| L.A. has a lot to offer. The City of
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| | Tinseltown. In Beverly Hills, the
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| Angels is always on-the-go and seemingly
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| | hotspots cool off fast, but this place
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| driven by glitz and glamour. And if
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| | has held its see and be-seen for
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| you're willing to fight the traffic,
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| | what-seems-like eternity (Mr. Chows
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| you'll find some of the world's best
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| | opened in 1973). Your Chinese food is
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| restaurants, shopping and attractions -
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| | "all grown up" and fancy here - Chows
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| from studio tours to museums, from
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| | offers excellent dishes that will leave
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| beaches to piers.L.A. is the epitome of
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| | you wanting more (you must order the
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| big, bold and beautiful - and most of the
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| | green prawns marinated in a spinach
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| hobbies in this town hover around "the
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| | dressing and the grilled filet mignon).
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| scene". So, if you've had your share of
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| | Psst... the best nights for celebrity
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| the beach, head inland to tour the
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| | star-sightings are Wednesdays and
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| star-studded Sunset Boulevard or Melrose
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| | Thursdays. And you'll alwaysknow the
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| Avenue - and keep your eyes out! Since
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| | caliber of celebs inside by the number of
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| the restaurants and bars drive the social
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| | paparazzi reading their fortune cookies
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| hustle n' bustle, you'd better allow
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| | along the sidewalk. Mr. Chows is located
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| yourself that afternoon power-nap if you
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| | at 344 N. Camden Dr. (and Wilshire
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| want to keep up with the cool
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| | Boulevard).8. The Little Door: (La Brea
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| kids.Remember: the stars come out at
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| | Miracle Mile) Looking for a romantic
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| night - this is LA after all. This town
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| | hideaway amid the hustle and bustle of
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| seems to shimmer after sundown... you can
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| | L.A.? The Little Door
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| rock it out on the Sunset Strip or club
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| | (house-turned-restaurant) is your answer
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| it up in Hollywood. So, if you like your
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| | - just make sure you can find the place.
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| bars cool, your martinis dry, and your
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| | With indoor and outdoor seating, this
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| restaurants scrumptious, make sure you've
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| | little place doesn't advertise, nor does
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| got your wallet, your appetite and your
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| | it allow publicity - yes, it's that good!
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| energy for your night on the town
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| | After you make your way past the two
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| Hollywood style.Here's our insiders guide
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| | simple wooden doors, you'll find a
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| to some of the best restaurants and
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| | romantic courtyard with canopy seating, a
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| nightlife options. Know this: fights
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| | garden, twinkling candles, and an
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| broke out between our editorial staff
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| | impeccable menu. The Little Door can be
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| when somebody foolishly suggested we
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| | found at 8164 W. Third St. (Crescent
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| limit our journeyPod Picks in L.A. to
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| | Heights Blvd.).9. Sushi Nozawa: (Studio
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| only 10 Restaurants and 10 Bars. We had
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| | City) Yes, it's in a strip mall (located
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| so much fun tearing it up in Tinseltown
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| | at 11288 Ventura Blvd.). And, yes - the
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| that we had to go with 15 selections in
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| | lights are brighter than the mid
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| each category. Of course, another fight
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| | afternoon sun. But, take it from us, the
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| ensued when we tried to assign numbers to
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| | decor isn't what matters - the sushi is
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| all of these hotspots -- so cooler heads
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| | what's important. And what's a little
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| prevailed and we have since removed the
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| | abuse as you order (word on the street is
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| rankings.Be assured of one thing... all
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| | someone was once kicked out for
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| 30 of these places are ridiculously
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| | requesting California rolls!), as long as
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| fantabulous and require your own A-game.
