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Beef and Spinach Empanadas @ Carlitos Gardel
7963 Melrose Ave. Mid-City, CA
Loyal fans of Carlitos Gardel would prefer we keep this neighborhood gem a secret. Since 1987, meat lovers and Argentinean expats have filled the Melrose spot for steaks, great wines and fabulous service. Steaks are prime organic Oregon beef, perfectly charred and served best medium rare. Wash it down with a hearty malbec while you wonder how you've missed this great find for so long.
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Grilled Octopus @ Sushi Ike
6051 Hollywood Blvd. (at Gower) Hollywood, CA
Hidden in a dingy Hollywood strip mall, there's no scene at Sushi Ike, just a small, unadorned sushi bar filled with regulars devoted to owner Hiroshi Ikeda's use of pristine fish and simple preparations. Ike-san isn't one for squirt bottles or over-stuffed rolls. You go here for no-frills nigiri, sashimi and specialties like the must-have grilled octopus with its lemony flesh and charred tentacles.
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Grilled Rib Eye @ Campanile Restaurant
624 S La Brea Ave Los Angeles, CA
Since 1989 Mark Peel and Nancy Silverton's Campanile has served simple, straightforward Mediterranean fare in a castle-like building once owned by Charlie Chaplin. Through the years, Campanile has eschewed architectural and deconstructed food for simple and straightforward dishes like the flawless grilled rib-eye with black olive tapenade and stewed flageolet beans ($38).
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Côte de boeuf @ Melisse Restaurant
1104 Wilshire Boulevard Santa Monica, CA
The city is rife with everyday restaurants, so it's nice to know there are still places like Mélisse for special occasions. After 10 years--and with a new, more contemporary look--the Santa Monica mainstay is as elegant as ever. Chef Josiah Citrin works closely with local farmers, shifting his menu according to what’s in season, but French technique is always paramount.
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Gnocchetti @ Angeli Caffe
7274 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA
You can throw a wet noodle in any direction in L.A. and hit an Italian restaurant. But that wasn't the case in December 1984, when chef Evan Kleiman opened Angeli Caffe. A quarter century later and she’s still at it, serving up her own take on classic Italian, like Angeli’s famous gnocchetti.
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Filet Mignon @ Chez Jay Restaurant
1657 Ocean Avenue Santa Monica, CA
Most people go to Chez Jay for stiff drinks and a basket of roasted peanuts. But what many don't know is that this well-worn Santa Monica watering hole has been serving top-notch steaks and seafood since it opened in 1959. The steaks are juicy and grilled to perfection, whether the filet mignon with a side of respectable béarnaise ($28) or the New York strip that was marinated in olive oil and garlic ($23).
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Dover Sole @ Vincenti
11930 San Vicente Blvd. Brentwood
With so many Italian restaurants on Brentwood's San Vicente Boulevard, it takes something special to stand out. At Vincenti Ristorante, it's the warm charm of owner Maureen Vincenti and the talents of chef Nicola Mastronardi. Mastronardi utilizes the kitchen’s wood-burning oven and rotisserie in his smoke-scented trattoria classics.
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Catalina swordfish @ Napa Valley Grille
1100 Glendon Avenue Los Angeles, CA
Whether it's for happy hour in the bar or long lunches on the patio, this sprawling restaurant still fills up on a daily basis. It might look and feel like a corporate giant, yet the seasonal menu from chef Joseph Guillard feels as intimate as one from a corner bistro. Guillard doesn’t boast about his ingredients on the menu, but the produce is sourced from area favorites like Weiser Family Farms and Country Fresh Herbs.
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Carmelized Pork Chop @ Jiraffe Restaurant
502 Santa Monica Boulevard Santa Monica, CA
JiRaffe is still everything a bistro should be: Elegant but casual, with a strong focus fresh, seasonal ingredients. Located just blocks from the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, you can trust what they’re sourcing is local too. With a nod to French tradition, JiRaffe serves up dishes with a distinctly Californian flair.
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Seasonal Seafood @ Providence Restaurant
5955 Melrose Ave LA, CA
Do not to overlook or underestimate this Melrose restaurant. Michael Cimarusti and his team consistently turn out some of the most unique seafood-focused dishes in town; plus, service is superb, and the wine and cocktail list is stellar. You'll always find seafood enhanced with seasonal, local accoutrements, but the tasting menus ($110 for nine courses, or $165 for 14) really show what the kitchen can do.
