Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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236 S. Beverly Dr. (btw. Charleville Blvd. and Gregory Way), Beverly Hills. & 310/278-7666. Fax 310/278-
9699. w ww.fridarestaurant.com. Reser vations r ecommended. M ain c ourses dinner $10-$29, lunch
$7-$20. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 11am-10pm; Sun 4-9pm. Valet parking $7.
Il Pastaio NORTHERN ITALIAN This hugely successful, value-priced tratto-
ria is located on a busy corner in the shopping district of B everly Hills. All day long, I l
Pastaio's fans take a break from work or shopping and converse over glasses of chianti and
plates of oh-so-authentic pasta. You'll swoon over the arancini, breaded rice cones filled
with mozzarella cheese and peas, then fried crispy brown (highly addictive); the pumpkin
tortelloni in a light sage-and-cream sauce; the arrabbiata, a simple penne pasta dish in a
fantastic spicy tomato-and-garlic sauce; and for desser t, the panna cotta (the silkiest in
Southern California). There's almost always a wait—and not much room to wait in—but
by meal's end it always seems wor th it.
400 N. C anon Dr. (at Bright on Way), Beverly Hills. & 310/205-5444. www.giacominodrago.com. Main
courses dinner $16-$30, lunch $10-$27. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 11:30am-11pm; Sun 11:30am-10pm.
Kate Mantilini TRADITIONAL AMERICAN/BREAKFAST It's rare to find a
restaurant that feels comfor tably familiar y et cutting-edge tr endy at the same time—and
also happens to be one of L.A.'s few late-night eateries. Kate Mantilini fits the bill perfectly.
One of the first to bring meatloaf back into fashion, Kate 's offers a huge menu of upscale
truck-stop favorites such as “white” chili (made with chicken, white beans, and ack cheese);
grilled steaks, chicken, and fish; a fe w token pastas; and just about anything y ou might
crave. A t 2am, nothing quite beats a steaming bo wl of lentil-v egetable soup and some
garlic-cheese toast, unless your taste runs to fresh oysters, a candy bar-ice-cream pie, and a
dry martini—yep, Kate's has it all.The huge mural of the Hagler-Hearns boxing match that
dominates the stark, open interior provides the only clue to the namesake's identity: Man-
tilini was an early female bo xing promoter in the late 1940s.
9101 Wilshire Blvd. (at Doheny Dr.), Beverly Hills. & 310/278-3699. www.gardensonglendon.com. Res-
ervations accepted only for parties of 6 or mor e. Main courses $7-$16. AE, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11:30am-
midnight; Fri 11:30am-1am; Sat 11am-1am; Sun 10am-midnight. Validated valet parking.
6
Koi ASIAN FUSION Even after almost 10 y ears, this place still attracts H olly-
wood's A-list cr owd. I ncorporating feng shui elements, the minimalist ear then-hued
interior has a calming ambience that is a welcome relief from the hectic La Cienega scene
just outside the ornately car ved gates. The chef 's fusions of J apanese and Californian
cuisine account for the repeat clientele. As is the case for trendy restaurants like this, the
food is o verpriced, but wonder ful. Start with the r efreshing cucumber sunomono tower
flavored with sweet vinegar and edible flowers, followed by a baked crab roll with edible
rice paper (fantastic), the tuna tar tare and av ocado on crispy wontons, the y ellowtail
carpaccio delicately flavored with grape-seed oil, and black cod bronzed with miso that's
warm-butter soft and exploding with sw eet flavor. Tip: Request one of the horseshoe
booths on the back patio amid B uddha statues and candlelight.
730 N. La Cienega Blvd. (btw. Melrose Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd.), West Hollywood. & 310/659-9449.
www.koirestaurant.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses $13-$27. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun-
Thurs 6-10pm; Fri-Sat 6pm-midnight. Valet parking $7.
La Serenata Gourmet MEXICAN Westsiders rejoiced when this branch of
Boyle Heights's award-winning La Serenata de Girabaldi began serving its authentic, but
innovative, Mexican cuisine just a block away from the Westside Pavilion shopping cen-
ter. This place is casual, fun, and intensely delicious. Local fav
orites ar e the M exican
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