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| | you get to eat some of the best sushi
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| Maybe even after a night on the town, you
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| | this side of Tokyo!10. Angelini Osteria:
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| too will understand why even people in
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| | (La Brea/Miracle Mile) Mama mia - now
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| the biz think "Entourage" seems so
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| | that's amore! From the paper-thin pizza
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| real...Restaurants1. Koi: (West
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| | to the garlic-infused lasagna, everything
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| Hollywood) If your goal is to spot
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| | here is scrumptious - though you may not
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| Hollywood's A-list of celebrities, make
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| | guess it at first, as you waltz your way
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| reservations at L.A.'s hottest
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| | into the unassuming, often congested
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| Asian-fusion restaurant where you go to
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| | dining room in one of L.A.'s most
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| see and be seen. Though service might be
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| | celebrated Italian restaurants. Not only
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| rushed sometimes, who really cares? The
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| | will you be greeted like family, you'll
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| food is just too damn good. A welcome
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| | be offered a menu filled with some
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| relief from the hectic Melrose scene, Koi
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| | serious selections - don't forget to pay
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| is a haven of feng-shui elements
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| | special attention to the desserts. You
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| (candles, water and open patios). Here's
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| | may even be privy to Justin Timberlake
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| a tip: request one of the horseshoe
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| | and his girl, Cameron, dining here (since
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| booths on the back patio. Located at 730
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| | this place tops their list). Located at
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| N. La Cienega Blvd (between Melrose Ave.
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| | 7313 Beverly Blvd. and Poinsettia Ave.11.
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| and Santa Monica Blvd.)..2. Morton's The
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| | Sushi Roku: (West Hollywood) The
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| Steakhouse: (West Hollywood) Legendary
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| | beautiful interior is as noticeable as
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| for its Oscar-night parties, star-struck
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| | the people who flock here - many
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| celebrity watchers can often see their
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| | Hollywood deals ensue over the innovative
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| favorite actors in culinary repose at
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| | and succulent sushi dishes. The "Cali
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| this Tinseltown power-elite restaurant.
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| | touch" is evident in every dish, and the
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| Do not, we repeat - do not confuse this
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| | sake/beer options are limitless. Don't
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| with the Arnie Morton's of Chicago
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| | even think about leaving without tasting
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| steakhouse chain. And, if you have enough
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| | the scallop dynamite, the espresso
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| room after you've chow'd down the hearty
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| | profiteroles and the "Roppongi" (a
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| dry-aged steak you came here for, order
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| | mouth-watering mixture of vodka and sake
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| the banana-walnut beignets with vanilla
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| | served with a ginger stick). And, don't
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| ice cream and caramel sauce or the warm
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| | bother arriving without a reservation.
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| melt-in-your-mouth chocolate espresso
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| | Located at 8445 W. 3rd St. (between N. La
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| cake. Morton's can be found at 8764
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| | Cienaga Blvd. and S. Croft Ave.).12.
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| Melrose Ave. (and Robertson Blvd.).3. The
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| | Matsuhisa: (Beverly Hills) If you love
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| Ivy: (West Hollywood) Dealmakers and
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| | your sushi and don't mind adventure -
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| dream-makers dine at this cottage with
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| | don't walk, run to this place. With
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| white picket fence (this is where most
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| | groundbreaking cuisine, Matsuhisa offers
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| celebrities go when they actually want to
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| | more than 100 dishes. If you let us do
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| get photographed by the always-lurking
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| | your ordering, we are going with the
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| paparazzi). While the shabby-chic
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| | unforgettable omakase tasting menu which
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| furnishings (think antique French
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| | begins with master chef Nobu Matsuhisa's
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| furniture that needs painting) may not be
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| | signature cold dishes and ends with a
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| all that inspiring, the traditional
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| | procession of cooked dishes like Kobe
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| American comfort-food is. Just make sure
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| | beef and black cod in miso. Though the
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| you taste the Caesar salad
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| | setting is modest, do not be fooled! The
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| (the-most-perfect one we've ever eaten)
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| | sushi here is as-good-as-it-gets.
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| before you let yourself be seduced by the
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| | Matsuhisa is located at 129 N. La Cienaga
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| decadent desserts. Look closely for the
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| | Blvd. (and Wilshire Blvd.).13. La Terza:
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| sign (it's hidden in the ivy) as you
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| | (Beverly Hills) Sophisticated - Italian -
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| stroll up to 113 N. Robertson Blvd. and
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| | Simplicity. Attached to the Orlando Hotel
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| Alden Dr.4. Dolce Enoteca: (West
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| | (formerly the Beverly Plaza), this
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| Hollywood) Talk about the quintessential
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| | multi-tiered, multi-faceted restaurant is
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| celeb-hot spot (Ashton Kutcher - and
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| | flawless, in its menu selections and
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| about half the cast of "That 70's Show" -
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| | design. Tuesdays are "Tavola Italiana"
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| owns it)! Hollywood heavy-hitters lounge
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| | night, when chef Nancy Silverton cooks up
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| in big booths and enjoy the sexy decor of
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| | a table of antipasto choices in the
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| black leather and marble. Nibble on
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| | middle of the restaurant. No reservations
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| Italian-style tapas -perfect for sharing.
