Ammo
1155 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/871-2666
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This hip canteen proves that the designers and photographers who are regulars here know good taste in food as well as fashion. Lunch might be French lentil salad; a prosciutto, mozzarella, and arugula sandwich; or a really great burger. Start dinner with one of the kitchen's market-fresh salads or yellowfin tuna carpaccio with avocado, then follow up with a grilled pork chop with caramelized apples. The crisp, minimal setting is cool but not chilly. AE, MC, V. No dinner Sun.
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Angelini Osteria
7313 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/297-0070
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You might not guess it from the modest, rather congested dining room, but this is one of L.A.'s most celebrated Italian restaurants. The key is chef-owner Gino Angelini's thoughtful use of superb ingredients, evident in dishes such as mussels and clams in garlic, parsley, and white wine and pumpkin tortelli with butter, sage, and asparagus. An awesome lasagna verde, inspired by Angelini's grandmother, is not to be missed. Whole branzino, crusted in sea salt, and unusual specials (e.g., tender veal kidneys) consistently impress. An intelligent selection of mostly Italian wines complements the menu, and desserts like the open-face marmalade tart are baked fresh daily. AE, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch weekends.
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Asanebo
11941 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
818/760-3348
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Don't let its nondescript minimal location deter you: relatively undiscovered Asanebo is one of L.A.'s finest Japanese restaurants. Once strictly a sashimi bar, Asanebo introduced top-quality sushi to satisfy increasing local demand and also offers a wealth of innovative dishes. The affable chefs will introduce you to memorable specialties such as a caviar-topped lobster cocktail and succulent seared toro drizzled with a light garlic cream. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch weekends.
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Asia de Cuba
8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA, USA |
323/848-6000
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This hot spot, whose staying power on the fickle Sunset Strip is impressive, shares the Mondrian hotel's city views with Sky Bar, once the most exclusive nightspot in town. Prices are high but portions are often large enough to share. Signature dishes include a picadillo-style tuna tartare dubbed "Tunapica," "Lobster Mai Tai" flavored with rum and coconut, mojito-glaze steak, and Alaskan butterfish with Cuban black beans and edamame (soybean) salad. The cross-cultural experiments in the kitchen may yield mixed results, but the scene is always entertaining. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V.
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Beau Rivage
26025 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, CA, USA |
310/456-5733
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One of the few Malibu restaurants with a view of the beach and ocean, this romantic Mediterranean villa-style dining room has copper domes and lush landscaping. The expansive menu includes filet mignon with a three-mustard sauce, salmon steak with a champagne-raspberry sauce, and a strong lineup of pastas, risotto, and gnocchi. In contrast to that of some trendier Malibu haunts, the staff here is warm and welcoming. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch Mon.-Sat.
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Bistro 45
45 S. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA, USA |
626/795-2478
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As stylish and sophisticated as anything on the Westside, Bistro 45 blends rustic French cooking -- cassoulet, bouillabaisse, tarte tatin -- with more modern and fanciful California hybrids, such as seared ahi tuna with a black-and-white-sesame crust. The art deco bungalow has been tailored into a sleek environment. The wine list is among the best in town, and owner Robert Simon regularly hosts lavish winemaker dinners. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch weekends.
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BOA Steakhouse
101 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/899-4466
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This is not your father's steak house; businessmen and somber mahogany have been traded in for a fun-loving crowd in an avant-garde room with multicolor lighting fixtures. But you can still start with a prawn cocktail or a traditional Caesar salad prepared tableside before slicing your Languiole knife into a dry-aged prime New York strip or rib eye. Although the beef may not need any frills, you could opt for an embellishment such as a blue cheese or a cabernet reduction sauce. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
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Campanile
624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/938-1447
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Chef-owner Mark Peel has mastered the mix of robust Mediterranean flavors with homey Americana. Occupying a 1926 building that once housed the offices of Charlie Chaplin, Campanile is one of L.A.'s most acclaimed and beloved restaurants. Appetizers may include sweetbread ravioli with pancetta and lobster, while grilled snapper with Meyer lemon aïoli and prime rib with tapenade appear as entrées. For dessert, consider a pecan-caramel tart or chocolate beignets. Thursday night, grilled cheese sandwiches are a huge draw, as the beloved five-and-dime classic morphs into creations like goat cheese and marinated fennel on walnut toast. For an ultimate L.A. experience, come for weekend brunch on the enclosed patio. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No dinner Sun.
