DINING BEAT ZAGAT'S L.A. STANDOUTS.Byline: Larry Lipson In the just-released 2002 Zagat Survey Zagat Survey (pronounced za-GAT)[1] was established by Tim and Nina Zagat in 1979 as a way to collect and correlate the ratings of restaurants by diners. For their first guide, covering New York City, the Zagats surveyed their friends. of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. and Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, restaurants, Cafe Bizou - now with locations in Pasadena and Santa Monica that are just as busy as the original in Sherman Oaks - retains its spot as No. 1 in popularity. However, Campanile campanile (kămpənē`lē, Ital. kämpänē`lā), Italian form of bell tower, constructed chiefly during the Middle Ages. , which was No. 2 last year, has fallen to third, swapping positions with 2001's third-place Spago in Beverly Hills, now the only Spago in town. Other interesting changes: L'Orangerie dropped to sixth in food rankings from the third spot last year, and Studio City's Asanebo went from 10th in 2001 to being unmentioned in 2002. Incidentally, this new Zagat guide ($11.95) does not contain Orange County listings because a separate survey book ($9.95) rating Orange County restaurants has been published for 2002. Zagat Survey guides can be purchased at most book stores or ordered by calling (888) 371-5440. PICNIC AREA: New in Encino at 16240 Ventura Blvd. is The Picnic Basket, specializing in new American food. The restaurant offers numerous appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches and pizzas as well as moderately priced entrees. Look for such dinner plates as a North Carolina-style chicken pot pie ($10.95), potato crusted halibut halibut: see flatfish. halibut Any of various flatfishes, especially the Atlantic and Pacific halibuts (genus Hippoglossus, family Pleuronectidae), both of which have eyes and colour on the right side. ($15.95), roasted whitefish whitefish: see salmon. whitefish Any of several silvery food fishes (family Salmonidae, or Coregonidae), inhabiting cold northern lakes of Europe, Asia, and North America. ($15.95), prosciutto-wrapped filet mignon ($21.95) and osso buco ($19.95). One of eight soups or a salad (house or Caesar) may be added to any entree for an extra $2.50. Corkage cork·age n. A charge exacted at a restaurant for every bottle of liquor served that was not bought on the premises. corkage Noun a charge made at a restaurant for serving wine bought elsewhere is $5. Information: (818) 379-2446. UN, DEUX, TROIS: French-accented, three-course, prix-fixe dinners are now available at California Canteen, 3311 Cahuenga Blvd. West, near Universal City, and Carafe, 8284 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. At the Canteen, its ``Paris bistrot fall menu'' is served from 4 to 7 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays with a $16 meal of onion soup gratinee or moules mariniere (mussels) as a first course, baked salmon or chicken breast Basquaise as an entree, and creme caramel or apple tarte tatin for dessert. Dinner salad may be added for $1. Reservations: (818) 765-3311 or (323) 876-1702. At Carafe, its latest European menu is served Sundays through Fridays all evening at $15 per person with a soup or salad starter, a choice of nine main courses (two beef, two pasta, one each of salmon, chicken, pork, rabbit and veal sausage plates) and three dessert options. Reservations: (323) 655-8880. |
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