Tinto Tapas Bar West Hollywood

Finally - an upscale restaurant in West Hollywood that we can head to before and after the clubs.

Now that the area between Gardner and Fairfax on Santa Monica has upped their glitter quotient (and I am not talking about a transvestite with a boa, I am talking about Porsches, Ferraris and your occasional Prius properly valeted in a parking lot and a line outside the door of an official, Hollywood hot spot club), we can hopefully expect some fabulous late night fare.

Locals, I think it's time to admit we're all over the only late night eats in the area involving an ATM machine, Gardenburger and a location that could easily have been cast for American Graffiti. Because the fact is this - we are so much better than that. Why blow the diet eating junk when cap off your night at an elegant Tapas bar?

Tinto, located at Santa Monica and Gardner, is offering us a chance at authentic Spanish happiness. This gorgeous wine / tapas bar has taken over what used to be Hunter's Bar and is open until midnight Sunday-Thursday and 1 am Saturday. Their star chef, Chef Justo Vincent, worked at Bulli and is creating decadent dishes ranging from languostines sauteed in onions to authentic rice pudding for dessert. When I say authentic, I mean it - the owners, Reg MacDonald and Juan Sola Jr., are intent on everything being true Spanish cuisine.

Ole.

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Tapatinis - Mediterranean Tapas in DC

Tapatinis, located on the increasingly popular 8th Street in SE, is a long, narrow lounge that stands out from other nighttime spots. It’s decorated with a futuristic theme: cool neon colors and high-top glass tables with dance music playing through speakers and videos playing on the flat screen TVs. They leave behind the pretentious attitude that accompanies many lounges, and the staff has a laid-back but attentive attitude. The daily drink specials are hard to beat anywhere in D.C., but the highlight is their extended happy hour for women on Wednesday nights. From 5-9 p.m. women can order wine for $1 or $4 cosmos. They offer at least 2-3 varieties of red and white wines so your options aren’t limited. They also boast a Mediterranean-inspired menu that includes a variety of salads, tapas and entrees that have a slight Asian flare. Highlights include seafood ravioli, hummus and pita (wedges are crisped, not burned) and a Mediterranean salad that melts in your mouth. Tip: order the fried calamari -- it’s the best in the city. Tapatinis also has a patio with outdoor seating and heat lamps for the occasional chilly summer evening, but get there early as the section fills up fast. Located just off the Eastern Market Metro station, Tapatinis is convenient to all neighborhoods and definitely not one to miss.

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