3 Stars

Nic’s takes the feeling of upscale grandeur and mixes it with the smooth feeling of the current surfer youth of Los Angeles. Patrons can enjoy private vodka dining lounges to go along with the martini bar. The food is mainly American fare with a few distinctive international twists. The main idea of Nic’s is to have fun. The restaurant illustrates just that with its exquisite menu and the wild outfits of those in the vodka lounge. Live music is provided on Monday, Thursday, and Friday with leanings towards jazz and R&B. That having been established, cocktail parties and dancing are …

The Polo lounge, located in the Beverly Hills Hotel, has been a favorite for lunching socialites and Hollywood locals for generations. The lush dining room features massive booths surrounded by dark green and cream-striped walls, while the delightful patio is surrounded by flowering vines and pink archways. Serving a traditional yet elegant cuisine, the menu features favorites like honey-pepper cured smoked salmon and steak tartare.

Offering an atmosphere of casual elegance and attentive service, The Park Grill, offers the French-inspired California cuisine, accompanied by an impressive wine selection. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served daily in the dining room or in the Garden. Try a Belgian Waffle with Honey-Vanilla Poached Pears or the 8oz Flat Iron Steak with white truffle mac and cheese, glazed baby carrots and wild mushroom demi. Or come for lunch and try a Bento which includes ½ a soup, ½ salad, ½ a sandwich, and assorted mini pastries. Whether you’re just visiting or a local, try Park Grill for a relaxing and …

Sor Tino in Brentwood is a casual Italian hotspot that serves variations of traditional Florintine cuisine, in the form of Chef Agostino Sciandri’s signature homemade pastas, risottos, and brick oven pizzas. The ochre-colored dining room features a wood-burning oven turns out thin-crusted pizzas, while entrees from the open kitchen such as sea bass with tomatoes and rosemary-grilled chicken, provide substantial fare for guests looking for a hearty meal. Guests rave about the Gnocchi, Lobster Ravioli, and Parpadelle with Wild Boar Ragu. For a taste of good Norther Italy cuisine in the heart of Brentwood, Sor Tino is a fine option.

Veterans of the Los Angeles dining scene since 1981, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger have garnered national acclaim and multimedia stardom with their modern approach to Mexican cooking. Throughout their ascension, the duo has managed to keep their Santa Monica flagship vital. A magnet for both tourists and locals, Border Grill showcases colorful murals and plentiful portions of equally vibrant Mexican cooking. With encyclopedic menus and daily specials, ordering can be daunting, but regardless of the selection, the dishes are consistently flavorful. The duo’s attention to detail lasts through dessert, with house-baked cakes and strong, spice-infused café de olla.

La Taquiza No. 2 on South Figueroa and West 30th Street, serves authentic Mexican cuisine just one block from the campus of the University of Southern California. La Tqquiza No. 2 delights students and neighborhood locals alike with its fresh, south of the border cuisine. The originator of the Mulita, which is like a combination taco and quesadilla, this tasty treat features two handmade corn tortillas with the diner’s choice of meat, melted jack cheese, and guacamole. The fresh salsa bar offers a wide range of sauces and accouterments, including avocado sauce, an orange sauce, as well as roasted garlic …

Mandaloun brings a slice of the Mediterranean to Southern California, with a rich ambiance filled with silk draperies and chandeliers. The lush and festive atmosphere is an ideal setting to enjoy Mandaloun’s authentic Lebanese cuisine. The extensive menu offers a variety of dishes, however it is the meze, or small plates, that are most popular. Over forty tapas-style dishes range from simple baba ghanoush to the intricate kafta nayeh, or sirloin tartare, and a fixed-price option offers the perfect way to sample from the dazzling array of tastes and flavors. Patio dining allows the enjoyable hookah after a meal, while …

Parkway Grill brings together casual sophistication, elegance, and even a grand piano to create a dining experience that is pleasing to the eye and the palate. The restaurant specializes in Regional American Cuisine using a seasonal, market driven approach to cooking that incorporates diverse influences and classic French technique. Try such dishes as their Grilled Kobe Burger with maytag blue cheese, tomato aioli, sweet potato fries or the Grilled Filet Mignon with Yukon gold “smoked” mashed potatoes, wild mushroom ragout, marsala-veal reduction. Give your tastebuds a vaction and let them enjoy the scrumptious Parkway Grill creations.

With an amazing 360-degree view of the Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles county as well as a history that dates back to 1926, The Sky Room atop the Breakers Hotel is a timeless Los Angeles landmark. Classic Art Deco décor transports diners to the Supper Club era of the 1920's and 30's, when dining out was synonymous with elegance and style. The menu offers French infused California cuisine with elegantly presented dishes that include Maine lobster and Colorado rack of lamb along with an inspired collection of wine that compliments Chef Juan Carlos's menu. Fine china, linens, and crystal hark …

After seven years of success in the North Hollywood Arts District, Paul Hibler and David Sanfield took their Pitfire Pizza concept downtown in 2005. Across from St. Vibiana’s Cathedral and in the shadow of skyscrapers, office workers flood this modern Italian café at lunch for thin-crust pizzas, hearty pastas, and market-fresh salads. At night and on weekends, the rush subsides and Pitfire offers a more relaxed dining experience with the same value. Order at the counter, where a board lists seasonal specials and fresh-baked desserts are on display. To drink, there’s fresh sangria and watermelon lemonade, plus wine and beer.

