Michael's Restaurant

As a native Angeleno, Michael's offers the best cuisine there is: Californian.  Using fresh and seasonal ingredients straight from the Santa Monica farmer's market, you could not ask for a better source for lunch.  That being said, Michael's tends is by no means a cheap eat given the quality of their food.  Luckily for me, I got this trio of dishes for $25 during DineLA restaurant week.  

"Chicken and Waffle Wings"

Half-Dozen, Chili Salt, Maple Syrup

When I say I know fried chicken, I mean it.  I could eat fried chicken everyday if it wasn't for such a thing called cholesterol.  I know that Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles have become an LA landmark, but for those of you have been there, its actually not the best fried chicken in town.  This is definitely the best modern interpretation of chicken and waffles around.  There, I said it. #juicy #crispy #sweetnspicy

Michael's Cobb Salad

Blue Cheese, Chicken Breast, Bacon, Tomatoes, Egg, Mustard Vinaigrette

To step away from carbohydrates for a moment, I dived into a cobb salad packed with farm fresh vegetables and meat.  It was one of the better cobb salads I have eaten, but does not beat out Clementine's in Century City. #farmfresh #healthy #delicious

Chocolate Espresso Tart

Creme Fraiche, Coffee Ice Cream

The course to wrap it all up was a sugary delight of chocolate espresso realness (I stole that word from #RuPaul).  It was really effing good apart from the creme fraiche bit.  #yum

Avoid the crowds and the sky high prices by dining at Michael's for lunch rather than dinner.  It's a short walk away from 3rd Street Promenade, which makes for the perfect meeting spot for a group of friends.  

Moonshadows

When people ask me where to dine in Los Angeles, Moonshadows is one of the first recommendations I make.  Situated along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Moonshadows sits on the beach over looking the vast Pacific Ocean.  If you're looking for a romantic night out, or the quintessential Californian restaurant on the beach, look no further than Moonshadows.

For the first course, I dived into an heirloom tomato and burrata cheese salad with basil, aged balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.  The burrata cheese was creamy and silky - coupling perfectly with the acidity of the balsamic vinegar.  The basil added a hint of depth to the dish, making every bite as savory as the last.

Heirloom Tomatoes & Burrata Cheese ($14)

For my main course, I preyed on an oven roasted lobster with sauteed spinach, mashed potatoes and drawn butter.  Inexperienced chefs make the mistake of over-cooking lobster until it is rubbery; Moonshadows, however, cooked it to perfection! The butter of the lobster paired well with the starch of the potatoes, whereas the spinach provided a clean wipe of the palette.  Seeing as how seafood is the star of the restaurant, I highly recommend ordering the lobster.

Oven Roasted Maine Lobster (Market Price)

Sharing this meal with the love of my life overlooking the sunset made this meal sweet enough, so we passed on dessert.  Many Los Angeles residents prefer Gladstone's for it's proximity to the city, but rest assured, Moonshadows is definitely worth the extra drive up the gleaming coast.  Is your mouth watering yet?