I went to the LA steakhouse frequented by TikTok's hottest influencers and left feeling like a social-media star

BOA Steakhouse isn't new to West Hollywood by any means. In fact, it's been open for two decades. So why has it suddenly become the go-to dinner spot for the likes of Charli D'Amelio and Addison Rae?

The answer likely lies in Paul Antosca, who has been its manager for the last two years.

When I met Antosca in front of BOA last week, one of the first things I asked him was whether turning the restaurant into a hot spot for TikTok stars had always been part of his master plan.

"That was never the goal," Antosca told me. "For me, every guest is the same. Hospitality is in my blood, I find ways to make everyone's days. It's truly about taking care of every guest, and giving an over-the-top BOA Steakhouse experience."

Antosca prides himself on the connections that he's made with his regulars, famous or not. It was this attention to detail, this ability to make everyone feel like a star, that caught the attention of The Hype House — one of TikTok's most influential collectives — a few months ago.

"The first time The Hype House came in, it was the chance to display that we already knew them, the chance to give them a hospitality experience they've probably never gotten before," Antosca said. "Now we see them often in our restaurant."

BOA sits underneath an otherwise nondescript office building on Sunset Boulevard, but it's now instantly recognizable in the TMZ-esque clips that Greene captures for his hit YouTube channel The Hollywood Fix. The restaurant's perfectly groomed shrubs, paired with the neon-blue sign advertising a real-estate firm that sits on top of the high-rise, have become as familiar to Gen Z as the fairy lights that hang outside Saddle Ranch.

Both restaurants are part of Greene's weekly rotation, delivering a constant stream of social-media stars who are usually more than happy to give him soundbites about their various feuds and ever-changing love lives.

"Part of what has made the Hollywood Fix the go-to outlet for influencers is the relationship Mr. Greene has with his subjects," Taylor Lorenz notes in a recent Times article about the 38-year-old's rising paparazzi career. "They know that he has done his research and takes their careers seriously."

The appeal of both BOA and Greene, it seems, is validation. While influencers might be in the shadows of big-name actors — or various Kardashians — at most Hollywood hot spots, at BOA they are the stars.

But I wanted to know what going to BOA is like for everyone else.

I half-expected to see a line of socially distant diners and groups of excited fans outside. But the street was nearly silent as I got out of the car.

There were hints, though, that this isn't your average restaurant.

A red Porsche blasting Cardi B sped away from the valet. A woman wearing a plain white T-shirt walked by in 6-inch stilettos so thin, they seemed to disappear in the fading sunlight. Three teen boys with matching haircuts and pristine white Nikes had their temperatures checked at the door.

Even with no sign of Greene — who I later saw had been parked outside TAO for the night – I knew this dinner wouldn't be ordinary.

If you look up BOA Steakhouse on Instagram, you'll find an endless stream of photos snapped out front. Some have 18 likes, others have more than a million. Whether it's for your fans or your friends, there's clearly some flex in being able to post a photo of yourself with that neon-red sign.

BOA also caters to a more private clientele. Antosca told me that the restaurant has a side entrance available for diners who'd rather not encounter flashing cameras before dinner.

It was, Antosca emphasized to me, just one of BOA's many perks that are available to everyone — no matter their social-media clout.

The area was completely empty of diners due to California's current COVID-19 restrictions, and the air was filled with the delicious scent of steak.

When I had made my reservation two days prior (and was surprised to find how easy it was to get a 7:30 p.m. table on such short notice), BOA's system asked if I was celebrating a special occasion. Getting a personalized dessert is essential to the influencer experience at BOA, plus Jessica's birthday was actually just a few days away, so I marked yes and requested that they write a special message on our dessert.

But that was just the beginning. Antosca later emailed me and asked what Jessica's favorite colors were and if she had any special interests. When he came to our table, Antosca revealed that he was wearing a silk white shirt decorated with multi-colored brushstrokes — an ode to Jessica's love of art.

"I have about 700 dress shirts, with colors and shapes for any occasion," Antosca told us. "Even dinosaurs."

Nearly every influencer orders the Snow Beef Wagyu when they come to BOA. It's $50 per ounce, but you must order a minimum of three ounces.

"It's a very exclusive item, and ties into being fancy to a lot of the influencers," Antosca told me. "They feel like they're high rolling."

We also asked our waiter to recommend the most popular side dishes among influencers and, per his suggestions, opted for the $34 lobster mac and cheese and the $29 truffle mashed potatoes. This was definitely going to be one extravagant dinner.

It should be noted, though, that there are plenty of more affordable options on the menu. BOA has a number of steaks in the $50-$70 range, a $24 pasta dish, and a slew of sides for less than $15.

Jessica got the $16 Blackberry Smash, while I opted for the $16 BOA Fusion — which Antosca swore tasted exactly like a watermelon Jolly Rancher.

