Restaurants
Apple Pan
10801 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles
A very popular Westside burger and pie joint from a bygone era—lots of fun.
Bouchon
235 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills
Chef Thomas Keller offers casual, classic French bistro fare in this restaurant frequented by celebrities and favored by those craving great French food (that would be me!).
Café Habana
3939 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu
Cuban classics with a New York state of mind.
Canter’s Deli
419 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles
An iconic Jewish deli and favorite hangout for those who love matzo ball soup and corned beef sandwiches.
Casita del Campo
1920 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake
A very creative, upscale Mexican restaurant located in an edgy and hip area. Great sangria!
El Cholo
1121 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles
One of the best and most authentic Mexican restaurants in the city. I have been going here, as well as to the Santa Monica and Pasadena locations, for a very long time.
Church & State Bistro
1850 Industrial St. #100, Los Angeles
This restaurant, located in a budding neighborhood in an industrial part of Downtown, is very stylish and makes exquisite dishes with a modern twist on French cuisine.
Dominick’s
8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood
A charming and authentic Italian restaurant loved by LA foodies, with a sexy wine list and a beautiful brick patio!
Eveleigh
8752 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
Inventive cocktails and an ingenious menu in a rustic setting, with excellent service and beautiful views of the city!
Father’s Office
1018 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
Universally adored for great gourmet burgers and an impressive selection of beers.
Flore Vegan
3818 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake
A vegan restaurant—cozy and inviting with vintage interiors.
Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice
A favorite Italian-fusion eatery with inventive pairings and local, seasonal ingredients.
Green Street Restaurant
146 Shopper’s Lane, Pasadena
Offers a healthy, diverse menu in a charming setting, and the unmissable Dianne salad.
The Grill on the Alley
9560 Dayton Way, Beverly Hills, and 120 E. Promenade Way, Thousand Oaks
A superb steakhouse and a favorite of those who love good food, first class service, sophistication, inventive cocktails, and wine.
Gus’s BBQ
808 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena
My favorite Southern-influenced BBQ restaurant in all of LA. Great ribs, chicken, chili, burgers— everything is awesome!
Intelligentsia
1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice
An upscale and very hip coffeehouse.
The Ivy
113 N. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles
Behind the white picket fence lies a lovely patio filled with celebrity diners as paparazzi linger outside. This is a great place to have lunch while shopping at the ultra-chic boutiques in the neighborhood.
Joan’s on Third
8350 W. Third St., Los Angeles
Best soup and sandwich combo in LA; a place to buy fancy pantry items and see a celebrity or two.
Katsuya by Starck
6300 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles
Sushi Katsu-Ya
11680 Ventura Blvd., Studio City
The first mini-mall sushi, Sushi Katsu-Ya set the standard for great sushi and 236 spawned several high-end Philippe Starck– designed storefronts.
Chef Katsuya is renowned for creating menu mainstays like spicy tuna on crispy rice and yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño.
La Grande Orange Café
260 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Located next to a metro station, the food and service are awesome and this is a favorite of many foodies in LA. Upscale, casual and innovative menu offerings.
LAMILL Coffee
1636 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake
The coolest coffee shop on the east side of LA. The interior is a glam mix of gilded chandeliers and faux leather chairs, and the coffee is just as elaborate.
Maximiliano
5930 York Blvd., Eagle Rock
A fantastic Italian eatery in an up-and-coming area, featuring fresh quality ingredients in their pizzas, pastas, and specialties, in a very cool setting—great patio dining as well.
Mijares Mexican Restaurant
145 Palmetto Dr., Pasadena
An authentic and traditional Mexican restaurant with great food, delightful service, great margaritas, and lots of fun.
New Moon
102 W. Ninth St., Los Angeles
2138 Verdugo Blvd., Montrose
My absolute favorite Chinese restaurant in the city—fresh and healthy ingredients in an urban contemporary décor.
Nobu
903 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood
Elegant and upscale Japanese cuisine by Nobu Matsuhisa in stylish surroundings. Politicos, sushi snobs, and the rich and famous all keep this restaurant on speed dial.
Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose Ave., Hollywood
One of the premiere Italian restaurants in LA, with a minimalist décor and gourmet food, which attracts the beautiful, upscale, and famous diners in the city—nice for a special occasion.
Parkway Grill
510 S. Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena
One of my favorite places to dine in Pasadena, featuring an innovative Cali-cuisine menu with local and fresh ingredients in a chic setting.
Philippe The Original
1001 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles
One of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles (106 years old in 2014) serves up Frenchdipped sandwiches. Peanuts are at every table and sawdust lines the floors of this throwback in time.
Pink’s Hot Dogs
709 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood
Known as the best place in LA for hot dogs, as evidenced by the long lines. Entertaining and memorable.
Rush Street
9546 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City
This is my favorite restaurant in this up and coming, hip area. It offers comfort food and great drinks.
Spago
176 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills
This is an excellent example of the culinary wizardry of 237 Wolfgang Puck. The year-round patio is beautiful, and the menu always features the best ingredients and haute cuisine.
Stonehaus
32039 Agoura Rd., Westlake Village
A fantastic wine bar in a vineyard setting complete with fountains and a garden wall . . . feels like the French countryside . . . a great place to relax and people watch.
Tavern Restaurant
11648 San Vicente Blvd., West Los Angeles
With a really beautiful interior and a fresh, locally sourced, Cali-cuisine menu, dining here is a real treat.
Umami Burger
4655 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles
This is my favorite burger place in Los Angeles, with offerings of beef, turkey, chicken, ahi tuna, and veggie burgers bursting with the oaky, salty, and sweet umami flavor. The cheesy tots, not on the menu, are LA’s version of croquettes and a must-have.