CampanileCity/Region: Los Angeles
Originally built as the private offices of Charlie Chaplin in 1928, Campanile is a multi-level restaurant with balconies, a lovely courtyard and a central skylight affording views of the bell tower above. The menu consists of a creative blend of Mediterranean flavors and Californian cuisine. Chef Mark Peel has a reputation for excellent grills and roasts, which are complemented by Nancy Silverton's famous bread and pastries, and some of the best desserts in Los Angeles. Saturday and Sunday brunch should not be missed. Open for lunch
weekdays and dinner Monday to Saturday. Reservations essential.
Address: 624 South La Brea Avenue (Miracle Mile)
Website: www.campanilerestaurant.com
SpagoCity/Region: Los Angeles
Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck wows the rich and famous at his flagship restaurant that boasts a reputation as one of the finest in LA. Centerd on an outdoor courtyard, the olive tree shaded tables are the most desirable and the place for celebrity sightings. Chefs recreate Puck's classic dishes, including his renowned designer pizzas, and Spago classics such as Wolfgang's Original Veal Weinerschnitzel. Creative desserts add a special finish to any meal. Jacket and tie suggested, though not required. Advance reservations essential. Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday.
Address: 176 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills
Website: www.wolfgangpuck.com
ValentinoCity/Region: Los Angeles
According to Wine Spectator Magazine this is one of the top Italian restaurants in the country, boasting a wine cellar that ranks as number one, and a fine complement to the exquisite modern Italian cuisine. Piero Selvaggio has raked in numerous awards for his flagship restaurant, and Chef Gamba wows with simple yet ingenious meal creations attracting an elegant clientele seeking a special occasion. Reservations essential. Closed Sunday. Dinner daily and lunch on Fridays. Dress business casual.
Address: 3115 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica
Website: www.welovewine.com
PatinaCity/Region: Los Angeles
Patina is the flagship restaurant of chef Joaquim Splichal, whose nouvelle cuisine has long been a favorite with Hollywood stars. The style is understated elegance with beautifully presented food and superior service. The menu also features three five-course exquisite seasonal tasting menus including wild game, seafood, and garden dishes for vegetarians. Patina is justifiably famous for its mashed potatoes and potato-truffle chips, and there is an outstanding wine list. Reservations essential. Dinner daily and lunch Monday to Friday.
Address: 141 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown
Website: www.patinagroup.com
MatsuhisaCity/Region: Los Angeles
Japanese chef/owner Nobuyuki Matsuhisa creates fantastic dishes by blending South American spices and salsas with Japanese cuisine, presenting diners with one of the most creative menus in the city. Tuna filled with black truffles and capped with caviar, or sautéed squid in a garlic and soy sauce are examples of the delicacies available in addition to creative sushi rolls with garlic, fresh chilli and special sauces. Matsuhisa is popular with celebrities and gourmets and reservations are essential. Open daily for dinner and lunch during the week.
Address: 129 North La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills
Website: www.nobumatsuhisa.com
Water GrillCity/Region: Los Angeles
Considered by many to be the best seafood house in LA, Water Grill is always packed with downtown business folk who are joined in the evening by concert- and theater-goers. It is known particularly for its fish and shellfish, and boasts a great oyster bar, as well as a superb wine cellar to match. Simple desserts include mascopone with figs and cherries. Reservations recommended. Open for dinner daily and lunch on weekdays only.
Address: 544 South Grand Avenue, Downtown
Website: www.watergrill.com
Chinois on MainCity/Region: Los Angeles
This is one of LA's most crowded restaurants and also one of the noisiest, packed with locals, celebrities and visitors who come in awe of Wolfgang Puck's reputation and leave enchanted by the food. The style of cuisine is a mixture of different ethnicities, particularly a fusion of Chinese and French ingredients and technique. The menu includes signature dishes such as the Whole Sizzling Catfish, dramatically presented, as well as seasonal creations that include Shanghai lobster with a spicy ginger-curry sauce or Mongolian lamb. Reservations essential. Dinner daily and lunch Wednesday to Friday. Jacket and tie suggested.