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Chinois on Main
2709 Main St., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/392-9025
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A once-revolutionary outpost in Wolfgang Puck's repertoire, this is still one of L.A.'s most crowded -- and noisy -- restaurants. The jazzy interior is just as loud as the clientele. The happy marriage of Asian and French cuisines yields signature dishes such as grilled Mongolian lamb chops with wok-fried vegetables, Shanghai lobster with spicy ginger-curry sauce, and Cantonese duck with fresh plum sauce. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch Sat.-Tues.
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Cicada
617 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
213/488-9488
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Cicada, certainly one of the most romantic and architecturally dramatic dining venues in L.A., occupies the ground floor of the 1928 art deco Oviatt Building. The glass doors are Lalique, carved maple columns soar two stories to a gold leaf ceiling, and from the balcony, a glamorous bar overlooks the spacious dining room. "Modern Italian" best describes the menu: shrimp ravioli in curry sauce, Maine lobster crepes, and braised veal shank with dried-fruit risotto. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch.
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Crustacean
9646 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/205-8990
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This head-turning venue is a surrealistic reproduction of colonial Vietnam. Exotic fish swim in a floor-to-ceiling aquarium and through a glass-topped "river," sunk into the marble floor, that meanders toward the bar. The French-influenced Southeast Asian menu might include lemongrass-scented bouillabaisse or salmon in a ginger emulsion. From the restaurateur's "secret kitchen," in which only family members are allowed, comes colossal tiger prawns and whole Dungeness crab simmered in sake, chardonnay, and cognac. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
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Dakota
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA, USA |
323/769-8888
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After years of neglect, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel got a face-lift and suddenly turned into party central for young Hollywood celebs. The opening of its contemporary steak house, though, is far from a superficial change, as it balances hipness with the spirit of an American classic. Snack on truffled Parmesan fries, tuck into a rib eye with chimichurri sauce, or try Scottish salmon in a sweet chili barbecue sauce. The decor follows a dress code of lots of leather and suede. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
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Derek's Bistro
181 E. Glenarm St., Pasadena, CA, USA |
626/799-5252
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This casually elegant restaurant pioneered contemporary cuisine in what was once strictly meat-and-potatoes territory. Dinner might start with seared foie gras with caramelized mangos or ethereal deep-fried oysters, followed by wild salmon in a mustard beurre blanc or a rosy rack of lamb. Sate your sweet tooth with warm brioche bread pudding with crème anglaise or a refreshing cassis granita. AE, D, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch Fri.
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Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante
8284 Melrose Ave., south of West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/852-7174
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With a look-at-me decor, complete with fire boxes and dramatic wine displays, this celebrity-owned restaurant is well known for its star-gazing opportunities. However, it also appeals to serious diners and, with a 40-plus page wine list, to oenophiles. The contemporary Italian cuisine includes dishes such as saffron risotto with veal, gold sea bass with fennel, and osso buco. To keep costs down, consider the enoteca menu, which lists interesting small plates. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
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Drago
2628 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/828-1585
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Native Sicilian Celestino Drago's home-style fare is carefully prepared and attentively served in stark designer surroundings. White walls and white linen-covered tables line both sides of a floating service station dressed up with a towering arrangement of fresh flowers. The menu adds sophisticated finishes to rustic foundations in dishes such as pappardelle tossed in a pheasant and morel mushroom sauce, squid-ink risotto, or pan-roasted rabbit in sweet-and-sour sauce. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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Encounter
209 World Way, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
310/215-5151
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If you're flying to L.A., you can begin or end your trip with a stop by the dramatic Theme Building for a meal with a runway view. Designers from Walt Disney Imagineering whipped up the intergalactic atmosphere. Choices such as tuna tartare, Peking-style duck, and roasted chicken with a mustard cream sauce certainly beat airplane fare. The place, with its colorful, futuristic design and close encounters with rumbling 747s, is a delight for kids of all ages. AE, MC, V.
