5 Plates of Los Angeles

A glimpse of fine dining in California’s most populous city

The City of Angels’ food culture is growing, no doubt in part because of the consistently fresh produce and top-quality ingredients that can be found in the state of California. The region of Los Angeles is vast, and many restaurant-goers find themselves traveling to all different parts of town to check out the hottest eateries.

In downtown LA, the arts district is the area to watch. While still gritty and rough around the edges, the area has seen a surge in great restaurants, cocktail bars, and lounges, such as Church & State, whose cocktail program and wine list are both outstanding.

Santa Monica continues to offer great hotel dining at restaurants like Shuttersand Casa del Mar, but newcomer aestus is offering something special: an intriguing seasonal menu crafted by executive chef Alex Ageneau and owner and sommelier Kevin O’Connor. Read on...