Dinner in DTLA: The Mighty

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The intersection of 2nd and Main in Downtown Los Angeles is becoming quite the foodie stretch with The Edison, Badmaash, Redbird and now, The Mighty.

From the moment you walk in, it’s tough to not acknowledge that owners Quinn and Karen Hatfield (Odys + Penelope, The Sycamore Kitchen) have one of the most Instagram-able restaurants in LA. The tiles are so cute, it’s impossible to keep your phone down when you’re here, but I had to focus on the food and stop taking pictures of my feet…eventually.

I have this thing with floors…

The Mighty
108 W. 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
https://www.themightydtla.com/ 

By day, The Mighty serves up a substantial Southern-California-meets-Italian lunch along with coffee and take-out service. In addition, they recently opened up a dinner service and I know it’ll establish a strong following. Although I was seated near a familiar face in the comedy scene and a few showbiz industry types coming off a nearby film shoot (brag), The Mighty’s atmosphere is approachable and relaxed.

There is an ample amount of wine and beer options on the menu, but being 31 weeks pregnant, I was not able to indulge on this tasting. However, if I had the option to, I’d aim for the super light and easy to pair Dry Creek Vineyard, Chenin Blanc. I, instead, opted for the Hibiscus Iced Tea, which was fruity, floral and only lightly sweetened.

Hibiscus Iced Tea

With so many snacks, starters, vegetables and salads to choose from, it was tough to make a final decision on what to begin with, but we decided on the Fried Cauliflower and the Avocado + Burrata Toast. The fried cauliflower with spiced peanuts, fish sauce vinaigrette, mint and parsley was my favorite starter. I loved the spices and herbs with a more Asian influence here. What separates The Mighty’s avocado toast from the others in LA is the pesto Genovese spread and the pepper peperonata topping. This is the perfect mix up on a brunch tradition.

Fried Cauliflower

Avocado + Burrata Toast

It would’ve been an absolute travesty if I didn’t taste the fresh rotisserie chicken and a housemade pasta, so I made sure to order the Chicken + Fries and the Tagliatelle. The 1/2 rotisserie Mary’s Chicken with fries is like a pregnant lady’s dream entrée. The skin was crisp but still juicy, like the meat. The fries were dusted with spices and the house pickled veggies are a delightful side.

Rotisserie Chicken

Fries

The tagliatelle is one of the most popular pasta dishes there. The pesto Genovase, with cured egg yolk, snap peas and fresh basil make for a lighter but still substantial pasta dish.

Tagliatelle

The Mighty certainly lives up to its name with ample portions and flavorful bites. Be sure to stop in when you’re in DTLA, it just adds to the fantastic neighborhood company.

Julianne

Actress and Founder of Girls on Food: I was born and raised in the suburbs of Sacramento, California. I grew up a typical “McDonald’s kid”. I was very picky about what I ate and refused to try new foods. No fun, I know. My Mom started taking me on trips to Europe when I was a teenager and that’s when my palate for finer foods began to develop. Some of my most memorable favorite meals include Veal Bolognese in Rome, Gyros in Athens, Paella in Lisbon and Duck L’Orange in Paris. While this helped me grow out of a fast food phase, I still eat out quite a bit. I know I should be at home cooking, but I love dining out. I started working in restaurants in various front of the house positions at age 15. Since my start, I’ve worked in every casual restaurant setting you can think of: a teriyaki stand, brewery, sushi nightclub, trendy Mexican, family-style Italian, American diner, pizza parlor and even a BLT themed food truck. I can't help but notice that many of the LA food bloggers don't have any sort of background working in a restaurant. A lot of my perspective on food and dining out comes from my years of experience in the biz. Since starting this blog, I have shot appearances on a couple of cooking competition shows as a taster (including MasterChef Junior and another upcoming show). We have also started producing a Youtube Channel. IMDb page here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2023647/ For this site I contribute content from all over Los Angeles (and the world) to showcase my favorite fine-dining spots, steakhouses, exclusive supper clubs, Hollywood nightlife and our very own #GOFx events, which I plan and coordinate.

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