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Gladstone's Malibu
17300 Pacific Coast Hwy., at Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
310/454-3474
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Gladstone's is one of the most popular restaurants along the southern California coast; its demand has even spawned a sister restaurant in Universal Studios' CityWalk, whose lack of beachfront makes it far less attractive. The food is notable mostly for its Brobdingnagian portions: giant bowls of crab chowder, mounds of steamed clams, and the famous mile-high chocolate cake, which can easily feed a small regiment. The real reason to visit Gladstone's is the glorious vista of sea, sky, and beach. It's also a good breakfast spot. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
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Grace
7360 Beverly Blvd., south of West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/934-4400
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After years of moving through the city's top kitchens, chef Neal Fraser is doing his best cooking yet in a place of his own. He mixes textures and contrasting flavors in dishes like risotto with pumpkin, sea urchin, and sweet shrimp; barbecued wild salmon in enoki mushroom sauce; and wild boar tenderloin in violet mustard sauce. Imaginative doughnuts, like a maple-glazed doughnut with candied walnuts and apple cider ice cream, highlight the compelling dessert menu. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch.
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Hotel Bel-Air
701 Stone Canyon Rd., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
310/472-5234
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This secluded hotel's restaurant spills into a lush garden, with a terrace overlooking a pond patrolled by swans. A meal at this special-occasion spot will make you feel like a Hollywood insider -- keep an eye out for celebs. But the restaurant's not just a pretty face; look for seasonal appetizers such as seared scallops and crispy sweetbreads with cauliflower cream or the signature tortilla soup. Entrées could include poached Maine lobster, Kobe beef paired with foie gras, or grilled rack of lamb. The hotel also hosts a superlative high tea, and Sunday brunch on the terrace can be magical. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V.
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Jar
8225 Beverly Blvd., south of West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/655-6566
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A contemporary sense of style layered with a retro, woodsy warmth frames the classic American cooking of chef Suzanne Tracht. The menu at this bastion of comfort cuisine represents a hit parade of all-American favorites. After crab deviled eggs, consider steak, rack of lamb, or a massive slab of tender pot roast that's a world apart from the one Mom used to make. You can finish with rich chocolate pudding or banana cream pie. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch Mon.-Sat.
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JiRaffe
502 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/917-6671
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The wood-clad, two-story dining room with ceiling-high windows is as handsome as the menu is tasteful. Chef-owner Raphael Lunetta turns out seasonal appetizers such as a delicate roasted-tomato tart or a roasted-beet salad with caramelized walnuts and dried bing cherries. They're worthy preludes to main dishes such as a truly memorable crispy-skinned salmon with parsnip puree, braised fennel, and sweet balsamic reduction. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
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Josie
2424 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/581-9888
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Done in understated taupe hues with generously spaced tables, this rather sophisticated establishment feels like it belongs in San Francisco instead of more laid-back L.A. You'll find outstanding game dishes here, such as wild boar tenderloin and venison in burgundy-pear sauce or a foie gras-topped buffalo burger. Reservations essential. AE, D, MC, V. No lunch.
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Kate Mantilini
9101 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/278-3699
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Casual but hip -- and with Beverly Hills prices for comfort food -- this is a good place to remember when you're up early (breakfast served daily) or out and about after midnight (open until 2 AM on weekends). The lengthy menu lines up American evergreens like New England clam chowder, macaroni and cheese, meat loaf, and a white chili made with white beans and chicken. AE, DC, MC, V.
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Kiriko
Olympic Collection, 11301 Olympic Blvd., #102, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
310/478-7769
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Here in "Little Tokyo West," this understated restaurant with contemporary art and rough-timbered sushi bar distinguishes itself from the competition. Friendly chef-owner Ken Namba might send out beautifully marbled salmon, smoked in-house and crowned with caviar, or lightly seared toro topped with a tiny dollop of minced chili. Sea urchin risotto and rice turtle soup provide soul-warming breaks from a parade of beautifully presented, but never overwrought, sushi. Regulars finish with housemade sesame ice cream while contemplating their next visit. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch weekends.
