Alto Palato Italian
755 North La Cienega Blvd.
310-657-9271
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Italian
Sleek and spacious, Alto Palato is a favorite among other Los Angeles chefs. Guests enter through a lounge featuring a stunning blond wood bar that spans nearly 20 feet, and then move into the dining room. Ultramodern, with soaring ceilings and bright and bold contemporary art, this spacious Italian trattoria bursts with energy. Crisp crusted pizza and out-of-this-world pastas are favorite dishes. For the more sophisticated palate, the fresh fish specials and the pork filet with figs and spiced red wine sauce are recommended. The gelati comes straight from Italian heaven.

The Beach House
100 West Channel Rd.
310-454-8299
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: American
The newly opened Beach House, already very popular with the celebrity set, features American bistro comfort food in a warm, family beach house ambience. Situated at the corner of the Pacific Coast Highway, directly across from the beach, the place is owned by Liza Utter, who created a rustic Ralph Lauren-inspired interior that complements Executive Chef Josie LeBaich's Americana menu. Clams or mussels steamed in shallots and white wine broth, grilled flattened short ribs, chicken pot pies, home baked pies, and Liza's Beach House Dream Ice Cream Sundae are featured menu items.

The Belvedere
9882 Santa Monica Blvd.
310-788-2306
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Very Expensive
Cuisine type: Californian
A testament to the finest California tastes, this hotel's kitchen does more than maintain the standards of past years. Bill Bracken's French-Californian cuisine gets better and better, seducing even the sternest hotel dining critics. A spacious and elegant dining room and a delightfully verdant patio provide two attractive settings for dishes such as Chilean sea bass with an orange reduction, and rack of lamb with roasted corn polenta and baby artichoke ratatouille. For lighter fare, the lob ster tacos and the grilled portobello mushroom and artichoke sandwich will please any palate. Expectations run high as this dining room is set to scale the dizziest heights.

The Bistro Garden at Coldwater
12950 Ventura Blvd.
818-501-0202
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Continental
The Bistro Garden evokes a European Wintergarden setting--all glass latticework, skylights, and great tangles of greenery. This is a favorite Valley spot for ladies who lunch. Widely spaced tables and a jazz pianist in the evenings help drown out intimate conversation at night. Fine continental dishes such as osso bucco, rack of lamb with black peppercorn sauce, and farfalle with wild mushrooms and veal sauce are served by an attentive waitstaff.

Border Grill
1445 Fourth St.
310-451-1655
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Mexican
Funky in the most appealing sense, the Border Grill is a celebration of California's links to Mexico. Chef-owners Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken are nothing if not wide-eyed in their love of spicy flavors and color on the plate. This is not the place to come for the c ombo platter. Instead they'll serve up Yucatan tacos with lobster, wonderfully seasoned pepper soups, an array of luscious flans for dessert, and a well-made margarita with--for once--good tequila.

Broadway Deli
1437 Third St. Promenade
310-451-0616
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Delis, Breakfast/Brunch
It has nothing to do with New York's Broadway nor does it resemble any New York deli, but French chef Michel Richard (who also owns Citrus) offers his own Gaelic touch. Dishes such as matzo ball soup, macaroni and cheese, and pastrami sandwiches are listed on the menu along with French favorites including pot au feu and perfect frites. The super breakfasts are not to be missed.

Campanile
624 South La Brea Ave.
323-938-1447
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Californian, Italian, Fusion
This urbane eatery with laid-back appeal is a good place to see Hollywood's stars au naturel. Mark Peel's California-Mediterranean cooking hits high spots in grilled fish and meat dishes, with delightful Spanish influences of the olive oil, garlic, and baked peppers variety. Campanile has a good reputation for exotic salads but gourmands are well catered to as well, with killer tarts and fruit pies. This is a great place to have breakfast.

Cha Cha Cha Cafe
656 North Virgil Ave.
323-664-7723
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Caribbean
Expect to have some fun and good Caribbean grub at Cha Cha Cha. The place is full of color. The clientele ranges from Hollywood agents and rock stars to Latin families out for Sunday brunch. The food, such as garlic shrimp, black bean soup, and fried dessert pastries is loaded with flavor.

