Discussed in this issue:
📝 From My Desk — The new interactive restaurant guide that you should be excited about.
🍽️ Eating This Week — I think I found the best dumplings in LA, and Squab is on the menu in San Francisco.
🎙️ The Conversation — Matt Belloni makes his predictions on the end-of-year box office, WarnerMount, and which company will grow the most in the next 5 years.
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From Jamie’s Desk:
In May, Jamie’s List celebrated its 8 year anniversary – a journey I wrote about here in full. Since hitting that milestone, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can improve the Jamie’s List newsletter. I love sharing thoughts about politics, movies, theater, sports – but I know that so many of you are actually here for the food. My goal is to give the people what they want, so I have heard that and am excited to announce some big changes.
The newsletter in your inbox will still look and feel similar to what you have been getting, with a slight redesign. But the big changes will come at the new Jamie’s List website, which will include the following features:
The Guide. This is new, and maybe what excites me most. Everyone always asks me where to eat – now, you can ask on the website, which will pull from my database of restaurants from across the globe. Do you want a fancy dinner on the Upper East Side? Or a casual bite in San Francisco? Ask the guide and get your recs!
The Lists. Going to Miami and need a quick hit-list? The “lists” tab now features lists for cities, composed of spots curated by myself and the crew.
The full newsletter archive on the website. Looking for a specific dumpling spot or the name of the restaurant I met JB Pritzker at? Just search in our archive!
Episodes of Lunch With Jamie. Easily find audio and video links for podcast episodes here.
Now, all of this comes at a price. As a free subscriber, you will get limited access to this – but we would love it if you would make this the time to become a paying member. There is a $10/month option, which I promise you is only a fraction of what this site offers. And I'll do you one better: when you sign up for an annual plan, the first month is on me.
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You’re currently a free subscriber. Support Jamie’s List and unlock exclusive perks, from the restaurant guide to city lists and archives.
As always, thank you for supporting Jamie’s List. We are a tiny team who are learning as we go, and value feedback. I am so appreciative of each and every one of you who read this newsletter, send your kind words (or even better, constructive comments), and recommend it to others.
Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]
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Paying subscribers get extra: the lists, access to the full newsletter archive, our food guide tool, curated city lists, and more.
Last week, I wrote about how Hollywood is back (and more specifically, the movies). Well, of course I had to invite Matt Belloni, host of The Town podcast and writer of Hollywood’s most prominent newsletter What I’m Hearing, onto Lunch With Jamie.
It couldn’t have happened at a better time. It was a record-breaking box office weekend, with Spider Man: Brand New Day hitting $355 million, the second biggest opening weekend behind Avengers: End Game. We spoke about the success of the film, whether or not theaters need to curate a premium experience, and what we think the end of the year box office numbers are going to look like. You might be surprised by Matt’s analysis.
Of course, we had to get into WarnerMount, and whether or not it’ll happen. We spoke about the delay, what Matt thinks the next steps are, and more. Finally, I had Matt put on his predicting hat, and say which company he’d take a chance on if he were an investor. It’s a good way to gauge the direction the industry is going – and given Matt’s expertise, his finger is on the pulse.
This is a can’t-miss conversation for any of you working in Hollywood, or anyone with interest in the state of the industry. COVID, strikes, and the fires changed things – but I truly believe that Hollywood is coming back better than ever. Have a listen and let me know if you agree.
Photo Credit: Love Beverly Hills
📍Los Angeles: Mama Lu’s Dumpling House
Cuisine: Cantonese with a Taiwanese Twist
Crew: Alex Tse, Anthony Jacobson, Ben Hundreds, Eli Meyer, James Ponsoldt, Jerrold Son, Kate Burr, Max Winkler, Eater, The Infatuation, The LA Times, Time Out
Good For: Small Groups, Large Groups, Private Events, Casual, Business Lunch, Take Out
Pro Tip: One of the most underrated perks in my mind is a TV, so that if you want to eat some food and watch some sports – this is the place.
What to Order: Har Gow, Shiu Mai, Bean Curd Roll, Shrimp Rice Noodle, Shrimp and Chive Pancake, Xiao Long Bao, Beef Wrap, Spicy Wontons, Green Onion Fried Pancake, Shanghai Rice Cake, Beef Chow Fun, Pan Fried Noodles, Garlic Pea Sprouts, Peking Duck.
Notes: The quest for great Chinese food in the heart of major cities is never ending. As someone who was literally known as “Chinese Food Kid” when this newsletter began, it is one of the questions I get the most. And whether you are in NYC, London or LA – the answer is always tricky. I am not sure what the exact reason is for it. I have my guesses, but nevertheless, the options are always limited. Obviously, in LA proper you have places like Genghis Cohen, (which I have to eliminate from the conversation since I am an investor) but of course is awesome, but others like Xi'an and iXLB – but Mama Lu's has officially reached the mantle of best Chinese in that area. This place has it all: from dim sum to NY style, lunch specials to Peking Duck. Not to mention, with Mama Lu's team taking over, they expanded the dumpling offerings – even selling their famous frozen dumplings to take home. This place has a few private room options which are always great, as well as a patio if you want to eat outside. Plus, the whole staff is lovely and helpful. They have multiple locations throughout Southern California, from Arcadia to Tustin (and even one in Vegas), but the Beverly Hills one is my go-to.