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Koi
730 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA, USA |
310/659-9449
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Celebs and trendoids vastly outnumber sushi purists here. The sexy, understatedly exotic design includes several intimate spaces, both indoors and out -- surely this is positive feng shui. The buzzing crowd indulges in well-executed dishes such as crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, Kobe beef carpaccio with crispy shiitake mushrooms and yuzu vinaigrette, and sesame-crusted lobster tail. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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La Cachette
10506 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
310/470-4992
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Owner-chef Jean-François Meteigner developed a following while cooking at L'Orangerie and Cicada. At his own restaurant, he combines traditional French fare -- foie gras, Provençal bouillabaisse, rack of lamb -- with a lighter, more modern cuisine reflected in dishes like roasted Maine cod with a passion fruit-ginger-plum sauce. A dressy (by L.A. standards) crowd makes sure that this elegant, flower-filled cachette (little hiding place) doesn't stay hidden. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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L'Orangerie
903 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA, USA |
310/652-9770
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Usually reserved for the most special of occasions, this is the closest L.A. gets to a fine Parisian dining room. The regal setting channels the spirit of Versailles with soaring French doors, exquisite Louis XIV appointments, and dramatic floral arrangements. Chefs come and go, but standards are maintained at the highest levels. Current specialties include a "crème brûlée" of foie gras with green apple mousse, walnut-crusted squab with a date beignet, and tea-marinated sea bass. Service is attentive but not overbearing. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch.
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Lucques
8474 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA, USA |
323/655-6277
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Once silent-film star Harold Lloyd's carriage house, this brick building has morphed into a chic restaurant that's a big hit with the younger, well-heeled set. And the veggie-intense cooking by Suzanne Goin is smart, too: consider Italian heirloom pumpkin soup with sage and chestnut cream, pancetta-wrapped Alaskan cod with red potatoes, crushed grapes and crème fraîche, and short ribs with horseradish cream. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch Sun.
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Mélisse
1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/395-0881
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In a city where informality reigns, this is one of L.A.'s more dressy -- but not stuffy -- restaurants. A crystal chandelier hangs in the dining room, above well-spaced tables topped with flowers and Limoges china. The garden room loosens up with a stone fountain and a retractable roof. Chef-owner Josiah Citrin enriches his modern French cooking with seasonal California produce. Consider seared foie gras with figs poached in sweet wine and huckleberry sorbet, lobster Thermidor, or seared venison in chocolate sauce. The cheese cart is loaded with domestic and European selections. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch.
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Maple Drive
345 N. Maple Dr., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/274-9800
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The privacy of the high-backed booths here isn't the only lure for entertainment industry players -- it's the sophisticated contemporary-American cuisine that keeps bringing them back. Look for duck breast with grilled foie gras and lavender-plum sauce, grilled rare bluefin tuna with niçoise olive jus, and a stellar rib eye with béarnaise. And for longtime regulars, Maple Drive classics like meat loaf and "kick-ass" chili are always available. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch weekends.
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Mastro's Steakhouse
246 N. Cañon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/888-8782
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With a prime Beverly Hills location and classic steak house menu, this Arizona import is proving to be a popular alternative to the old standbys. Starters include a shrimp cocktail dramatically presented in a cloud of dry ice. Massive steaks, swimming in butter, are served on the bone for maximum flavor. The downstairs dining room is appropriately sleek and studied, but Rat Pack-era gentlemen and their conspicuously younger companions sometimes let loose at a piano bar upstairs. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
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Matsuhisa
129 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/659-9639
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Freshness and innovation are the hallmarks of this flagship restaurant of superchef Nobu Matsuhisa's empire. The surprisingly modest-looking place draws celebrities and serious sushi buffs alike. Here you'll encounter such dishes as caviar-capped tuna stuffed with black truffles, squid "pasta" with garlic sauce, sea urchin wrapped in a shiso leaf, and monkfish liver pâté wrapped in gold leaf. Reflecting his past stint in Peru, Matsuhisa incorporates intriguing Latin ingredients into traditional Japanese cuisine. Regulars ask for the omakase, assured of an amazing culinary experience, and then steel themselves for a big tab. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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Meson G
6703 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/525-1415
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Although style's much in evidence at this retro-mod restaurant, there's substance here, too. Besides the generously spaced tables, you can sit at the exhibition kitchen's marble counter and make eye contact with the chefs. Appetizers include artfully plated items like braised octopus, crispy pork belly, and hamachi sashimi; you might choose between New Zealand grouper with sherry gastrique and pancetta-wrapped lamb loin for your entrée. The six- and nine-course tasting menus are particularly enticing. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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Mori Sushi
11500 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
310/479-3939
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Only a small fish logo identifies the facade of this restaurant, but many consider it the best sushi bar in L.A. and Morihiro Onodera one of the great sushi masters in America. The austere whitewashed space stands in contrast to the chef's artful presentations of pristine morsels of seafood, all served on ceramic plates he makes himself. Allow him to compose an entire meal for you -- this can be an expensive proposition -- and he'll send out eye-popping presentations of sushi or sashimi accented with touches of rare sea salts, yuzu, and freshly ground wasabi, as well as intricately conceived salads, housemade tofu, and soups. AE, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
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Musso & Frank Grill
6667 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/467-7788
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Liver and onions, lamb chops, goulash, shrimp Louis salad, gruff waiters -- you'll find all the old favorites here in Hollywood's oldest restaurant. A film-industry hangout since it opened in 1919, Musso & Frank still welcomes the working studio set to its maroon faux-leather booths. Great breakfasts are served all day, but the kitchen's famous "flannel cakes" (pancakes) are served only until 3 PM. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. and Mon.
