Mid-City's Cooks County is as hot as ever, with everyone from Todd Solondz and Toby Emmerich to Ellie Kemper and J.J. Abrams making appearances. CAA's John Campisi, Elizabeth Banks and Vanessa Williams also have been seen recently, as has Marisa Tomei, who's in all the time.
This story first appeared in the Feb. 1 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.
A quartet of old-school options missed the list by just a few votes.
The Ivy, with its famously atmospheric patio, perhaps was dragged down by its paparazzi and tourist factor, though TV writer-producer Maria Bell notes that the grilled vegetable salad and corn chowder remain “legendary.”
Click here to read THR’s complete Power Lunch list.
The Palm, another classic, is beloved for the privacy of its booths as well as its New York steak. You “have to be careful not to go too heavy,” says Paradigm talent agent Brad Schenck.
Madeo, a powerhouse at dinner, is slow at lunch, and Chaya Brasserie, while still “a great place to chat due to the airy floor plan,” according to one insider, hasn’t exerted as much pull since the New Line offices scaled down and ICM moved farther west.
On the other end of the dining spectrum, a slew of Young Turk restaurants are gunning for position, including Mediterranean spot Fig & Olive and fellow Mid-City restaurant Cooks County, where, explains awards consultant Michele Robertson, “The menu is low-key and creative, just like the clientele they attract.”
PHOTOS: Hollywood’s 25 Top Power Lunch Restaurants
The Brentwood Country Mart’s Farmshop, meanwhile, is “fast becoming the best option on the far Westside,” says TV producer David Hoffman. “It’s not near a studio or an office, but it’s spitting distance from a lot of people’s homes.”
And just west of Century City, Westside Tavern has become a scene, despite its location inside a mall. “You’ll see Peter Guber, Rachel Zoe and Chuck Lorre all in the same room,” says one visitor.
Barney Greengrass made the list, but Mariposa at Neiman Marcus is also “popular, especially with the power CAA lady agents, as well as lots of moguls’ wives,” says a regular. They are drawn by the “excellent service — and one can shop, too,” adds Jackie Collins, who would know.
Farther east, Mauro’s Cafe at Fred Segal serves a younger crowd, who enjoy the patio. “My female clients love it,” says manager Marilyn Black. Another fan notes why their male counterparts are lured, too: “The waitresses are models, not actresses. Big difference.”