When the drinks came to the table, I instantly recognized the BOA Fusion from the tagged Instagram photos. And Antosca's description was spot on. The drink — made with vodka, fresh pineapple, fresh watermelon, and watermelon liqueur — was one of the best cocktails I've had in a long time. Super smooth and just the right amount of sweet, it was refreshing without tasting artificial or syrupy.

Antosca told us that Flood loves to make the rounds around BOA's tables every hour so that he can chat with diners.

As he dropped off the plates, Flood explained to us that the tuna was dotted with two different types of aioli — one was buttery and smooth while the other had a quick and spicy kick, both delicious — then wished Jessica a happy birthday and talked with us a little, before moving on to the next table.

In hindsight, three ounces doesn't sound large to begin with — but math was never really my strong suit. I had hoped to re-create Bryce Hall's Instagram profile photo with BOA's most exclusive steak, but it was clear that we had far different budgets when it came to a Wednesday night dinner.

But Antosca had assured me that this steak was worth every penny, no matter how few the bites.

"I have a 100% feedback rate of guests saying it's the best steak they've ever tasted," he told me. "Only two cattle are harvested each month to ensure it's the highest quality of beef to uphold. It literally melts in your mouth."

Both Jessica and I agreed that the Snow Beef Wagyu is easily the best steak we've ever tasted.

The steak was so soft and juicy, it almost dissolved in my mouth before I started to chew. The edge had a nice, subtle char to it, while the overall flavor was rich and decadent.

"I just feel so naughty eating it because it's so good," Jessica told me. "If you're on your deathbed and had one last bite, it has to be this."

Both Jessica and I were huge fans of the lobster mac and cheese. The pasta was creamy without feeling too indulgent, and the lobster on top was juicy and soft — definitely not an afterthought.

I could have used just a touch more of that lobster taste spread throughout the mac and cheese, but overall it was absolutely delicious. I drizzled some of the Snow Beef Wagyu's leftover barbecue sauce on top, which also took the flavor profile up a notch.

The mash was super creamy and rich, without being heavy in that way where it sits on top of your stomach. I did find the dish to be a tad forgettable compared to its stellar predecessors, even with the luxurious topping. Next time I think I'll opt for the regular mash, which is half the price.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food tasted for a restaurant that was so known for its scene. And Jessica, who has lived in LA for the last eight years, confirmed that this isn't usually the norm when it comes to Hollywood hot spots like Craig's or Delilah.

"When I have friends who come into town I'm like, 'Do you actually want good food or is it just about the vibe?'" she said. "BOA actually gives both, which is hard to find in LA."

I lost track of how many times I saw these sparklers go by at BOA, which is clearly a popular place for special occasions. Even as the clock inched near 11 p.m. on the Wednesday night that I was there, people were still celebrating.

We ordered BOA's version of s'mores, which came with a rich brownie, homemade graham crackers, and a delicious marshmallow foam that tasted like a denser chocolate whipped cream. As with everything else we'd eaten that night, it was pure decadence.

In a way, BOA is the perfect emblem for social media. Just as TikTok and Instagram have broken down the barriers for who gets to be a star — turning a steady stream of teens into celebrities through the sheer power of personality (and an iPhone) — BOA is that rare Hollywood hot spot that prides itself on making everyone feel important.

It doesn't matter if you're on the A-list, or any list at all. There's no air of exclusivity, no comped meals in exchange for Instagram posts, no best table in the house. Since BOA prohibits people from taking pictures of other tables, there aren't even any flashes to indicate if anyone sitting near you is famous.

"You'd be surprised by how many guests we have inside that have been coming for years," Antosca told me. "They don't have the platform to display it, but we treat them just the same way."

As Jessica and I finished dinner, we reminisced about that Zuckerberg party we had gone to together all those years ago. How silly we had felt thinking we could fit in, but also embarrassed that we weren't confident enough to stick it out anyway.

When we had gotten ready for BOA, both Jessica and I thought we should learn from our past mistakes. So, we embraced the style of Gen Z's biggest stars, rocking up in neutral crop tops, distressed denim, and shiny accessories. But when we got to the restaurant, we realized none of that even mattered. Most of the diners were dressed to the nines, but they were clearly wearing whatever style that made them feel special. Jessica remarked that she was excited to come to BOA again, this time in one of her more daring outfits.

The appeal of BOA, I realized, isn't just that you feel like you belong. It's that you can wear whatever you want, be whoever you want, and still be made to feel like a rock — or TikTok — star.

• Read more:
• I had lunch at Peter Luger after The New York Times gave the iconic steakhouse a scathing zero-star review, and ate one of the best burgers I've ever had
• TikTok royalty Addison Rae Easterling talks about the Kardashians, pre-celebrity life, and her new podcast
• TikTok star Charli D'Amelio debuted a super sweet 'Charli' cold brew recipe with Dunkin' Donuts and it tastes like a sugar high
• TikTok star Bryce Hall could face jail time after being charged for his giant 21st birthday party. Here's how he methodically built his bad boy brand, from peeing off a balcony to pandemic partying.