California Restaurants

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 …

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 …

Since 1979, Michael's has presented modern American cuisine with a French influence. The decor is light and airy, with a spacious, uncluttered dining room featuring modern art from an array of great contemporary artists. The lush, serene patio garden allows guests a chance to enjoy the Southern California weather while dining. An extensive wine list includes more than eight hundred labels from California, France, Italy, and wine growing regions from across the globe. The secluded garden, landscaped with a variety of trees, exotic flowers, and flowing fountains, creates an ambience ideal for a garden party, a relaxing meal, or romantic …

With nearly every new restaurant offering some sort of fusion cuisine today, Sam’s by the Beach rises above the rest and delivers fresh, smart food in an intimate neighborhood setting just off Pacific Coast Highway. The seasonal menu includes traditional California basics that seem familiar until the taste reveals unique Mediterranean details. The unassuming outside belies the quiet romance waiting inside. Dedicated staff members cater to your every dining need, implementing a special menu if requested and treating each patron as a regular. Visit this surprising getaway to relearn all your old favorites.

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.

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.

Gemell’s Restaurant has been serving the citizens of Dana Point fine French cuisine for over a decade. Owner and Executive Chef Byron Gemmell is one of Orange Counties culinary elite, and his namesake restaurant reflects his depth of experience and knowledge with the dishes the serves that keep guests returning time and again. Patrons rave about the Lobster Bisque, Lamb, and Chocolate Soufflé, but with a full lunch menu, and Sunday Brunch as well, the dinner menu is not the only star in Gemell’s sky. The cozy dining room is the perfect venue for a meal with that special someone, …

Don't be surprised if you see the ever-present owner Robert Simon welcoming you to his restaurant. The cozy atmosphere is paired wonderfully with the classic, luxurious appearance of the restaurant. Some tasty bistro classics like baked brie and apples and maple leaf farm duck two ways are great dishes to try. Don’t leave without trying their chocolate soup, a chocolate soufflé served with vanilla bean ice cream. While the restaurant does offer great bistro classics, a majority of the food is a fusion of French and California tastes and cooking styles. With creative and delicious dishes, you will want to …

Dish in La Cañada Flintridge has been serving up California comfort food to the chagrin of hungry patrons. Weeknight specials included Fried Chicken Tuesday and half-off beers on Monday nights. All items are made in house, including Banana pancakes featuring banana batter, and desserts like the decadent Turtle Bar. The folksy atmosphere, accentuated by the shabby-chic décor, has touches like pop-up toaster ovens on each table so diners can toast their bread to exact taste. With a warm and cozy feel and filling meals, it is no wonder Dish is popular among those looking for something a little different.

Whether you’re staying at the Le Merigot Hotel and Spa or are simply searching out a fabulous dining experience, Cezanne is the restaurant to visit. Parisian charm and elegance is served up in abundance here, along with a captivating menu of fine French fare. Massive glass-molded chandeliers, plush upholstered bench seats, and impressive architectural features all make for a subtly dramatic atmosphere complemented by similarly stunning cuisine. Come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner any day of the week and savor your very own bite of French goodness at Cezanne, in Santa Monica.

Opened in March 2005, Ocean and Vine is located in the gorgeous Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, next to Santa Monica pier. The swanky lobby sets the scene for an upmarket experience. The split-level, low-ceilinged room is attractive; the top level is dominated by a steel chimneyed fire pit, with striking artworks adding to the ‘wow’ factor. The cuisine, from Head Chef Robert Trester under the watch of Executive Chef Gregg Wangard, is Californian; each dish a showcase of local, seasonal ingredients. Dishes are near-faultless, and although prices are high, it’s worth coming here for a splurge or special occasion.

A South Bay fixture since 1991, laid-back Lido di Manhattan occupies a commanding corner site. The restaurant is bright and open, with artwork by local artist Monica Farrell. The cuisine is California-Italian, with a heavier lean towards the latter. Signature dishes such as lobster won ton tacos, angel hair pasta with jumbo scallops and tiger prawns and charbroiled filet mignon showcase fresh ingredients. The sweet selection of Desserts are all made in house. Wine buffs will find plenty to please, while cocktail lovers can work their way through the lengthy list. A calendar of cooking classes and events keeps things …

Wilshire elevates the warmth of a neighborhood restaurant to the elegance of haute cuisine. Thomas Schoos’ décor skillfully balances the historic, rough hewn architecture with opulent materials, juxtaposing exposed brick walls with lush leather, hard wood, and amber lighting. Chef Andrew Kirschner’s California fusion menu reinforces the ideal of local sophistication, emphasizing organic ingredients from local producers. Although local in origin, Kirschner’s creations are anything but ordinary, elevating fresh, seasonal ingredients to the heights of epicurean refinement. The outdoor garden and fire-heated private terrace provide a refreshing dose of greenery in Santa Monica’s urban landscape.

