Checkers -- Contemporary California -- 213624.000 -- $$$ ALL MAJOR
535 S. Grand Ave. -- B Mon.-Sat.; L&D Daily

Empress Pavilion -- Cantonese -- 213.617.9898 -- $$$ DC, MC, V
Chinatown Bamboo Plaza, 988 N. Hill St., Suite 201 -- B/L/D Daily

Pacific Dining Car -- American -- 213.483.6000 -- $$$ AE DC MC V
1310 W. 6th St. -- B/L/D Daily Specialty is top-quality steaks & chops.

La Serenata de Garibaldi -- Mexican -- 213.265.2887 -- $$ ALL MAJOR
1842 E. 1st St. L-D Mon.-Sat. L.A. Magazine: "best huachango Veracruzana" in L.A>

Silverlake & Los Feliz

Katsu -- Japanese -- 213.655.1891 -- $$ AE DC MC V 1972 N. Hillhurst Ave. L Mon.-Sat.; D nightly.

Midcity

Atlas Bar & Grill -- California -- 213.380.8400 $$$ AE CB DC MC V
3760 Wilshire Blvd -- Lunch, Mon-Fri: Dinner, Mon-Sat.

El Cholo -- 1121 S. Western Ave. 213.734.2773 Mexican -- $ Lunch & Dinner Daily. The city's oldest Mexican restaurant. Well-guarded parking.

Authentic Cafe -- Southwestern -- 213.939.4626 $ MC V
7605 Beverly Blvd. -- B/L/D daily Highly popular restaurant. Plan on a wait.

Ca'Brea -- Northern Italian -- 213.938.1447 $$ ALL MAJOR
346 S. La Brea Ave. -- L Mon.-Fri. -- D Mon.-Sat.

Campanile -- Italian/Mediterranean -- 213.938.1447 $$ AE MC V
624 S. La Brea Ave. -- L Mon.-Fri. -- D Mon.-Sat.-- Home of La Brea Bakery

Chan Dara -- Thai -- 213.464.8585 -- $ AE DC DS MC V
310 N. Larchmont Blvd. -- L Mon-Fri; D daily

Patina -- Franco-California -- $$$ ALL MAJOR
5955 Melrose Ave. -- L. Tues-Fri.; D nightly -- L.A. Magazine: "constantly astounds"

Yamashiro -- Japanese/Continental -- 213.466.5125 $$ ALL MAJOR
1999 N. Sycamore -- D nightly L.A. Magazine: "The food...matches the great view."

West Hollywood & Beverly Center Area

Cicada -- Italian -- 213.655.5559 -- $$ AE MC V
8478 Melrose Ave. -- L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. -- entertainment industry hangout

Hard Rock Cafe -- American -- 310.276.7605 -- $ AE DC MC V
8600 Beverly Blvd. -- L-D daily -- L.A. Magazine: "food and service are both darned good"

Morton's -- American -- 310.276.5205 -- $$$ AE MC V
8764 Melrose Ave. -- L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. -- major entertainment industry power vortex

Orso -- Italian -- 310.274.7144 -- $$ MC V
8706 W. 3rd St. -- L-D daily -- Celebrity favorite.

Spago -- California -- 310.652.4025 -- $$$ CB DC MS MC V
1114 Horn Ave. -- D nightly -- Where Wolfgang Puck reinvented the pizza.

Beverly Hills

Il Pastalo -- Italian -- 310.205.5444 -- $$ AE CB DC MC V
400 N. Canon Dr. -- L-D Mon.-Sat. -- L.A. Magazine: "reminds you of homey cafes (in) Italy."

Tribeca -- Regional American -- 310.271.1595 -- $$ ALL MAJOR
242 N. Beverly Blvd. -- L Mon.-Fri. -- D nightly -- Hot bar scene upstairs and fine food downstairs.

Century City

Dive! -- Gourmet Submarine Sandwiches -- 310.778.3483 -- $$ ALL MAJOR
Century City Marketplace, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. -- L-D Daily
Restaurant modeled after a submarine & funded by Stephen Spielberg and other big names.

Four Oaks -- Franco-American -- 310.470.3623 -- $$$ AE MC V
2181 N. Beverly Glen Blvd. --

Bambo -- Pacific Rim -- 310.456.5464 -- $$ ALL MAJOR
Country Mart, 3835 Cross Creek Rd.-- L-D Tue.-Sat. -- locale favorite

Geoffrey's -- California -- 310.457.1519 -- $$ AE MC V
27400 Pacific Coast Highway -- L-D & Brunch daily -- Terrific sunset viewing spot
Served as a setting in the movie The Player.

Granita -- California -- 310.456.0488 -- $$$ CB DC DS MC V
23725 W. Malibu Rd. -- L. Wed.-Fri.; D nightly -- Wolfgang Puck's oceanside restaurant.

Santa Monica

Abiquiu -- Southwestern -- 310.395.8611 -- $$$ AE MC V
1413 5th St. -- L Mon.-Fri; D nightly -- Stunning menu imported from New Mexico

Gilliland's -- California -- 310.392.3901 -- $$ AE DS MC V
2424 Main St. -- L. Mon.-Fri; D nightly; brunch Sun. -- L.A. Magazine: "absolutely unique."

L.A. Farm -- Franco-California -- 310.829.0600 -- $$ AE DC MC V
3000 Olympic Blvd. -- L. Mon..-Fri. D Tue.-Sat. -- a less-known celebrity favorite

Locanda del Lago -- Northern Italian -- 310.451.3525 -- $$ AE CB DC MC V
231 Arizona Ave. -- L. Mon.-Fri.; D nightly -- On the 3rd Street Promenade.

Remi -- Northern Italian -- 310393.8545 -- $$ AE CB DC MC V
1451 3rd Street Promenade -- L-D daily -- L.A. Magazine: "elegant restaurant."

Valentino -- Northern Italian -- 310.451.4455 -- $$$ ALL MAJOR 3115 W. Pico Blvd. -- L. Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. -- Known for its impressive cuisine.

Venice

Joe's -- California -- 310.399.5811 -- $$ MC V
1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd. -- L. Tue-Fri; D Tue.-Sun. -- L.A. Magazine: "intimate and romantic."

Rebecca's -- Mexican -- $$ AE CD DC MC V
2025 Pacific Ave. -- D nightly -- Trendy upscale hangout

72 Market St. -- Franco-American -- $$$ AE DC MC V
72 Market St. -- L Mon.-Fri.; D nightly -- Co-owned by Dudley Moore and Tony Bill

West Beach Cafe -- California -- $$ AE CB CD MC V
60 N. Venice Blvd. -- D nightly -- Hangout for movers and shakers.

Key to symbols:
$ ------ Inexpensive ----- Dinner under $15
$$ ---- Moderate ------- Mostly under $30
$$$ --- Expensive ------- Mostly under $50
$$$$-- Very expensive -- $50 and over

** B -- Breakfast ** L -- Lunch ** D -- Dinner **