Los Angeles Restaurants

Vitello's Still Going Strong in Studio City
Speakeasy serving craft cocktails in the back

Vitello’s in Studio City has been around about fifty five years and is still going strong despite some bumpy moments in its long history. It is basically an Italian restaurant with a very hip separate speakeasy, The Rendition Room, for members and open to the public by reservations and an upstairs intimate supper club Feinstein’s at Vitello’s that can seat up to 115 guests. More>>>

Enzo's Italian Restaurant In Rancho Mirage, California
Former hangout of Frank Sinatra changes name and approach

Enzo’s restaurant in Rancho Mirage near Palm Springs recently re-launched as an Italian restaurant primarily focusing on Southern Italian food and in particular the region of Calabria. The spacious facility used to be called DOMINICKS, and in its heyday it used to be the hangout for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball, and all their Hollywood cronies who had luxury homes in the area and a passion for Italian food.

Today Enzo’s is run by the father and son team of Robert and Nick Novello, and the restaurant will feature handmade pizzas and pastas such as the veal marsala ravioli or More>>>

Crustacean in Beverly Hills Announces the Red Hour Every Wednesday

The beloved Beverly Hills restaurant CRUSTACEAN has just launched the Red Hour every Wednesday from 4-7 pm taking place in the lounge and bar area. The restaurant moved To its new location in March 2018 and the celebrities and good food lovers have never stopped coming to this upscale Vietnamese Eaterie for the last twenty years. There is also some very exciting news about the upstairs section which will be opening up as DA LAT ROSE on or about November 8th as an upscale dining experience lasting about two hours with a nine course tasting menu priced at $225. More>>>

West Hollywood's Sur Offers Up New Brunch Menu

The hip and trendy SUR in West Hollywood has launched a new weekend brunch menu and it would be hard to find a more fun place to hang out after a long hard week. The area itself has always been along with Beverly Hills the place to visit in Los Angeles so I am embarrassed to admit that this was my first visit to Sur.

A media luncheon was attended by some of the top food writers in town and chef Joe Martinez has created a menu that can loosely be described as in international menu. The place has been a long time favorite of celebrities as they visit after shopping on Robertson for the latest in bathroom accessories and no doubt they will like the new brunch menu. The restaurant has been featured on the Bravo reality show the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and husband and wife team of Guillermo and Natalie Zapata are a perfect match to run this bustling hot spot. More>>>

Venice's Chaya Officially Changes Name

Chaya in Venice was recently re-modeled and this modern looking restaurant continues to have a solid following with the beach crowd serving quality Asian fusion style food. The new name is a reflection of Four Centuries of Reinvention in Japan & Four Decades of revolutionary cuisine in the USA. More>>>

Church & State Still Going Strong

When Church and State opened in an unfashionable area of downtown Los Angeles nine years ago, it was pretty much the only place of quality food in that area. Now the French style bistro located in the old Nabisco Biscuit Factory has competition, and although business is still good at the bustling venue, owners are well aware that they can not rest on their laurels.

Relatively new Chef De Cuisine Sam Jung is a personable fellow who is classically trained in French cuisine and brings an impressive resume to the kitchen. He graduated More>>>

Trois Mec

Those of you who have been to Trois Mec in its four year existence know that it is culinary theatre. Since there are only 24 seats available with eight of those at the counter, it is like dining amongst friends with strong interaction with the chefs preparing your gourmet meal. The restaurant is located in a non-descript row of shops and is formerly a pizza parlor.

The dining experience is heightened when the restaurant hosts highly touted visiting chefs, and that was the case on my visit to the low key Hollywood restaurant this week. Of course it is the restaurant made famous by Ludo Lefebvre, a classically trained French chef, and his partners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. On this chilly December night he welcomed Jamie More>>>

Mezcal Magic at Maestro in Old Pasadena

On a sweltering night in Old Pasadena I got the chance to check out the modern Mexican cuisine at Maestro as well as trying out some of their Mezcal drinks. I am not sure how many partners there are behind the place, but the enthusiasm and passion they all show is kind of infectious, so yes if you are reading this then make sure you check it out. The restaurant be warned tends to be quite loud and noisy, especially when there is a large party seated at the very comfortable banquette. More>>>