Opaque in Santa Monica offers diners a one of a kind culinary experience. One that is proposed to enhance the senses of taste, smell, touch, and hearing by abandoning one that we often take for granted, Opaque is “Dining in the Dark”. The straightforward menu offers diners the entrée choice of Filet Mignon, Roasted Herb Chicken Breast, Seared Atlantic Salmon, or Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Rigatoni. Dessert is either a Mango Panna Cotta or Warm Chocolate Lava Cake. Blind servers aid guests with tips on how to approach dining free of sight, and a portion of the bill goes towards blindness …

Once surrounded by an enormous orange grove, this landmark jewel was built as a family home in 1909. The Victorian decor exhibits extravagance and splendor; with warm tones accented by soft lighting and tapestries exude elegance. The atmosphere is only outdone by the kitchen’s French-influenced Northern Italian fare. The menu is peppered with fame and glamour, with playfully-named dishes such as Sophia Loren Caviar and Cartier Calamari. With 12 private rooms, the White House is ideally suited for private parties and groups; while the elegant ambiance makes the White House an excellent destination for any special occasion, large or small.

Nestled in Dana Point Harbor overlooking the yachts and docks is Harpoon Henry’s. This seaside restaurant provides diners with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean while offering classic seafood entrees. Many Dana Point locals enjoy munching on favorites like Beer Battered Fish and Chips or Coconut Shrimp while sitting under the warm California sun on its expansive patio. For more lavish diners, Harpoon Henry’s inside dining warms guests with a fireplace and upscale plates like Mahi-Mahi Macadamia, sauteed with Macadamia Nut Crust under an Orange Mango Sauce. Not only does the surrounding Dana Point Harbor provide ample people watching, but …

Sundried Tomato Café serves fresh café food with a California twist. Nestled in a Laguna Beach shopping center, this classy but casual restaurant provides guests a healthy dose of appetizing treats. True to its name, this American bistro adds a sundried tomato zest to classic dishes. Starting from Sundried Tomato Butter with bread to their signature Creamy Sundried Tomato Soup, diner’s palates are consistently wowed. This bowl of deliciousness can be served a la carte, or part of the “Sundried’s Comfort Combo” complete with Grilled Asiago Cheese and Tomato Sandwich. Heartier options are also available in the form of seafood, …

A premier full service dinner house since 1965, The Rusty Pelican is a Newport Beach landmark. The charming waterfront cottage features fresh seafood prepared in innovative ways, with dishes like "The Flagship”, a fresh brandy-herb marinated piece of mahi mahi dusted with cajun spices and Kentucky bourbon sauce. Serving lunch Monday through Saturday, a Sunday brunch, and the ever-popular weekday Happy Hour, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the upstairs lounge, The Rusty Pelican is a great place to take in the sights of the harbor. The warm and inviting atmosphere, with its skylights and cathedral ceilings, and waterfront …

In the heart of the happiest place on earth, The Jazz Kitchen is an incarnation of the French Quarter's historical architecture. Located in Downtown Disney, the restaurant is a hotspot for plenty of tourists and locals alike. Visitors can enjoy the two-story building that features a Flambeaux room with a live stage presence, a parlor room for all occasions, or even a balcony to enjoy the nearby Disneyland fireworks. Chef Darrin Finkle whips up delectables for the more adventurous eater. For those who want to grab-on-the-go, the Jazz Kitchen Express features some quick bites without forsaking the pleasant atmosphere of …

Every aspect of Oliver Café in Beverly Hills represents top talents in the fields of design, business management, and innovative cuisine. Combining the culinary talents of Chef Francisco Ochoa with the restaurant acumen of Mario Oliver and the genius of interior designer, Dodd Mitchell, Oliver Cafe offers an irresistible and contemporary backdrop for breakfast, lunch, chill-out hour, or dinner. The menu features health conscious dishes, with certain items endorsed by the house “Register Dietician” to fall within a certain specified caloric range. For those in Beverly Hills looking for something light to nosh on, give Oliver Café a try.

Elegant dining and a friendly staff, Bandera has some of Corona Del Mar's most premium dishes. Perhaps one of the more interesting features is the slow roasted, almond wood-mesquite chicken which can be see and smelled by passerby's. The bar is centrally placed in the middle of the restaurant as friends and families dine around on the slightly elevated seating area surrounding it.

Situated in Manhattan Beach's downtown area, just a block away from the pier, Rock’ N Fish is a local favorite offering a classic New Orleans styled dining room. Surrounded by tall ceilings and hand painted murals, the area appeals to a variety of moods and tastes. Oak grilled fish, signature sandwiches, and Alaskan king crab are some of the menu's highlights. The bar offers the restaurant’s signature "Navy Grog" drink as well as one of the most extensive wine lists in the area. For a fine meal, strong drinks, and a great time, check out Rock’ N Fish!

The mere sight of Bistro du Soleil’s exterior peaks the appetite. A slight wedge of a building splashed in country yellow and blue, Bistro du Soleil evokes the comfort of a French cottage in the easygoing beach community of Playa Del Rey. The menu features a number of French Classics, splashed with some So-Cal twists. Patrons can choose between French Onion Soup or Black Bean with lime and sour cream. Brie cheese is nestled atop juicy bistro burgers or slipped into pear quesadillas. Bistro du Soleil provides a touch of Europe in a comfortable beach setting. The food teeters between …