Photos: First & Hope
![The restaurant, located in the corner of a strip mall, is inconspicuous from the outside. The interior, designed by Jeremy Ingram, is another story.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2b26a79/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x346+0+0/resize/500x346!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2F01%2F42d68de032dead674c808d9d995c%2Fla-fo-review01-l59yq2nc.jpg)
The restaurant, located in the corner of a strip mall, is inconspicuous from the outside. The interior, designed by Jeremy Ingram, is another story. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
![First & Hope](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6ae9710/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x337+0+0/resize/500x337!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fda%2Fef%2Fbf077ca6eef3fdf1791295f647af%2Fla-fo-review02-l59ythnc.jpg)
BBQ fried oysters (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
![First & Hope](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dc5c3d2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/283x425+0+0/resize/283x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F28%2F72%2F3afd575b162f4dee9efdddc5adbf%2Fla-fo-review03-l59ytync.jpg)
The bar at the supper club takes its drinks seriously. Here, a custom creation on a Farmer’s Market Thursday involving strawberries, jalapeno, cilantro and tequila. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
![First & Hope](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f09f543/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x322+0+0/resize/500x322!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F53%2F92%2F2af79891b6644546487d46d712e1%2Fla-fo-review04-l59ys7nc.jpg)
The bar area has an Enomatic wine dispensing machine. The machine pours from 32 bottles, offering 1, 3 and 6 ounces and preserves the integrity of a bottle for up to 30 days. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
![First & Hope](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2b77f7c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x324+0+0/resize/500x324!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F16%2Fa5%2F69e49bd6ce874f2fce45e7620c42%2Fla-fo-review05-l59yujnc.jpg)
“All-about-the-cheese” mac & cheese flight; Fiscalini xtra mature cheddar, lasagnette & Ritz crackers, left, Cypress Grove goat cheese, conchiglie & popped corn, middle and Porter Beer cheese, corkscrew pasta & rye croutons, all for $18, at First and Hope. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
![First & Hope](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/af52a2f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x336+0+0/resize/500x336!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F75%2F50%2F2cb62677d57498130da58361a8e5%2Fla-fo-review06-l59ysrnc.jpg)
Backyard BBQ chicken; Harrison Farms corn-fed Georgia chicken, blue cheese coleslaw, bacon baby yams and grilled peach BBQ sauce. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
![First & Hope](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/62cfc78/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x332+0+0/resize/500x332!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2F2a%2F4c7be8fccaf3106064fb5e4d95ce%2Fla-fo-review07-l59yrdnc.jpg)
Moonshine Meatloaf; Ground chuck, foie gras & gin meatloaf wrapped in black bacon, potato & pearl onion hash, with brown butter green bean bundles and carmelized tomato marmalade. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
![First & Hope](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/80187c8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x343+0+0/resize/500x343!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5c%2F4a%2F152b48a1e250c29c477c6db28e91%2Fla-fo-review08-l59yvlnc.jpg)
The dining room features high-backed banquettes. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
![First & Hope](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ee635ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x347+0+0/resize/500x347!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F57%2F2d%2Fe53999e7b43076b4d093559edae9%2Fla-fo-review09-l59yswnc.jpg)
Lemon meringue beehive; Coconut macaroon, lemon curd, lemon-thyme ice cream & toasted marshmallow beehive. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)