RESTAURANT GUIDE

Ca’ Brea: 346 S. La Brea, Los Angeles (213/938-2863). L-D. In casual country elegance, diners may enjoy such outstanding specialties as Melanzane Al Grana Padano (grilled, baked eggplant with mozzarella & parmesan cheeses) or All ‘Aragosta E Frutti Di Mare (Venetian spaghetti with shellfish and porcini mushrooms). For star-watchers, there is a large show-business clientele. Cocktails. All major. $

Cafe Pinot:  700 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles (213/239-6500).  L-D.  California/French cuisine under the direction of super-chef Splichal of the fabulous Patina restaurant.  This bright and lively, all glass restaurant in the midst of LA is especially beautiful at night when all the lights of downtown are sparkling.  A fine choice for before the theater dining.  Cocktails.  All major.  $$$

Campanile: 624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles (323/938-1447)  L-D  An LA favorite since it opened offering seasonal favorites of California-Mediterranean cuisine at their finest. Sophisticated dining.   Best bread in the city. Cocktails.  All major.  $$$

Cicada:  617 S. Olive St., Los Angeles (323/655-5559).   L-D.  Spacious, exquisite art deco restaurant in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.  Cicada's outstanding contemporary Italian cuisine and fine service makes it an excellent choice for special business lunches or before the theater dining.  Check out the upstairs bar which regularly features live entertainment in a elegant, romantic setting.  Cocktails.  All major.  $$$

Ciudad:  Union Bank Plaza, 445, S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles (213/486-5171) L-D   The two hot tamale's (Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feiniger) downtown establishment serves up Latin cuisine with a flair.  It's delicious edibles presented in an upbeat, noisy atmosphere. Cocktails.  All major $$$

Jade Cafe:  1521 Griffith Park Bl., Silver Lake (323/667-1551)  L-D Newly opened Jade Cafe features delicious organic raw vegan creations.  Menu items include garlic jicama bruchetta, sweet chilly glazed and creamed stuffed squash blossoms and creamy ginger coconut noodles.   $$

Palm:  1100 S. Flower St., Los Angeles (213/763-4600)   www.thepalm.com   The landmark Palm's new addition has emerged across the street from Staples Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Serving the traditional menu items as the original restaurant which opened in New York 80 years ago, the specialties remain prime aged beef, jumbo Nova Scotia lobsters, traditional Italian dishes and its famous cheesecake flown in from New York.  Huge bar, screening room, private dining rooms and an executive boardroom.  Cocktails.  Valet Parking.  All major $$$

Patina:   141 S Grand Ave., Los Angeles (213/972-3331) L-D. This fine restaurant, specializing in French/ California cuisine, picks up where it left off at its new address in the Disney Concert Hall complex. Patina is quiet, private, intimate, dramatic and comfortable. A special occasion restaurant. Cocktails. All major. $$$$

Roy's:  800 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles (213/488-4994)  www.roysrestaurant.com    Situated in several other southland locations as well, award winning chef, Roy Yamaguchi's restaurants feature Hawaiian Fusion cuisine featuring exotic flavors and spices with fresh local ingredients with an emphasis on seafood.   All major.  $$$

Water Grill: 544 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles (213/891-0900) L-D.  Sophisticated decor and exceptional cuisine specializing in fresh fish. For dessert, try the chocolate bread pudding. Fine wine menu. Cocktails. All major  $$$

West Hollywood - La Cienega

Dan Tana's:  9071 Santa   Monica Bl., West Hollywood (310/275-9444) D.  A old-fashioned landmark celebrity hangout specializing in great steaks and chops served by waiters who have been there practically since the place opened.   Other choices include  spaghetti sauce right out of Little Italy served with the Northern Italian specialties.   Cocktails.  All Major  $$$

Diaghilev: Wyndham Bel Age Hotel, 1020 N. San Vicente Bl., West Hollywood (310/854-1111). D. This is truly a special occasion restaurant or the place to go when you really want to impress someone. The multi-award winning Russian Franco dining room offers one of the most unique menus and one of the most exquisite settings in the entire city. Cocktails. All major. $$$

Fenix: The Argyle, 8358 Sunset Bl., West Hollywood (213/654-7100). B-L-D. An elegant and formal dining setting. Contemporary French and California cuisine served in this beautiful art deco styled room overlooking a panorama of Los Angeles. Entrees include venison medallions, roasted duckling and salmon. Late suppers are served from 11:00p.m.-1:00 a.m. Cocktails. All major. $$$