Photo Credit: Max Shapiro
📍Los Angeles: Sushi:K (reviewed by Max Shapiro for Mad Food World)
Cuisine: Japanese
Crew: Ben Hundreds, James Ponsoldt, Jamie Patricof, Kate Burr, Max Winkler, The Infatuation
Good For: Date Night, Business Dinner
Pro Tip: Ask to sit at the bar in front of Tomo. Omakase at a table is for amateurs!
What to Order: Omakase
Notes: When I first went to Sushi K, I assumed it would be another perfectly fine, totally forgettable neighborhood sushi joint tucked into South Beverly Hills. You know the type. Pleasant. Safe. Gone from your memory by the time you get in the car. That is not what happened. What I got instead was a genuinely promising omakase at a price point that frankly makes no sense in 2026. $83. For an experience built largely on fish coming out of Toyosu Market in Tokyo. That alone should make you pause. Chef Tomo Kawamura is the real deal in the ways that actually matter. Warm. Humble. Fun. Fully Invested. You can feel that this place is personal to him. He cooks like someone who cares deeply about what he is putting in front of you and who he is putting it in front of. The best part is that Tomo listened. He took the notes. He improved. He is refining constantly. New fish coming in. Subtle tweaks to the rice. A clear effort to keep the menu interesting while staying true to what the place is supposed to be. So consider this your nudge. Support this place. Not out of pity. Out of appreciation. The product is good. The pricing is borderline insane. And the people running it are genuinely kind. I do not want to gatekeep a place like this. I want it to be hard to get a reservation because everyone figured it out. An $83 omakase served by a chef with a heart of gold.
To see the rest of Max’s review, as well as other hot LA dining picks, subscribe to Mad Food World.
Photo Credit: The Infatuation
📍Montauk: Alimentari Beach (reviewed by Jon Patricof)
Cuisine: Italian
Crew: Goop, The Infatuation
Good For: Casual, Small Groups
Pro Tip: If there are 8 or more in your party, you can reach out and book a family style reservation. Otherwise, it’s walk-in only.
What to Order: Stewed Meatballs, Roast Pork Sandwich, “The Clam” Pizza, Casarecce Alla Norma
Notes: Alimentari has been around since 2021 so there is nothing new here, but measured against the rising number of too-expensive, non-fine dining places, it hits the spot. The pizza is top-notch, as are the pastas, and the homemade bread for their sandwiches really puts it over the top. I will say the clam pizza can go toe-to-toe with any I have had. Sam’s in East Hampton has been one of my favorites but this place somewhat picks up where Sam’s left off, which is a very good place to start and build upon.
Photo Credit: Eater SF
📍San Francisco: Four Kings (reviewed by Martha Patricof)
Cuisine: Izakaya-style Cantonese
Crew: Jon Yao, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, Food & Wine, Michelin Guide, The Infatuation
Good For: Date Night, Small Groups, Casual
Pro Tip: Be sure to keep the dishes of complimentary peanuts and pickled cucumbers refilled - they are delicious.
What to Order: Squab, Szechuan Cabbage, Beef Chow Fun, Escargots, Feta-Dressed Snap Peas, Clay Pot Rice with Chinese Sausage and Bacon
Notes: Ordering squab would not be our custom, but we were intrigued and well-rewarded with an absolutely delicious treatment of that bird. That the Tsingtao beer is served in a true icy cold tells you what to order for drinking. This place is an unforgettable experience in a very fun, congenial setting – A+ all around.
🎺 LA’s first ever Jazz Festival starts this week, with concerts from over 150 artists, including Jamie’s List member John Legend, Janelle Monaé, and more on the final weekend at Dockweiler. For more information on where to find performances throughout the city, click here!
🎥 The new Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, is out tomorrow. As a fan, I can’t wait to see this film. Congrats to all of the Jamie’s List subscribers at A24!
🎭 Broadway sensation Oh, Mary! is coming to CTG this fall, with Alaska Thunderfuck playing the titular role. Buy your tickets here and use the code JAMIESLIST for a discount!
🎬 And another film in theaters – One Night Only – is also out now. It’s directed by Jamie’s List member Will Gluck.
🎂 Happy birthday to Chris Messina, Ella Dahan, Magnus Berger, Matt Jackson, and Sean Smith!!
Anything we should have on our radar? Just reply to this email with any upcoming releases, events, or something fun.
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