Los Angeles: Eat Your Fill in Culver City

I don't know if I can handle how saintly this place is. The chicken comes from Petaluma and the fish comes with, like, certificates of earth-friendliness. Still, good for … them for making it all eco-sensitive, even if it's easy to snark on how trendy it is. The food is good, so many things can be forgiven. [link]

There's a knee-jerk reaction in some circles against the term "Asian fusion," but if it's good, it's good. Beacon serves things like grilled chicken with green papaya … salad, trout with black bean sauce, and avocado salad with sesame seeds. And it's in Helms Bakery, which means the hipness is automatic. [link]

Surfas is a go-to kitchen supply store for serious cooks citywide. The cafe is for serious eaters citywide. As would be expected at an establishment with a pedigree such … as Surfas, everything is well thought out and of excellent quality; their take on Cobb salad, with chicken, cranberries, leeks, corn, blue cheese and pecans, is a shining example. [link]

If it's authentic French food you're after, this just may be the spot. My expertise is not in French food, but I do know that a key component of the cuisine is butter. … Given that the most talked-about items here are the escargots and the croissants, I have to figure they're doing something right. Also, anything desserty is bound to be delicious. [link]

I think it's because I go to so many restaurants that I am unfazed by hostess/server snottiness -- it doesn't even register anymore. So I can't say that I ever noticed … rude service at Ford's, but half my friends say they won't go back because they felt like they were intruding on a private party. The other half of my friends are going back precisely because it felt like a private party. [link]

There is always, always a wait to get in here, and reservations are still relatively hard to come by. But it's probably one of LA's most foodie-famous restaurants right … now, as the NY Times included it in a national list of best new openings. It's got the prices to prove it. [link]

Along with another location in Compton, this fried chicken place is almost an LA classic, although it's never reached the levels of fame that Roscoe's enjoys. However, … given the two places' different ways, means and vibes, it might be unfair to compare the two. The protein at Honey's (which includes catfish) is cooked in a kettle ... as you can probably infer. And the biscuits are far more famous that the chicken itself. [link]

Grilled cheese sandwiches have long been a staple of LA's more trend-setting restaurants. But this is the only place where the Americana classic takes up the whole menu. … Naturally there are a gazillion different varieties, and most are made with expensive ingredients and additions from meat to fruit. It's good for a novelty dinner. [link]

There's all manner of healthful items at this deli-style joint. There are sandwiches and salads and soups awaiting your low-fat, righteous order from the other side of … the counter. But people, it's the butterscotch pudding you want -- nay, need -- here. And yes, I know everyone's doing puddings and it's just a trend, but Jiminy Christmas they do it well here. [link]

This is, apparently, LA's first cosplay cafe, though I don't know that the masses were really clamoring for one. Cosplay's that thing the youths in Japan do with the … costumes and the manga and the writing their own rules. There's an art gallery on the premises, and the servers here wear French maids' uniforms; they serve up curry bowls and traditional English tea service. I'm not promising the food is awesome, but there is a lot to look at. (photo) [link]

The lines out the door here are more indicative of some Hollywood club-of-the-moment, but everyone's just waiting around for a salad. And it's really not surprising: … everything is so good. Just order at random, you'll be happy. All ingredients are chosen with care, and the lemonade comes flecked with mint and basil. Happy times. (photo) [link]