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Nick & Stef's Steakhouse
330 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
213/680-0330
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The beef palace of restaurateurs Joachim and Christine Splichal, named after their twin boys, has been so successful they've replicated the concept in other cities. The restaurant is modern, but elements of the traditional steak house -- cozy booths, crisp white linen, wood accents -- remain. The choice steaks come from a glassed-in, on-site aging chamber; build up your order by deciding among a dozen sauces and an equal number of potato side dishes. The wine list, deep in California reds, is predictably strong. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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Nobu Malibu
3835 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu, CA, USA |
310/317-9140
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At famous chef-restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa's coastal outpost, a casually chic clientele swarms over morsels of the world's finest fish. In addition to stellar sushi, Nobu serves many of the same ingenious specialties offered at his flagship, Matsuhisa. You'll find exotic species of fish artfully accented with equally exotic South American peppers, ultratender Kobe beef, and a broth perfumed with rare matsutake mushrooms. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
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Ocean Avenue Seafood
1401 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/394-5669
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Operating since 1946, this cavernous restaurant isn't right on the water, but the Pacific is just across the street -- ask for a table by the window for an ocean view. Low ceilings, dim lighting, well-spaced tables, and attentive service create a close-knit mood. There are plenty of lobster dishes, but other popular choices include paella, Kona Coast big-eye tuna, and prime steaks. The oyster bar offers a dizzying selection. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
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Ocean Star
145 N. Atlantic Blvd., Monterey Park, CA, USA |
626/308-2128
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Reminiscent of Hong Kong's dim sum palaces, this stronghold of Chinese seafood is so vast -- it seats 800 -- that the staff resorts to walkie-talkies. It's known for the quality and freshness of its fish and shellfish, and you're free to select your meal from one of the many aquariums lining the marble walls. Try the boiled-live shrimp with soy-chili dipping sauce, huge scallops served in their shell, king crabs with black-bean sauce, any of the whole steamed fish, or the delicately sautéed snow-pea sprouts. The best way to experience Ocean Star is to bring a whole gang for a dim sum lunch. MC, V.
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Ortolan
8338 W. 3rd St., south of West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/653-3300
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Despite a galaxy of crystal chandeliers, Ortolan attempts to take the pretentiousness out of haute cuisine. Here designer jeans outnumber designer suits. But ex-L'Orangerie chef Christophe Emé keeps up an impeccable standard in the kitchen with dishes such as Napa Valley escargots with lettuce emulsion and Parmesan crust, roasted squab with date puree, and what may be the silkiest foie gras in the city. Many creations are dramatically presented on stone slabs or in unique vessels. The one thing even Emé can't get you is the namesake game bird; it's endangered. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch.