Chez Jay
1657 Ocean Ave.
310-395-1741
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Continental
Chez Jay is one of the original surf bars that sprung up here in the '50s. Owner Jay Fiondella draws in Santa Monica's arts-and-surf community for yet another round of Sex-on-the-Beach cocktails as well as a dose of old-fashioned continental dishes, like lobster thermidor and peppercorn steak. The place looks like a cannily decorated, sawdust-floored mess, but no one would dare change a thing.

Chinois on Main
2709 Main St.
310-392-9025
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Californian, Asian Fusion
Innovative Wolfgang Puck, often imitated, but never equaled, opened Chinois, Los Angeles's first California-Asian restaurant, 17 years ago. It has never lost its popularity and remains a favorite with locals. Wife Barbara Lazaroff, who designs all of Puck's restaurants, has somewhat bizarre taste, but the restaurant is so noisy and crowded that one doesn't notice the strange decor. The whole fried catfish is a favorite entree item on a menu that always evolves new forms of fusion cuisine. Advance reservations are a must.

Citrus
6703 Melrose Ave.
323-857-0034
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: French, Californian
Inspirational French-Californian, eclectic food with fabulous presentation is served at this stylish eatery. Michel Richard is one of Los Angeles's top chefs, and is known for marrying traditional dishes with contemporary flair. After nearly a decade's success, some rate this a first-class stand-by rather than a prime destination. Decor is shabby-chic and sunny, with parasols, a pebbled floor, and plenty of wood, which makes for an open, garden-style appeal. Richard is seldom in the kitchen these days as he expands the Citronelle empire across the country, but he leaves able substitutes in his absence.

Crustacean
9646 Little Santa Monica Blvd.
310-205-8990
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Vietnamese, Asian Fusion
A stream-like glass-topped aquarium meanders through the center of this dreamy Vietnamese restaurant. The atmosphere evokes a feeling of prewar Indochina. Diners delight in specialties from such old family recipes as ginger lobster with thin noodles in a ginger-basil sauce, Indochinese ravioli with prawns, caramelized shallots, and fennel, and whole roasted Dungeness crab with garlic noodles. You may run into one of your favorite movie stars, most of whom tend to come here with an entourage.

Dan Tana's
9071 Santa Monica Blvd.
310-275-9444
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Italian
Think of old Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin movies, buxom redheads with Capri pants, and a menu that has never grown much beyond spaghetti-and-meatballs and chicken cacciatore. DT's still gets its Hollywood names and high rollers from Vegas, and no one denies that the place serves what is possibly the best steak in town. Dan himself works the room as he has done since the place first opened many years ago.

Delacey's Club 41
41 South Delacey Ave.
626-795-4141
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: American, Steakhouse
The restaurant's traditional American cuisine in finest Uncle Sam tradition includes steaks, chops, fresh fish, and chicken dishes. High-backed wooden booths, thick white tablecloths, tiled floors, and charming, old fashioned "have a nice day" service are all part of the ambience. Overlook the steaks here at your peril--they're first class.

El Cholo
1121 South Western Ave.
323-734-2773
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Mexican
Is El Cholo old fashioned? It depends on how you look at it. The charming outdoor patio, the dark long bar, and the costumed waiters do seem a bit dated, but this is an original--it opened in 1927--that sets the stage and standards for Mexican-American cuisine, with dishes layered with refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, and tortillas. The margaritas are heavenly and the green tamales, available only during the summer months, are a special treat.

El Torito Grill
9595 Wilshire Blvd.
310-550-1599
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Southwestern
This lively, upbeat eatery is famous for its great margaritas and excellent guacamole, prepared tableside.

Fenix
Host: The Argyle Hotel
323-654-7100
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Californian, American Fusion
The Fenix features French-leaning New American cuisine presented in a '30s retro setting of cinematic nostalgia. The stunning art-deco dining room with a panoramic view of Los Angeles compliments the experience.

Gaucho Grill
11754 San Vicente Blvd.
310-447-7898
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Argentine
Forget light vegetarian cuisine. The Gaucho Grill caters to carnivores and specializes in grilled and deep-fried meat dishes. In addition to its meat specialties, the place offers an excellent veggie sandwich.

