Los Angeles - Dish

		French End of The Strip In the lobby of the Andaz West Hollywood, RH restaurant — short for Riot House, this West Hollywood hotel’s former moniker — lures a photogenic crowd to its exotic bar facing the Sunset Strip, and that’s only at the shallow end of the pool. Discerning foodies grab their seats near the open-air kitchen, where chef Sebastien Archambault serves succulent selections from the South of France. For a star appetizer, choose foie gras served with sweet monbazillac jelly, while the standout entrée is lightly smoked halibut combined with crunchy fried potatoes. Wash down a dessert of baba (a traditional French cake soaked in rum) with more rum — and invoke the envy of all the trendy bar-crawlers. 8401 Sunset Blvd. (323) 656-1234 www.westhollywood.hyatt.com

		Cali Cuisine Californias, here we come. The recently renovated restaurant inside the Sheraton Universal hotel adopts a snazzy, black-and-white motif indoors, in addition to a fun-loving outdoor dining area. Indulge in a guilty pleasure like the banana-stuffed French toast, traditional Mexican huevos rancheros, or a hearty $21 buffet at breakfast and lunch. For dinner, succulent signature dishes like the pan-fried Chilean sea bass range from $22 to $38. Proximity to the studio also makes stargazing a distinct possibility. 333 Universal Hollywood Dr. (818) 980-1212 www.sheratonuniversal.com

		Magic Number 15 Restaurant has a secret. From 5 to 6:30 p.m. seven days a week, the price of three-course dinners drops to $15. Choose from one of four appetizers, one of four main entrees and top off the bargain with the chef's choice of dessert. Located in the Echo Park section near Dodger Stadium, 15 doesn't offer the trendiest dining experience — just the most sensibly priced meal in town. What's not skimpy is the taste. 1320 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles 213-481-0454 www.restaurant15.com

		Top Wine List Guy Gabriele, of Café Pierre, was raised in the French culture by Italian parents, which may explain his award-winning contemporary cuisine and extensive wine list. The steak au poivre and filet mignon have been on the menu since the café opened in 1979. In 2002, Wine Spectator magazine presented Gabriele with its Best Award of Excellence for Outstanding Wine List in the World — an honor Café Pierre has claimed every year since. 317 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach 310-545-5252 www.cafepierre.com

		Sunday Deal Lucques in West Hollywood offers $40 Sunday supper specials that are posted online a week in advance, affording the ability to plan a weekend trip to L.A. around a good meal. (Entrées on a recent menu: spring shellfish stew with Pernod, grilled toast and seaweed salt, or crispy pork belly with fava beans, artichokes, spring onions and mint.) Sweetening the deal, Los Angeles magazine recently placed Lucques atop its list of the city's 75 best restaurants, and the James Beard Foundation named chef Suzanne Goin 2006's "Best Chef in California." 8474 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles 323-655-6277 www.lucques.com

		Chill Out Don't be intimidated by the regal exterior and Beverly Hills-adjacent location of the wine bar Tasca; there's a vintage for every occasion (we counted 73) and every budget. Then there's dinner. The small-plate Spanish dishes are an undiscovered treat, ranging from mussels and fries, to braised short ribs and boudin noir. Go quickly, before word gets out. 8108 W. Third St., Los Angeles 323-951-9890 www.tascawinebar.com/index08.html

		Vixens Spin A watering hole for the likes of Kate Beckinsale, Lauren Conrad and Stephen Colletti, Whiskey Blue at the W Hotel in Westwood has launched Vinyl Vixen Thursdays — bringing an all-female DJ lineup (some of them celebrity spinners) to the party. Touted as the only all-female DJ night in town, it comes complete with Whiskey Blue's signature cocktails — Absinthe Drip and Midnight Manhattan — and a side menu featuring cheeseburger sliders and fried calamari. 930 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles 310-208-8765 www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=97518

		Getting Lit This downtown newcomer doesn't aim to be a "destination spot" so much as a "neighborhood place" — which is what makes this escape for successful professionals so cool. Nestled between the Los Angeles Public Library and the trendy Standard Hotel, the shelves at the Library Bar were originally stacked with faux volumes that quickly gave way to the real thing when the post-college crowd flocked in to get lit — with booze and books. Unlike most upscale lounges, the Library Bar isn't shy about specializing in a pint of beer. The Los Angeles Downtown News recently named the Rasputin Imperial Russian Stout the "Best Pint" in town. The best-kept secret is the Lost Coast Brewing Co.'s Downtown Brown, an ale produced by one of the few female-owned breweries in the country. 630 W. 6th St. 116A 213-614-0053 www.librarybarla.com

		Sampling While Stargazing One issue F. Scott Fitzgerald didn’t address when he pointed out the rich are different from you and me: whether the well-heeled like free samples at the grocers’ as much as the rest of us. Apparently, they do, they really, really do. Beverly Hills’ Bristol Farms satisfies such urges, providing nibbles on the house while also providing high-end produce, wine, baked goods and a restaurant all under one roof. Not surprisingly, given the neighborhood, there’s a healthy dollop of fru-fru items one is hard-pressed to find elsewhere — for instance, 22 different types of sugar. Sweet! Easier to choose among: a sandwich and a cup of coffee. Take your time noshing, too. The celeb-watching is first-rate. 9039 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood 310-248-2804 www.bristolfarms.com

