Amazing Restaurant Ideas for Wedding Gift Certificate

[ALinLA]

Hi All, I'd like to get a gift certificate as a wedding gift for a newly married couple and am looking for the most special restaurant I can come up with in the Greater LA area. My husband and I were given a gift certificate to Saddle Peak Lodge for our wedding and loved it, however this couple might not be so thrilled by the animal heads on the walls. Any other ideas?
Thanks!

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Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302

[lrhr]

Is this couple taking a honeymoon? (Not everyone can take the time/expense of a honeymoon or maybe they have a location in mind that needs to be a certain time of year different than the wedding and are waiting a while.) If not, then perhaps one of the previously recommended restaurants that are located in a hotel would be the ticket...especially if you know someone else who is looking around for a gift idea for them...they could get them a room right upstairs.

[ALinLA]

Thanks, that's a great idea, but they're actually on their honeymoon right now.

As a side note, this couple is very much a "hollywood" couple who've been everywhere and are frequently wined and dined. My feeling is that they would likely be impressed by something unique that's outside of the hotel restaurant category. To me, Saddle Peak Lodge would have been perfect had I not had a concern about the animal head decor.

Thanks again and any additional ideas are appreciated!

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Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302

[Servorg]

How about Animal? My favorite restaurant in LA Have you looked at Playa? While I haven't been (trying my level best to stay out of trouble here by mentioning a place I've not personally been to) it looks and sounds great.

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Animal
435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Playa
7360 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[ALinLA]

Hmm. Animal's an interesting idea. Thanks. I need to think on that though. I haven't been there yet, but not sure it's going to feel special enough. As for Playa, I went recently for my wedding anniversary. Sorry to say, not impressed. Also, though it was a Sunday night, service was lousy.

[Servorg]

Did you (will you) post your Playa review? I would love to read it.

[ALinLA]

Sure. Haven't reviewed it, but will try to do so soon!

[Servorg]

If I was getting a generous gift like that right now I think I would be most excited if it had the name, Villetta on the front. I want to try it more than any other place on the west side of LA right now, and with their patio and the weather it couldn't be a nicer time to go.

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Villetta
246 26th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402

[maudies5]

I would hesitate to recommend I had not yet tried.

[Phurstluv]

maudies5, when are we going to meet for lunch there?? ; ) I think we should try them the week of 7/11, when my boys are in boy scouts camp!!

[Servorg]

I'm recommending that if someone wants to give me GC it should be to Villetta... ;-D>

[Phurstluv]

Yes, well, we need to know your birthday or some other date of significance in order to gift you, my friend!!! Or maybe we just all need to meet there together!!

[Servorg]

I'm a firm believer in giving (and getting) gifts out of the blue, for no particular reason. That way they really are a total "surprise"... ;-D>

[Phurstluv]

LOL, so we have to run you down on one of your twilight bike rides, huh?! ;p))

[J.L.]

A gift certificate for Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills. Why? there are 2 great restaurants there: Bouchon by Thomas Keller and Scarpetta (Scott Conant's Italian restaurant).

I'd suggest first to call Montage to ask if these 2 restaurants will honor Montage gift certificates. If so, that's what I would get.

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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[Phurstluv]

Have not been to Scarpetta yet, but Bouchon was so, well, not Thomas Keller, rather pedestrian bistro food. Nice room, maybe nicer for brunch?

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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[J.L.]

That's why I like Montage: Flexibility. If someone doesn't like Bouchon, then they can try Scarpetta!

Scarpetta's brunch is quite amazing. I just tried brunch there the first time 2 weekends ago, and it's definitely worth the $. Kevin of kevineats.com did a nice writeup of it a few weeks back...

http://www.kevineats.com/2011/04/scar...

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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[js76wisco]

Agreed. The Sunday brunch at Scarpetta was fantastic. The pastries, the desserts, the famous spaghetti, raw bar and cheese from Cheese Store of Beverly Hills. That is pretty much all you need. It's quite expensive since all drinks other than OJ are not included in the $68 price tag. The bombolini with vanilla bean custard was one of the best fried things I've ever put in my mouth. After consuming 4 plates of food and an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 calories I actually went back for a second bombolini.

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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[goodhealthgourmet]

wowsa. Scarpetta is currently my favorite dinner spot, but i haven't had brunch there yet. even with my Celiac limitations i could easily get my money's worth out of that spread...looks like i've found my next special occasion brunch!

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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[Phurstluv]

me too, ghg!! Can't wait to try it!

[Phurstluv]

What type of cuisine do they like, and how much do you want to spend?

[ALinLA]

Any type of cuisine is up for consideration. It's just an extra special atmosphere that's really important. We'd like to spend $200-250, which is not to say that they couldn't add to that if the place we send them to is pricier.

[Phurstluv]

Basing these recs on the parameter "extra special atmosphere" :

The Royce , Pasadena
Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Melisse, Santa Monica
Studio at the Montage, Laguna Niguel
Providence, mid city (mainly seafood, but the best in the city)
Hampton's at the Four Seasons - Westlake Village

Hope that is helpful.

[ALinLA]

Thank you for the suggestions!