Its easy to drop in at Melrose Bar & Grill, a laid-back, moderately priced restaurant with a friendly neighborhood vibe. Formerly the more chichi Doug Arangos, the restaurant was transformed by the siblings (and one husband) who own and run it. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Chef Christopher Bennett, left, chats with patrons at the bar. His casual, tasty food complements the wine list picked by his brother-in-law, sommelier Robert Evans. Theres a comprehensive, intelligent version for oenophiles and a short but not dumbed-down version for the rest of us. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
The crowd is mostly people who live or work in the neighborhood. Some come for the $10 martinis, some for a glass of wine the bar faces the open kitchen. Others grab a quick supper or linger with a bottle of wine and some friends. Its not church, but its not that noisy either. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Southwest matzo ball soup gets an unexpected bit of verve from cilantro and lemon. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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The Mediterranean platter is a medley of sliced grilled chicken, hummus, tzatziki and quinoa tabbouleh with roasted red peppers, olives and pita bread, freshly baked in-house. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