Georgia
7520 Melrose Ave
323-933-8420
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Southern, Soul Food
This handsome canteen on the trendiest stretch of Melrose Avenue specializes in sweet southern soul food. Most of the cash was put up by several of Hollywood's African American actors. It draws a glamorous bunch of guests on any night of the week. The people come for the fried chicken, the biscuits, the delicious mashed potatoes, and the pecan pie, all of which are nicely complemented by a creditable array of Kentucky bourbons.

Hal's Bar and Grill
1349 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice
310-396-3105
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: American
This friendly, noisy neighborhood hangout specializes in imaginative New American cuisine. Steaks, hamburgers, great French fries, fresh fish, and specials every night are some of the attractions.

Hard Rock Cafe
Beverly Center
310-276-7605
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: American
This legendary address for tourists and Beverly Hills teenagers is steeped in rock 'n' roll memorabilia from ages past. Note the green Cadillac plunging through the ceiling, guitars hanging above the bar, and uniformed waitresses. The menu is a tour of American staples including succulent burgers, chili, salads, fries, and pecan pie. There is also a good selection of bottled beers and cocktails.

The Ivy
113 North Robertson Blvd
310-274-8303
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: American, Breakfast/Brunch
The Ivy is housed in a small, unpretentious building fronted by a picket fence filled with wanna-be-seens dining on the patio. Popular with older movie stars, libel lawyers, and professional shoppers who sport their latest face lifts while chatting over lunch or dinner, the Ivy remains one of the area's most popular restaurants. Chintz upholstery, hand-painted plates, and exquisite floral arrangements enhance its charm. Food is no-nonsense, American fare, including Caesar salad, fishcakes, and pasta, all well-flavored and portioned. Fabulous puddings and chocolate chip cookies are also served. The Ivy has a great Sunday brunch.

Joe's
1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
310-399-5811
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Californian, Breakfast/Brunch
Joe Miller has created a culinary phenomenon with his neat little establishment, which offers taste and value in equal measure. An excellent Sunday brunch and good outside eating are the crowning glories. Book ahead of time.

Joss
9255 Sunset Blvd.
310-276-1886
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Chinese
It would be easy to assume that Joss is run by the same group that owns London's Now and Zen and other sleek, cool, minimalist Chinese restaurants, but Joss is one of a kind and still one of the best places to find exquisitely crafted Chinese food. The owner is intimate with Hong Kong's movie tycoons, and they, together with their Hollywood colleagues, expect the best and get it. Dishes range from perfectly crisp Peking duck to superb seafood.

Jozu
8360 Melrose Ave.
323-655-5600
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Asian, Fusion
Coming from a family of successful restaurateurs, Andy Nakano has created a lovely Sino-Californian dining room featuring the cuisine of talented and imaginative young chef Suzanne Tracht. Her light touch reveals layers of flavors in dishes like crisp marinated quail with tangerine sauce, braised lamb shank with black beans, and coconut flan.

Kachina Grill
333 S. Hope St.
213-625-0956
Credit cards accepted: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Southwestern, Mexican
This Southwestern/Mexican grill room is on the second floor of the "Bank that Launched America." Enormous helpings are well-presented and, for the most part, tasty. Avoid the big outside patio dominated by office high-rises and head for the cacophonous interior. This place is ideal for convenient quick lunches and margarita-infused happy hours.

L'Orangerie
903 North La Cienega Blvd.
310-652-9770
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Very Expensive
Cuisine type: French
One of the most beautiful, sumptuous, and formal restaurants i n Los Angeles, L'Orangerie features nouvelle French cuisine prepared under the direction of Executive Chef Ludovic Lefebvre. Dine by candlelight in flower-filled rooms or in a divine atrium enhanced by a galaxy of sparkling lights. Caramelized monkfish with bell pepper, marinated tomato, and a coulis of olive and lemon confit, as well as roasted breast of woodland duck with fresh orange powder, poached pear, and fresh fig puree are both among the imaginative entrees. The restaurant also has a private courtyard and an exceptional French wine cellar.

