Would like some L.A. restaurant recommendations, looking for good/adventurous food + celeb hotspots!

[a_arazi]

I am visiting L.A. for the first time at the end of this month and I need some restaurant recommendations in the Hollywood, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Malibu areas....Preferably, great food and some celeb sitings if at all possible. I know it is hard to find both!

[RicRios]

Related older thread:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/678098

[yogachik]

Malibu is the most reliable for celeb sightings, and well discussed in those older threads above. But Tony Taverna's and Nobu and Tra di Noi are sure things.

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Nobu
11357 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Noi Restaurant
643 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA

[nachosaurus]

Taverna Tony also has great food.

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Taverna Tony
23410 Civic Center Way Ste B1, Malibu, CA 90265

[Emme]

In (west) Hollywood, head to the Ivy on Robertson. it gets mixed opinions here, but def celeb sightings and get the grilled veggie salad, crab cakes, and apple tarte tatin.

in Hollywood, try Mozza.

south of Hollywood in mid-Wilshire-ish, go to Animal.

in SaMo, head toward Venice and hit up Gjelina.

i know no one asked me, but in Malibu, I am not a fan of Taverna Tony. i've always had lackluster meals here. maybe i've ordered wrong, but it would not be a destination for me. always see stars in the Cross Creek shopping area... and i've seen stars at Malibu Seafood and Neptune's Net.

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Taverna Tony
23410 Civic Center Way Ste B1, Malibu, CA 90265

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA

[foodiemahoodie]

I agree with Emme about Taverna Tony. I don't get it. Standard Greek food.

As far as celebrities go - what kind of celebs? Classier celebs, like Robert DeNiro can be found at Melisse (he sits in the corner), or Paris Hilton (whom I saw at Boa on Sunset last month) or...?

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Taverna Tony
23410 Civic Center Way Ste B1, Malibu, CA 90265

[whatsfordinner]

I think lunch is a better bet. I love their roasted lamb sandwich at lunch. Also love the garlic/avocado puree that's served with warm fresh bread.

[westsidegal]

third emme's opinion about tony's taverna.
not bad, but not good either.