Restaurants
The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. These categories serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions.

Many restaurants, including some that are licensed and offer wine on the menu, allow customers to bring their own wine. However, a corkage charge (sometimes up to US$25) will be added to the bill.

Price categories are as follows:
$$$$ (over US$75)
$$$ (US$45 to US$75)
$$ (US$25 to US$45)
$ (under US$25)
These prices include starter, main course, dessert and the equivalent of a half-bottle of wine. Not included is the 8.25% sales tax or a customary tip of 15-20%.

Gastronomic

Ago
Pronounced ‘AHHgo’, this Tuscan-style restaurant attracts stars like a magnet. The stylish, modern decor is enriched by candlelight and handsome Italian waiters, who dash around efficiently on split levels that cause havoc with the acoustics. The bistecca and the porcini mushroom risotto are good main courses and the extensive dessert menu includes a delicious ricotta cheesecake.

8478 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood
Tel: (323) 655 6333.
Website: www.agorestaurant.com
Price: $$$$
Campanile
A remarkable building, commissioned in 1928 by Charlie Chaplin, has been designed with new Mediterranean features that reflect the cuisine of former Spago chef Mark Peel. Graceful arches connect the elegant dining rooms and atrium courtyard to the central sky-lit room, offering views of the building’s famous bell tower. Expect yummy main courses like rosemary-charred baby lamb, with warm potato salad and sprouted broccoli, spring onion and mustard butter, or seared spot prawns served with agretti, ginger and lobster butter. Weekday evenings have ‘special nights’ - ‘family-style’ Monday, ‘chef tasting’ Wednesday, ‘grilled cheese’ Thursday and ‘Friday night Flights.’ Lunch, dinner and brunch Saturday and Sunday. Closed Sunday evening.

624 South La Brea Avenue, Mid-Wilshire
Tel: (323) 938 1447.
Website: www.campanilerestaurant.com
Price: $$$$
Noe
With Chef Robert Gadsby, the Noe at the Omni is a participant in the newest trend - having celebrated chefs’ restaurants in upscale hotels. Gadsby’s innovative cuisine includes delicious signature dishes like mimosa salad with chicken and minted mango frappe, and hazelnut-crusted tuna, sweet and sour spinach and pear and soy mustard sauce. Live piano echoing great oldies in the background and an elegant, dimly lit dining room make this the perfect place for a romantic evening.

The Omni Los Angeles Hotel, 251 South Olive Street
Tel: (213) 356 4100.
Website: www.noerestaurant.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
Patina
This is LA’s haven for gourmets who never let cost get in the way of fine food. Chef Joachim Spichal whips up Californian-French nouvelle cuisine, while wife/hostess Christine welcomes diners. Elegant espresso-leather decor is complemented by exquisite starters, like a duo of foie gras with roasted apricot. Main courses, such as caramelised halibut with wild mushroom ragout or beef tenderloin with red pepper aubergine caviar are just as good. There are fixed-price menus well worth trying too, including one for vegetarians. Sumptuous desserts include a warm chocolate pecan tart with chocolate sauce, caramel and cream sorbet. The cheese list and wine offerings may be the best in LA. Lunch Friday only.

141 South Grand Avenue, Downtown
Tel: (213) 972 3331.
Website: www.patinagroup.com
Price: $$$$
Spago
Chef Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant is for the rich and famous. Grandiose entrance doors set the stage for the over-the-top interior decor, with its etched and stained-glass, plus art by the likes of David Hockney. The centrepiece patio, with olive trees and fountain, is home to the most coveted tables. Main courses like duck breast with black mushrooms and confit back are excellent, but Puck is particularly renowned for his pizzas. All have light, buttery crusts and much mozzarella. The sautéed shrimp with pesto pizza is superb, as are the imaginative desserts. The 34-page wine list satisfies all tastes. Dinner nightly, lunch Monday to Saturday. Puck’s newest venture is Cut at the Beverly Wilshire.

176 North Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills
Tel: (310) 385 0880.
Website: www.wolfgangpuck.com
Price: $$$$

Cut, Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel
9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills
Tel: (310) 275 5200.

Trendy

Locanda Veneta
Movie stars flock to this lively Italian restaurant, consistently ranked one of the best in town. Tender calamari or bruschetta with mushrooms can be followed by homemade pastas, such as lobster ravioli with creamy saffron sauce. Generous portions, like veal scalopinni, prepared differently each day, leave little room for the rich desserts, but you might want to squeeze in a little vanilla custard with caramel sauce. The menu changes weekly. Closed Sunday.

8638 West Third Street, Midtown
Tel: (310) 274 1893.
Website: www.locandaveneta.com
Price: $$$

Budget

El Cholo
In 1923, El Cholo was the first Mexican restaurant in LA; today, this chain is an excellent value option for families and large groups. The walls, decorated with colourful Mexican trinkets, add to the lively atmosphere. Specialities include blue corn chicken enchiladas and green corn tamales (available May-October only). The flan is also excellent and the margaritas reliably good. There are branches in Santa Monica and at Los Angeles airport.

1121 South Western Avenue, Midtown
Tel: (323) 734 2773.
Website: www.elcholo.com
Price: $$

1025 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica
Tel: (310) 899 1106.