Market City Caffe: 121 N. La Cienega Bl., Los Angeles (310/358-9662). L-D. The menu is a repository of recipes collected from two Neapolitan aunties. Despite the large portions, this is a health conscious menu made with lots of fresh herbs. You can custom design a pizza or pastas to suite your whim or head for the groaning salad bar.Cocktails. All major. $

Palm Restaurant: 9001 Santa Monica Bl., West Hollywood (310/550-8811). L-D. For 20 years this restaurant has served nearly 730,000 jumbo lobsters and 365,000 prime New York steaks to its discriminating customers. Considered a second home to the movie crowd. Cocktails. All major. $$$

Hollywood - Melrose

Bastide:  8475 Melrose Place, West Hollywood,  ( 323/651-5950) L-D Very expensive and very good. Chef Alain Giraud delights his customers with such delicacies as Provencal fish soup, monkfish with baby vegetables fois gras with raisins and a French only wine list. Charming outdoor patio, excellent service. $$$$

Chianti Cucina: 7383 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles (213/653-8333). L-D. Imagine a restaurant so popular that it spawns another. Put the two of them together and you have Chianti Cucina. With its murals, candles and romantic atmosphere, Chianti is old world charm at its finest. At the more informal Cucina, guests enjoy watching chefs prepare meals in the open kitchen. Cocktails. All major. $$

Musso and Frank Grill: 6667 Hollywood Bl., Hollywood (213/467-7788 or 213/467-5123). L-D. Hollywood’s oldest (since 1919) and still a favorite of Hollywood writers, movie and television stars, this charming restaurant rates with the finest on the West Coast. The cuisine is Continental, the decor reminiscent of turn-of-the-century San Francisco. Menu favorites include steaks, sauerbraten and fresh seafood dishes. Cocktails. All major. $$$

Beverly Hills - Westside

The Belvedere: The Peninsula Beverly Hills, 9882 Santa Monica Bl., Beverly Hills (310/551-4888). B-L-D. Multi award winning dining room and one of the most elegant addresses in the city. A fine choice for a business or personal dining experience. Specialties include tenderloin of beef with roasted shallot potatoes. Cocktails. All major. $$$

Guido’s: 11980 Santa Monica Bl., West Los Angeles (310/820-6649). L-D In a warm, romantic atmosphere amidst rustic decor, with huge blazing stone fireplace, celebrities and socialites quietly gather. This landmark restaurant is where they have long enjoyed good service, fine Italian cuisine and privacy. In the warmer months, many enjoy dining al fresco on the attractive outdoor patio. What continues to be very special and increasingly rare is tableside service where Caesar salads and other menu items are prepared right before your eyes with great panache. Cocktails. All major. $$$

Hana Sushi: 11831 Wilshire Bl., West Los Angeles (310/477-9795). L-D. One of the largest sushi bars in the country, also includes a spacious dining room and private party room. Pictures of Japanese sports celebrities adorn the restaurant. In addition to sushi selections, beef and chicken teriyaki, sukiyaki, tempura and other Japanese specialties are also served. For desserts, try the tempura deep fried ice cream. Wine, beer. All major $$

La Cachette: 10506 Santa Monica Bl., West Los Angeles (310/470-4992). L-D Chef/owner Jean Francois Meteigner has perfected his art by taking the myth and the fat out of French cuisine with his version of lean yet classic French dishes. Some menu highlights include house-smoked Norwegian salmon and smoked whitefish salad with warm potatoes, duck with orange or ginger sauce and signature desserts like Tarte Tartin. Beer, wine. All major. $$

Polo Lounge:  Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Bl., Beverly Hills (310/276-2251) L-D  Gorgeous flower filled patio creates the setting for beautifully prepared international dishes. Cocktails. All major $$$

Prego: 362 N. Camden Dr., Beverly Hills (310/ 277-7346). L-D This light and lively restaurant has the clean look of blond wood, white tile, sleek modern art and dramatic displays of bare branches and flowers punctuated by high ceilings. Prego features food with the flavor of Italian home cooking. Some of the more popular dishes include prawn, tomato, basil, garlic mozzarella pizza; Lattughe Stagione, homemade Spaghetti alla Carbonara and fresh fish of the day. Cocktails. All major. $$