Address: 2709 Main Street, Santa Monica
Website: www.wolfgangpuck.com
Border GrillCity/Region: Los Angeles
Border Grill is a trendy, pleasantly raucous and brightly painted place whose atmosphere perfectly complements the vibrant flavors and bold colorful foods of Mexico as presented by celebrity chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. The menu features authentic dishes learnt in the homes and markets of Mexico with an added touch of gourmet ingenuity, and ranges from tamales, empanadas and tacos to daily ceviche specials and stuffed tortillas, accompanied by excellent margaritas and fine tequilas. Lunch and dinner daily, and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
Address: 1445 Fourth Street, Santa Monica
Website: www.bordergrill.com
GranitaCity/Region: Los Angeles
Inspired by the colors of the Mediterranean sea, Granita's marine décor features an abstract interpretation of water that enhances the menu's inclination towards seafood and the Mediterranean influence on the Californian-style cuisine. Besides fish the menu always features inventive duck, poultry and meat dishes, as well as gourmet pizzas. The fashionable bar is a place to spot celebrities. Reservations essential. Lunch Monday to Friday, dinner Tuesday to Sunday.
Address: 23725 West Malibu Road, Malibu Colony Plaza, Malibu
Website: www.wolfgangpuck.com
Café PinotCity/Region: Los Angeles
Situated adjacent to the Los Angeles Central Library and overlooking the Maguire Gardens, Café Pinot is ideally located for a business lunch or pre-theater dinner (offering a free shuttle to the Music Center), with an outdoor terrace shaded by old olive trees. One of the city's most popular restaurants, it is modeled after the top-ranked flagship restaurant, Patina, also owned by leading chefs Joachim and Splichal, but is designed to be less formal with lighter bistro-style meals. The tender mustard-crusted roast chicken is superb, and there is also fresh fish, pastas and lamb shank. Reservations essential. Lunch Monday to Friday, and dinner daily.
Address: 700 West Fifth Street (Downtown)
Website: www.patinagroup.com
Fleur de LysCity/Region: San Francisco
Where else should one go in San Francisco but Nob Hill for some fine French dining in a romantic atmosphere. Fleur de Lys is a deluxe, rich, red chandeliered setting for gourmet dinners. Owner/chef Hubert Keller offers contemporary French cuisine with a Mediterranean touch and his fare covers caviar, meat, game, seafood, vegetarian options and French cheeses. Open for dinner Monday to Saturday. Reservations advisable.
Address: 777 Sutter Street
Website: www.fleurdelyssf.com
AquaCity/Region: San Francisco
Diners are wowed by the masterful seafood cookery and dazzling dish presentations served up at Aqua, all cooked with exquisite care. Dishes such as the shellfish soufflés and ahi tuna with foie gras are especially fine, and there is also a good-value five-course tasting menu available. Aqua is quietly elegant and is frequented by business clientele and a prestigious, gourmet crowd who like to dine in style for a special occasion. Reservations recommended. Dinner Monday to Saturday, and lunch Monday to Friday.
Address: 252 California Street (Financial District)
Website: aqua-sf.com
Moose'sCity/Region: San Francisco
Moose's is a true San Franciscan experience created by the well-known Ed and Mary Etta Moose who offer a fun and lively atmosphere with a buzzing bar, exceptionally good food and a friendly greeting that keeps the regular crowd of politicians, celebrities and media types coming back for more. The varied menu offers everything from crab cakes to the sirloin Mooseburger, which is regarded as the best in the city. There is an extremely popular Sunday brunch menu and live piano playing nightly. Dinner daily; lunch Thursday to Saturday. Reservations essential.
Address: 1652 Stockton Street, North Beach
Website: www.mooses.com
Gary DankoCity/Region: San Francisco
Award-winning, top Californian chef Gary Danko has built up a culinary name for himself by combining classical French cuisine with Mediterranean and Californian cooking, incorporating major culinary traditions from around the world into his work. His fine dining restaurant is a very special experience, and not only for the exquisite food; the service is impeccable and the atmosphere quietly elegant with no hint of stuffiness. Perhaps the best way to experience Danko's ingenuity is by way of a fixed-price seasonal menu, which might include glazed oysters, guinea hen breast and chocolate soufflé. Reservations essential. Dinner nightly. Elegant dress attire requested.
Address: 800 North Point at Hyde Street (Fisherman's Wharf)
Website: www.garydanko.com
One MarketCity/Region: San Francisco
Winner of several national and local awards, One Market features upscale American fare specializing in fresh meat and fish dishes. There are remarkable views of the waterfront and historic Market Street that can be enjoyed while dining on ahi tuna steak or the daily roast. For a unique dining experience, the restaurant also features a special 'Chef's Table' located inside the kitchen from where the group is guided through the exquisite tasting menu served by the chef himself. There is live jazz every evening. Closed Sundays. Dinner Monday to Saturday and lunch on weekdays only. Reservations essential.
