Point Easy Is the Neighborhood Joint of Your Dreams

On paper, Point Easy may look like your typical holier-than-thou farm-to-table establishment. There’s a seasonally rotating lineup of small and large plates; a dedication to local and sustainable sourcing; and, of course, trendy wines, microbrews, and cocktails with ingredients you wouldn’t have at home. But step inside the six-month-old Whittier restaurant, and you’ll find regulars along the bar rail swapping stories over approachable appetizers, such as french fries and charcuterie boards, and cheekily named drinks like the sake-spiked Not My Second Rodeo. The laid-back vibe is intentional: Owners Dan Phelps and Andy Bruch, alums of the Kitchen Restaurant Group, dreamed of opening a neighborhood eatery where patrons felt at ease while enjoying contemporary riffs on American and Italian classics. With wood tables, potted-plant-lined shelves, and gray, blue, and green accents, Point Easy is that vision come to life—and a prime place for a cozy winter dinner with loved ones. Pair the mezcal- and citrus-forward 6 Days in Oaxaca with the rich duck cassoulet or the hearty radiatore all’arrabbiata, whose bundles of pasta are laden with spicy tomato sauce, cured egg yolk, and herb-infused breadcrumbs. Every bite will make you wish you lived next door.