Tudor House:  1403 2nd St., Santa Monica (310/451-4107).  You'll think you are in London when you enter this traditional British tea house serving a wide selection of teas, sweets and light repasts.  All major.  $

Typhoon: 3221 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica (310/390-6565).   Typhoon, serving traditional Pan-Asian cuisine, is perched right over the Santa Monica Airport's main runway, commanding a soaring panoramic view of ocean, mountains, sunset and city lights.  Featuring an exotic combination of dishes from China, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Burma and the Philippines and a selection of beers form those countries, guests may dine and imbibe in the glass-enclosed main dining room on the lower level or enjoy the open barbecue on the balmy observation deck above.  Cocktails.  All major. $$

Zip Fusion:  11301 W. Olympic Bl. (corner of Sawtelle), WLA, (310/575-3636)  Jason Ha's newest restaurant offers a variety of unusual taste treats that are not only delicious and healthy, but are treats for the eye with their beautiful styling.  Ha's lead chef, formerly trained in sushi, has cooked for generals in the Korean military but in California has explored new culinary adventures.  He has developed a California Fusion that pays equal respect to Asian, European and Latin influences and has fused traditional Korean dished with South American spieces and pasta made with Asian rice paper. A Mediterranean style terrace fronts the restaurant for outside dining.  Cocktails.  All major.  $$

Marina del Rey - Santa Monica - Malibu - LAX

Guido’s: 3874 Cross Creek Road, Malibu (310/456-1979). The dining room is all glass and looks out over the Santa Monica Mountains and Cross Creek. The decor is done in light oak contrasted with comfortable red booths. The menu is strictly Italian and features entrees including a variety of fresh fish, chicken, veal and beef dishes and with delicious soups that taste like home-made. Exquisite tableside service. Cocktails. All major. $$$

Nawab - House of Exotic Indian Food: 1621 Wilshire Bl., Santa Monica (310/829-1106). L-D. This house of exotic Indian fare specializes in northern Indian Nughalai, a cuisine based on recipes brought to India by Persian Nawabs (Muslim kings). Nawab prepares a delightful chicken tikka and savory marinated lamb chops. It’s marinated and grilled prawns, cooked in a clay tandoori oven, are a hit with regulars and newcomers alike. Open daily. Parking. Beer and wine. All major. $$

Hal’s Bar & Grill: 1349 Abbot Kinney Bl., (two blocks north of Venice Bl.) Venice (310/396-3105). L-D An airy and spacious, upbeat restaurant which offers California cuisine with menu selections highlighting new and creative dishes. Bar and grill classics include abundant Cobb Salad, New York steak, and Caesar salad. Sweeping 30-foot pine bar. Cocktails. All major. $$

JW’s Steakhouse: Los Angeles Airport Marriott, 5855 W. Century Bl., Los Angeles (310/641-5700). D. An atmosphere and menu reminiscent of the classic American steakhouse featuring premium quality steaks, seafood and poultry served in a classy yet comfortable environment. Cocktails. All major. $$

Moonshadows:  20356 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu (310/456-3010).  Steaks and fish, lobster and pear salads are among the offerings at one of the few restaurants which jut out over the Pacific Ocean.  Very romantic watching the waves crash right beneath your table.   Cocktails.  All major $$

Saddle Peak Lodge:  419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas (818/222-3888) D .  This is the place for game lovers. Elk, buffalo, venison, pheasant and duck are menu features in addition to more commonplace entrees.  Clubby atmosphere -- definitely masculine, and very up-market. Cocktails.  $$$

San Fernando Valley - San Gabriel Valley

Cafe Sierra: Universal City Hilton & Towers: 555 Universal Terrace Parkway, Universal City (818/ 506-2500 ext. 5546). B-L-D. A world of good eating featuring elaborate breakfast buffets, luncheon buffets, Friday night seafood buffets, Saturday night Mediterranean buffets and Sunday brunch, all reasonably priced. A la carte menu of Continental cuisine is also offered. Cocktails. All major. $$

Clearman’s North Woods Inn: 7247 Rosemead, San Gabriel (626/286-8284). L-D. Family style cooking, lumberjack steaks and delicious sandwiches in a pleasant, north-woodsy atmosphere. BA, MC, AMEX, DR. $

ORANGE COUNTY