La Cachette
10506 Santa Monica Blvd.
310-470-4992
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: French, Californian
Sedate, elegant, spacious, and comfortable, La Cachette is the home of master chef Jean Francois Meteigner, who designs exquisite, delicious, and healthy California-influenced French cuisine. Meteigner's magic touch focuses on flavor, not on fat. Favorite classic dishes such as cassoulet (beans served with chunks of meat) and succulent braised lamb shank are always included on the menu. For a more innovative dish, the venison served with Cabernet sauce and blueberries and accompanied by fois gras-stuffed ravioli, is mouth-watering. Passion fruit tarts and molten-chocolate souffles add an unforgettable sweet touch to the menu.

Lavande
1700 Ocean Ave.
310-576-3180
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: French, Californian
Are you in Provence or Southern California? The popularity of this stunning newcomer grows daily due to the creations of brilliant chef Alain Giraud. Diners enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean while feasting on award-winning French Provencale cuisine with distinctive California touches. The chef's tasting menu features five or six tempting courses, perfect for those seeking a variety of taste treats. Signature dishes include tartlets Provencale of sauteed Maine scallops, roasted Chilean sea bass with artichokes barigoule, and veal stew with red wine and green and black olives. On the dessert menu, the vacherin glace with lavender ice cream is a stand out.

Lawry's The Prime Rib
100 N. La Cienega Blvd.
310-652-2827
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: American, Steakhouse, Seafood
This lovable old Los Angeles institution is as archaic and wonderful as London's famed Simpson's-in-the-Strand, and features an even more restricted menu. You come here for just one thing: perfect American prime ribs of beef with creamed spinach, baked potatoes, and creamed corn. Lawry's claims the take-home "doggie bag" was created here. When you see the size of the portions, it seems highly probable.

Le Colonial
8783 Beverly Blvd.
310-289-0660
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Vietnamese
This stunning re-creation of a French Colonial Vietnamese club looks like a Humphrey B ogart movie set. Against a backdrop of bamboo walls, high ceiling fans slowly rotate, colorful oriental rugs adorn the floors, and bird cages sway amidst lush vegetation. On the front patio and in the dining room, celebrity clientele enjoy fine Vietnamese cuisine. Favorite dishes include bo sate, tender filet mignon with special spices, and delicate Chilean sea bass in banana leaves. Upstairs, guests relax at the bar, lounge in comfortable rattan chairs and sofas, or sip cocktails on the covered veranda.

Locanda Veneta
8638 West Third St.
310-274-1893
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Italian
This engaging Italian dining spot offers relaxed, friendly pasta and exceptional Venetian fare including risottos, veal, and fish. Cramped tables and plenty of noise add to the lively atmosphere. The place also features a great Italian wine list.

Luna Park
665 N. Robertson Blvd.
310-652-0611
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: American
Good music, good food, and great drinks are all featured under the same roof. For a cover charge of between $5 and $10, you gain access to a complex that is ostensibly split into three parts. A very decent restaurant/lounge/bar, a cabaret room with a variety of live stage acts, and a club room with a DJ. The place also has three different bars.

Manhattan Wonton Company
8475 Melrose Place
323-655-6030
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Chinese
Paul Heller's Chinese designer diner has picked up its roots from New York and plonked itself down amidst the madness of Melrose. The decor features ochre-glazed walls, alarming modern artwork, dim lighting, and a fabulous courtyard with Philippe Stark chairs. The inside is split into three parts, with red velvet chairs and a bar along one side. Hollywood industry types are often found here "doing lunch" over delicious New York-style Chinese cooking.

Matsuhisa
129 North Cienega Blvd.
310-659-9639
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Very Expensive
Cuisine type: Japanese
This small, intimate Japanese restaurant, is owned by chef Nobu Matsuhisa (now known also for his Nobu restaurants in New York City and London). Matsuhisa seduces aficionados with exceptionally delicate and inspirational cooking. Don't expect to find the sushi dolled up with Californian touches: the food comes as intended, in true Japanese manner. Go with a Japanese client to get the best stuff. There's also tempura and unusual house specials.

Michael's
1147 Third St.
310-451-0843
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Californian
Funny thing about Michael's: It was clearly in the vanguard of the California cuisine movement back in the 1980s, but it's been a French restaurant all along. Owner Michael McCarty gave Los Angeles's restaurant scene style--the canvas umbrellas, the modern artwork, the waiters in their Ralph Lauren shirts and ties--as well as stunning French food cooked with California flair. He does, however, move with the times, and regulars concur that his food just gets better and better. Fabulously constructed salads, pasta dishes that are richer than most Italian fare, and chocolate desserts to-die-for are just some of the draws.