Terminal 5, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Tel: (310) 417 1910.
Mishima
This bright, spacious, modern noodle restaurant offers cheap and delicious Japanese food to a smart Asian clientele and discerning Westerners. Recommendations include fresh swordfish, sweet potato purée, marinated seaweed, seared tuna salad with wasabe dressing or nabeyaki udon soup with spinach, mushrooms, shrimp, chicken, egg and fishcake.

8474 West Third Street, Beverly Hills
Tel: (323) 782 0181.
Website: www.mishima.com
Price: $$
Newsroom Café
Vegans and the health-conscious will embrace this large bohemian café, complete with designer wall lighting and outdoor patio, which offers veggie burgers, salads and fresh fruit smoothies. Weight watchers who love desserts will be especially at home, as the ‘fat-free’ desserts include marble cake, apple cake and fresh fruit cornbread cobbler with vanilla ice cream - indulge without guilt. There is another branch in Santa Monica.

120 North Robertson Boulevard, West Hollywood/Melrose
Tel: (310) 652 4444.
Price: $$

530 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica
Tel: (310) 319 9100.
Out Take Bistro
This small, modern yet cosy café full of aspiring actors and musicians offers a simple, healthy menu of staples, such as Caesar salad and pasta dishes. The homemade borscht, served hot or cold, is an original Armenian recipe from the owner’s mother. The staff is friendly and the prices are reasonable. Free parking available.

11929 Ventura Boulevard
Tel: (818) 760 1111.
Website: www.outtakebistro.com
Price: $$

Personal Recommendations

Capri
The minimalist white decor, with Bauhaus-style chairs and black leather booths, is accentuated by romantic candle chandeliers and elegant twinkling lights, and offers a varied wine list and attentive service. This will appeal to everyone. The pumpkin ravioli with sage and pine nuts justifies its fame but the starters, such as the warm herbed goat’s cheese with greens, are noteworthy, as is the tarte tatin.

1616 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice
Tel: (310) 392 8777.
Price: $$
Roy’s
True, this is a chain, but that is a good thing. No matter at which Roy’s one dines, the Hawaiian-fusion menu never disappoints. The décor is minimalist, but the food is delicious. Roy’s Canoe Appetizers are a changing sampling of such tasty treats as shrimp sticks, baby back ribs, ahi poke, pork and seafood potstickers. Roy’s Classic Roasted Macadamia Nut Mahi Mahi with lobster butter sauce will have you smacking your lips. Try the tasty prix fixe menu and you won’t go wrong.

800 South Figueroa Street
Tel: (213) 488 4994.
Website: www.roysrestaurant.com
Price: $$$
Joe’s Restaurant
This crisp, stylish restaurant is renowned for reliable yet imaginative food. Breads come with a superb olive tapenade. A changing menu offers creative cuisine like New Zealand salmon with mushrooms, polenta and citrus-soy emulsion or goat’s cheese cake for dessert. The lunch menu offers a good deal for two courses. The use of mobile phones is forbidden.

1023 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice
Tel: (310) 399 5811.
Website: www.joesrestaurant.com
Price: $$$
Lula
This Mexican cantina is named after chef Lula Bertran (culinary guru to the restaurant’s well-known Irish owner Gerri Gilliland) who also owns Santa Monica’s authentic Irish pub, Finn McCools. An oasis on Santa Monica’s main street, the bright decor and garden patio are the backdrop for top-notch margaritas and regional specialities like lobster taquitos. The flan and churros (Mexican donuts) are musts for dessert.

2720 Main Street, Santa Monica
Tel: (310) 392 5711.
Website: www.gerrigilliland.com
Price: $$
The Palm
Steaks and giant lobsters are the draw here at this favourite celebrity hangout. Hand-drawn caricatures on the walls (the Palm’s signature décor) date back to the 1920s when the original Palm restaurant was on Second Avenue in New York. Portions are large, but be sure to save room for the creamed spinach in garlic oil and the New York cheesecake. Service is excellent.

9001 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
Tel: (310) 550 8811.
Website: www.thepalm.com
Price: $$$

1100 South Flower Street, Los Angeles
Tel: (213) 76 4600.
Typhoon
For those who love adventure, this modern Pacific Rim restaurant is a must. Not only is its location (above a runway at Santa Monica airport with neon-lit night views) precarious, but its menu will terrify the timid. Starting out tamely enough with items like coconut soup, pork spare ribs and roasted aubergine, it cuts to the chase with stir-fried crickets, Chambai ants and white sea worms. Yes, the real thing - and they are surprisingly delicious. There are also less unusual spicy fish and meat dishes.

3221 Donald Douglas Loop South (between Centinela Avenue and 23rd Street), Santa Monica
Tel: (310) 390 6565.
Website: www.typhoon.biz
Price: $$
Woo Lae Oak
This traditional Korean barbecue offers one of LA’s best ethnic cuisines in an authentic atmosphere. Marinated meats and exotic vegetables are grilled at each table. Meals come with a choice of one of 30 kimchis (Korean spicy pickled cabbage) and soup. The Beverly Hills branch caters to an American business crowd with more upmarket ambience.

170 North La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills
Tel: (310) 652 4187.
Price: $$$

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