Trendy / Hip Restaurants
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Lola’s in West Los Angeles is a popular hangout featuring eclectic cuisine that combines classic comfort food with the glitter and glam of new Hollywood. The bar is famous for creating the Apple Martini, and along with that signature cocktail, the bar serves up well over 50 other custom Martinis. That is right, over 50! Brunch on the weekends is immensely popular as well, and it is no wonder, with 10 flavors of mimosas and 7 unique bloody marys. Nevertheless, enough about the booze, the food at Lola’s is just as popular as the drinks. Dishes like the Baked Brie …
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If you’re looking for a place to see and be seen, head to the new, super trendy West Hollywood hotspot, STK. With such an edgy slogan (“not your daddy’s steakhouse”), it’s no surprise that the One Group’s latest enterprise has completely reinvented the traditional ambiance of its genre from masculine to sleek and sultry. Steaks come in three different sizes, a la carte, and with a choice of one of eight rich, homemade sauces. If something else is more to your liking, choose from enticing appetizers and entrees such as the Foie Gras French Toast, Shrimp Rice Krispies, or Maine …
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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 …
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Just one block east of the Nokia Theater and the Staples Center sits Rivera, the latest Latin creation from legendary chef/owner John Rivera Sedlar. The father of modern Southwest cuisine is back on the culinary scene after a fifteen year sabbatical spent representing Patrón tequila, and while no one would purport that cooking is like riding a bicycle, he certainly re-approaches his craft with the ease and grace of a seasoned veteran. Sedlar merges classical French technique with the memory of the earthy and spicy foods of his New Mexico childhood to produce sumptuous chile-packed masterpieces in a sleek and …
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In the midst of L.A.'s preponderance of vegetarian-friendly and tofu-centric restaurants and a short way from trendy Melrose Avenue lies Animal: a fairly industrial-looking, minimalist locale with no sign. Arouse your inner carnivore with savory dishes such as the Foie Gras with Maple Sausage Gravy and a Biscuit, or for a slightly lighter fare, try the House Smoked Pork Belly with Lentil and Butterbean Salad. To finish off, prowl the dessert menu for the Bacon Chocolate Bars. Localvores and organic supporters can also take joy in their use of local and organically grown delicacies.
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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 …
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The Team at Fish in a Bottle is proud to introduce a Multi-Course Table Service Omakase experience in Cypress. Our Chef is planning a 100% true Omakase journey where every piece/dish is perfectly crafted and then seasoned to accentuate and complement the taste of the underlying high quality ingredients. Our style is Creative/Modern while still paying respect to time-honored tradition.
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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 …
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Sushi Chef Hiro Nishimura’s restaurant certainly lives up to his name. The atmosphere here is soothing and intimate; to get to the restaurant diners walk through a Japanese garden out front. Amid the minimally decorated dining room, the sushi shines, with Chef Nishimura’s master hand creating some of the best sushi and sashimi in Los Angeles. In addition to sushi, hot Japanese dishes are also served, although it is the raw creations particularly the succulent toro, that have built Nishimura’s flawless reputation.
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The Buffalo Club looks like your typical bar from the street, but on the inside it is transformed into a restaurant that looks like the inside of an old classic railway car. There are burgundy booths, antique mirrors, and mahogany that give off a dark and intimate setting. The Buffalo Club also has an outdoor patio where guest can dine among Chinese silk lanterns, soft lighting and a beautiful garden setting. This restaurant presents guests with regional American cuisine while taking inspiration from the South, New England, the Southwest, and California. One of their most popular dishes is the Chicken …
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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 …
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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 …
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Barbrix Restaurant and Wine Bar is a new venue in Silver Lake serving fusion dishes consisting of Italian and Spanish cuisine with a Californian flare. The menu and décor are creative, modern, and eclectic with an ambiance that is intimate and friendly. This unique venue offers cooking classes, and a wine list that nicely complements their menu. Try such dishes as Pamplona and steak frites. Barbrix also prepares delectable desserts, such as their nutella crème brulee. Whether you’re interested in a quick bite or a gathering of friends to enjoy good food and a few glasses of wine, Barbrix is …
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WE HAVE MOVED OUR RESERVATIONS TO OUR GOOGLE BUSINESS PAGE Settebello was established in 2005 and was one of the first pizzerias in the United States to recreate Pizza Napoletana as it has been made in Napoli for centuries. Napoli, Italy is the birthplace of pizza and one of the most unique, chaotic and beautiful cities in the world. Settebello was created to re-create Pizza Napoletana as it has been made in Napoli for more than 200 years.
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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 …
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Top 10
Recommended
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Rogelio and Janet Huidobro opened the first Café Sevilla in 1987, honoring their homeland with a Spanish restaurant in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. After finding additional success in Riverside, they launched in downtown Long Beach in 2006. Mid week, the old-world setting draws business types. Weekends attract a younger crowd for upstairs dancing and dinner shows. Café Sevilla specializes in pans of paella and traditional Spanish tapas. The reasonably priced wine list is especially strong on full-bodied Spanish reds like Tempranillo and Torre Oria.
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Editor's Pick
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.
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A hop, skip, and a jump down from the main thoroughfare of Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica, you'll find La Botte. Meaning “wine bottle” in Italian, La Botte is owner Stefano de Lorenzo’s upgraded version of his popular, postage-stamp-sized Piccolo Ristorante in neighboring Venice. The wine concept glows in a warmly elegant décor of variegated wine stained wood flooring and wine cask wainscoting. A “vino paradiso” exists in La Botte’s 1,600 bottles of wine. Chef Luigi Fineo creatively infuses contemporary freshness into the Northern Italian appetizers, pasta, and entrees for an authentic Italian dining experience that will have you …
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For sharp and flavorful Asian dishes that render a taste of the east, Pearl Dragon can offer something special for everyone. The sleek, dramatic decor and chic bar scene draw a stylish crowd to this industry hangout, which offers the only full bar in Pacific Palisades. The Pearl Dragon's elegant yet laid back atmosphere, with potted bamboo and gleaming wood tables, is well suited for crowds coming for the lobster specialty dishes, sushi and Pan-Asian entrees. This elegant and modern décor enhances the fine dining atmosphere, and when paired with Pearl Dragon’s entrees and appetizers, a little taste of the …
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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.