Alta Adams

On our list of the best special-occasion restaurants in Los Angeles.

Keith Corbin grew up in Watts, got his first kitchen job at Locol, and opened this West Adams restaurant with Daniel Patterson in 2018; he now owns it alone and hires people coming out of prison. The black-eyed pea fritters, candied yams and braised oxtails have stayed on a menu that also takes in suya-spiced bone marrow, charcoal-grilled yellowtail collar and duck confit with black garlic mole. Seats are in the dining room or out on the garden patio. The restaurant's own wine shop is next door.