My folks are making their first-ever trip to LA in mid-May. For their birthday present, I want to send them to one of the best restaurants in LA -- preferably in the Hollywood/Beverly Hills area. Since they'll likely be doing touristy stuff during the day, I'd rather not send them to a fancy place where fine dress is required (i.e. suit/jacket for men). Looking for phenomenal FOOD primarily -- a good wine list isn't necessary at all.

Can anyone toss me a few recommendations? I'm not familiar with the LA scene at all. Is Spago worth the time?

TIA.

Get the April 30, 2003 edition of WS....It covers the best places to eat in LA.

One word for you...Patina.

It starts and ends there, IMO.

jb

JB, someone at work raved about Patina as well -- thanks for the feedback.

Patina, Patina, Patina. Heed the call!

patina, valentino, michaels & lucques. all top notch.

Patina, Valentino's,Spago and L'Orangerie are all excellent.

If they like seafood, Crustacean is incredible, in Beverly Hills. Awesome atmosphere, the floor is clear, and there are fish underneath, really cool. No jeans there, Dressy/casual. Best Mai Tai I ever had, too.
Spago in Beverly Hills is an experience, but has an attitude, my least favorite for food, but a place you almost need to go to once.
Turley Zin by the glass... I think its much better for lunch.

You have to dress up to eat at Crustacean? Man, the two in San Francisco serve the most wonderfully messy eats anywhere. You gotta have the baked whole crab; it is definitely finger food drenched in butter and garlic.

Interesting web site/review of LA one:

CRUSTACEAN


When in SF go to the fancy on on Nob Hill or go to the original joint out in the Sunset called Thanh Long

I second davidn's recommendation for the restaurant in Polk Gulch.

Patina, yes. But I actually thought that Alex was better.

Not only will I be sending my folks to Patina, but my S.O. and I decided this week to spend our Memorial Day weekend in LA. I was able to reserve the Chef's Kitchen Table at Patina that Saturday -- pricey at $125/person but a small price to pay given the old college friends that will be joining us. Thanks for everyone's feedback!

Have a great time, kimber. The service at Patina is the best I have had anywhere.

jb

Kimber, if you have a spare night and you want your parents to 'experience' West Hollywood, Asia de Cuba is certainly interesting. Asian/Latin fusion in Hollywood style in the Hotel Mondrian.
Asia de Cuba
This is a love it or hate it kind of place for ambiance, but the food is excellent and eclectic. Food is served Family Style so you can all order seperate and pass the plates... The wine list is as eclectic as the menue, try the '01 Brewer-Clifton Rozak Ranch pinot ($90), you'll need a second bottle....
Reservations required.
Upscale casual dress.

I have disliked the Asia de Cubas in San Francisco and New York. How does the LA one compare to the other Asia de Cubas? Did it go for the NY look or did it adopt a specific LA interior?

Valentino's is high on my list of LA restaurants (wine list is awesome but some wines are egregiously priced. Sine Qua Non Tant Pis was $1800 when Masa's wanted $450 (Masa's does not have their bottle anymore)).

The interior is extreme minimalist to me. Chairs welcome those who wait, but their plain, boxy, and draped with a sheet like furniture in an old mansion in storage. The bar area is one long high table, probably 50 ft long and 4 foot wide, open to customers on both sides. Candlelight is provided everywhere by 3 oz sized oil lamps in plain, clear glass, almost to excess. Elsewheres an odd creamed orange light emits from ceilings in the entrance and bar area. Quite amount of windowspace is present looking onto the outside dining area. Just about everything else is white, walls, flowing table cloths, flowing drapes, wait staff outfits, and waitstaff (pale blond, anorexic, Hollywood types, most with attitudes, ours was very pleasant though), etc, but occasionally some lovely stained wood interrupts (the bathroom doors). The patio area, where we ate, features a double row of 20 or so potted trees, with the 'pots' being a traditional terra cotta pot, 6 feet high, kinda interesting. The clincher here is a beautiful elevated view through glass wall of Los Angeles, why I always liked to stay in this area a decade ago.

Don't forget that Patina doesn't charge any corkage fee at any of their great resturants in LA.

and see my post for "josie". no corkage on mondays for the months(s) of may & june.

Patina does charge corkage. It's just the Pinot restaurants that are corkage free I believe.

jb