Mimosa
8009 Beverly Blvd.
323-655-8895
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: French, Italian
Under the ownership of restaurateurs extraordinaire Jean Pierre Bosc and Silvio de Mori, this trendy French/Italian bistro became an overnight sensation. Daffodil yellow walls, flowered tiles, and black-and-white family photos of the owners enhance the decor. The delectable bistro food includes pastas and bouillabaisse, confit tomato tarte Tatin, daube of veal cheeks with caramelized vegetables, lentils with leeks, steak-frites, and pear clafoutis. The menu reads "No Truffles, No Caviar, No Bizarre Concoctions," which is a relief from Los Angeles cuisine extravagances. Mimosa is open and hopping until midnight.

Morton's
8764 Melrose Ave.
310-276-5205
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: American
Conceived as a private club, Morton's used to be the hot spot for Hollywood heavyweights and their entourage. Three years ago it jumped across the road to bigger premises and no one has quite forgiven this move! Nevertheless, it is a great place for celebrity astronomy (or star spotting). Distressed, resting actors wait tables here, happy at the prospect of $100 tips. Cooking is straightforward, technically consummate, and full-flavored, as in sauteed Maryland crab cakes, tender filet mignon, and Maine lobster. Or keep it simple and have a cheeseburger with fries and a raspberry souffle to finish. The private room for 70 frequently books up for production parties or showbiz launches.

Musso and Frank Grill
6667 Hollywood Blvd.
323-467-7788
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: American
Eighty years old, and still going strong, this legendary eatery has hosted major Hollywood celebrities and sports stars throughout the years. It's a step back in time where the ghosts of Orson Wells, Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, and Clark Gable still linger among the dark red leather booths. Musso and Frank remains the choice venue for high powered luncheon meetings among the Hollywood crowd. A week does not go by without some popular stars gathering here to dine on comfort foods like steaks, chops, chicken pot pie, and the signature flannel cakes. This old-school favorite boasts exceptional dry martinis.

Nawab House of Exotic Indian Food
1621 Wilshire Blvd.
310-829-1106
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Indian
This house of exotic fare specializes in northern Indian Mughalai cuisine, a style of cooking based on recipes brought to India by Persian Nawabs. Recommended dishes include chicken tikka, savory marinated lamb chops and prawns, and a variety of delicious homemade Indian breads.

Pacific Dining Car
1310 West Sixth St.
213-483-6000
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: American, Steakhouse
A Los Angeles institution, this popular steakhouse is known for gigantic portions and excellent service. The main dining area is decorated like a turn-of-the-century railway carriage and fosters a convivial, clubby ambience. The service is first-rate and the chili and spare ribs are excellent. Pacific Dining Car is open 24 hours.

Parkway Grill
510 South Arroyo Parkway
626-795-1001
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Californian
Innovative and appealing California cuisine has made this restaurant one of Pasadena's most popular ever since it opened in the '80s. The eclectic menu features sensational designer pizzas, whole fried catfish, and hearty black bean soup with smoked pork. Bread pudding and cheesecake appease the most serious sweet tooth.

Patina
5955 Melrose Ave.
323-467-1108
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Very Expensive
Cuisine type: French, Californian
This buzzing premier league restaurant serving great French-Californian cuisine has been selected as the city's best restaurant by Zagat's Survey. Joachim Splichal's kitchen mastery is the principal draw. His hallmark of beautifully presented, adventurous cooking continues to make Patina one of the most glorious dining spots in the city. With so many extraordinary dishes to choose from, one might select from the tasting menu offering a nice selection of Splichal's specialties. The smart, sophisticated decor belies the restaurant's inherent sense of fun. The wine list is nothing short of fabulous.

Prego
362 North Camden Dr.
310-277-7346
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Italian
This light and lively restaurant features food with the flavor of Italian home cooking. One of the more popular dishes is pizza with prawns, tomato, basil, garlic, and mozzarella. Fresh fish, pasta dishes, and refreshing salads are also featured.

