drinks with friends!

After months of watching the construction and renovations, I was really excited to finally go to Descanso! We went for happy hour (M-F, 4-6pm), and got two orders of the elote asado, choriqueso verde, two orders of street tacos, and nachos (without meat). It was a decent amount of food for 4 people to share, and everything was really good! Everything tasted fresh and the flavors were all pretty good. We also tried both happy hour margaritas, which were also great. Overall I was very happy with the food and drinks, and this could be a go-to happy hour, though the main menu seems a little pricy ($18 for a single "elevated" taco??). The only hitch was that you could really tell that the restaurant had just opened. The host was very frazzled when we walked in (we had a reservation) and the table service was slow and a little awkward, even though the restaurant wasn't super busy.

I live in the area and was so excited to try this place! It was awesome and will be back soon. The service was great. Food was delicious! The place had a really good crowd and is beautiful inside. Also, the volcano salsa has habanero and it was so good.

Food: was delicious and large Service: pleasant but slow Ambiance: big spacious and warm 5 stars for a new business 4 if this was a year from now

Beautiful upscale restaurant! Service was very good. Prices were a bit high for what you get, even the chips and salsa were a charge. Drinks very yummy! I may return to check out their happy hr.

Live in the neighborhood and decided to take a walk at LACMA . We were pleasantly surprised that the former Marie Calander's is no longer vacant ,but is now a beautiful Mexican restaurant. We did not hesitate to walk in and sit at the bar . The host Seth was very welcoming and our server Skylar really made our experience 5 star! The drinks are fresh and delicious! The pozole was delicious as was the soyrizo fundido . They have private rooms with reasonable plancha private chef dining . The decor is beautiful and the staff is very welcoming. We will definitely be regulars here !

I was invited to their soft opening of friends and family. Service was a bit slow as it was their first day of soft opening but their staff were friendly. Their new built out space is amazingly beautiful! They have a great selection of tequila and various types of cocktails and very large bar with TV. My friend and I shared their guacamole, sala, cheviche, shrimp burrito, and carnitas skillet. The food was fire. I can't wait to go for their happy hour, weekend brunch and try out all their food! So happy a new place opened up in our neighborhood!

This area has been needing a restaurant that offered great tasting food, little upscale vibe, and good energy. If you want to have a drink or a meal at the bar and are looking for someone to not only serve you great drinks, but allow you to relax, feel comfortable and leave the establishment with a smile, look for Luke. He's knowledgeable, great to talk to, and is customer service focused. Glad to have found my new favorite spot to eat, thanks to Luke!

Finally a restaurant opened at the former Marie Calendar's location on Wilshire! Me and my family tried Descanso last week and we are excited to see what this restaurant becomes. The food is really good and authentic while the venue is massive. I can see it being great for holding huge dinner parties. Come with some patience as the restaurant is still brand new so not everything is perfect, but give it a shot it's worth it.

My friend and I had dinner while they were soft opening. We spent total of $250 because we had margaritas and full course meal (appetizers, entrees, & desserts) The server who took care of us was nice and ambiance was good, but not worth spending that much overall. We may go back during their Happy Hours for a drink and that might be it.

Great food, great ambiance, great staff. Andres and the whole crew took great care of us, will be back

We live in the area and were really excited to try this place. The restaurant decor and the bar were lovely. We tried the Cucumber + Sal margarita and it was delicious. We had the guacamole and chips as an appetizer and the guac was very tasty. The Don Chingon taco was amazing! El Toro taco was tasty but a little dry. The tacos are not your average street tacos and they were a pretty generous size. The service was great and very attentive. We will be visiting again.

We were very disappointed in our experience at Descanso. We were excited to see what they had done with the place, so we decided to go for dinner on New Year's Eve. First, everything is very expensive for what you get. If it was amazing food, maybe it would be worth the price, but nothing lived up to that. The chips with the guacamole were really bland to start. Everything about the service was slow, especially our drinks and chips. Unbelievably slow. I have food allergies and asked if I could one of the tacos without the cheese and our server said the chef wouldn't prepare it without the cheese and I had to order something else. That immediately made me feel unwelcome. My husband and I found some tacos on the menu that didn't require cheese as well as a side of underwhelming vegetables. The tortillas were great. My husband felt his tacos were under seasoned and bland. I wish there were more vegetable-forward dishes. Perhaps the plancha experience makes this restaurant worthwhile, but if you want great Mexican food, there are many places in the neighborhood that offer this with better food, better menus, better service, and better prices. I'm sorry that I cannot recommend this restaurant.

No notes. They did it. Killer food. Bar and staff are amazing - they knew my name the first time I came back. Drinks are awesome. Management is caring, professional, and kind. The vibe is chill. The place is friggin gorgeous. They have both great and affordable to more expensive fantastic dishes. Happy hour prices are competitive. Just a great new local spot. Everyone in the neighborhood should give it a try!