Upper West in Santa Monica Brings in the Crowds

I have to confess that I had not heard about UPPER WEST restaurant In West LA/Santa Monica before my recent visit, but can gladly report that the seven year old restaurant is doing just fine. The dining room Is large, bustling and quite noisy especially when some of the locals are on their second bottle of wine. However, there is a different vibe at lunchtime with the local business crowd, but the night crowd is definitely the free spending younger variety. More>>>

Hyperion Public in Studio City

This restaurant in the crowded dining scene on Ventura Blvd in Studio City Is close to being open 1 year, and my bet is that it will be around for quite some time. Excellent atmosphere and a really friendly staff complement the excellent work of chef/partner Paddy Aubrey in what can very loosely be described as American comfort food. Apparently he made his name with... more

Pasadena's Raymond 1886

Raymond 1886 in Pasadena is not in the hip and crowded downtown area of city, but the location is a delight with a large outdoor dining area perfect for winter nights. The menu can loosely be described as American rustic, and I was also fortunate enough to visit the restaurant on the night their new cocktail menu was being launched.

The Executive chef is Tim Guiltinan and the Bar Manager is Peter Lloyd Jones. They have also added a new Pastry Chef in Raymond Morales and the man behind the new and very progressive wine program is Maxwell Leer. More about that later, but the ideal way to start a meal here is the very fresh Artisanal Baguette ($7) with homemade butters that will set you up right to follow up with the Octopus and Bone Marrow Bruschetta... more

Fogo de Chao Introduces New Menu Items

The iconic Brazilian Steak House on La Cienaga in Beverly Hills is probably still basking in the glow of the Olympics, but rather than resting on their laurels have introduced some new menu items. Those include a gargantuan Shrimp Cocktail, a Roasted Butternut Squash Salad and a Pear & Endive Salad. All this of course complements their well documented meat selections, which are brought to the table in an “all you can eat” concept.

A spacious restaurant with plenty of buzz and activity, the Shrimp Cocktail comes on a large bed of ice and the six shrimp can easily be shared and this is an excellent start to... more

Manhattan House Offering American Style Gastro Pub Food

The Manhattan House restaurant in Manhattan Beach has slowly been picking up momentum since opening in July 2015 thanks to the sterling work of chef Diana Stavaridis. She is a former protégé of Neal Fraser, and although the place likes to bill itself as New York meets Manhattan Beach, there are plenty of other influences on tap here like North African and Southern style cooking. Nothing emphasizes that better then the sumptuous Fried Chicken ($18), which is Buttermilk fried and served with corn bread and chile honey butter. Almost all of the plates are perfect for sharing, prices are reasonable enough and the service is brisk and attentive. More>>>

VodBox at Nic's in Beverly Hills

Nic’s restaurant in Beverly Hills would be good enough to stand on the merits of the food, service and atmosphere, but since the addition of “The Vodbox,’’ business has really picked up. This has been created by owner/entrepreneur and sometime chef Larry Nicola, who is the perfect host at a restaurant in the same location as La Familia, watering hole of none other than Dean Martin. Modern day celebrities are here all the time, and recent sightings have included Demi Moore, Lindsay Lohan, Peter Falk, Kevin Costner, Bruce Willis, Matthew Broderick and Paul Gasol. The ambience is very colorful with two main dining areas, and the owner likes to think that the atmosphere conjures up a “classic, 1957 El Dorado Cadillac cruising More>>>

Yamato Japanese Restaurant

Yamato Japanese restaurant has been getting some good press since opening in December, with the Los Angeles Times describing it as “Japanese pub food at great prices”. Although the restaurant found that accolade not exactly to their liking, they loved the business that it has been bringing. The owner recruited Toshi Tamba as head chef from the Wynn Hotel, and although he only made the briefest of appearances on what was essentially a More>>>

