{"id":285445,"date":"2026-04-25T11:24:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T11:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/285445\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T11:24:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T11:24:30","slug":"jumbos-dancer-scarlett-kapellas-perfect-steak-night-in-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/285445\/","title":{"rendered":"Jumbo\u2019s Dancer Scarlett Kapella\u2019s Perfect Steak Night in Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scarlett Kapella, the multi-hyphenate visual artist and veteran Jumbo\u2019s Clown Room<\/a> dancer, knows her steaks. Raised in the Palm Springs area<\/a>, her introduction to the genre came by way of the steakhouses<\/a> that cater to weekend warrior golfers and silver foxes who prowl the Coachella Valley. \u201cIt\u2019s always been a go-to for me when it comes to special occasion stuff,\u201d Kapella says. \u201cAnd then obviously when I started dating, I felt like that was the safe bet.\u201d<\/p>\n

After two decades in Los Angeles, Kapella now has her fair share of haunts across the Southland<\/a>. She recalls late-night steaks at the now-closed Pacific Dining Car in Downtown Los Angeles<\/a> and a former love affair with Musso and Frank Grill<\/a>, which has since cooled. \u201cI just remember kind of ending up [at Pacific Dining Car] at wee hours of the morning and sitting next to a sex worker\u2013John duo, but then having the perfectly charred steak,\u201d Kapella says. \u201cI love all the family-style stuff. I really miss that place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kapella\u2019s career has long leaped across different facets of the hospitality industry. Outside of her work at Jumbo\u2019s, where she performs under the stage name \u201cPantera,\u201d Kapella is behind \u201cBitch! You Strippin\u2019,\u201d<\/a> an ongoing photo project spotlighting dancers across the country. Kapella also used to host a pop-up stripper-infused dinner show called \u201cTopless Tapas\u201d with the late chef Jonathan Whitener. \u201cThere is a gap in the market when it comes to food and clubs, like strip clubs,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Kapella points to the Lodge, a Dallas strip club<\/a> where dancers emerge from caves, as an example of how those worlds can meet. \u201cIf I worked there, I would come out dressed straight up as a cavewoman with a club,\u201d she says. \u201cThey have the nicest steaks I\u2019ve ever had in my life.\u201d Most recently, Kapella published Wine Me, Dine Me, 69 Me<\/a>, a cookbook that pairs recipes like Key lime pie with photos of the iconic dancers at Jumbo\u2019s.<\/p>\n

These days, you can find Kapella tucked into a red leather booth in a dim room, perched in front of a New York strip or filet mignon (cooked to medium) and no less than two-and-a-half dirty vodka martinis. \u201cI\u2019m such a briny bitch,\u201d she says. \u201cI love a good olive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eater spoke to Kapella about her favorite steakhouses, ideal steak order, and why she thinks the genre remains so timeless. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.<\/p>\n

Check out more of High Steaks<\/p>\n

Rebecca Roland: What are your favorite steakhouses?<\/p>\n

Scarlett Kapella: I\u2019ve been really into the Venice Room in Monterey Park<\/a>; it involves grilling your own steak<\/a>. I like that place just because it\u2019s so seedy and campy. I think they have karaoke almost every night, so there\u2019s an element of entertainment. And then they have all those insane murals, presumably of Venice. There\u2019s obviously a little bit of work involved in [grilling your own steak], and you have to really trust your skill. There\u2019s nothing worse than buying something and then fucking it up yourself. It\u2019s like sleeping next to your phone charger, but then your phone isn\u2019t plugged in all night.<\/p>\n

I also love Dear John\u2019s in Culver City<\/a> from start to finish. Their signage is so beautiful. I feel like it\u2019s so dark in there, you can straight up murder someone and get away with it, which obviously comes in handy. They make the Caesar salads at your table, and they take it really seriously. I\u2019m a basic bitch at heart. So any place that offers a perfect Caesar<\/a>, I\u2019m all in.<\/p>\n

Venice Room, Dear John\u2019s \u2014 those are almost like sister restaurants in my head. I know, obviously, they\u2019re not, but depending on which side of town you\u2019re on, I feel like it\u2019s all that sexy red booth situation. If Jumbo\u2019s were to have a steakhouse baby, it would maybe be one of those, either the D.I.Y. steak one or the Culver City Dear John\u2019s.<\/p>\n

A good classic place that works for business and pleasure would be Smoke House in Burbank<\/a>: there are strong drinks, and it\u2019s a good place to meet people for any sort of business meeting. And Fia Steak<\/a>, that place is insane. Their tasting menu is so, so good. It still kind of has old Hollywood charm, but I feel like it\u2019s a good modern twist on it. Everything on their menu is so good, almost foolproof.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The spread at Dear John\u2019s. Wonho Frank Lee<\/p>\n

\"dear<\/a><\/p>\n

Wonho Frank Lee<\/p>\n

\"Inside<\/a><\/p>\n

Wonho Frank Lee<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your ideal steakhouse order?<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to say I\u2019m a basic bitch again, but I\u2019m such a sucker for a wedge<\/a>, a good wedge. I don\u2019t want to say three dirty martinis, but definitely two and a half dirty martinis. If there\u2019s blue cheese olive as an option, I\u2019m always going to go for that. Any place that offers a Hugo spritz<\/a>, that\u2019s a perfect attitude adjustment. They taste like a Sprite; they go down so easy.<\/p>\n

