WHY Because people need somewhere to drink in Brentwood. WHAT Situated next to longstanding Italian restaurant Toscana, this swank, nominally Italian bar goes heavy on the Amaro, Cynar, Campari and Fernet. The cocktails are a few bucks more expensive than they deserve to be, but the décor is pretty and clever. Suitable for a happy-hour [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY To bask in luxurious five-star service, eavesdrop on a few Industry conversations and partake of a sophisticated modern Italian menu. WHAT The wrap-around patio, the long, undulating crudo bar (pricey), the wall of chic aperitivi—all add Euro-cache to this decidedly upmarket Italian dining room, where the kitchen makes pasta twice daily and where the [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY To try Rick Bayless’s famed Mexican cooking without having to fly to Chicago. WHAT It’s hard to know why überchef Rick Bayless thought he should bring his upscale Mexican cooking to L.A., where Mexican food from every region is plentiful, but he did, and mobs of people have flocked to this great-looking place since [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Carefully constructed Cal-Med cooking in a gorgeous coastal setting. WHAT The sprawling, luxurious resort on the site of the former Marineland is trying very hard with its seven restaurants to rise above the hotel norm, especially in this flagship dining room. Talented young chef Michael Fiorelli uses produce from the garden right outside his [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY A fabulous outdoor space, a good happy hour and flatbread pizzas to share with friends. WHAT This cousin to Vermont is a two-level, mostly outdoor space built around an artfully lit coral tree. The vibe varies greatly depending on when you come—weekend brunch is peaceful, early weeknights are rich with candlelit romance, and from [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY An eccentric Jewish-Scottish hipster spot that’s surprisingly affordable given the celebrity status of the chef—the most expensive dish is $15. WHAT Helmed by Top Chef winner Ilan Hall, the Gorbals is anything but flashy—an almost-barren candlelit room tucked into the aging Alexandria Hotel, now used for affordable housing. The small menu draws inspiration from [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Classic cocktails in goblets and vintage ship’s-deck views of palm trees and the Pacific. WHAT This streamline moderne boutique hotel was redone to within an inch of its 1939 glamour, yet it retains its quiet, hideaway feel. The cocktail menu reflects the era—old fashioneds, Singapore slings—while the food is contemporary and local: goat cheese—stuffed [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY For a post-movie bite that doesn’t involve a food court or corporate chain restaurant. WHAT The pub grub from former Whist chef Warren Schwartz—ale-battered fish with tarragon-dill tartar sauce, asparagus salad with burrata—is leaps and bounds above the average mall fare, so we’re grateful for this Westside Pavilion hangout. Great craft beer list; tempting [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Because there’s nothing like it in Tarzana: an upscale but casual spot serving the kind of food we like to eat. WHAT A couple of smart restaurateurs (they own 22 places around the country) opened Bleecker Street late in 2009, in affluent but restaurant-challenged Tarzana, and it took off like a rocket. The two-story, [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Excellent and affordable cocktails and wine by the glass, a killer burger and farmers’ market produce. WHAT Mike Simms has hit a home run with this indoor-outdoor bistro that rises above its shopping-mall setting. Skip the undercooked pizzas and too-small crab cakes in favor of the terrific curry spinach dip, caramelized brussels sprouts, thick [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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