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Patina
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 141 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
213/972-3331
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In a bold move, chef-owner Joachim Splichal moved his flagship restaurant from Hollywood to downtown's striking Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall. The contemporary space, surrounded by a rippled "curtain" of rich walnut, is an elegant, dramatic stage for the acclaimed restaurant's contemporary French cuisine. Specialties include seared foie gras with Pear William ice cream, wild pheasant breast with juniper berry sauce, and a formidable côte de boeuf for two, carved tableside. Finish with a hard-to-match cheese tray and sensual desserts. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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Providence
5955 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/460-4170
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Since its highly anticipated opening in 2005, Providence has drawn considerable praise for the work of chef-owner Michael Cimarusti, formerly of downtown's Water Grill. Obsessed with quality and freshness, the meticulous chef maintains a network of specialty purveyors, some of whom tip him off to their catch before it even hits the dock. This exquisite seafood then gets the Cimarusti treatment of French technique, traditional American themes, and Asian accents. For instance, you might find foie gras paired with lobster, arctic char with a black tea infusion, or crayfish with sweetbreads, asparagus, and chive espuma (foam). AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch Mon.,Tues., and weekends.
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R23
923 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
213/687-7178
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A few blocks east of Little Tokyo in the artsy loft district, this redbrick, beamed dining room was carved out of a former railroad loading dock. This surprisingly peaceful and visually stunning place is at its best with sashimi, sushi, and chirashi sushi ("scattered sushi," with toppings layered on vinegar rice rather than formed into rolls). Deceptively simple preparations such as flash-fried blue crabs and grilled yellowtail tuna are also well done, but the complicated, sauced dishes fall behind. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
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Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas, CA, USA |
818/222-3888
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When you've had enough big-city attitude, head for this romantic retreat in the Santa Monica Mountains -- it feels a thousand miles from L.A. What was once a bordello is now a restaurant oozing with rustic elegance. Mounted stag and moose heads watch over roaring fireplaces and mountain views. They also hint at the lodge's specialty: game. Bring out the knives for wood-fired rack of venison, roasted elk tenderloin with creamy wild-mushroom sauce, and buffalo with béarnaise sauce. The sprawling terrace is an idyllic spot for Sunday brunch. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed.-Sat.
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Sona
401 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA, USA |
310/659-7708
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Young, intense David Myers -- one of the city's most exciting and unpredictable chefs -- shoots the works. A slab of polished granite topped with an exquisite orchid arrangement anchors the sleek dining room. The prix-fixe tasting menus are a good choice here, since they allow you to try several of Myers's unique dishes. An occasional item is too precious, but the successful dishes win out. Highlights might include Tahitian squash soup with amaretto duck confit agnolotti and chai foam, Australian sea bass with brandade-stuffed piquillo peppers, fennel confit, and lemon butter, and an elaborate three-course dessert tasting. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch.
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Spago Beverly Hills
176 N. Cañon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/385-0880
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The flagship restaurant of Wolfgang Puck, the chef who helped define California cuisine, is justifiably a modern L.A. classic. The casually elegant restaurant centers on an outdoor courtyard. There, shaded by 100-year-old olive trees, you can glimpse the exhibition kitchen and, on occasion, the affable chef-owner greeting his famous friends. (The people-watching here is worth the price of admission.) The daily-changing menu could offer a tasting of five foie gras preparations, côte de boeuf with Armagnac-peppercorn sauce, Cantonese-style duck, and some traditional Austrian specialties. Acclaimed pastry chef Sherry Yard works magic with everything from a sophisticated tart inspired by the Twix candy bar to an Austrian kaiserschmarren (crème fraîche pancakes with fruit). Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch Sun.
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The Belvedere
9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/788-2306
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In the entertainment industry's A-list hotel, the Peninsula, you're sure to be hobnobbing with power brokers, even if you don't recognize them. The refined cooking here elevates the opulent Belvedere far beyond the usual hotel dining room. You may want to start with the signature house-smoked salmon with scallion pancakes and chive crème fraîche, then indulge in Moroccan-spiced duck or Kansas City strip steak with peppercorn sauce. At lunch, deal makers convene over whimsical small bites (like shots of gazpacho and "tuna lollipops"), salads, and glamburgers like sautéed salmon with pinot noir-cured onions. Of course, the execs who favor this place are prone to special ordering; the staff graciously obliges. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
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The Blvd
Regent Beverly Wilshire, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/275-5200
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Just off the lobby of the eternally fashionable Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel is this chic but laid-back venue. It's the kind of place where you could order either a pizza or a $185 martini (the Baccarat glass is a souvenir). Salads and truffled risotto are offered for grazing, while a more serious meal might begin with ahi tuna tartare, followed by seared scallops and sweetbreads, rotisserie chicken, or steak with Point Reyes blue-cheese sauce. A small terrace faces a Rodeo Drive lineup of Tiffany, Prada, and Cartier. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
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The Dining Room
Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa, 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, CA, USA |
626/577-2867
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Until the arrival of charismatic chef Craig Strong, there wasn't much to say about this high-price hotel dining room. But Strong brought with him global inspirations and a culinary finesse beyond his years. A perfectionist (he insists, for instance, on importing butter from Normandy), Strong continually surprises with dishes such as ginger-crusted Alaskan halibut in coconut sauce, seared ahi tuna and foie gras in a red wine-raspberry reduction, and cabbage-wrapped pheasant in salmis (a classic game ragoût). The chef relishes the opportunity to personalize his cuisine, so consider springing for a customized tasting menu. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch.
