[ A.O.C. | Bistro 45 | Campanile | Jaan at Raffles L' Ermitage ]
[ Jiraffe | Koi | La Cachette | L' Orangerie | Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel ]
[ Saddle Peak Lodge | Spago Beverly Hills | The Belvedere at The Peninsula ]
[ The Lobster | The Palm | The Restaurant at Hotel Bel Air | Valentino ]

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A.O.C.

With 50 wines by-the-glass and an amazing selection of small plates, you can nibble or indulge at A.O.C. Chef and co-owner Suzanne Goin and partner Caroline Styne (also co-owners of laudable Lucques) created a casual spot where you can sit at the eight-seat Charcuterie bar or at a table for your international tapas. Named after the French commission that regulates the quality of French wines, cheeses and even Bresse chicken, "Appelation d'Origine Controlee," the menu features cheeses, sausages and prosciutto plus delicacies such as mushroom stuffed vol au vent and garlicky Manila clams steamed in sherry.

A.O.C.
8022 West 3rd St.
(323) 653-6359
www.aocwinebar.com

Bistro 45

Pasadena is notable for more than the Rose Bowl. There's the Norton Simon Museum, the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens and Bistro 45. For almost 15 years, owner and host, Robert Simon, has been selecting perfect pairings for market fresh dishes in his tiny Art Deco designed restaurant. Choose black and white sesame crusted ahi tuna with a soy ginger sauce, foie gras, roasted prime Angus beef tenderloin or seared diver scallops plus a dessert of chocolate "Soup."

Bistro 45
45 South Mentor Ave.
Pasadena
(626) 795-2478
www.bistro45.com

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Campanile

Charlie Chaplin constructed the building's courtyard, fountain, Romanesque arches, brick walls and atrium in 1929; then, gave it up in a divorce settlement. Chef and owner Mark Peel helped create Campanile under its high-ceilinged space in 1989. Beautiful, romantic and family friendly (at weekend brunch and Monday and Thursday dinners) it's a place for great breads, wines, cheeses, and perfectly prepared beef brisket hash with poached eggs (brunch), crisp flattened chicken (lunch), sautéed trenne pasta with Bolognese (dinner) and a chocolate tarte.

Campanile
624 South La Brea Ave.
(323) 938-1447
www.campanilerestaurant.com

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Jaan at Raffles L' Ermitage

Both the Writer's Bar--50 wines by the glass and gourmet pizzas--and the chic restaurant attract Beverly Hills bigwigs. The menu offers a classy culinary experience in a sleek, soothing and somewhat secretive Beverly Hills hideaway. Start with the impressive 45 Dollar Salad (truffles, foie gras, lobster and caviar, which add luster to the ahi tuna) and enjoy seared diver scallops of Colorado rack of lamb. Top it all off with the tantalizing Strawberry Mousse Charlotte or three cheesecake with ginger lime brulee. Hey, if you're going to come this far, you may as well go all the way.

Jaan at Raffles L' Ermitage
9291 Burton Way
Beverly Hills
(310) 278-3344
www.beverlyhills.raffles.com

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Jiraffe

Chef and owner Raphael Lunetta's acclaimed French food features his prepared-to-order specialties at dinner only. Taste pasta, dry aged Angus beef, caramelized pork chops, New Zealand rack of lamb or Pacific swordfish. Crepe lover's savor cream-filled, hazelnut crepes topped with sautéed apricots, crème anglaise and chocolate. The pleasant atmosphere plays off of a bright, airy space accentuated by two walls of windows, dark wood furnishings, and several antique mirrors and paintings steeped in 19th century French tradition.

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Koi

From lunch to late night, celebs like Sharon Osbourne (plus Leonardo and Liv) favor the Japanese-Californian fusion fare in this indoor/outdoor feng shui setting. Statues of Buddha--but no koi pond--abounds. Chef Rodelio Aglibot serves more than sushi and sake plus miso-enhanced, spicy and crispy menu items. Try jumbo prawns, Alaska king crabs and the warm banana bread dessert.

Koi
730 North La Cienega
(310) 659-9449
www.koirestaurant.com

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La Cachette

Chef/owner Jean Francois Meteigner, formerly of L' Orangerie, serves Provencal fare in this hidden "hideaway" (the translation of la Cachette) near Century City. He and his clients favor the light fresh flavors from the south of France with seafood specialties such as mussels, clams and scallops and a famous, fish-filled bouillabaisse. Luncheon sandwiches come with fabulous French fries (pommes frites). For dessert, don't miss the fruit-filled berry tart.

La Cachette
10506 Little Santa Monica Blvd.
(310) 470-4992
www.lacachetterestaurant.com

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L' Orangerie

Owners Gerard and Virginie Ferry recreated a chateau in France complete with a courtyard garden and fabulous flowers. Now you can drink at the bar, listen to the pianist and snack on silky shirred Egg Served in its Shell with Sevruga Caviar, house-smoked salmon or a terrine of foie gras. The meal--and it's worth wearing a jacket to enjoy it--offers velvety veal chop, fabulous fish and classic specialties. With subtle service, idyllic ingredients, perfect preparation and artful presentation, this Relais & Chateau, Relais Gourmand is L.A.'s reasonably priced answer to a three-star Michelin experience.