Serving “Hellenic-California Cuisine”, the upscale Greek restaurant Petro’s spices up the food scene in the Manhattan Beach area. Decorated in a Grecian fashion, the restaurant features white walls and arches in a light and airy space. The menu offers many variations of Greek dips served with grilled pita bread. Entrees like Lamb Pasta, with slow cooked lamb, roasted peppers, broccolini, olives, kefalotiri cheese, and oregano, and Lamb Pizza are available on the menu along with classic Greek dishes. Petro’s also has a traditional Greek dessert menu where guests can order Baklava, Bougatsa, and other Greek favorites. For those looking for …

The Foundry on Melrose’s atmosphere is fun, yet sophisticated. On weekends, live music entertains guests as they dine. Executive Chef Eric Greenspan, who was once chef for the renowned Patina, uses his classic techniques to provide a contemporary “Modern American” cuisine with inspiration taken from classic French and Spanish fare. Guests can choose to sit on the lush outdoor patio by the fireplace, under the 18-foot olive tree, or at the intimate mahogany piano bar. The Foundry on Melrose promotes that it has “fine dining for the everyday man” and uses humble ingredients to create dishes such as the Grilled …

Situated just off of Melrose Ave in West Hollywood, Sur attracts exactly the crowd you would expect from this area: the young and trendy and, of course, celebrities. Inside you’ll find a cozy respite from the bustling streets outside. The stunning dining room is eclectically adorned, mixing romantic French touches like dazzling chandeliers and long, dramatic curtains with statues of Hindu gods and lots of dripping candles. The menu offers contemporary American dishes inspired by classic Mediterranean cuisine such as Taboulé Couscous with Ahi Tuna or Crab Gorgonzola Risotto, which can be accompanied with a glass off the extensive wine …

Taste in West Hollywood offers diners a California spin on down home American comfort food. Lunch features soups, salads, pizzettas, sandwiches and burgers, as well as pasta entrées. Dinner pares down the overall menu options, but expands upon main courses to include items such as Lobster & Brown Butter Risotto, Grilled Salmon, and Crispy Parmesan Chicken Paillard. Brunch, served on the weekends, offers a la carte items like Huevos Rancheros and Brioche French Toast, while a Prix Fixe menu allows diners to choose from a two-course menu for a flat fee. Every Thursday, Taste offers the “Farmers’ Market Dinner,” where …

Santa Monica Beach sprawls out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows that surround Catch’s elegant dining space, and serves up awe-inspiring sunsets nightly. The restaurant’s crisp décor incorporates colors one might find along the beach, and marries them seamlessly with the glistening mother of pearl sushi bar that invites diners to stay a while and indulge on the exquisitely fresh seafood selections Executive Chef Michael Reardon proudly showcases. Land and sea converge on the menu to offer an invigorating array of flavor. The Octopus Salad is and ode to the sea’s vibrant fare and the Hand Made Ravioli are a hearty gesture …

Whether you are out on the town for a lively night of entertainment or you’re settling in for a lazy Sunday with the morning paper, Café Montana is eager to suit the occasion with its subtle SoCal charm and distinguished California cuisine menu. Weekend visitors may savor the thoughtful brunch menu that caters to multiple palates and diets. Dishes like the Lox Benedict and the Montana Angus Beef Burger are worth getting out of bed for. The evening menu is equally eclectic and satisfying with highlights like the Seared Scallops, the Pumpkin Ravioli, and the Blackened Prime Rib. And did …

Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen in Santa Monica offers patrons a regularly changing menu utilizing dishes motivated by Farmers’ Market ingredients sourced from local ranchers, farmers, and fishermen who practice sustainable agriculture. With a wine list centered on boutique wineries from around the world, offerings are handpicked by proprietor and owner Josh Loeb. With twenty options of wine by the glass, rotated on a regular basis, guests can expect something new to try with each visit. Food, plated with the intention of sharing, allows restaurant goers to order for the table and embark on a tour of tastes. …