Restaurant Secrets of 90210 and Beyond

Chaya -- Anniversary Dinner

It's hugely popular for happy hour, and also a go-to for late-night dining. But Chaya always been more than just a cocktail and sushi spot. When it brings its A-game, there’s no better Asian fusion in Los Angeles. Zingi loves!
 

Guelaguetza -- Birthday Party with Kids

Not fancy. Totally noisy family dining hall-style, in fact. But if you haven’t had Oaxacan food, this popular Los Angeles mini-chain will explode onto your senses in a rainbow-colored jumble of moles (green, red, yellow, black! Chiles, tomatillos, cumin, epazote!) and peculiar fruit juices and Spanish-language soccer blaring at top volume. Zingi says eh papa e!

Restaurant at Sunset Marquis -- Celebrating the Promotion

The Sunset Marquis hotel is where the crème de la crème of the entertainment industry go when they want to relax, not be hounded by paparazzi, and enjoy perfect service. Just like every other aspect of the hotel, the restaurant is on point, sophisticated, not flashy but absolutely top-shelf. Whether you have a custom-designed five course meal with wine pairings in a private villa or a dinner salad and glass of house wine on the patio, you’ll get A+ treatment and a close encounter of the celebrity kind.

Fig -- Honeymoon Rendezvous

Tucked away in a breezy quiet corner space within the Santa Monica Fairmont, this restaurant maintains an impressive, occasionally innovative local-seasonal-organic menu. Fun surprises like “Seascape” strawberry salad and bacon-wrapped bacon pep up the classic offerings of charcuterie,  Pacific mussels, and heirloom veggies. Oh, and they do cheese flights. And have an entire cheese menu. And cheese-stuffed dates. And dessert cheese. WIN.
 
Foundry -- Graduation Party

Chef Eric Greenspan of the Foundry on Melrose is a gregarious, chuckly, down-to-earth chunk of a hunk known for innovative “market”-inspired California cuisine. Appearing regularly on the food festival circuit, he brings back a lot of culinary ideas from other countries back to his popular Westside restaurant. In October the Foundry will welcome several guest chefs Greenspan met during the Puerto Rico Food & Wine Festival. That should really shake up the menu—and the neighborhood--Latin-style.