Primi
10543 West Pico Blvd.
310-475-9235
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Italian
Piero Selvaggio fashioned Primi to serve only first courses--antipasti and pastas--but soo n people demanded more. Selvaggio duly obliged by offering more and more variety. Today, Primi is not just one of the city's most exciting trattorias, it's also one of the most friendly. The food is simple but impeccable--linguine with perfect little clams, great risotto, and luscious desserts.

The Restaurant
701 Stone Canyon
310-472-1211
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Very Expensive
Cuisine type: Californian, French
The City of Angels' most romantic--some say most hard to find--hotel, continues to wow special occasion diners, particularly in the summer when the ethereal garden blooms. A covered walkway leads past a lake, where a pair of beautiful white swans glide over the water. The path continues through a lush flower-filled garden. Dine on the bougainvillea-covered terrace or in the spacious dining room. The cuisine fuses classical French Provencal style and cutting-edge West Coast edibles. Meet over a dry martini at the fabulous bar or in the dark paneled cocktail lounge that features romantic piano music.

Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Dr.
818-222-3888
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Steakhouse, Seafood, Breakfast, Brunch
Deep into Malibu Canyon, this beautiful, rustic 85-year-old lodge specializes in game dishes such as imaginatively prepared buffalo and ostrich. The spacious rooms are bedecked with antlered animal heads, vintage guns, and fishing rods. Choice spots for dining are the terrace and especially the top floor, which offers a superb mountain view. Take a drive through the canyon and enjoy a hearty Sunday brunch.

Spago Beverly Hills
176 North Canon Dr.
310-385-0880
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Californian
Open for more than a year, it's still one of the hottest tickets in town. Big and beautiful, the new Spago features international cuisine such as tempura soft shell crabs with black bean sauce and whole dorade with artichokes, coriander, and lemon. For dessert, the apple strudel, made from a special recipe from Wolfgang Puck's native Austria, is divine. Reservations are difficult to get unless you have clout. If you are well connected, the olive tree-shaded patio tables are the best choice. This is one of the hottest places for celebrity sightings.

Tommy Tang's
7313 Melrose Ave.
323-937-5733
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Thai, Asian Fusion
Nothing is without dazzle in Los Angeles and that goes for Thai eateries as well. Tang's is a shining oasis of modern art, exposed brickwork, and a brushed steel and granite bar, where Pacific Rim food with roots in Thailand is served with a whoosh of good feeling. Stars on the menu include angel wings, tiger's eye, Bangkok jambalaya, and the original Tommy duck. Tuesday is Drag Night.

The Tower
1150 South Olive St.
213-746-1554
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Continental
A 360-degree view 32 floors above the city ensures a spectacular panorama for every table and booth. Executive chef Akira Hirose brings his international experience to the Tower Restaurant with entrees such as miso marinated grilled Chilean Sea Bass served on a bed of roasted tomatoes, and roasted rack of lamb. Desserts, in addition to the pastry cart, include the chef's special G rand Marnier and chocolate souffles.

Valentino
3115 West Pico Blvd.
310-829-4313
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Expensive
Cuisine type: Italian
In a most unexpected neighborhood, along a somewhat run down section of Pico Boulevard, Rolls Royces, Lexuses, and Mercedes fill the parking lot of Valentino's. Piero Selvaggio, one of the finest Italian restaurateurs in America, knows how to woo an elegant crowd. Strikingly beautiful, with several rooms in various styles, Valentino offers meals of ingenuity and intense simplicity. If cost is of no consequence, Selvaggio delights in ordering off the menu for his guests. There is also an excellent international wine list.

Versailles
10319 Venice Blvd.
310-558-3168
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Inexpensive
Cuisine type: Cuban
One of the best bargains in the city, this restaurant always has a long waiting line. The garlic chicken and the roasted chicken served with fried plantains are two of the reasons for its popularity.

Wolfgang Puck Cafe
6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
818-710-9653
Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Price range: Moderate
Cuisine type: Californian
Casual and colorful informal dining features Puck's wood-fired pizzas, pastas, salads, several Pacific Rim dishes, and fine roasted chicken. The daily specials are always an excellent choice. The atmosphere is whimsical and the noise factor is high. There are additional locations in Hollywood, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, and Universal City.