Stones Restaurant at the Marriott

Stones Restaurant at the Marriott in Marina del Rey is an unusual one by any standards, not quite fitting the normal hotel restaurant format. The main asset is clearly the creative energy brought by young chef Victor Miguel who is not afraid to take risks, especially with some of the dynamic combinations he comes up with. Because the restaurant is also used for breakfast, the ambiance and general atmosphere of the long rectangular restaurant is still a work in progress, and frankly slightly old fashioned. The lighting is just about right for the evening although the rather bland jazz music playing also needs a bit of More>>>

Pacific Dining Car Steakhouse Restaurant

The venerable Pacific Dining Car steakhouse has been around since 1921 in Los Angeles and has a storied history of visits by the real power players in Los Angeles. Politicians, lawyers, business leader and celebrities still come on a regular basis for the privacy and ambiance, and it has also been the scene for many movies including Training Day and more recently, Street Kings more. I was also able to glean some celebrity names of people who come fairly regularly when they are in town, and as expected they are some big ones like Johnny Depp, Jack Black, Mayor Antonio Villaragosa and More>>>

Bombay Palace

The Bombay Palace restaurant in Beverly Hills has just celebrated 25 years of business in January of this year and is offering special discounts that will be lasting until the end of the year. One of the most elegant Indian restaurants in the city, the Bombay Palace has had the same chef for its entire existence, and a personable owner Deep Sethi for 19 year.Deep started out as an employee doing all kinds of jobs at the restaurant for 6 years before becoming the owner, and he should certainly be congratulated for keeping Bombay Palace relevant for so long. More>>>

Katsuya Restaurant

The extremely popular KATSUYA chain has opened up at LA LIVE, and the restaurant brings its high quality Japanese/Oriental fusion cuisine to Laker fans and anybody else who ventures down to the Staples Center. Master chef Katsuya Uechi has brought many of his signature dishes to the restaurant such as Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna and Spicy Albacore with Crispy Onions. The service at the new location is brisk and professional and the young hip crowd were enjoying selecting from the vast array of martinis on offer More>>>

Nirvana Indian Restaurant in Beverly Hills

Nirvana Indian restaurant in Beverly Hills is slightly hard to locate with only a small sign out front, but since it is directly opposite the Bombay Palace this could make this area of Wilshire decidedly Indian in flavor. The surprising thing is that they are sister restaurants, but very different in style and quality.

The chef here has been around since the restaurant opened over five years ago, and it shows in the quality of the curries. I went with a British friend who had experienced some rough times with curries in the past, but he snapped up this stuff and vowed to end his boycott of the genre, and was hungry for more. More>>>

Flemings Steakhouse

Fans of Flemings Steakhouse can now enjoy the latest location at LA Live, the downtown entertainment complex adjacent to the Staples Center. Although at press time the facility is still a work in progress with NY of the places still not open for business, the corporate minds that run Flemings have hit the ground running. This is the 11th Flemings in California alone, and they are also More>>>

Jiraffe Restaurant

Jiraffe restaurant in Santa Monica has gained an excellent reputation which we found well deserved, judging by a recent visit to the trendy and upscale eatery. Chef/owner Raphael Lunetta opened up in April 1996 with friend Josiah Citrin who left in 1999 to open the wildly successful Melisse, also in Santa Monica. Lunetta is a chef who takes risks, and he is also known as "the surfing chef" who can always be found at Zuma Beach locally or on the North Shore of Oahu, when he is not concocting magic in the kitchens at Jiraffe. The sophisticated upscale clientele are treated to signature dish. More>>>

Tagine Restaurant

I want to tell you about a restaurant that is one of the best kept secrets in town, and once you discover it you will add it to your favorites. The place which is called Tagine and the fact that one of the three owners is Ryan Thomas Gosling (The Notebook, Half Nelson, Academy Award Nominee for Best Actor, 2007) who frequents the place with his many movie star friends (including his current girlfriend Rachel Adams) when he is in town, also gives the place a buzz. On any given night you will most likely see a celebrity or two, but since the place is More>>>