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The Grill on the Alley
9560 Dayton Way, Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/276-0615
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Beverly Hills restaurants can take you many places, from Provence to Polynesia, but in this case it's just up the Golden State Freeway to a traditional San Francisco-style grill with dark-wood paneling and brass trim. The clubby chophouse, where movie industry execs power-lunch at the most coveted booths in town, creates tasty, simple American fare, including steaks, chicken potpies, crab cakes, Cobb salad, and homemade rice pudding. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch Sun.
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The Lobster
1602 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/458-9294
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Anchoring the beach end of the festive Santa Monica Pier, the Lobster usually teems with locals and tourists alike, who come here for the hip scene, the great view, and the comfort seafood of chef Allyson Thurber. Start with lobster cocktail with tarragon-lemon aïoli, lobster salad with sweet corn pancakes, spicy snow crab soup, or fried calamari. For entrées, the restaurant's namesake is the main attraction -- you'll find both Maine and Pacific spiny varieties -- but dishes like king salmon in herb sauce are equally satisfying. Weather permitting, request a table on the terrace, both for the views and for an escape from the high-decibel interior. Reservations essential. AE, D, MC, V.
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The Lodge Steakhouse
14 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/854-0024
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Despite its prevalence of salad-picking starlets, L.A. is experiencing a stampede of contemporary steak houses, a trend well represented by the Lodge. With a neorustic motif devoid of the customary red leather and white linen, this hip establishment's only connections to the traditional American steak house -- besides high prices -- are its deftly seared prime beef, classic potato side dishes, and extensive selection of full-bodied red wines. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
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The Palm
9001 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA, USA |
310/550-8811
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All the New York elements are present at this West Coast replay of the famous Manhattan steak house -- mahogany booths, tin ceilings, a boisterous atmosphere, and New York-style, no-nonsense waiters rushing you through your cheesecake (flown in from the Bronx). This is where you'll find the biggest and best lobster, good steaks, prime rib, chops, great French-fried onion rings, and paper-thin potato slices. When writers sell a screenplay, they celebrate with a Palm lobster. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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Trader Vic's
Beverly Hilton, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/276-6345
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Believe it or not, this kitschy restaurant-bar is the most restrained of the late Victor Bergeron's South Seas extravaganzas. Opened in 1955, it has outlasted nearly all of its competitors, thanks to new generations of admirers. Longtime favorites like crab Rangoon (wrapped in wonton noodles and deep-fried), skewered shrimp, grilled pork ribs, and peanut butter-barbecued lamb have been joined by lighter options such as sushi rolls, sesame seed-crusted ahi tuna, and Thai curries. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
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Trattoria Tre Venezie
119 W. Green St., Pasadena, CA, USA |
626/795-4455
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An Italian restaurant has to be special to get noticed. This one does it by excelling in specialties from a trio of Italy's northernmost regions along the Austrian border, collectively referred to as Tre Venezie. Sparked with unusual ingredients and sauces, the menu can challenge your preconceptions about Italian food. Start with jota (a traditional sweet-and-sour soup) before enjoying the signature smoked pork chop with sauerkraut and a light Gorgonzola sauce. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Mon. No lunch Tues. or weekends.
