A new season brings a fresh breeze to Lemon Grove, the rooftop restaurant perched atop The Aster Hotel in Hollywood. With the arrival of Executive Chef Daniel Pfeifer-Kotz, whose resume includes long stints at hotspots like LA's Beauty & Essex and Laurel Hardware, and Cacao in Miami under esteemed Chef Edgar Leal, the menu has undergone a sunny transformation that commands notice.
Pfeifer-Kotz's summer lineup is a love letter to California: elevated yet laid-back, full of vibrant, seasonal flavors and perfectly paired with panoramic rooftop views. Highlights include a tender roasted half chicken and a Thai-inspired bright lemon Chitarra pasta with tom kha, makrut lime essence, melted leeks and cherry tomatoes. (Yes, it's vegan and yes, there's a gluten-free option). This is California cuisine at its most effortlessly cool.
"My inspiration comes from my roots as a young cook [and] the travels I have been on," writes Pfeifer-Kotz in an email. "For me, good food starts with strong technique, bold but balanced flavor and approachability."
Chef Pfeifer-Kotz's summer menu features solid yet uncomplicated dishes that are elevated takes on classics like steamed mussels, cacio e pepe and short rib rigatoni. While the individual dishes aren't exactly reinventing the culinary wheel, there isn't a dud in the bunch.
"I don't believe in overcomplicating things," he continues, "just solid cooking, done right. That means letting ingredients speak for themselves and using local produce whenever possible not just to support local farms, but because food tastes better when it's fresh and honest."
The result is a menu that shines with familiar favorites and flavorful ingredients.
As for the ambience, Lemon Grove is exactly what you imagine when you think of an LA rooftop bar: airy, elevated and tailor-made for summer nights. Set high above Hollywood, the rooftop setting features iconic, 360-views of the Hollywood sign, Capital Records building and surrounding hills. It offers the ideal backdrop for everything from a full al fresco dinner to a casual post-work cocktail with friends.
The drink menu features an array of summery wines and highlights like the Cactus Flower, a smoky-meets-bright mix of mezcal, chartreuse, prickly pear, basil, lime, egg white and smoked salt. The Aster Spritz - with strawberry Aperol, Rosato and sparkling wine - is light, playful, and dangerously sippable, while the No Big Dill (gin, elderflower, cucumber, lime, dill) is a fresh standout with a savory twist. Bonus points for a thoughtful zero-proof menu, complete with booze-free cocktails, lemonades and non-alcoholic wine, because everyone deserves something fun to sip under the stars.