Nick & Stef's Steakhouse

Ago Restaurant

When a new restaurant opens up especially in Hollywood , a celebrity chef and celebrity owners help launch the place, but it is still no guarantee that the doors will stay open. There is always a new hot spot for the big spenders and hot babes that frequent these kind of places to go to. But Ago in West Hollywood continues to pull in the crowds with it's Tuscan cuisine. The regions of Ligurio and Emilio Romano also play an influence on the menu. A recent visit on a midweek just before the 4th of July was in fact a quiet night for the trendy eatery, as everyone was keen to point out several times. An abundance of valet's, waiters, bus boys and cooks indicates a place not shy on spending the bucks, and things are going so More>>>

Bluewater Grill

The reputation of restaurants in the South Bay even today remains questionable, but regular patrons of the Bluewater Grill in Redondo Beach (opened in 2001) don’t give a hoot about that as they continue to enjoy outstanding dishes created by local chef Brian Hirsty and his loyal team. A visit this week on a fairly busy Wednesday night was a complete revelation, with every dish selected turning out More>>>

Il Moro Restaurant

It isn’t to often you will find a destination restaurant of quality which is located on the ground floor of an executive financial building. Although hidden away of the main street thoroughfare, when I finally parked and entered Il Moro (“the Moor”), I discovered the journey to this “Westside” restaurant oasis was worth the drive. Situated off Olympic Boulevard (entrance on Purdue Street), this Northern Italian style restaurant serves the traditional menu of anti-pasta, pasta, soups, salads, but it is the seasonal menu items which captivate the senses. More>>>

Jerne Restaurant

Blending an eclectic mix of tasty appetizers with elegantly presented main courses, Chef Troy Thompson created in the past many different interactive dishes at Jerne, 4375 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, California. Drew Sayea is the new chef at Jerne and is offering his own menu of California Cuisine. Located in the Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Rey Hotel, Jerne fulfills the expectations of any person interested in Euro-Pacific elegantly prepared accessible dishes. Jerne is situated just to the left of an open living room area where people casually meet for drinks and conversation. I started off with the Bento Box, a special mix of five More>>>

Dantana's Restaurant

When a restaurant has been around for 40+ years then you know it has to be good. In Hollywood , Dantana's has the reputation of being a major hang out place where stars in there hundreds have been going to for years, and where they can eat their pasta in peace without being bothered too much. In fact the place is so busy that they have to turn around the tables every couple of hours to seat a new bunch of deal making diners, although it seems hard to imagine the likes of regulars like George Clooney, Leonard Di Caprio or even Phil Spector (he had dinner here with Lana Clarkson before returning to his Mansion on the fateful evening) being easily hustled out by the management. Never mind that we went on a cold and very wet Sunday night, the place was still packed by groups of seven or eight highly animated More>>>

Park Grill

What do Sean Connery, Chris Rock and Usher have in common? For those of you who are interested in where celebrities stay and eat, these venerable icons all like to spend time at the Hotel Intercontinental (formerly known as the Park Hyatt) in Century City in the Royal Suite. They are also very fond of eating at the hotel restaurant, the Park Grill. I was there last week on a relatively quiet weekday night, and was fully expecting to see groups of rowdy businessmen abusing their expense accounts, but instead saw a real More>>>

Kate Mantilini

The renowned Kate Mantilini restaurant in Beverly Hills opened on St.Patrick's Day, March 17, 1987, and has long been known as a stars hangout for several reasons - mainly because of location and the connections of owners Harry and Marilyn Lewis. The former actor (over 50 films including Key Largo with Humphrey Bogart) and his wife, started the famous Hamburger Hamlet chain in 1952 with savings of $3,500, before selling the operation for $33 million in 1997. Kate Mantilini's was part of that chain, but the Lewis's bought back the restaurant five years later, and More>>>

Mastro Steakhouse

Mastro Steakhouse in Beverly Hills is rapidly becoming the place to be seen since opening up here in September, 2001. The Scottsdale based company that runs restaurant selected the former site of the failed remake of the venerable Chasen's restaurant, and it certainly looks like this place is going to be around for some time. The downstairs area is for quieter dining, with the upstairs being one of the noisiest, most crowded dining rooms I have ever been in. It is also extremely dark, so a magnifying glass might help you see the menu if you are not overly More>>>