Absolutely stunning restaurant with delicious craft cocktails and elevated Mexican cuisine. Such a great vibe and fun experience! Can't wait to come back!!

Food was okay, steak was really chewy i wouldnt order it again. Beautiful ambiance though, i love the bricks and the lights. I will also say service should improve as well, my waiter was gone for long amounts of time. My overall experience was so so.

Having just opened I was thrilled to find this elegant Mexican restaurant in the Miracle Mile neighborhood. Authentic tacos with fresh ingredients (micro cilantro!), delicious elote, ceviches and a huge selection of tequila and mescaline. Service was superb and so unpretentious friendly. Can't wait to go back!​

Great food and delicious cocktails! Loved the circle bar and will be back to have the Alambre again!

I want to begin this review by saying my food and plate that I ordered was thoroughly enjoyable and was not objectionable by any means, however I do want to draw the attention of this review to the kids menu. Upon entering the restaurant for a New Year's Day dinner we faced and extended wait for the host to appear to take us to our table at the plancha Mexican style hibachi cook at your table. The ambiance in the back room where the grill tables were was generally pretty good even thought we were the only group seated in the section. We were greeted by our server shortly there after with some water and soon enough our experience began. I would have to say that the service was satisfactory. I think the prices are quite steep for what is being offered. Especially the kids menu. Upon putting in our food we were soon enjoying our first course and were greeted by Chef Edwin. I want to give props to Chef Edwin for providing an exceptional dinner service. But here's where things went south very quickly and where I'd like to draw the attention to the 20 dollar steak taco kids meal. As Chef Edwin was preparing our meal the server appeared with a steak taco from the kitchen for my table. I think that it is quite unfair pricing to charge that much for a meal that isn't being prepared on the grill and quite frankly forces the children to feel like b rate guests. Upon this realization and surprise my younger sister who had ordered the taco sat at the table for the rest of the time dinner was being cooked on the grill sniffling and teary eyed as she had come to the realization that she wasn't going to be able to truly take part in the plancha grill experience. This where I'd also like to genuinely highlight service that Chef Edwin provided to my younger sister as he topped her taco with the queso frito which was a step in the right direction to rebound what I am viewing as an insulting misstep. I WANT TO BE CLEAR 20 DOLLARS FOR A TACO FROM THE KITCHEN IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY. I would be happy to hear the reasoning from the genius that thought the kids wouldn't want their food cooked at the table.

Classic mid to upscale Mexican restaurant. Good for happy hour or a nice date night. Food and drinks were on point

Had an awesome birthday dinner here! We had a reservation for the plancha dining experience, and it does seem like they're still working out some of the logistical kinks with that. But as a result, they very graciously offered my small party of three a private plancha grill all to ourselves! Service was perfect, our chef was insanely talented, the food was to die for, and the restaurant itself was gorgeous! Will definitely be back.

What we have been hoping for! Great ambiance, tasty food, good drinks, great service (thanks Patrick-we will see you in the movies). I found a new food home! The crispy carnitas, guacamole, salsa, lobster enchiladas were on point.

We live in the neighborhood and was excited for Descanso to finally open and for us to be able to dine in and try the place out! The place and the renovation they've done is amazing! The staff were all friendly and the food is really good! Can't wait to bring our friends for their weekend brunch!

The food here is amazing! These guys know what they are doing. I also really appreciate how the majority of the menu is gluten free naturally by the ingredients they use. I have now gone a few times and have not been disappointed. The drinks are some of the best I have ever had - I highly recommend the Cucumber Sal and La Chilanga - so yummy! And the ambience...it's beautiful, it's classy, it's fun! I also really love how creative this spot is with all the different dining options to choose from - Private Plancha Room, Abuelas Kitchen, regular dining, main Plancha room, the taco bar, or the bar itself (which is massive! So many seats). I highly recommend.

The service is on point our waiter was knowledgeable. The ambiance is out of the park! The restaurant is gorgeous inside. The margaritas were delicious when we stopped in for happy hour. The food hmmm we got the 3 carnitas tacos, and for just opening I would have thought they would try to impress. The carnitas were very dry some pieces crunchy like they had been cooked for days. The tortillas are very small, smaller than street tacos. The nachos ‍ they have lots of toppings, but something weirdly tasted like mayonnaise.

I've been dying to try the new location and I was able to make it in for dinner last night, I loved the food recommendation that was given to me by a charming young man named Kai he was very funny and helpful in assisting my group what to choose, will def be coming back!

Our favorite new restaurant in mid wilshire! The street tacos were to die for, the meat was cooked to perfection and the tortillas were amazing. We can't wait to come back and try more of the menu. Our cocktails were also incredible and every bartender was so attentive. We will definitely be back asap!