Expert Picks: Where to Power Lunch in L.A.

by Tracy Lorenz - Citysearch Contributor - 11 Reviews - 2 Lists

Updated: January 10, 2009

If there's any place in the world known for power lunching, it's Los Angeles. After all, Hollywood decisions have long been made over a sizzling starlet ... er, steak. We caught up with PR guru, celebrity pundit and man-about-town Howard Bragman to get the inside scoop on the ultimate power lunch spots in the City of Angels.

5 to Try

  1. 1 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Grill on the Alley
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    9560 Dayton Wy, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (map)

    "This is your classic power lunch spot in Beverly Hills with a crowd full of the city's biggest movers and shakers. The decor is set like an old Hollywood film set and the steak is the best in town. Their burger is killer and so is the Dungeness crab appetizer. The food here is all top-rate, all about quality and your basic all-American cuisine, which fits my Midwestern upbringing. But it's mostly about Michael, the maitre d'. He's oftentimes harried by others but never looks it. He knows how to keep his cool while 15 media moguls all vie for the same table. Michael is the epitome of politeness and charm, which is what he must have inherited from his grandfather Henry Rogers of [famed PR company] Rogers & Cowen."

  2. 2 3.5 Star Rating: Average Ago Restaurant
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    8478 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (map)

    "Sitting on the patio of this West Hollywood hot spot is like sitting in the courtyard of a private Italian villa with its cypress and olive trees. Financially backed by De Niro, the Weinstein brothers and Ridley Scott, this restaurant caters to the seriously in-the-know Hollywood crowd. It is not terribly hard to get into; however, this is L.A., so it's all about basking in the sun which is always the best seat in the house. Try the risotto alla pescatora or risotto ai funghi and you won't leave disappointed."

  3. 3 4 Star Rating: Recommended AMMO
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    1155 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 (map)

    "This Hollywood-area establishment has a truly cool, stylish and minimalist decor; the menu has great options and comfort foods just like Mom used to make. I highly recommend their amazingly moist turkey meatloaf, served with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach. And the burgers? They'll make you cry they're so good. The tables are extremely close together, so you just might catch a conversation or two between some agent and talent. (Which isn't so bad when you have Jake Gyllenhaal sitting next to you.)"

  4. 4 2.5 Star Rating: Below Average Orso Restaurant
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    8706 W Third St, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (map)

    "If you want an old school power lunch restaurant, then this BH-adjacent eatery is the place to be, especially if you're out on the tree covered patio which reminds you why you live in L.A. in the first place. This place has not changed in years and you always know what you get when you dine here. Try the lamb stew, which is my favorite thing on the menu; it tastes homemade."

  5. 5 4 Star Rating: Recommended Joan's on Third
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    8350 W Third St, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (map)

    "This is a great spot for the trendier Hollywood set who likes places a little off the beaten Beverly Hills path. It's a great location to wheel and deal because the place has a south of France charm that makes you feel like you're on holiday. Head over for breakfast because it's underrated and a little lower key for business deals. If you're there for lunch, pair the soup of the day with a fresh organic sandwich, but remember to leave room for dessert because the red velvet cupcakes are amazing."