If you’re ever looking for a nice place to have dinner, try Luna Park. It’s in the heart of the mid-Wilshire district right at the intersection of La Brea Ave. and Wilshire Blvd. Walk under the yellow awning, and you’ll enter a small, intimate location with a compact bar, wooden tables on the floor and booths lining the exterior. Perfect for a small gathering or a couples outing, it’s a decent place to catch a meal or a cocktail with good company. Read more after the jump…

The bar area may be small, but the stools lining the perimeter make it a cute area for catching up with friends or meetin/g a blind date (if you’re into that). They have a nice variety of champagnes, red and white wines cocktails. I’d recommend you try the Chappaquiddick—pomegranate vodka, orange, lime, cranberry and a splash of sparkling wine. If you want the feel of a drink without the liquor, try the mojito sans rum during the hot summer days. My friend and I passed on beverages that evening in order to fully concentrate on the meal (and being productive later in the evening), and we fully focused on the menu and the other surroundings.

The vibe in Luna Park is hard to describe. The warm, dark colors are inviting and homey. The chandeliers hanging from the ceiling enhance the low-lit interior. The artwork on the wall depict colorful caricatures that stand tall just above the tables. The high windows lining the streetside draw in sunshine during the day and the passing lights of cars at night. The atmosphere is fun, funky and casual–suitable for any dining occasion.

Our waitress, though ready to serve, was not timely. She came to the table too frequently, although we should’ve been quicker in our decision process. But then again, we’re paying for the meal and the experience, so there’s no need to impose a sensation of being rushed. She did leave us a small half loaf of bread and a great herb and garlic olive oil for dipping. We noshed on this for a bit during the thirty minute wait for our meal. I’m not sure why it took thirty minutes, and I’m not sure why the waitress who previously had visited our table no less than four times in twenty minutes had not dropped in to address the delay. Towards the very latter end of our wait, she walked over to let us know that the food was definitely coming in a few minutes, so we did the only thing we could do—wait.

Once we took the first look at our food, we got over the wait. I ordered the soup of the day, which was a mixed vegetable puree. It was chilly outside and in the restaurant as well, so it was great to eat something smooth and warm and filling. In fact, the soup was quite filling, so by the time I actually got around to my meal, most of my initial hunger had been depleted. We both got fish dishes—grilled salmon with lentils, Kalamata olives, blood oranges and cherry tomatoes and the pan fried trout with spicy remoulade and tossed arugula salad. The salmon was amazing. The salty olives with the sweet tomatoes was a better combination than I originally thought. If there had been a fork big enough to piece each component of the meal together in every bite, I would’ve done that. The pan fried trout was good as well. The portion was quite oversized. I only saw one piece on my plate, but as I made my way through the salad, I came across another huge piece under the leaves. Needless to say, the plate was unfinished. The trout was mild, but the spicy remoulade enhanced its subtle flavor. The salad was simple as well with arugula leaves, cherry tomatoes and light vinaigrette.

The dinner selections are not lengthy, but each one sounds delightful—a variety of salads, pastas and meats each with its own interesting plate line up. The next thing on my list to try is the grilled chicken with plantains and mustard greens. Luna Park has a great brunch and lunch menu as well. For breakfast, you can try the polenta porridge, a fried egg sandwich on brioche or a white fish sandwich marinated in yellow curry. The lunch menu offers a different special everyday—try the chilaquiles on Monday or the grilled sea bass on Friday or go for the grilled cheezlitz sandwich and tomato soup on those brisk fall days. The most fun and perhaps the signature dessert is the S’mores, but there’s also a chocolate peanut butter pie and mini apple pies served caramel sauce and ice cream. Everything sounds more than yum! To me, Happy Hour is king. Luna Park aims to please Monday through Friday from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm with discounted bar foods (all under $5) and several cocktails all offered at a similar price. No complaints here.

Perhaps you’re wondering what the ‘lucky’ reference in the title of this post means in relation to the restaurant. Yes, I was lucky to eat a fabulous meal with a great friend, but I was even luckier to see this beautiful man:

The man who plays Neil on the show was there looking beyond sexy with his date. Somehow he packed his bulging body into a t-shirt that was probably a size smedium (that’s a small/medium)! He’s so cute, though, that I let that slide. But I digress…

Put Luna Park on your list of restaurants to try. Enjoy your meal, enjoy your drink and enjoy a star sighting. Visit their website to make a reservation!