People Watching Restaurants

Enter into Electric Karma and prepare to excite all your senses. At this upscale casual Indian restaurant on Third Street in West Hollywood, you will find a warm atmosphere suitable for any day of the week. Bold colors and dim lighting set the mood for the experience, and a movie screen projecting Bollywood images is the anchor of the dining room décor. The plush floor pillows in the outdoor seating area invite you to get cozy and take in the scents of exotic Indian spices featured in the restaurant’s extensive menu of traditional Punjabi cuisine.

Katana is a chic assault on the senses. Like an industrial, futuristic Zen temple, Katana’s steel and wood décor juxtaposes urban grit with delicate sophistication. Its staggering menu presents a delightfully daunting selection of treats, through which diners are free to sample with reckless abandon. Katana features two distinctive styles of Japanese cuisine: the familiar sushi bar, and the more novel robata bar, which features tapas-like Japanese barbeque. Food is sculpted skillfully with almost architectural heights, echoing the artistic details of the surrounding environment. With one of Los Angeles’ only sake sommeliers and a sake selection as distinguished as its …

Asanebo dishes gourmet Japanese cuisine to the crowds of Studio City. Tucked into a strip mall, the exterior of Asanebo mirrors the surplus of similar restaurants around town, yet hidden behind the window blinds awaits a luscious Japanese sushi experience. This classy and engaging restaurant differs vastly from other places, from its simple but creative food presentation, to its sophisticated décor. While the menu features signature pieces such as Seared Toro with Fresh Seaweed Sauce, and a selection of cooked and raw dishes, it is the Omakase option that makes Asanebo a top rated spot. This Japanese version of a …

For a well-crafted and flavor-full dumpling, head over to Din Tai Fung in Arcadia. This restaurant is a Taiwanese-owned Shanghai-style dumpling house. Regulars rave about the Xiao Long Bao (Juicy Pork Dumplings), which comes with 10 dumplings per order. The chefs at Din Tai Fung say, “Creating steamed dumpling is not just a technique but an art.” It is best to go to Din Tai Fung on off-hours to avoid the crowd, as during peak times, the wait can exceed an hour. The menu also offers approximately 50 options and features a variety of dumplings, soups, vegetables served in creative …

For a taste of the Mediterranean, those in Simi Valley can head to Greek House Cafe. Although the archetypal exterior reflects its surrounding strip mall, Greek House Café is a break from the norm. Featuring classic dishes such as Kabobs, Hummus, and Spanakopita, the menu lets diners choose their favorite Greek delights. What keeps guests returning for more are the Pita bread sandwiches and entrees. The sandwiches offer a selection of Gyro, Chicken, Lamb, or Falafel wrapped in warm pita smothered under tzatziki sauce and onions. The dinner plates come complete with Roast Potatoes or Rice, Green Veggies, Soup or …

In a quiet part of Glendale, hidden behind a red door, awaits a foodie’s paradise. Bashan offers French and modern American cuisine in a sophisticated but casual setting. Seated at dark, wooden tables under a simplistic décor, guests dine on dishes featuring fresh ingredients with a French influence. The appetizers follow a motif of seasonal dining. Salad offerings such as the Lobster Salad, and Burrata Salad with Bresaola, Wild Arugula, White Nectarines, and a Tomato Relish. The main courses rarely disappoint the taste buds. The Roasted Duck Breast, with Truffle Scented Spaetzle, Roasted Kohirabi, Seared Black Mission Figs, and a …

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 …

West Hollywood’s Comme Ca gives Angelinos the experience of dining in a French bistro with West Coast flair. Chef David Myers opened the restaurant as a way to share his dream of the perfect brasserie experience with the dining public. House signature cocktails such as the Penicillin, Cool Louie, and El Ranchero are bar favorites when warming up for the meal to come. The menu features many French favorites like Fruits de Mer (Oysters on the half shell) and Escargots Persillade for Hor d’Oeuvres. Other meal openers include the Roasted Baby Beet Salad, Assiette de Fromage du Jour as well …

