Kismet, the new Middle Eastern restaurant by the Madcapra and Animal teams in Los Feliz, is now open

From a new Filipino sweets shop to a subterranean karaoke bar, here’s what’s happening in the L.A. food and drink world:

Meant to be: Kismet, the new Los Feliz restaurant by Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson of Madcapra in Grand Central Market, and Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Animal and Jon and Vinny’s, opened Saturday. The Mediterranean-leaning restaurant, whose name means destiny or fate in Arabic, occupies the space that was formerly Mother Dough. Menu highlights include crispy rice with a runny egg yolk, lemon chicken pies and kohlrabi salad with toasted pine nuts. Kismet is open daily 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 4648 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 409-0404

Get down: Subterranean Koreatown karaoke with cocktails from noted barman Devon Espinosa? Yes, please. The Venue, a new bar and lounge with food from chef Kayson Chong (who has cooked at BLT Steak), will open Jan. 26. The Venue will have 13 private karaoke rooms big enough for a party of 50. Menu items include beef tongue; rib-eye with horseradish cream; and a list of late-night snacks. Espinosa is mixing the cocktails and for dessert there will be alcohol-infused ice cream served in a punch bowl. You also will be able to order DIY bar cart bottle service for the karaoke rooms. 3470 Wilshire Blvd. No. B1, Los Angeles, (213) 221-1251, www.thevenuela.com.

Baked: FrankieLucy Bakeshop, a new bakery from Kristine de la Cruz of Crème Caramel L.A. in Sherman Oaks and Annie Choi of Found Coffee, has opened in Silver Lake. The menu includes Filipino-inspired sweets, including seasonal crème caramel, upside-down pies, bread pudding, budinos, panna cotta and vegan chia seed pudding. You can also order savory custard dishes including quiche. And there’s plenty of coffee, along with bourbon vanilla lattes and vegan horchata. 3116½ Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 285-1458, www.frankielucybakeshop.com.

Coffee stop: Groundwork Coffee Co. has opened a new location in the restored North Hollywood historic train depot. The café serves brewed coffee from the Groundwork North Hollywood roastery three blocks away, as well as espresso drinks and made-to-order food items, and baked goods made at the Groundwork’s Venice Beach bakery. 11275 Chandler Blvd., North Hollywood, (818) 423-2626, www.groundworkcoffee.com.

Las Vegas crowd: A location of Beauty & Essex, Chris Santos’ Las Vegas and New York City restaurant, as well as a location of Tao restaurant, will both open in Hollywood later this winter. Both are part of the new Dream Hollywood development by the Dream Hotel Group. They will open at Selma Avenue and North Cahuenga Boulevard.

Echo Park boathouse: Beacon, a new café in the Echo Park Lake community, is now open. The restaurant, with food from executive chef Emmanuel Garcia, is now serving coffee, tea, pastries and a few other food items. Eventually Garcia plans to serve an American breakfast, brunch and lunch; dinner is coming in the spring. Expect avocado toast, crab toast, poke bowls, salads and Spam sandwiches. 751 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles, www.beaconechopark.com.

Free chili: Philippe the Original is holding its seventh annual Free Chili Day on Jan. 24. Here’s how it works: Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the first 500 customers will receive a voucher for a free cup of Dolores Chili with the purchase of a sandwich. The restaurant has been selling Dolores Chili since the ’70s. 1001 Alameda St., Los Angeles, (213) 628-3781, www.philippes.com.

Still hungry? SlapFish has opened a location in San Clemente. OC Restaurant Week is happening March 5-11. New York City’s Russ & Daughters is the latest to participate in Alma at the Standard’s Doughnut with Friends series. By Chloe in Silver Lake is making a vegan version of In-N-Out Animal-style fries, called Oh So Fancy Fries.

Jenn.Harris@latimes.com

@Jenn_Harris_

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