Eating out in LA
Introduction
Los Angeles has many internationally famous districts, all of which have some great places for eating out in LA. I guess the final choice where you go out to eat in LA will have to come down to the budget you can afford and the occasion that you’re going to be eating out in LA for. Being a student at USC, eating out at one of the less expensive places like you’ll find on Sunset Boulevard could be a good place to go, or perhaps you might fancy something overlooking the sea at Santa Monica. Of course if it’s your parents or someone else’s treat - well let’s see what can be recommended in Beverly Hills for eating out in LA!
Eating out in LA on Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard does stretch form north of Santa Monica east across town to China Town. However, when looking for places to eat out in LA on Sunset Boulevard you’re recommended to stick to the section between Hammond Street and La Brea Avenue. The ‘Strip’ as it is affectionately known is still the center of LA nightlife, but outside of that zone the nightlife can become a little less salubrious. So, at the west end of the Strip there’s The Rainbow Bar & Grill, which is that famous it’s even got its own citation in Wikipedia! The list of rock ’n rollers that have been here is simply too long to state but - you could consider this place as a romantic evening out as well as one to party in. Why? Well, The Rainbow Bar & Grill was where some famous romantic encounters took place. With names forever etched in the memories of Americans; Vincente Minnelli proposed to Judy Garland here and, in 1953, Marilyn Monroe first dated Jack DiMaggio. The Rainbow Bar and Grill serves a wide range of good food - all of which is well priced to help you enjoy eating out in LA.
Eating out in LA around Santa Monica
No prizes for guessing the sort of food served at Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier. A combination of beach style BBQ food, ranch-hand fajitas and burgers are the main fare here; along side traditional steak, chicken and seafood dishes. Rusty’s makes a specialty of catering for party’s from as few as 15 people up to 250, making it a great place for partying and eating out in LA. For something a little more sophisticated go to the Viceroy Hotel on Ocean Boulevard, west of the junction between Interstates 10 and 405, in the hotel there’s the Whist Restaurant. Voted one of the top 50 hotel restaurants by ‘Food & Wine’ magazine, the Whist Restaurants serves a tasteful blend of Californian- French dishes. Head chef Warren Schwartz sources local ingredients as much as possible to create Michelin rated, creative and light haute cuisine. Excluding drinks expect to pay at least $50 a head here for a two course dinner; you should also note that a half decent wine here will be around $50 a bottle.
Eating out in LA around Beverly Hills
Two place names in Los Angeles probably stand out above all others for glamour and sophistication - Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Not quite on Hollywood and Vine is Musso and Franks Grill, at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard. Reputed to be the first restaurant in Hollywood it too has a Wikipedia citation. Retaining its ‘old fashioned’ atmosphere you can actually sit in a booth that was known to be a regular spot for Charlie Chaplin or that great chronicler of Santa Monica life - Raymond Chandler. Whilst the food is good here it’s also expensive and, apparently, the service can be slow. But, that’s all part of the experience of ‘living’ a piece of Hollywood history. Vying for the position as the best place for eating out in LA has to be, The Spago Restaurant. The original Spago Restaurant was, of course, on The Strip and was the scene of many a famous ‘Oscar night party’. Now moved to the swanky address of North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, dining here is simply a culinary experience in sumptuous surroundings. One of the Wolfgang Puck Group of restaurants it’s the sort of place that if you need to ask the price of anything - you’re probably better off not going there! Eating out in LA doesn’t come much finer than dishes such as - hand cut Fettuccine pasta with wild Porcini mushrooms as a first course followed by slow braised veal Osso Buco. The Spago has one of the best wine bins in LA, if not California, despite most of the wines being quite young vintages. However, while such delights as a 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild will set you back by well over $2000, a more reasonably priced 1999 Albert Morot, Premier Cru, Beaune-Teurons can be enjoyed for around $100. There are, of course, also plenty of other younger and less expensive wines to also choose from, including some great local California wines to enjoy when eating out in LA.