Taste Buds: A Curated Dinner Series

Taste Buds is a curated dinner series matching like-minded locals at LA restaurants. Meet new people, try new spots, & enjoy great convos.

Taste Buds is an intimate, curated dinner series that brings The Next Fun Thing's favorite restaurant recommendations to life.

We'll gather at one of our favorite local restaurants to share a meal with people who love discovering new places just as much as you do. It's a chance to support local businesses, try somewhere new, and turn what could've been a solo dinner into a table full of great conversation.

How It Works

Reserve your seat, then complete a short profile about your interests. We'll use your responses to thoughtfully seat you with people who share similar interests, so conversation feels natural from the very first course.

Your $10 ticket includes:

• A thoughtfully curated table
• One welcome drink
• A shared appetizer for your table

All additional food and drinks are ordered and paid for individually throughout dinner.

Just in Case Someone Stands Out...

Taste Buds isn't designed as a singles event, but we've learned that meaningful connections can happen anywhere.

During the dinner, you'll have access to a guest list featuring everyone attending the experience. If someone catches your eye, whether they're sitting at your table or across the room, you can discreetly tap the heart next to their name. If they heart you back, we'll email both of you your match about an hour after the event.

Where You’ll be Dining: Wildcrust

Wildcrust is a neighborhood wood-fired restaurant and pizzeria on York Boulevard in Highland Park. The restaurant’s culinary approach reflects a global perspective, blending Italian cuisine and French technique with open-fire cooking. Wildcrust's menu rotates regularly and stretches beyond 48-hour fermented sourdough Neapolitan-style pies, with standouts like the Burrata with Kumquat Marmalade, Caesar Salad with brown butter bread crumbs, wood-grilled vegetables and proteins like the Sweet Potato with tahini butter, Garlic Miso Pork Belly, and Shiitake Beurre Blanc Branzino—all thoughtfully paired with sake, wine, or beer in a Milanese-modern room and patio.

Wildcrust is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m, with reservations available via Resy. The restaurant reserves a portion of the dining room for walk-ins every night, and offers takeout and delivery through its website. For more information, follow along on at @wildcrust.la.

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