Providing a snug answer to Angelenos' cries for helpings of substance along with the obligatory dose of style, Nook points to its tagline, "Find us in the corner." The neat little bistro, tucked somewhat obscurely in a non-descript West L.A. strip mall, offers some of the city's best American comfort food quietly but with the authority of James Richardson's stellar epicurean finesse. It's stylish but with soul – the kind of place where braised pork belly and sautéed rapini fit right alongside burgers and mac and cheese. Seating only 30 or so diners at a time, this tiny treasure is a tried-and-true treat for those who know that the best gifts sometimes come in small packages.
Beer and wine available. Serving lunch Mon–Thur, dinner Mon–Sat. Closed Sun.
Zagat 2010: 24 food rating (very good to excellent)
Los Angeles Times: ** (very good)
"Nook, a smart new bistro in West Los Angeles, is a hidden jewel."
– S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times
"James Richardson is a fairly clever chef, and his cooking manages to be wholly of itself while winking at its own familiarity."
– Jonathan Gold, Los Angeles Weekly
"James Richardson's cooking has a wholesome undercurrent. ... The goal is not to impress but to satisfy."
—Los Angeles magazine