Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [138]
O-Bar (Map; 323-822-3300; 8279 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood; mains $13-29; 6pm-midnight Sun & Mon, 6pm-1am Tue & Wed, 6pm-2am Thu-Sat; ) Boystown’s swankiest eatery is a modernist design feast of stone pillars, dramatic lighting, fireplaces and rippling fountains. Dinner is contempo comfort food – mac ‘n’ cheese to short ribs – and the bar scene goes on and on and on.
TOP END
Koi (Map; 310-659-9449; 730 N La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood; mains $18-28; 6-11pm Sun-Thu, 6pm-midnight Fri & Sat; ) With its bamboo-fortified patios, bubbly fireside lounge and sexy crowd that may include Owen Wilson or Avril Lavigne, this high-octane spot is packed with so much eye candy, it’s hard to focus on the food. Which is a shame, because the Asian nibbles (try the spicy tuna on crispy rice) are actually surprisingly good.
Ivy (Map; 310-274-8303; 113 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood; mains $20-38; 11:30am-11pm Mon-Fri, 11am-11pm Sat, 10am-11pm Sun; ) The picket-fenced patio and rustic cottage may not look posh but never mind – the Ivy is the power lunch spot in town. The chances of catching A-lister babes choking on a carrot stick or studio execs discussing sequels over the lobster omelette are excellent if you’re willing to put up with servers we found rather snooty and the steep bill. Desserts are outstanding.
Campanile (Map; 323-938-1447; 624 S La Brea Ave, Miracle Mile, Mid-City; mains brunch $10-18, lunch $18-24, dinner $28-48; brunch Sat & Sun, lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat; ) In a gorgeous building commissioned by Charlie Chaplin, owner-chef Mark Peel has been turning market-fresh ingredients into beautiful dishes for over 15 years. Loyal locals practically mob the place on Mondays for $40 three-course dinners and on Thursdays for Grilled Cheese Night.
Beverly Hills
BUDGET & MIDRANGE
Mulberry Street Pizzeria (Map; 310-247-8100; 240 S Beverly Dr; slices $3-4, pies $18-27; ) Cathy Moriarty’s place (credits include Raging Bull, Kindergarten Cop) often crawls with East Coast transplants, which is no surprise because the New York–style pizza is about as authentic as it gets west of the Hudson. The crust is crispy, the tomato sauce tangy just so and the toppings classic – aah, little slices of heaven.
Nate ‘n Al’s (Map; 310-274-0101; 414 N Beverly Dr; dishes $6-17; 7am-9pm; ) Dapper seniors, chatty girlfriends, busy execs and even Larry King have kept this New York–style nosh spot busy since 1945. The huge menu brims with pastrami, lox and other old-school favorites, but we’re partial to the corned beef or the roast beef, both made fresh on-site. If you hate long lines, avoid weekend breakfasts.
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TOP FIVE CELEBRITY-SPOTTING RESTAURANTS
AOC (Mid-City, Click here)
Ivy (West Hollywood, Click here)
Koi (West Hollywood, Click here)
Nobu Malibu (Malibu, Click here)
Spago Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills, right)
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Urth Caffé (Map; 310-205-9311; 267 S Beverly Dr; mains $7-13; 7am-11pm; ) Same great organic coffee and food but lower celebrity factor than the Melrose Ave original Click here.
Mako (Map; 310-288-8338; 225 S Beverly Dr; small plates $7-23; noon-2pm Wed-Fri, 6-10pm Mon-Sat; ) Champion chef Makoto Tanaka trained with Wolfgang Puck and now supplies the faithful at his own minimalist-chic restaurant. The small-plate menu is ideal for sampling flavors and textures, from snow-crab tempura to wok-sautéed baby halibut or the excellent yuzu meringue tart. At lunch most people order the ‘Bento Box’ filled with whatever treats inspire Makoto that day.
Xi’an (Map; 310-275-3345; 362 N Cañon Dr, Beverly Hills; mains $9-16; 11:30am-10pm Mon-Fri, noon-11pm Sat, 5-10pm Sun; ) Upbeat and noisy, Xi’an serves modern MSG-free Chinese fare calibrated to health- and waist-watchers but without sacrificing a lick to the taste gods. Swoon-worthy dishes include the