551013 Fri Aug 22 04:29:03 -0700 2008 22 2 Los Angeles Area 0 3977533 Can someone recommend a place that is unique to LA that has great food? Was thinking it would be great to be "California" style cuisine but we are open to other types of food if it is a great place. Fri Aug 22 04:29:09 -0700 2008 220498 liwinebride 1 3977565 If I had one night in Los Angeles for a special dinner I would go to one of the following places: Bastide Providence (seafood) Saddle Peak Lodge (game is their specialty, it's out of the city, but IMO the best restaurant in socal) Fri Aug 22 05:03:44 -0700 2008 3977533 13235 lotta_cox 2 3979664 The Restaurant at The Getty ,or The snack bar at The Griffith Park Observatory Fri Aug 22 17:49:30 -0700 2008 3977565 13137 jackattack 1 3977677 Saddle Peak is very unique and good! Fri Aug 22 06:09:24 -0700 2008 3977533 11279 Burger Boy 1 3977759 If you are interested in experiencing some of the finest California cuisine in the State, and want a great food experience to boot, then the answer is Spago for a Tasting Menu. Take a look at this recent review (with photos) by Exilekiss to get an idea of what Spago "brings to the table." http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/545317 Fri Aug 22 06:36:19 -0700 2008 3977533 108169 Servorg 1 3978393 LUCQUES Fri Aug 22 10:01:41 -0700 2008 3977533 12984 love2eat 2 3983459 Second Lucques. Sun Aug 24 18:00:25 -0700 2008 3978393 11379 Suebee 1 3978588 I would agree with Spago or Lucques. And actually, before Servorg said Spago I was only thinking Lucques. But it's tough to argue with Spago in terms of quintessentially Califronia in LA. But it's tough to argue with Lucques for same, in what is to me a better vibe and not so many Beverly Hills peeps and not so many tourists ... dunno, just a different scene (Lucques) which I prefer and great simple brilliantly executed soulful food. Fri Aug 22 11:04:18 -0700 2008 3977533 151099 la tache burger 1 3978755 Go to Campanile. Quintessential California cuisine. This is where the chef from Lucques got her training. You won't be sorry Fri Aug 22 11:57:38 -0700 2008 3977533 218754 hdalsy 2 3978824 Yeah, exactly, but I think Lucques has surpassed Campanile in quintessentialness and quality. Fri Aug 22 12:15:42 -0700 2008 3978755 151099 la tache burger 3 3979531 quintessentialnessosity? Fri Aug 22 16:39:03 -0700 2008 3978824 13235 lotta_cox 4 3981953 i think it's quintessentialosityness Sat Aug 23 23:25:44 -0700 2008 3979531 151099 la tache burger 1 3979624 Spago, Lucques, Campanile, and AOC are good choices. Fri Aug 22 17:25:38 -0700 2008 3977533 10099 JudiAU 2 3981901 i don't think of AOC as 'unique to LA.' Sat Aug 23 22:40:38 -0700 2008 3979624 11935 westsidegal 1 3979909 SPAGO continues to be one of the best restaurants in America. Fri Aug 22 19:54:21 -0700 2008 3977533 13463 OC Mutt 1 3982018 Alice Waters and Chez Panisse may have originated Californian cuisine, but Puck and Spago definitely popularized it. As stated before, definitely do the Tasting Menu though. See: http://www.kevineats.com/2007/04/spago-beverly-hills-ca.htm Sun Aug 24 01:37:11 -0700 2008 3977533 54503 kevin h 2 3982081 Actually Puck really got his start towards what he would become with his Spago empire and his development of California cuisine by joining the legendary Ma Maison and Patrick Terrail on Melrose back in 1975 / 76. Sun Aug 24 05:12:11 -0700 2008 3982018 108169 Servorg 3 3982754 Yes, do you remember the chic tent Ma Maison was located in? Sun Aug 24 11:31:09 -0700 2008 3982081 153275 Waverly SGV 1 3983010 I'd go with Spago. Sun Aug 24 14:16:38 -0700 2008 3977533 42095 yogachik 1 3983571 I would have said Bastide but not so sure now since Manzke left. Personally, I would consider Fraiche. NYT did a great writeup of Fraiche, so NY'ers prob heard of it. NYC does better versions of Providence-like places, I would skip that ilk. I would also support Lucques as a choice. Spago is not what it used to be - sit at the bar, have a slice of their famous smoked salmon pizza, and go somewhere else for mains. Sun Aug 24 18:54:51 -0700 2008 3977533 68093 wasabica 1 3983578 Forgot to mention Catch in SM - great crudo + phenomenal view of the ocean. Can't find anythign quite like that in NYC Sun Aug 24 18:56:32 -0700 2008 3977533 68093 wasabica 1 3983923 Anyone been to Geoffry's latey? I haven't in ages, but it's pretty unique to California. Sun Aug 24 22:32:04 -0700 2008 3977533 101192 bosanova99 2 3984020 A foodie friend was there about a month ago and reported that it was nice...just nice and very, very pricey. You're definitely paying for location! Mon Aug 25 01:07:03 -0700 2008 3983923 16640 compucook