Greekman's

"Not only do we love the food at Greekman’s, we also love the kitsch. This lively Silver Lake spot (previously Freedman’s) is adorned with miniature marble busts and grapevines, with a walled blue and white patio in the parking lot. Even after several ouzo shots, it does not teleport you to Paros, but it’s nice. Nights here involve white wine from the islands and small plates of tender grilled octopus, lamb chops over tzatziki, and feta-stuffed phyllo pockets that we’d happily order ten times over if the prices didn’t add up so quickly. Use Greekman’s for drinks and a few bites, and you’ll have plenty of fun." - sylvio martins, brant cox, nikko duren, garrett snyder

"Greekman’s serves a good amount of kitsch along with great Greek food. This lively Silver Lake spot (previously Freedman’s) is adorned with miniature marble busts and dangling grapevines and has a blue and white patio in the parking lot that—even after several ouzo shots—does not teleport you to Paros. Most of the menu is small plates, which are great for a long night of grazing and sipping chilled whites from the islands. You can split tender grilled octopus, juicy lamb chops on tangy tzatziki, and feta-stuffed phyllo pockets that we’d happily order ten times over. The only reason we don’t is because those small plate prices add up. Use Greekman’s for drinks and a few bites, and you’ll have plenty of fun. " - sylvio martins, brant cox, nikko duren

"Freedman’s is a Jewish comfort food spot in Silver Lake that’s offering a special $120 Valentine’s Day menu for two. It comes with radicchio salad, cured and smoked fish, Parisian gnocchi, chocolate pavlova, and your choice between beef osso bucco, chicken schnitzel, or whole branzino entree. Pickup only." - brant cox

"This lively Greek spot in Silver Lake (formerly Freedman’s) feels like a remnant of summer that never left. The dining room is adorned with miniature Greek busts, vines dangle everywhere, and there’s a blue and white patio in the parking lot that—at least after a few bottles of Greek wine—looks a little like a terrace in Mykonos. Order the feta-stuffed phyllo pocket, juicy lamb chops, and the correctly advertised “very lemony” potatoes." - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins

"Freedman’s is really, really, really weird. And that’s exactly what makes this comfort food spot in a Silver Lake strip mall so f*cking awesome. It feels like it’s owned by your Jewish aunt who loves Miami and has a chopped liver recipe she guards with her life, and even if you don’t have one of those aunts, we bet you want to go eat at Freedman’s now. As for food, the popovers come with trout roe, potato latkes come in waffle form, and the large-format brisket is carved tableside with an electric knife salvaged from the ’80s. Order a martini to wash it all down, and feel safe in the knowledge that there’s no other place like this in Los Angeles." - jess basser sanders, brant cox