Chef Kevin Meehan’s perspective shifted when he realized that the California-inspired, produce-oriented tasting menu he had served for nearly a decade at his Melrose Avenue restaurant Kali had started feeling tired. So in July 2025, inspired by the timelessness of Musso & Frank, Meehan turned his menu into an ode to midcentury steakhouses. Though that brought a wide martini menu, wood-grilled chops, and reliable side dishes, Meehan thought the menu change would lead to the loss of the restaurant’s Michelin star. It thankfully didn’t, even as Kali has become more of a regular neighborhood hangout with a bustling bar that projects every Dodger game on the wall and a dimly lit dining room gathering meat-seeking Angelenos. It’s a formula that should outlast any dining trends for the foreseeable future.
Dodger fans who want more than the standard sports bar fare; Musso & Frank fans who couldn’t get a reservation at the classic Hollywood haunt; business dinners where your clients will walk away agreeing to whatever you want thanks to that strong martini; steakhouse fans who want fine dining–level elegance without the fuss.
Kali’s classic martinis that come with more than a dozen customizations arrive with a side car, a la Musso & Frank. But the Martinez could be the most impressive drink on the menu, mixing gin, vermouth, Luxardo maraschino, and orange bitters for a balanced, refreshing sipper.
Steakhouses have been trending lately: they run the gamut from casual to extravagant. Kali sticks to a tried-and-true formula in an approachable space that belies its Michelin-worthiness. Pop in for a drink and a steak at the bar, or go all-out in the dining room with the most refined steakhouse experience in Los Angeles.