Where the Stars Dine - Celebrities Favorite Restaurants

Where the Stars Dine - Celebrities Favorite Restaurants

WHERE CELEBRITIES DINE
By Andrew Bender
For dineLA.com

Border Grill
LA’s celebrities have to eat, too. And you better believe that they’re going to some of LA’s most impressive restaurants, which doesn’t make them that much different from foodies who follow the careers of world-renowned chefs. Sometimes, the best place to see celebrities isn’t on the big screen — it’s at one of LA’s happening restaurants.

If you think you’re likely to see stars at Hollywood haunts, you’re right. Take Ritual, which opened in June 2007. Its diverse celebrity clientele already includes William Baldwin, Adrian Grenier, Ryan Philippe, Reba McEntire and Al Gore. Chef Andrew Pastore’s Chef Andy Cut Roll literally sparkles with crab, two varieties of tuna, fried onion, asparagus and caviar, topped with flakes of gold leaf.

A few miles away, Luna Park is a celebrity fixture, not least because the reality show The Hills has shot here. Dane Cook, Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls and Taye Diggs have been spotted enjoying chef Todd Butler’s fresh takes on comfort food, like pizza with Moroccan-spiced meatballs, and make-your-own s’mores. Christina Aguilera indulged in Luna Park’s oven-baked mac & cheese while she was pregnant.

The Hills has also shot at Boulevard in West Hollywood. Former Goo Goo Dolls keyboard player Dave Schulz headlines the Sunday Pop School evening here, where rockers including Pink have performed in this intimate venue. Otherwise, the guest list reads like a who’s who of Saturday Night Live, including Horatio Sanz, Rob Schneider and Dan Aykroyd (who, along with Billy Dee Williams, is a fan of Chef Michael Bourseau’s dry-rubbed baby-back ribs).

Downtown LA has blossomed into a hive of hip, thanks to a growing art scene, sports arenas, nightclubs and event spaces like the NOKIA Theatre at L.A. LIVE. You’ll find stars sushi-ing at the underground-cool R-23. George Clooney is a regular, and TR Knight, Katherine Heigl, Andy Garcia and Laurence Fishburne have all been spotted feasting on fish served on wood-fired, hand-painted (and very expensive) ceramic platters. Even the chairs are boffo, designed by the “rock star” of LA architects, Frank Gehry.

Across Downtown, Ciudad is a favorite for its pan-Latino menu, and stars including Kiefer Sutherland, Kyra Sedgwick and Placido Domingo. Its chefs, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, TV’s Too Hot Tamales, are famous in their own right.

Ciudad’s sister restaurant is Border Grill in Santa Monica, with celebrity fans including Sedgwick, Teri Hatcher, Bob Saget, Geena Davis, Meg Ryan and Michael Keaton. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and playwright David Mamet are regulars at Santa Monica’s Violet; Virginia Madsen, Dianne Wiest and skateboard legend Stacy Peralta have also dined here.

In Studio City, is La Loggia, a longstanding, low-key Italian hangout for movers and shakers. Andy Garcia and cast members of Scrubs have been spotted here, including Sarah Chalke and Zach Braff.

Even once-sleepy Culver City, home of Sony studios, has recently developed a restaurant scene worthy of the local talent. The newest-comer is Fraîche, which offers highlights like smoked eel with arugula and a DJ playing lounge beats on weekends. Visitors have included Ewan McGregor, Fergie, Robert Downey, Jr., Billy Crystal and directors Brian de Palma and Richard Linklater.

And if you should spot a star, remember the cardinal rule of Angelenos and celebrities: be cool. Let them enjoy their meals as you’d like to enjoy yours.

Full Article at DineLA.com



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