WHY Such exquisite French-influenced small plates as shrimp-mousse-filled ravioli with shiitake sauce, grilled hearts of romaine salad, filet mignon with Roquefort butter and foie gras with Japanese eggplant. WHAT After running Franco-Japanese restaurant Shiro in South Pasadena for many years, chef Hideo Yamashiro flipped the name and opened the smaller and more casual Orris on [...]
WHY Excellent soups, a killer tuna sandwich, good vegetarian options, peach iced tea and very nice people—in short, the perfect little lunch café. WHAT A charming neighborhood café within spitting distance of Warner Bros., this treasure is packed at lunch but quieter for breakfast. Let Rose take your order at the counter and hope you [...]
WHY Just when you think Westwood is nothing but chains, you find this charming spot with rich, creamy espresso pulled by people who love it. WHAT In an atmospheric 1927 brick building in the heart of the Village, Espresso Profeta has it all: beautiful coffee drinks made from custom-roasted beans, food from Breadbar and Buttercake [...]
WHY The neighborhood is grateful for this relatively new gourmet market, café, takeout spot and caterer, specializing in healthy sandwiches, soups and salads that are rich in flavor. Call ahead for excellent picnic baskets or party platters. WHAT It’s not just the neon-red paint that makes this West Pico storefront stand out—the quality of its [...]
WHY Sumptuous New Thai cookery and a full bar. WHAT For the best of new-generation Thai cooking, this handsome bistro is the place. The dishes blend pure Thai ingredients and techniques with a presentation style that’s almost French in its elegance. The fusion is particularly true of the daily specials, which can run from braised [...]
WHY Elegant but unpretentious Cal-Asian food made by the founding chef of Chinois-on-Main—without the scene or the high prices of his former culinary home. The midweek prix-fixe meals are a great value. WHAT Now that Culver City has another dozen or so hot spots for the hordes to hit, Beacon has mellowed into becoming exactly [...]
WHY Bacon in your salad, bacon for your main course, bacon in your dessert. WHAT L.A.’s foodie sensation is a bare-bones room roiling with noise and filled with people who aren’t even mad that they had to wait 45 minutes… with a reservation. It helps that the staff is remarkably kind, but really it’s because [...]
WHY Bone-marrow flan with parsley salad, dry-aged prime rib-eye steak and possibly the best people-watching in Beverly Hills. WHAT With its sleek Richard Meier-designed interior and menu showcasing the finest beefsteaks and seafood from all over the world, Wolfgang Puck’s Cut has been a runaway success since its 2006 opening. If you’re on an expense [...]
WHY Upscaled Vietnamese cuisine with an eye for authenticity. WHAT Stashed in a strip mall that butts up against the Orange County border, Benley is one of Long Beach’s most consistent restaurants. That’s because it has a very clear handle on the kitchen, which turns out refined and thoughtful Vietnamese cuisine: great bowls of pho [...]
WHY Gorgeous lunch salads and very good dinnertime pastas. WHAT Run by hometown girl Gale Kohl and her husband, Rene Chila, Gale’s features a talented Italian chef, warm atmosphere and professional wait staff. Favorite dishes include mussels with white wine and garlic, caprese salad, Caesar salad and rosemary lamb chops. But for the best eating, [...]