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Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel

From morning 'till midnight, the moguls, models and mainstream people flock to the Polo Lounge in the legendary "Pink Palace." The most famous restaurant in this 12-acre bungalow-filled compound is a place to be whether you order a simple Kobe-style beef burger, a grilled steak or more exotic Cal-Asian cuisine like a chilled duck salad. Champagne by the glass, lunch and dinner served with piano accompaniment on the patio, and a Sunday brunch with a jazz trio add to its appeal. Take in the lush scenery and bathe in the rich history that features top grade service and a price in kind with the glitz and glamour of its surroundings.

Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel
9641 Sunset Blvd.
Beverly Hills
(310) 276-2251
www.beverlyhillshotel.com

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Saddle Peak Lodge

Malibu Canyon is more than a "shoot" location and Hollywood homeowners who like the wide-open spaces (some ride their horses to dinner). It's a hunting lodge high in the hillsides where executive chef Mark Murillo prepares wild game plus familiar culinary classics. His menu starts with foie gras, seared duck confit and seared diver scallops, then moves on to buffalo, pork chops, pan roasted salmon, and wild boar. Reserve early on Saturday evening or for brunch on Sunday to see the setting and view.

Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Rd
Calabasas (Malibu Canyon)
(818) 222-3888
www.saddlepeaklodge.com

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Spago Beverly Hills

Spago is still trendy after all these years since the move from West Hollywood to Beverly Hills. New, hip spots come and go, but Wolfgang Puck's glamorous garden remains a see-and-be-seen spot and chef Lee Hefter's imaginative seasonal menus showcasing the French/Asian California cuisine keeps guests smiling. Some say that the tasting menu is the best way to appreciate the fare. Puck's flagship restaurant provides a sophisticated, elegant and warm environment and a colorful kitchen viewed through etched glass to stage the culinary artistry.

Spago Beverly Hills
176 North Canon Dr.
Beverly Hills
(310) 385-0880
www.wolfgangpuck.com

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The Belvedere Restaurant at The Peninsula

Peopled by the powerful from breakfast through dinner, this posh and popular Mobil Five-Star dining room remains one of the top Zagat-rated restaurants in town. Whether you dine outdoors by ivy-covered latticework or within the calming luxe of the dining room, you'll be delighted by the atmosphere and top-notch modern American fare. A popular menu attraction is the "Small Bites" selection where guests can create their own tasting menu from a selection of signature menu items that includes macaroni and (tellagio) cheese, blinis and caviar, potato crusted seasonal fish and day boat scallops.

The Belvedere Restaurant at The Peninsula
9882 Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills South
(310) 551-2888
http://beverlyhills.peninsula.com

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The Lobster

From the former seafood market to a light-filled platform overlooking the ocean, the food at The Lobster has focused on freshness since 1923. Chef Allyson Thurber makes meaty crab cakes, a famous slaw and both simply steamed Maine lobsters and grilled California spiny lobster brushed with herbed butter. It's Santa Monica's only freestanding seafood restaurant-with-a-view and the perfect spot for a toast at sunset.

The Lobster
1602 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica
(310) 458-9294
www.thelobster.com

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The Palm

Want milk? Buy a quart. Want steak? Head to The Palm and indulge Atkins style with a jumbo shrimp cocktail and a prime aged steak or lobster. You don't have to stop there. Add crisp cottage fries, fried onions and New York Cheesecake for good measure. Some meals are simple and most are simply delicious. The walls of each Palm are covered with caricatures of popular locals and national celebrities stemming from the landmark family-owned restaurant's 80-year history where the original owners hadn't the money for traditional décor. Some 25 locations later, it's among the many things synonymous with this casual dining classic.

The Palm
9001 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood
(310) 550-8811
www.thepalm.com

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The Restaurant at Hotel Bel Air

Doctors and debutantes, film stars and a First Lady feel at home within this urban oasis. Try lunch on the patio overlooking Swan Lake on fashionable favorites such as tortilla soup, Bel Air hamburger or Caesar salad. Dine on their famous bouillabaisse or at the chef's Table One; then, head for The Bar where a pianist enhances the wood paneled lounge. Nestled among 11 gardened acres, this is a not-to-be-missed experience, but after dark, the sumptuous and sprawling space near Sunset Blvd. becomes an easy-to-miss canyon hideaway.

The Restaurant at Hotel Bel Air
701 Stone Canyon Rd
(310) 472-1211
www.hotelbelair.com/restaurant.html

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Valentino

Piero Selvaggio welcomes oenophiles (there are thousands of wine bottles in the wine cellar on the upper level) as well as Italophiles (there are the finest Italian olive oils, prosciutto, truffles and cheeses) at this Mecca for Italian food. His is a legendary restaurant where pastas reign supreme with such dishes as bucatini with spicy shrimp and cherry tomatoes or maccheroncini with crumbled sausage and strips of charred eggplant. The menu selections are straightforward and the plates superb.

Valentino
3115 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica
(310) 829-4313
www.pieroselvaggio.com

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