Modern American restaurants in California
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A
Abode
The latest to enter the pantheon of respected gourmet restaurants in Santa Monica, Abode will indeed make you feel right at home. With chocolate booths, tangerine chairs and walnut tables, its design is as tastefully composed as its contemporary American cuisine. Only organic, sustainable and artesanal ingredients find their destiny in such dishes as arctic char with truffle berry guacamole and vegetarian eggplant chorizo.
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Hal's Bar & Grill
The name may evoke brass and wood, but Hal's dining room is an all-cool industrial loft brightened by revolving art from local artists who treat the place like an extended living room. The menu, sourced from farm-fresh ingredients, changes seasonally but always features superbly executed staples such as grilled chicken, Caesar salad and bread pudding with crème anglaise. Free jazz on Sunday and Monday.
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Beechwood
With its woodsy details, cubic furniture and toasty fire-pit patio, this place is a luscious port of call for Modern American bistro fare. Singles and small groups gravitate to the lively bar to graze on richly flavored pork ribs or sweet-potato fries, while couples retreat to the dimly lit dining room for grilled barramundi, roast quail or other seasonal delights.
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Ivy
In the heart of Robertson's fashion frenzy, the Ivy's picket-fenced porch and rustic cottage are the power lunch spot in town. Chances of catching A-lister babes nibbling on a carrot stick or studio execs discussing sequels over the lobster omelet are excellent - if you're willing to put up with self-conscious servers and steep prices.
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E
561 Restaurant
For a preview of what'll be cooking in tomorrow's kitchens, pop by this popular bistro run by Cordon Bleu–level students of the California School of Culinary Arts. Dishes are inspired (grilled ono with black thai coconut rice) and the service is impeccable. The adjacent café serves more informal fare.
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F
Blue Velvet
David Lynch would likely approve of Blue Velvet's magical views, sleek poolside lounge, edgy yet ecofriendly decor and especially ex-Patina chef Kris Morningstar's market-driven menu. Compelling dinner options include slow-poached ocean trout and venison loin with bacon-onion puree. Wicked unisex bathrooms.
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Saddle Peak Lodge
As rustic as a Colorado mountain lodge, this rural oasis tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains serves up elk, venison, buffalo and other game in a setting watched over by mounted versions of the same. This is fine dining, so don't come here after a day on the trail. Reservations are recommended.
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Oceanaire
[ourpick] Oceanaire The look is art-deco ocean liner and the service is just as refined, with an oyster bar (get them for a buck during happy hour, 5pm to 6pm Monday to Friday) and inventive creations, including Maryland blue crab cakes and horseradish-crusted Alaskan halibut.
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Mona Lisa
Aside from delicious, hearty meals, Mona Lisa also makes some of the best sandwiches in town and sells imported Italian specialty foods. Linger in front of the deli counter and you're certain to be offered a tissue-thin sample of sausage. I recommend the spicy sopressata.
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Vermont
This is a smart, grown-up spot with a dining room punctuated by pillars and palmetto palms. The American contemporary food is smart and satisfying and reminds you of the simple goodness of slow-cooked pork, seared halibut or braised duck. The bar is a lively meet-and-greet zone.
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Croce's Restaurant & Jazz Bar
Empty tables are a rare sight at this sizzling restaurant - a pioneer of the Gaslamp and Ingrid Croce's tribute to her late husband, singer Jim Croce. The contemporary American menu has few false notes, nor have the musicians who perform nightly at the jazz bar.
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Arcadia
Chef Michael Minna, San Francisco's biggest celebrity chef, opened this fine New American restaurant in the Marriott Hotel. It's not the daring, cutting-edge style Minna is known for, but it's slick, expensive and, of course, very good.
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Mendo Bistro
Choose a meat, a preparation, and an accompanying sauce from Mendo Bistro's crowd-pleasing, mix-and-match menu. The loud, bustling room is big enough that kids can run around and nobody will notice. Good crab cakes.
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Providence
Michael Cimarusti's gourmet creations will definitely take your tastebuds on a wild ride. Foie-gras parfait? Sea urchin with truffles? To truly sample the master's talents, sign up for the nine-course tasting menu.
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Krazy Coyote Saloon & Grill
The bar and grill at the Palms at Indian Head serves famous martinis and classics like chicken cordon bleu, alongside newer fare like sesame garlic pork tenderloin. The atmosphere is fun and the views terrific.
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Whistlestop Oasis
This unlikely gourmands' haven serves up scrumptious pork chops, sandwiches and more. There's just one cook in the kitchen, so go ahead - have an ice-cold beer and shoot some stick while you wait.
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