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| | are taken here - so it's on a first-come,
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| Make sure you try the Risotto entrée
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| | first-serve basis (and definitely worth
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| with Gorgonzola, and save enough room for
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| | showing up for!) La Terza is located at
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| the sumptuously rich ricotta cheese
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| | 8384 W. Third St. (at Orlando).14.
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| custard for dessert. Located at 8184
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| | Massimo Ristorante and Bar: (Beverly
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| Melrose Ave. and Sweetzer Ave..5. Dan
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| | Hills) Feel like a taste of Tuscany?
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| Tana's: (West Hollywood) Who says LA
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| | Massimo, located just off Rodeo Drive in
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| doesn't have good Italian food? Walking
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| | the heart of Beverly Hills (9513 S. Santa
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| into this restaurant is like entering a
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| | Monica Blvd.) is graced with celebrities
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| time warp back to 1950's NYC. The old
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| | and entertainment folk who are
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| Hollywood atmosphere is matched only by
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| | deep-rooted fans of Chef Massimo Ormani's
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| the food (simply delicious and loaded
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| | authentic fare. Try the famous all-beef
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| with garlic). Hollywood moguls, actors,
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| | Bolognese dish. FYI: Massimo has most
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| screenwriters (and wannabes in all three
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| | recently been on NBC's show "Recipe T.V."
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| aforementioned categories) flock for
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| | featuring the world's greatest Chefs.15.
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| Spaghetti Carbonara and Shrimp Diavolo.
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| | A.O.C.: (La Brea/Miracle Mile) Perhaps
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| Since a reservation here is still one
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| | not the first tapas restaurant in the
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| ofthe hardest to get in town, be flexible
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| | city, but definitely the hottest! If
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| on timing (psst...eating late here is
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| | grazing is an art form to you, A.O.C. is
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| better anyway). Located at 9071 Santa
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| | the place to be... sleek, modern and
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| Monica Blvd. at Doheny Dr..6. Asia de
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| | chic, the gang here is pure Hollywood
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| Cuba: (West Hollywood) Feel like rubbing
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| | glam. Almost everyone here looks and
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| elbows with Hollywood's elite? Then head
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| | parties like a rock star regardless --
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| over to the place that has been doing
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| | and they all come for the extensive wine
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| Fusion since before "fusion" was even its
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| | list and the Mediterranean-influenced
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| own type of food category. Asia de Cuba
| |
| | small plates. The menu changes daily, but
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| is Sunset Strip's entry for Asian-Latino
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| | be assured that each dish is savored by
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| fusion, the menu choices range from big
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| | all. A.O.C. is located at 8022 W. 3rd St.
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| (to bigger) budget portions served
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| | (and Crescent is the only place you need
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| family-style (try the savory calamari
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| | to visit for information on the trendiest
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| salad and finger-lickin' good coconut
| |
| | bars and restaurants, the most luxurious
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| layer cake). You can choose to sit
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| | hotels, and the most exclusive parties
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| indoors or out - but keep in mind that
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| | and shops for discriminating travelers.
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| the outdoor patio offers spectacular
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| | Visit for the lowdown on where to go in
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| views and is one of the best in L.A. At
| |
| | Atlanta, New York, Miami, LA and other
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| night, Asia de Cuba is transformed into a
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| | major cities around the world, and
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| luxuriously sexy soiree. Located inside
| |
| | listing to our monthly travel podcast for
|
| the Mondrian at 8440 Sunset Blvd.7. Mr.
| |
| | the best in upscale travel and
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| Chows: Another place for elbow-rubbing in
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| | entertainment.
|