DINING
RUSTIC CANYON Discover boutique wines while sampling small plates of market-driven, Mediterraneaninspired fare. Clam pozole is just one of the winners. Hide in a cozy booth or mingle at the communal table. D (nightly). 1119 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.393.7050 $$$ Map L8
Avocado toast at Terrine
SPAGO An L.A. institution, Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant features a modern dining room and a daily changing menu that may include dishes like veal “Wiener schnitzel” and spicy tuna tartare. Glimpse some of the 30,000 wine bottles on offer in a glass-ensconced “wine wall.” L (Tu-Sa), D (nightly). 176 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.385.0880 $$$$ Map I11
FIG RESTAURANT Dine on a seasonal menu of bistro fare at this restaurant inside the Fairmont Miramar. Sunday brunch features the virtuous, as well as the decadent, plus creative cocktails. B, L, D (daily); Br (SaSu). Fairmont Miramar Hotel, 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.319.3111 $$ Map L8
THE TASTING KITCHEN Foodies come for the daily changing menu of innovative yet unpretentious cuisine from culinary-darling chef Casey Lane: small or large plates of cured meats, artisan cheeses, vegetables, seafood and pastas. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.392.6644 $$$ Map M9
THE FRONT YARD This restaurant at the Garland hotel features fresh farm-to-table cuisine from chef Larry Greenwood. Start your meal with chive flatbread topped with chimichurri butter, then move on to entrées like Mary’s Chicken. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 4222 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood, 818.255.7290 $$ Map U19
TAVERN Chef Suzanne Goin’s third L.A. restaurant explores rustic Cal-Med fare in chic environs, including a popular sunlit indoor patio. The frequently changing menu might include “devil’s chicken” with leeks and mustard breadcrumbs. B (M-F), L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 11648 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, 310.806.6464 $$$ Map J9
GIRASOL Chef CJ Jacobson, a former Top Chef contestant, incorporates foraged ingredients into an inventive California menu (e.g., hamachi with white fir and wild sorrel). D (nightly), Br (Su). 11334 Moorpark St., Studio City, 818.924.2323 $$$ Map U19 HINOKI & THE BIRD Inside luxury residential tower the Century, taste Japanese and Southeast Asian flavors in such dishes as lobster rolls with green curry and Thai basil, and black cod scented with the smoke of the namesake hinoki wood. L (M-F), D (Tu-Sa). 10 W. Century Drive, Century City, 310.552.1200 $$$ Map J10 LEONA Top Chef and Knife Fight alum chef Nyesha Arrington serves upscale, seasonally driven “progressive California cuisine” (bulgogi-braised short rib, coctel mixto) a few blocks east of the Venice pier. L (Tu-F), D (Tu-Su), Br (Sa-Su). 123 W. Washington Blvd., Venice, 310.822.5379 $$$ Map N9
TERRINE Comfortable, elevated California brasserie fare (e.g., moules frites) from chef Kris Morningstar. The patio, which is dominated by a magnificent tree and dotted with sparkling lights, is as romantic as they come. L (Tu-F), D (Tu-Su), Br (Sa-Su). 8265 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323.746.5130 $$$ Map I12 VIVIANE The Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills’ swanky poolside restaurant features a menu by chef Michael Hung (Faith & Flower), 1950s-inspired cocktails and a midcentury-modern design by Kelly Wearstler. California takes on European and American dishes include a beautiful salad of Little Gem lettuces. B, L (M-F); D (nightly); Br (Sa-Su). 9400 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.407.7791 $$$ Map J11
Chinese
LOVE & SALT Dine on creative Cal-Italian fare (e.g., duck-egg pizza and whole roasted pig head) in this buzzy South Bay spot. Chef de cuisine/pastry chef Rebecca Merhej’s desserts are divine. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 317 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, 310.545.5252 $$$ Map L13
BAO DIM SUM Premier dim-sum restaurant serves delicious, authentic dim sum in a relaxing, lantern-lit atmosphere. Favorites include juicy pork dumplings and shrimp shumai, followed by bao milk buns for dessert. L, D (daily). 8256 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323.655.6556 $$ Map I12
MAUDE Celebrity chef Curtis Stone, an Aussie with a strong classical background, helms this intimate, 25-seat Beverly Hills restaurant named after his grandmother. Every month a different seasonal ingredient is showcased and artfully presented in a nine-course menu. D (Tu-Sa). 212 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.859.3418 $$$$ Map J11
DIN TAI FUNG Popular and critically acclaimed dumpling house, founded in Taiwan, has a location in Glendale’s Americana at Brand and a new location in the Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia. Foodies line up for soup dumplings with filling combinations such as pork and crab or truffle and pork. L, D (daily). 177 Caruso Ave., Glendale, 818.551.5561; 400 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, 626.446.8588 $$ Map U23, R23