		Oeuf, Anyone? The upscale housewares and furniture at the French lifestyle store Maison Midi have been known to attract L.A.’s elite into its showroom. So while others are staring down a white leather sofa, go in for your own joie de vivre by sampling the sidewalk café inside. The breakfast menu at Café Midi includes a stunningly diverse 27 different egg-based dishes. Chef Edouard Moyal isn’t afraid to toss anything into an omelette, from caramelized onions to tofu and Thai sausage. If you miss breakfast, try the Edouard’s croque monsieur with Gorgonzola, prosciutto and fresh basil for lunch. The presentation is almost as classy as the furniture showroom’s, while the French desserts are ample — and magnifique. 148 South La Brea Ave. 323-939-9860 www.cafemidi.com

		Q(cumber) Rating Sitting just a few blocks east of the Staples Center, the upscale, dimly-lit J Lounge isn’t where you’d expect to find a cucumber in anything — save the “Q-tini.” The concoction combines Damrak Gin, Sprite, sweet and sour, a sprig of mint and a garnish of four fresh slices of everyone’s favorite green gourd. It got some serious buzz after the Damrak company nominated the Q-tini for its “best new gin drink” award — but this buzz is best enjoyed first-hand. 1119 S. Olive St. 213-746-7746 www.jloungela.com

		The Power Breakfast, Revisited Jake Gyllenhaal and Alicia Keys are just among a few of the recent sightings at this long-established health-food restaurant, which Steven Spielberg and George Lucas helped put on the map when they began going back in the early '80s.The power breakfast still remains in effect here, with Hugo's having lost little of its mojo, earning a “Best Breakfast” nod from citysearch.com in 2006. The secret is the specialty tea list, a favorite of the celeb crowd drawn to its exotic tastes and names like “Phoenix Bird Oolong Private Reserve: Mei Lan Xiang.” They’re served up at Starbucks prices and satisfy your curiosity after a typically long wait to get in. 12851 Riverside Drive, Studio City 818-761-8985 www.hugosrestaurant.com

		That 70's Sushi! Wilmer Valderrama celebrated his 25th birthday at Geisha House in Hollywood, People magazine chronicled, noting that among the 500 guests were Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel, Topher Grace and even two investors in this hot, hot, hot place: Danny Masterston and Laura Prepon. Daily Variety has covered Geisha House, too, quoting co-owner Mike Malin on reaching the decision to add a sign outside because so many thousands of people had read about the place in gossip columns. Not that neon is a stranger here: it illuminates the interior of this Japanese restaurant/bar, which also features a 50-ft.-long saké bar. The secret is not to come late, as Geisha House fills up fast. Try the 12-piece assorted sashimi selection for $36, or the organic grilled chicken yaki, a relative bargain at $14. The dessert menu includes both chocolate mousse and chocolate cake. Getting Punk'd might be extra. 6633 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 323-460-6300 http://dolcegroup.com/geisha

		Ecological and Economic Only open since late last year in the historic Hull building (once Culver City's first hospital), Akasha had all the warts of its launch exposed on the Learning Channel's Flip That Restaurant. Since then, this first fresh-food eatery opened by "organic celebrity chef" and Hollywood Dish author Akasha Richmond (official spokesperson for Silk-brand soymilk) had landed on solid footing. The American comfort food menu is moderately priced, and the bar boasts fresh juice cocktails made with organic premium spirits as well as beer and wine. There a 24/7 bakery (sugar and coffee at fair-trade prices) and the environs themselves are eco-conscious, as is Akasha herself. Gather your horse and buggy and go. 9543 Culver Blvd., Culver City 310-845-1700 www.akasharestaurant.com

		Doorway to Paradise Offering rustic Mediterranean cuisine, The Little Door is constantly being cited as the most romantic restaurant in L.A. Tucked away behind a clutter of trees and bushes that all but hide it from the sidewalk, this is where the red-carpet crowd goes for a European country-style experience. There are four dining areas, both indoor and out: the Patio, Winter Garden, Piano Room and Blue Room. The L.A. Times was also delighted to find that many of the diners were over 30! The fare isn’t cheap — the minimum order is $35 — but there's no denying the Little Door offers large rewards. 8164 West 3rd Street 323-951-1210 www.thelittledoor.com
		Southern Comfort In our imagination, we envision Jeremiah Weed as a 19th-century literary creation, a young rapscallion who rows out into the bayou and chases after alligators. But in fact, his name graces a distillery whose brand of vodka is to be found, among other regional delicacies, at Tart restaurant at the Farmer’s Daughter Hotel. Want a surprisingly tasty appetizer? You guessed it: ‘gator. Marinated in buttermilk and Cajun seasoning, the fried morsels look like crispy shrimp. To the taste buds, they’re halfway between chicken and calamari. Weed’s 70-proof sweet tea vodka serves as the ideal beverage to wash down your alligator. Take a sip, shut your eyes, and you’re back in the bayou — despite your actual proximity to CBS Television City. 115 S. Fairfax Ave. (323) 937-3930 www.tartrestaurant.com