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Urasawa
2 Rodeo, 218 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, CA, USA |
310/247-8939
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Shortly after celebrated sushi chef Masa Takayama packed his knives for the Big Apple, his protégé Hiroyuki Urasawa settled into the master's former digs. The understated sushi bar has preciously few seats, resulting in incredibly personalized service. At a minimum of $250 per person for a strictly omakase (chef's choice) meal, Urasawa is the priciest restaurant in town, but the endless parade of masterfully crafted, exquisitely presented dishes renders few regrets. The maple sushi bar, sanded daily to a satinlike finish, is the scene of a mostly traditional cuisine with magnificent ingredients. You might be served velvety bluefin toro paired with beluga caviar or egg custard, uni (sea urchin) glittering with gold leaf. This is also the place to come during fugu season, when the legendary, potentially deadly blowfish is artfully served to adventurous diners. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch.
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Valentino
3115 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/829-4313
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Renowned as one of the country's top Italian restaurants, Valentino has a truly awe-inspiring wine list. The list itself goes on for more than 120 pages and the cellar overflows with 100,000 bottles. In the 1970s, suave owner Piero Selvaggio introduced L.A. to his exquisite modern Italian cuisine, and he continues to impress guests with dishes like spaghetti with garlic and bottarga (tuna roe), sautéed sweetbreads in a vin santo (sweet wine) sauce, and quails in a chardonnay-black truffle sauce. The menu recently changed to a prix-fixe format, starting at a reasonable $45. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch Sat. and Mon.-Thurs.
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Vert
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
323/491-1300
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Here Wolfgang Puck turns his hand to a mix of traditional brasserie and contemporary California dishes. You'll find French classics like a tarte flambé (a rustic onion tart from Alsace) and moules marinières (mussels cooked with shallots and white wine) alongside grilled tuna and a hefty Gorgonzola-topped burger. Though it's hidden in the Hollywood & Highland center, the restaurant is always busy; the bar is backlighted in the namesake color (green), and the walls sprout abstract sculptures. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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Vibrato Grill, Jazz, etc.
2930 Beverly Glen Cir., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
310/474-9400
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Co-owned by trumpeter Herb Albert, Vibrato takes a high-road approach to a jazz club: this is a stylish, acoustically perfect venue where every table has a line of sight to the stage. The kitchen is as notable as the music; it turns out contemporary American fare such as surf-and-turf tartare (ahi and prime beef) and coffee-rubbed Kurobuta pork chop (Kurobuta is a dark, richly marbled pork). The art on the walls was painted by the Grammy winner himself. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
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Vincenti
11930 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
310/207-0127
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A big open kitchen with a mammoth, revolving rotisserie is the heart of this handsome, white-tile restaurant. Off the spit come roasted pork, veal, venison, or whole spit-roasted fish such as arctic char. A rustic sausage plate or prosciutto paired with creamy burrata cheese are fine ways to begin, and pasta courses (like gnocchi with rabbit ragù) are always skillfully prepared. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch Sat. and Mon.-Thurs.
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Wa Sushi & Bistro
1106 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA, USA |
310/854-7285
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Founded by three alums from trendsetting Matsuhisa, Wa offers a more personalized experience with comparable high-quality sushi and intriguing Japanese cooking. Particularly rewarding are dishes enhanced with French-inspired sauces. For instance, Chilean sea bass could be napped with in a port reduction, while uni-topped Santa Barbara prawns are dosed with beurre blanc. Although casual, Wa's second-story hillside location allows for seductive city views from a small handful of tables dressed up with linen and candles. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. No lunch.
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Water Grill
544 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA, USA |
213/891-0900
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There's a bustling, enticing rhythm here as platters of glistening shellfish get whisked from the oyster bar to the cozy booths. Chef David LeFevre's menu shows off his slow-cooking skills. Entrées such as olive oil-poached salmon with a mushroom vinaigrette and slow-steamed Alaskan halibut with kalamata olive puree exemplify his light, expert touch. Excellent desserts and a fine wine list round out this top-notch experience. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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Wilshire
2454 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, USA |
310/586-1707
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The woodsy patio at Wilshire is one of the most coveted spaces on the L.A. dining circuit -- its candlelight, firelight, and gurgling fountain lure in a hip crowd beneath a cloud of canvas. The cuisine emphasizes organic market-fresh ingredients. You might try red kuri squash-Asian pear soup with cinnamon cream, a rack of lamb with farro, or roasted chicken with Swiss chard and chanterelles. There's a lively bar scene here, too. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
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