After making a reservation and dining at a restaurant, Los Angeles Restaurants.com sends an electronic feedback form to all diners. These feedback forms are then counted as votes towards the best Los Angeles Restaurants in the following categories: Overall dining experience, Service, Food, Ambiance, Wine List and Value for your money.
Adelmo Zarif’s restaurant has occupied a dazzling Art Deco space in downtown’s historic core since moving from West Hollywood in May 1997. Cicada fills the bottom two stories of the Oviatt Building, featuring towering mahogany pillars, plenty of gold, and pristine white tablecloths. Cicada is a fine-dining establishment that’s especially popular for birthdays, weddings and the occasional marriage proposal. Tokyo native Suzay Cha prepares northern Italian cuisine with Asian accents. The menu changes twice a year, but typically includes Ahi Tuna Tartar with Avocado, Piquillo Peppers and Wasabi Caviar and Pappardelle with Filet Mignon Bolognese Sauce.
Set in a landmark 1914 building on the eastern edge of the Hollywood Hills, Yamashiro is renowned for its views over Los Angeles. But while the vistas are stunning, the spectacular CalAsian cuisine should not be overlooked. The menu is vast, encompassing sushi, sashimi, sushi rolls, soups, salads, steaks, fish, and more – but whether you’re here for drinks at the bar, to dine in the sophisticated dining room, or in the beautiful interior courtyard, you won’t be disappointed. You might leave with your wallet noticeably lighter, but it'll be worth every cent.
One step inside from the bustle of Melrose takes you into Dolce, a trendy Italian restaurant with a cozy dark decor and some fantastic people watching. Known for its ambiance, tasty Italian classics, and hip crowd, Dolce is perfect for a romantic date, or a pre-club meal. From the traditional Pesto Gnocchi and Osso Bucco to the more fusion-based Tuna Tartare and Mango Bruschetta, Dolce's menu caters to all tastes and appetites. Drink options include a full wine list, including selections by the glass, as well as a large selection of cocktails. It is certain that Dolce's decor and ambiance are the restaurant's main appeal, but the menu is laced with undeniable treasures.
Melograno is centrally located on Hollywood Boulevard, a few blocks west of Vine; although the area is not synonymous with fine dining, the cuisine here is worth an excursion. Owned by chef Alberto Lazzarino and his sommelier/business partner, Giuseppe Cossu, Melograno is focused specifically on Northern Italian cuisine from the Piedmont region. This means rich, authentic dishes such as house-made agnolotti with black truffles and carnaroli rice risotto with wild mushrooms. Lazzarino and Cossu bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from their respective disciplines and by joining forces, provide Los Angeles with an original and adventurous spin on Italian dining.
As you ascend the marble steps and enter L’Opera between two massive columns, it is as if you are stepping off a great Florentine piazza into a historic monument. Once inside, the dining room appears surprisingly modern, and it is this mix of antiquity and modernity that gives L’Opera its elegance. Serving Northern Italian cuisine in a refined setting, L’Opera offers a stunning dining experience, with warm and friendly service, a comfortably elegant ambiance, and exquisite cuisine.
Lonnie Moore and Mike Malin have become L.A. tastemakers thanks to their Dolce Group, which derives its name from their initial enoteca. The duo debuted Ketchup on the Sunset Strip in April 2007 and quickly attracted scenesters and celebrities, who flocked to the sleek red and white restaurant for spectacular views of the Hollywood Hills. Moore and Malin worked with Chef Chris Tunnell to create a gourmet menu of childhood favorites, including Kobe beef hot dogs and macaroni and cheese with white truffle and Dungeness crab. The theme even extends to cocktails that incorporate Yoo-Hoo and Kool-Aid.
Spark Woodfire Grill serves all the great food you’d want in a fine steak restaurant, in a chic, laid back atmosphere. With partner locations in Studio City and Huntington Beach, Spark is known for its open-hearth wood fire oven, mesquite grill, and steak broiler. The menu features fine steaks, but also offers home-cooking favorites you might not expect. Hamburgers, baby back ribs, lasagna, and a selection of wood fired pizzas offer a range of dinner options. Located in West Los Angeles near Beverly Hills, Spark has a full bar with a great happy hour and extensive facilities for private parties and events.
Building on the success of Dolce, Lonnie Moore, Mike Malin and Shereen Arazm opened their sprawling Japanese restaurant in November 2003, helping to bring Hollywood Boulevard into the 21st Century while honoring Japan’s past. Geisha House pays tribute to tradition with fully costumed “geishas” who walk the dining room. The restaurant is especially popular with twenty-somethings, who grab dinner before hitting neighborhood bars and clubs. Chef Paulo Soares delivers delicate but flavorful dishes incorporating premium ingredients like Kobe beef, while Sushi Chef Genichi Mizoguchi presides over an innovative sushi bar. To drink, expect a sake list representative of Japan’s diverse prefectures.
Near the Playhouse, in one of the quaintest districts in Pasadena, a rare jewel sparkles in the Crown City—Maison Akira. Step off the bustling Green Street into the foyer door and find yourself halfway around the world in an elegant restaurant just off Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence, France. Though distinctly French, a peaceful Zen-like esthetic pervades the atmosphere. That is because Maison Akira is home of the world-renowned chef Hirose Akira. His menu is like a symphony of truly beautiful French classics, made modern and dazzling with subtle Japanese influences, like his signature Miso-infused Chilean Sea Bass, which has made him famous throughout the world.
Hollywood’s Bella Cucina Italiana is just steps from the city’s iconic “Walk of Fame” and an Oscar’s throw from glamorous Kodak Theatre. The restaurant draws a modern, hip, and eclectic crowd keen on casual cucina dining. The menu dishes up classic pasta favorites and sumptuous Southern Italian entrees. Bella Cucina Italiana is a member of Los Angeles’ Dolce Group. Balancing a hip lounge with cozy, unpretentious dining, Bella mixes it up with a modern take on the classic trattoria.