Best of Bars and Clubs

LA Weekly's Best Of: Bars & Clubs Arts & EntertainmentBars & ClubsFood & DrinkShopping & ServicesSports & Recreation http://www.laweekly.com/bestof/2012/section/bars-and-clubs-347991/

Best Restaurants in LA # 9 Gladstones

In a world where landmarks are few and far between there is Gladstones. Situated where Sunset Boulevard meets the Pacific Coast Highway, it's become a place of Southern California legend. Gladstones offers a menu plucked from the very ocean it overlooks, serving modern renditions of classic dishes. In its typically relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, there's something to satisfy every palate. Whether you're at the raw bar, the lounge, the dining rooms or the grand patio over-looking the surf, it's commonly agreed there's no better place, either up the coast or down, to enjoy fresh seafood, a Mai Tai or a sunset.

Best Restaurants in LA # 8 Casablanca

A deep love for Hollywood movies and Mexican food inspired Carlos Haro, Sr. to open Casablanca Restaurant in 1980. Casablanca Restaurant became a one-of-a-kind themed restaurant combining fine Mexican cuisine with the 1943 Academy Award winning movie, Casablanca, featuring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Casablanca is known for its homemade flour tortillas, its delicious calamari steak and one of the largest and most exquisite selections of tequilas in California. Over 30 years ago, Casablanca introduced a new type of Mexican cuisine to the Venice community. Casablanca Restaurant is renowned for its world famous flour tortillas. With over 250 Tequilas Casablanca is a themed restaurant named for the movie Casablanca and has one of the largest collections of CASABLANCA memorabilia in the world. Don’t forget to see the life size statute of Humphrey Bogart.

Best Restaurants in LA # 7 Pap Cristo's Greek Restaurant, Market, Catering, and Bakery

Since 1948: For more than 60 years, C & K Importing Company has been serving the Greek community on the same corner at 2771 West Pico Boulevard. Sam Chrys opened the market in 1948 with intentions to bring the foods and wines of Greece to Los Angeles. He did so by importing all products from Greece while still maintaining a low price to his valued customers and friends. C & K Importing Company grew into a market where all ethnicities come to visit and always enjoy the purity of the product assortment. In 1968 Chrys Chrys purchased the business from his father to carry on the legacy. Chrys Chrys had an idea to open a Greek restaurant. He traveled to the many regions and islands of Greece to understand the flavors and tastes in authentic Greek cooking. He wanted to bring this authenticity back to his restaurant. In the early 1990’s, Papa Cristo’s Taverna was established. Only meats, seasonings, cheeses, olive oils, and other culturally true ingredients that are also found in C & K Importing are used to prepare the dishes offered at Papa Cristo’s Taverna. C & K Importing Company and Papa Cristo’s Taverna are known as Athens in L.A. Our reputation has grown past California and to as far as Greece itself. Chrys Chrys takes pride in providing his customers and friends with the best tasting foods, best service, and best price – just like his father.

Best Restaurants in LA # 6 Inn of the Seventh Ray

Most foods and grains are organically grown with as many as possible from local farms. Some people say it’s L.A.’s most romantic restaurant and you may become engaged, even married here and celebrate your 50th. Forewarned is forearmed and you are now on your own recognizance.....but first a bit of history Originally, the Inn’s location was rumored to have been Aimee Semple McPherson’s private mountain retreat in the 1930’s, later becoming the site for Topanga’s first church, a Four Square Gospel church. It was later sold, to become a garage, gas station and auto junk yard, an eyesore to the crossroads of Topanga. The property was discovered by the present owners and restored to it’s natural beauty, Over the passing years the restaurant has become known as one of the places to go.

Best Restaurants in LA # 5 Billingsley's Steak House

A Little History… Glenn Billinsgley Sr. Opened the West Los Angeles location about 1946 as Billingsley’s Golden Bull. At one time Glenn Sr. had seven Golden Bulls, Three Outrigger Polynesian restaurants and the catering service to Continental Airlines. Glenn Jr. and Drew Billingsley worked at their father’s restaurants most of their teenage years as busboys, pantry help, and cooks. As time went on they managed restaurants for their father. In 1969 Glenn Jr. and Drew opened their first location in Van Nuys, Billingsley’s Restaurants, and in 1974 bought the West Los Angeles location from Glenn Sr., who was mostly retired by then. Glenn and Drew have operated these locations with good value, quality and service at the top of the list. Glenn and Drew’s mother is Barbara Billingsley who played June Cleaver on the hit TV Show “Leave it to Beaver.” She now resides in Santa Monica.Glenn and Drew’s great uncle, Sherman Billingsley, operated a very famous nightclub in New York called “The Stork Club.”

Best Resturants in LA # 4 Miceli's Italian Restaurant

Miceli's was established in 1949 Using family recipes brought from Sicily via Old Chicago is home to singing waiters and waitresses. An evening at Miceli's is more than a night out, it is a celebration of life!