MILO & OLIVE The husband-and-wife team from Rustic Canyon is behind this casual pizzeria and bakery. Zoe Nathan’s desserts and pastries shouldn’t be missed. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 2723 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.453.6776 $$ Map K9 PLANT FOOD AND WINE Restaurant from Matthew Kenney takes a raw, locally sourced and plant-based approach to dining. Pair your meal with a glass of wine from an extensive organic and biodynamic selection. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.450.1009 $$$ Map N9
MR CHOW The L.A. County editions of scene-y restaurants in New York and London offer Imperial Beijing cuisine. Beverly Hills: L (M-F), D (nightly). Malibu: D (nightly). 344 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.278.9911; Malibu Country Mart, 3835 Cross Creek Road, 18A, Malibu, 310.456.7600 $$$ Map I11, K7 ROC At this Little Osaka dumpling house, popular menu items include a scallion pancake, three-cup chicken and made-from-scratch soup dumplings stuffed
with pork and fresh crab. Additional locations are on West 3rd Street and in Playa Vista, with a Culver City outpost on the way. L, D (daily). 2049 Sawtelle Blvd., L.A., 310.235.2089 $$ Map K10 YANG CHOW Authentic, fine Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine and an elegant atmosphere have made this restaurant a Chinatown mainstay since the Yun family opened the spot in 1977. Don’t miss the lemon chicken or Slippery Shrimp, which have been featured on Food Network. Outposts recently opened in the Valley and Pasadena. L, D (daily). 819 N. Broadway, downtown, 213.625.0811; 6443 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park, 818.347.2610; 3777 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 626.432.6868 $$ Map G17, west of A1, Q22
Eclectic/Fusion BÄCO MERCAT Chef Josef Centeno draws international praise for his inspired creations. The bäco, a flatbread sandwich, is his signature dish here. Other selections include spicy hamachi crudo. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 408 S. Main St., downtown, 213.687.7000 $$ Map I16 CASSIA Part of restaurateurs Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan’s burgeoning dining empire, this bustling Southeast Asian-inspired brasserie set inside a 1930s art deco building finds chef Bryant Ng (Spice Table) serving dishes like Vietnamese pot au feu and, on the new lunch menu, an updated version of Ng’s celebrated Spice Table burger. L (M-F), D (nightly). 1314 7th St., Santa Monica, 310.393.6699 $$$ Map L8 MAISON AKIRA Fine French cuisine with Japanese flair (such as a bento box with American wagyu beef, miso sea bass and chawan mushi) in Pasadena’s Playhouse District. Nine-course omakase available. L (F), D (Tu-Su), Br (Su). 713 E. Green St., Pasadena, 626.796.9501 $$$ Map Q20 ORSA & WINSTON Chef/owner Josef Centeno draws on Japanese and Italian traditions at his acclaimed third restaurant. Select a vegetable, fish or meat grain bowl for lunch; for dinner, enjoy a daily changing six-course tasting menu with nightly supplements and an optional wine pairing. L (Tu-F), D (Tu-Sa). 122 W. 4th St., downtown, 213.687.0300 $$$$ Map I16 TROIS MEC The holy foodie trinity of Ludo Lefebvre (LudoBites), Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook (Animal, Son of a Gun) is behind this hot restaurant in a 24-seat former pizzeria. Diners must purchase advance tickets via the restaurant’s website to enjoy Lefebvre’s prix-fixe, five-course meal. Newer French-bar-style spinoff, Petit Trois, is next door. D (M-F). 716 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, troismec.com $$$$ Map H13
French AVEC NOUS Contemporary French bistro where chef Olivier Quignon, previously at Bar Boulud in New York City, offers dishes inspired by the French Riviera, such as escargot; sea scallops with mushy broccoli, turmeric chermoula and squid-ink crisp; and whole oven-roasted cauliflower vadouvan curry, served tableside. Br, D (daily). Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, 9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, 310.860.8660 $$$ Map J12 BOUCHON The Bouchon bistros from chef Thomas Keller (the French Laundry, Per Se) have become popular for their authentic good looks and superbly executed cuisine. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 235 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.271.9910 $$$ Map J11 KENDALL’S BRASSERIE Located at the Music Center, Kendall’s is a convenient spot for before or after a performance. In addition to dishes with a contemporary flair, all the brasserie favorites are here (e.g., moules frites). L (M-F), D (Tu-Su), Br (Sa-Su). 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.7322 $$ Map H16
JESUS BANUELOS
PUMP Enchanted-garden-themed restaurant and bar from restaurateur and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump features a patio with 100-year-old olive trees and a menu created by Food Network Star finalist Penny Davidi. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 8948 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.657.7867 $$ Map I12
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