Address: 1 Market Street, Embarcadero
Website: www.onemarket.com
BoulevardCity/Region: San Francisco
Located in the Art Nouveau Audiffred Building near the waterfront, the mosaic floor, central open kitchen and striking decor perfectly complement the artistic dishes created by culinary star Nancy Oakes. One of the city's best restaurants, Boulevard is always packed and is ideal for a special occasion. Specialties include wood-roasted dishes like the rack of lamb, pork loin, or a variety of fish. Reservations essential. Dinner daily; lunch on weekdays only.
Address: 1 Mission Street, Embarcadero, SoMa
Website: www.boulevardrestaurant.com
Fifth FloorCity/Region: San Francisco
With a palette of rich colors and luxurious furnishings, Fifth Floor became an instant classic after opening in 1999. The modern French cuisine produced by Laurent Gras remains original, visually creative and sophisticated. Incredible attention to detail is paid to dishes like the crab salad with a white truffle confit, the slow-baked rack of lamb, or the velvet chocolate mousse cake with a roasted banana sorbet. The wine list is prestigious and professionally served. Breakfast daily. Dinner Monday to Saturday. Reservations essential.
Address: 12 Fourth Street, Hotel Palomar, SoMo
Website: www.hotelpalomar.com
The Slanted DoorCity/Region: San Francisco
Chef Charles Phan prepares real Vietnamese home cooking at The Slanted Door and his food is so flavorful and incredibly fresh that even the likes of Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton have sought it out. The establishment attempts to recreate the richness of Vietnamese street food with Western style service. The menu includes fresh spring rolls, green papaya salad, duck and grilled ahi tuna, as well as delicious desserts such as vanilla bean crème brûlée and a collection of Oriental teas. Its new location overlooking San Francisco Bay also has a to-go section of the restaurant. Lunch and dinner daily.
Address: 1 Ferry Building #3
Website: www.slanteddoor.com
Zuni CaféCity/Region: San Francisco
Dining at this much-loved rustic restaurant is a quintessential San Francisco experience. The eclectic Italian-Mediterranean fare includes the legendary brick-oven roasted chicken with a Tuscan-style bread salad, hamburger on grilled rosemary focaccia bread, and the classic Caesar salad. The bustling copper-topped bar serves drinks as well as the very freshest selection of oysters. It is a great place for a pre- or post-Opera House drink and is always crammed with an eclectic crowd. Reservations recommended. Closed Monday.
Address: 1658 Market Street, Civic Center, Hayes Valley
GreensCity/Region: San Francisco
With high ceilings and enormous windows overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay, Greens boasts one of the most dramatic dining spaces in the city and offers outstanding, creative meatless dishes that have earned it a place as one of the top vegetarian restaurants in the country. Owned by the Zen Buddhist Center, dishes use the finest organic ingredients and the delicious meals attract non-vegetarians as well as vegetarians. Lunch Tuesday to Saturday and dinner Monday to Friday. There is a special fixed-price dinner on Saturdays. Brunch on Sundays.
Address: Building A, Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard, Marina
Website: www.greensrestaurant.com
DelfinaCity/Region: San Francisco
Craig Stoll was one of Food and Wine's Best New Chefs in 2001, and the ultra-fresh seasonal Italian cuisine, the reasonable prices and warm atmosphere have made Delfina one of the most popular restaurants in the city today, continuously abuzz with happy diners. Dishes on the daily-changing menu are kept simple but extraordinary and might include thick Tuscan soup, butternut panna cotta or roasted chicken. The handmade pastas, braised meats and fish dishes are all full of flavor. Reservations essential. Dinner daily.
Address: 3621 18th Street (Mission District)
Website: www.delfinasf.com
Brandy Ho'sCity/Region: San Francisco
San Francisco's Chinatown district is world renowned for its restaurants. One of the top choices is Brandy Ho's, run by three brothers from Hong Kong and specializing in spicy Hunan (Southern China) cuisine. A typical meal would be spicy eggplant; calamari with black bean sauce, or chicken curry with garlic and hot sauce. Lunch and dinner daily.
Address: 217 Columbus Avenue, Chinatown
Website: www.brandyhoshunan.com