The Grill on the Alley in the heart of Beverly Hills serves classic American food in a warm and unpretentious atmosphere. The Grill, created and modeled after great grills in San Francisco and New York, has earned an international reputation for its quality and consistency. There are mirrored walls and chandeliers hang from the ceiling. As for the food, The Grill presents simple comfort food in generous portions. A dish to try is the Braised Short Ribs that fall off the bone because they are so tender. The Grill is a great power lunch spot as well as a place …

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 …

Opened in 1996 by Raphael Lunetta, JiRaffe quickly became a favorite in Santa Monica. Well over ten years later, this restaurant still remains one of the hottest restaurants in town. JiRaffe serves nightly specials using only the freshest produce, seafood, and meats, and maintains high standards in all aspects of its service. The menu changes constantly with the whims of Chef Lunetta’s creativity and the seasons, and straddles the line between traditional American cuisine and classic French fare. Bright spaces and large windows give JiRaffe a welcoming elegance reminiscent of Europe.

This historic clubhouse, built in 1937, displays a fusion of Spanish Revival Architecture and classic California design styles. Complete with large windows, rustic wood floors, and vaulted high beam ceilings, the clubhouse and its conjoining outside patio can accommodate up to 350 guests, and the view of Griffith Park in Los Feliz is breathtaking. Owned by the Monterey Concessions Group, this events venue can host an cater any event for any season, including Weddings, Anniversary Parties, Business Meetings, Baptisms, and much more. The cuisine for events, though upscale American cuisine, can be altered and created especially for your specific event. …

The Downtown Los Angeles location of the esteemed Palm empire of restaurants offers fine steaks, seafood, and Italian specialties in a posh setting. Located at 1100 Flower Street in an enormous space, formerly a Packard car dealership, the Palm Downtown is the largest in the country. Since 2002 The Palm Downtown has managed to execute the same stellar food that original owners Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi started serving three generations ago in New York City. Today, The Palm Restaurants are still a family business run by the original owners’ great-great-grandsons.

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 …

Your senses may revel in the stunningly engaging décor and modern Japanese cuisine menu presented at Katsuya. Executive Chef Katsuya masterfully crafts traditional sushi rolls and distinctive specialty dishes to please more seasoned and fresh palates alike. Dishes like the Crispy Rice and Spicy Tuna and the Kobe Filet with Foie Gras have developed their own loyal following. Chef Katsuya’s artful menu is complemented and heightened by the truly innovative and equally satisfying décor of designer Philippe Starck. Striking contrasts of black and white capture snippets of moments for patrons to muse over as they dine in the appetizing “wooden …

Since 1983, Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois on Main has been serving Asian Fusion cuisine to the hungry hordes in Santa Monica. The décor has not changed since the day the doors opened, but Chef Rena Mata presents a menu that features not only selections of dishes that made Chinois on Main famous, but some new additions as well. All dishes presents ingredients from the Far East, transformed into modern culinary masterpieces of daring and stimulating flavors. Dishes served family style include classics such as Whole Sizzling Catfish with ponzu, Shanghai Lobser, Mongolian Lamb with cilantro-mint vinaigrette, and the Famous Chinois Chicken …

Typhoon located at the Santa Monica Airport is not just another Asian Fusion restaurant. Serving over 70 dishes from the Pacific Rim, and with one of Los Angeles’ finest selection of Asian beer, guests at Typhoon are not left for choice. The restaurant is famous for serving dishes with scorpions, ants, water bugs, silk worm larvae, and crickets, but just as popular is the Deep-fried Whole Catfish, Chinese Crispy Duck, and Mongolian Lamb. A wall of windows faces the Santa Monica Airport’s runway, so patrons can watch as airplanes depart and arrive, a sight especially breathtaking at night. For a …

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. …

Famed Chef Todd English pairs up with Hollywood darling Eva Longoria Parker to introduce us to Beso, a glamorous and refined restaurant serving up fine fusion cuisine with a side of glitz nightly. Step into Beso and be seduced by the lush and invocative palette of deep crimsons, rich wood tones, and alluring leather upholstery. The menu infuses Latin-inspired flavors with Middle-Eastern flare for a tantalizing array of meat and seafood selections. Eva’s Tortilla Soup is a comforting bowl of spice and the Beso Paella is an invigorating melding of surf and turf. Every bite glistens like the crystal chandelier …