Agnes is a restaurant with an open hearth and cheesery in Pasadena where Midwestern childhood nostalgia meets incredible food.

Momed is a breezy Mediterranean restaurant in Atwater Village that feels like a vacation.

La Puglia is a great all-day Italian cafe in Santa Monica. Come for coffee and a pastry, or a bowl of squid ink pasta at night.

Crudo e Nudo is a great little spot on Main Street in Santa Monica where you should sit back, eat raw fish, and split a bottle of wine.

Nicolas Eatery provides a welcome middle ground amongst Malibu’s high-end steakhouses and seafood shacks.

The Barish is an Italian steakhouse inside The Hollywood Roosevelt where Old Hollywood clichés feel brand new.

Bicyclette is a new French bistro in Beverlywood serving excellent food that tastes like it was injected with butter by Julia Child herself.

Lucky’s is a fancy Malibu steakhouse with great people-watching and even better food.

Flame in Westwood is a great spot for excellent Persian food in an upscale atmosphere.

Kagura in Torrance is a laidback izakaya serving a powerful tonkatsu.

Despite its clubby interior, you’re not going to be mad about a meal at Katsuya Brentwood - especially if you get the tuna and crispy rice.

Il Pastaio is a Beverly Hills classic and the closest the city has to a true neighborhood pasta spot.

Aleppo’s Kitchen is a fantastic Syrian restaurant in Anaheim with a big patio ideal for groups.

Toku Unagi and Sushi is a Japanese restaurant in West Hollywood that’s LA’s first and only eel-specialist.

Onda is an upscale Mexican restaurant in Santa Monica from the chefs at Sqirl and Contramar that fails to live up to the hype - or its pedigree.

Red Herring is a just-OK restaurant in DTLA, where most of the food feels like a misdirection from the real star - their chocolate torte.