Turn Up the Heat

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills welcomes Espelette, a new, upscale lobby-level restaurant, formerly called Jean-Georges (as in chef Vongerichten). The restaurant’s name and menu are inspired by the French pepper, which adds mild heat and flavor to several house dishes, including the decadent scrambled eggs and caviar and the yellowtail carpaccio. Small and large plates draw on influences from across the Mediterranean. The salmon carpaccio dressed in ponzu sauce and Brussels sprouts and kale salad served with a yuzu-kosho vinaigrette are perfect starters. Entrées are hearty. Expect woodgrilled meats and seafood as well as classics like the smashed cheeseburger and roasted chicken.

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, 9850 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.860.6700, waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com

Good Eats

Founded in 2008 by doctor of integrative medicine Andrew Weil, True Food Kitchen embraces the principle that good-for-you wholesome food should enhance the flavor of a meal, not compromise it. Fifteen years later with 44 locations in 17 states, True Food Kitchen has claimed its stake as a wellness-focused, seasonally driven restaurant group that uses simple ingredients. Its newest SoCal location at Westfield Century City shopping center is now open and offers over 30 new menu items, including reimagined burgers and sandwiches, innovative pizzas, and mouthwatering desserts. The casual eatery features a full-service island bar that serves craft beer, globally sourced wine, and handcrafted signature cocktails made with organic spirits. Westfield Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 1400, Los Angeles, 310.736.4900, truefoodkitchen.com

Small Bites

Just steps from the ocean, the emeraldgreen Bar Monette is an intimate and notable restaurant in downtown Santa Monica that is the creative vision of up-and-coming Toronto chef Sean MacDonald. It’s a tapas and pizza bar so don’t expect large plates, but you won’t leave hungry. The menu is a selection of European-influenced dishes, such as truffle creamed corn and charcoal-grilled prawns bathing in a saffron bisque. The pesto and Dungeness crab pizza is a stand- out; most inventive is the vegan fig pizza topped with sunflowerseed cream cheese and pistachios. The wine list offers a nice selection of European varietals. 109 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.310.8575, barmonette.com

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