Takami Restaurant

Takami has just opened up in an old office building downtown, and it just shows you what a $4 million investment can do. The space is buzzing, the atmosphere is terrific, and the food spearheaded by sushi expert Kenny Yamada is a joy to look at and taste. If you are into Asian food at any level, then a visit here is a must, just to see what the fuss is all about, and it could very easily turn out to be one of your regular spots, and certainly a place to take out of town of visitors to. More>>>

Fogo de Chao

This review is for the benefit for those of you who have never been to this most unusual of restaurants, for it is the kind of place once visited, never forgotten. I do not consider myself an expert at all in Brazilian food, but if this is a prime example, then more of these types of restaurants please. It is billed as “the gaucho way of preparing meat, “and since it is also an “all you can eat” establishment, I will be better prepared the next time now that I understand the rules of engagement of pacing oneself to try all the different entrees. The food is from the Southern part of Brazil , and frankly I have no idea how authentic it is, but it must be pretty close judging by all the attention and success the restaurant has been having. There are some serious looking eaters at Fogo de More>>>

Tanino Restaurant

The dominance of Italian food and restaurants in Los Angeles continues unabated, with one such example being Tanino Ristorante and Bar in trendy Westwood Village . The place has been open for five years, and is the vehicle of chef/owner Tanino Drago, a 29-year-old native of Sicily . He is part of the Drago family who have been an influence in this part of the world for some time when it comes to top of the range Italian cuisine. The restaurant is modeled after the Pitti Palace in Florence , and dates back to 1929, almost ancient for this part of the world. Architect Paul Revere Williams brought original ceiling frescos and carvings, elaborate wall murals and artisan plasterwork from his travels in Italy , making the place extremely sophisticated and comfortable. The main dining room More>>>

Morton's Steakhouse

Arnie Morton's Steak House of Chicago opened its 62nd venue, in downtown Los Angeles making a welcome addition to the burgeoning dining scene down there. Proving a lively challenger to LA Prime at the nearby Bonaventure Hotel, steak houses are "in" right now, with the Porterhouse Bistro and Mastro's of Scottsdale having both opened in Beverly Hills recently. Morton's uses it's lofty reputation to keep the momentum going with some style. All the predictable steak More>>>

The Vic

If you thought that the speakeasy was dead, then think again. It is alive and well one night a week in Santa Monica . The Vic catering company turns into a New York style jazz club every Thursday night. Some pretty hip names in the world of jazz show up on a regular basis to savor the music and enjoy the food and drinks, and the cool thing is, you have to know the password in order to get in. This is a pretty hip place to impress out of town guests, kind of like a private club that is open to the public. There are two shows nightly at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM with a $20 cover and a two drink minimum. There is also a late midnight show for the younger More>>>

Agora Churrascaria

GOOOOOOOAL!!!!! As the World Cup of Futbol approaches in a few weeks, I thought of the five championships held by the country of Brazil . When we think of Brazil we think of Carnival, Rio and Soccer, but don’t forget about their native food. Walking into Irvine 's new Brazilian-style steakhouse Agora Churrascaria, a new world appears to unfold. With 25 foot cathedral ceilings, the restaurant gives the guests an innate feel of being in a large hacienda lodge where gauchos (cowboys from the southern region) returning from herding cattle come to feast on Picauha (sirloin) or Miminha (tri-tip). We were seated in the middle of the restaurant next to the busy food bar where people walked passed us to More>>>

Ventura Restaurants

It should not come as any sort of surprise that Ventura is becoming quite a restaurant town, and as more and more top chefs move here because of the proximity of local produce, the reputation will continue to grow. The local Farmers Market has been going now for twenty years with many of the original vendors still showing up, ad there has also been More>>>

Stones Restaurant at the Marriott

Stones Restaurant at the Marriott in Marina del Rey is an unusual one by any standards, not quite fitting the normal hotel restaurant format. The main asset is clearly the creative energy brought by young chef Victor Miguel who is not afraid to take risks, especially with some of the dynamic combinations he comes up with.

Because the restaurant is also used for breakfast, the ambience and general atmosphere of the long rectangular restaurant is still a work in progress, and frankly slightly More>>>