When it comes to cuts of steak, I always like a New York strip or, of course, the filet, but I\u2019m such a sauce girly. If there\u2019s a peppercorn sauce, then take my firstborn. That\u2019s all I want in life, that peppercorn sauce. That\u2019s kind of what I live for. I guess that would be my perfect meal \u2014 very lubed up with martinis or a Hugo spritz and a good peppercorn sauce.<\/p>\n

Obviously, I order my steak medium. I grew up in a household that was very scorched earth when it came to cooking steaks, and I don\u2019t know why that was. I had training wheels when it came to properly cooked steaks. Gordon Ramsay would call someone an idiot sandwich if they presented him with how cooked these steaks were. But now I\u2019m to the point where I\u2019m like, \u201cOkay, I\u2019m a medium girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

I think that every good outing would have to end with a nightcap at Jumbo\u2019s with a dirty Shirley and watching Lola or Delilah dance to the Arctic Monkeys. That\u2019s the perfect night for me. Steakhouse, nightcap at Jumbo\u2019s, that\u2019s it. (Editor\u2019s note: Kapella also recommends bartender Michelle\u2019s hot chocolate cookies, which can be served as a cookie tower for special occasions. \u201cThrow your life savings at Lola, my favorite dancer and first jailhouse call,\u201d she says.)<\/p>\n

What should be on a steakhouse playlist? <\/p>\n

A perfectly appetizing playlist, in my opinion, would be a melange of sexy deep cuts and familiar classics. When I launched Wine Me, my soundtrack was sprinkled with food and drink references like \u201cI Need Lunch\u201d by Dead Boys, \u201cSpill the Wine\u201d by Eric Burdon, \u201cPeaches\u201d by Stranglers, and \u201cIce Cream\u201d by New Young Pony Club. Other chill dinner-friendly genres include \u201850s and \u201860s exotica and Japanese surf rock. As always, when in doubt, play Air!<\/p>\n

\"Overhead<\/a><\/p>\n

Scarlett Kapella. Courtesy of Scarlett Kapella<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your favorite steakhouse booth in Los Angeles?<\/p>\n

My favorite booth would be the darkest corner available (any lighting over 3200 Kelvin is unacceptable). Please seat me away from the swinging doors of the kitchen and out of earshot of a busser station.<\/p>\n

How many olives do you get in your martini? <\/p>\n

I\u2019d say I\u2019m a three olive girlie; two for me, one to share.<\/p>\n

Why do you think steakhouses are so timeless?<\/p>\n

I think there\u2019s an element of comfort in a steakhouse<\/a>. If I\u2019m going to a steakhouse, I have an inkling of what the menu is going to offer. People really respect and love old Hollywood culture. We kind of want a place that\u2019s dark and campy, yet warm and welcoming. I feel like often, in steakhouses, the servers take it really seriously. You\u2019ll have waiters who are like, \u201cThis is my career.\u201d Times are tough, and if you\u2019re going to spend a lot on a dinner, it\u2019s nice that someone takes pride in that element of it, and you kind of feel special.<\/p>\n

I try to give that same energy when it comes to greeting people at Jumbo\u2019s, getting to know them, making sure they have change, or making sure they know how it works. I feel like at steakhouses, it\u2019s more common for the servers to just really take pride in it. What\u2019s the Olive Garden slogan? When you\u2019re here, you\u2019re family?<\/p>\n

A steakhouse, a steakhouse date, or an outing to me is also an opportunity to wear the red bottom shoes and the first day of a blowout. You make sure your nails are pretty. Maybe that might be an element for me \u2014 not the performative aspect of it but putting time and effort into what you\u2019re going to wear. It\u2019s a whole song and dance with foreplay.<\/p>\n

Even if you don\u2019t order four courses, it\u2019s the whole shebang. Does the place offer valet? Can I bring my \u201872 Chevy Vega? Can I self-park? I guess steakhouses used to be such a special occasion thing for me, but now that I\u2019m able to, because of my life at Jumbo\u2019s, say, \u201cFuck it. Let\u2019s go get the $99 tasting menu. Lola\u2019s having a bad day. Let\u2019s take her to the Venice Room, and she can watch me ruin her steak.\u201d It\u2019s an easily accessible thing that\u2019s classic and comforting, but still feels so Frank Sinatra.<\/p>\n

Scarlett Kapella is a Los Angeles\u2013based dancer and visual artist with an emphasis on all things erotic. She is best known for her stage performances at Jumbo\u2019s Clown Room and her photography series BITCH! You Strippin\u2019, which spotlights dancers across the United States. Her performance credits include PornHub x Richardson Magazine A12 release, The Other Art Fair, Dave Chappelle\u2019s Dave & Buster\u2019s party, Scott Hove\u2019s Cakeland, and Jeffrey Campbell x Bettie Page where she also served as a programming partner. Her work has been featured in Dazed, Juxtapoz, Drome, Bad Seed, LA Weekly, Swill, Exotika, I-D, and Richardson Magazine. She is the co-creator of Topless Tapas, a pop-up stripper-infused dinner experience. Most recently, Scarlett was highlighted in Los Angeles Magazine and Playboy. Her literary debut, Wine Me, Dine Me, 69 Me, was featured in the Los Angeles Times.<\/p>\n