WHY Well-crafted, upscale cocktails and vibrant American cuisine in a classy setting. WHAT Don’t be surprised when walking through the non-descript entrance to Sonny’s Hideaway—the gorgeous restaurant and bar more than make up for the lacking aesthetics of the facade. Once inside, snag a seat at the bar and watch the masterful mixologists shake and stir to [...]
May 10, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Because Studio City needs a civilized, elegant spot for lunch and dinner. WHAT Raphael is an intimate bo’te with an eclectic yet traditional menu from chef Adam Horton, formerly of Saddle Peak Lodge. The interior, designed by Terry Raphael, is drop-dead gorgeous, with a comfortable lounge/bar and a warm dining room that has so [...]
April 17, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY The lunch-only cubano sandwiches are delightful, especially the pan con lechón (shredded pork with Spanish peppers). And the Cuban club is a tasty fusion of marinated turkey breast with applewood-smoked bacon on sourdough. WHAT This is no ordinary cubano sandwich joint—although they do serve them, elegantly, and garnished with microgreens, no less. Xiomara Ardolina’s [...]
April 16, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Trust your waiter and order the specials he recommends, perhaps corn, Australian lamb, mixed mushrooms, burdock rolled in pork, yaki onigiri (rice ball) and ninniku no me (garlic sprouts sautéed with mushrooms and scallops). Just make sure you get some of the amazing chicken wings. WHAT For three decades Nanbankan has been L.A.’s yakitori [...]
April 12, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY One of the better-value churrascarias in town, at about $27 per person during the week and $35 on weekends, when sassy dancers entertain the crowd (we prefer the quieter weeknights, which are still not quiet). WHAT It’s a tremendously entertaining scene here, with huge family groups, waiters in gaucho pants carving meat off of [...]
April 9, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY To spice up your seafood restaurant list. WHAT The Hunan province may be inland, but the restaurant’s name isn’t an oxymoron. The vast Dong Ting Lake and Yangtze River tributaries supply fish, shrimp, frogs and turtle, all of which are on the menu at this modern chrome-and-glass spot. Also here is Chairman Mao’s favorite [...]
April 4, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Free delivery, online ordering and easy takeout of such good things as Cobb salad, grilled artichokes, mac ‘n cheese with broccoli, chic pizzas and grilled half chicken with a warm arugula salad. WHAT This shabby-chic San Francisco transplant delivers its reasonably priced, modern-American comfort food in the Miracle Mile area, and it also does [...]
April 2, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY Exemplary wine list; creative and confident cooking. WHAT This is certainly a contender for the title of “Best Upscale Restaurant” in the San Gabriel Valley. The patio’s the place for lunch; for dinner, the suavely modern dining rooms beckon. Standouts include the superb bouillabaisse and the grilled beef tenderloin. There’s usually a bread pudding [...]
March 24, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY A 24/7 godsend for insomniacs, students and night-shifters. WHAT The food’s fine, but the real value of this ’70s-woodsy coffee shop is that it’s open 24 hours a day, a rarity for a large, full-service restaurant anywhere in L.A., let alone a beach town. Regulars get the muffins, crab cake Benedict, burgers and egg [...]
March 23, 2013 | Posted in
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WHY The avocado tower, lobster salad and the tasting menu. WHAT Christine Brown combines flavors of the Mediterranean and the Pacific Rim in this color-washed bistro, and the results are generally quite successful. The ‘greens and grazing plates’ are typically big enough to share as a starter; half the room seems to get the avocado [...]
March 9, 2013 | Posted in
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