Bernar's – 506 S. Grand Ave. (The Regal Biltmore); 213-612-1580. This is a truly elegant way to start off a night at the Music Center. Executive chef Roger Pigozzi whips up light California and American cuisine in continental style, primarily seafood and pasta. Reservations accepted for dinner nightly from 5:30-9 p.m. $$$

Brandy's – 3540 S. Figueroa St. (Radisson); 213-748-4141. There's something for everyone here, from the vegetarian burger to the veal marsala sautéed with wine and mushrooms. Leave room for a selection from the pastry cart. Lunch weekdays; dinner nightly 4-10 p.m. $$

Café Pinot – 700 W. Fifth St.; 213-239-6500. This much-loved and lauded Parisian bistro next to the Central Library is ideal for business lunches and pre-theater dinners, but you can also grab a quick gourmet bite from the take-out window. The botanical backdrop in the al fresco area makes the already tasty entrees, like roast chicken with Pinot fries, simply divine. Lunch weekdays; dinner nightly. $$

Cardini – 930 Wilshire Blvd. (Wilshire Grand); 323-227-3464. Fine Northern Italian dining specializing in pasta, fish, veal, and fresh salads as evidenced by the insalata di pesce con pasta featuring marinated shrimp, mussels, scallops, clams, calamari, and olives on a bed of farfalle with roasted bell peppers and fresh herb vinaigrette. Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner for private functions weekdays only. $$

Checkers Restaurant – 535 S. Grand Ave. (Wyndham Checkers); 213-624-0000. Gourmet magazine didn't name Checkers one of the top seven restaurants in Los Angeles for nothing. Caviar connoisseurs will delight in this classy, intimate eatery with Cal-Continental cuisine. Open 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays, 5:30-10 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. $$$$

Ciao Trattoria – 815 W. Seventh St.; 213-624-2244. You may want to brush up on your Italian to distinguish between insalata mista and zuppa del giorno, but no worries – all the menu items are translated into English. For antipasti, start with calamari fritti, segue into fettuccine rossi con frutti di mare or gnocchi di spinaci, and for a grand finale, sip a cappuccino with one of many delectable pastries from the "dolci" vida cart. Open weekdays 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m. on weekends. Complimentary shuttle to and from the music center. $$

Cicada Restaurant – 617 S. Olive St.; 323-655-5559. Executive chef Andrea Tranchero offers two distinct menus for lunch and dinner that feature citrus infusions and eclectic ingredients. Soak up the art deco setting of the Oviatt Building as you sample the comprehensive wine list and relish dishes like porcini-crusted Chilean sea-bass sauteed and served on French lentils with aromatic vegetables and chardonnay truffle sauce. Formal lunch served Mon.-Fri. and dinner Wed.-Sat. $$$

Engine Co. No. 28 – 644 S. Figueroa St.; 213-624-6996. This 10-year-old American grill makes its cozy home in a restored 1912 firehouse. It's a meat-lover's paradise with chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes and gravy, but the more calorie-conscious can also enjoy lighter fish dishes. And then there's the 911 Fudge Brownie Sundae. Open weekdays for express breakfast 7-10 a.m. and for lunch and dinner 11:15 a.m.-9 p.m. On weekends dinner is served 5-9 p.m. $$

Epicentre Restaurant and Lounge – 200 S. Hill St. (Kawada); 213-621-4455. For a seismic continental experience, start off with smoked salmon and fire-roasted pepper tower and follow with chicken, vegetable, or salmon curry on the Richter scale. Open weekdays 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and weekends 6-11 p.m. $$

Garden Grill – 120 S. Los Angeles St. (New Otani Hotel & Garden); 213-253-9263. It's a little bit of Tokyo in L.A., with Teppan-yaki dining and a view of the hotel's Japanese rooftop garden and waterfall. Whether you choose from à la carte or set menus, chefs personalize meals for each party. Sample the Norwegian smoked salmon and sashimi or Kobe beef. Lunch weekdays 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; dinner daily 6-9:30 p.m. $$

Grand Café – 251 S. Olive St. (Hotel Inter-Continental); 213-356-4155. Eating is literally an art at this restaurant which overlooks the Museum of Contemporary Art and features a "teaser" gallery of modern paintings on loan from MoCA. Go American or Japanese for the breakfast buffet, dive deep for lunch with sesame charred mahi-mahi, and find your home on the range for dinner with roasted garlic-rubbed striploin. For a grand finale, sample the chocolate mango mousse cake or Kona coffee cr�me brulŽe. Open daily 7 a.m.-11 p.m. $$

La Golondrina Café – W-17 Olvera St.; 213-628-4349. Feel and taste the history of early California cuisine in one of the oldest buildings in downtown with an "especialidad de la casa," like tiger shrimp grilled with lemon, butter, white wine, garlic, and cilantro purchased fresh from the local produce market. There's also a breakfast menu, full bar, and, of course, homemade flan. Open weekdays 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; weekends 10 a.m.-10 p.m. $$

McCormick & Schmick's – 633 W. Fifth St., 4th floor (Library Tower); 213-629-1929. At least 24 ways to satisfy a seafood lover. One of five fabulous locations. Open Mon.-Thu. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri. until 11 p.m.; Sat. 4:30-11 p.m.; Sun. 4:30-9 p.m. $$

Pacific Dining Car – 1310 W. Sixth St.; 213-483-6000. Some claim their steaks are the best this side of the Mississippi, and Wine Spectator happened to agree by naming this one of the Top 5 Steakhouses in America. No wonder the place is a celeb magnet. They know a good aged steak grilled over mesquite charcoal when they eat one. Vegetarians, pop in for afternoon tea and get your shoes shined and your car washed while you nibble on your scones. Open 24 hours. $$$$

Pacific Grille – 601 S. Figueroa St.; 213-485-0927. As the name indicates, Pacific Rim cuisine is the specialty here, from the Vietnamese spring rolls to the pad Thai soba, but you can be the ugly American here, too, and ask for the Pacific Grille cheeseburger. Fashionably early lunches between 11-11:30 a.m. receive a 25-percent discount. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. 4-7 p.m. Open for lunch weekdays; dinner Sat. only. $$

Philippe The Original – 1001 N. Alameda St.; 213-628-3781. Home of the notoriously messy "French Dip Sandwich" – available here with beef, pork, lamb, ham, and turkey – Phillippe's is a mighty reasonable place (paper plates and 10-cent coffee) to have a traditional artery-hardening breakfast, lunch, dinner, or slice of chocolate cream pie. Open daily 6 a.m.-10 p.m. $

Smeraldi's – 506 S. Grand Ave. (Regal Biltmore); 213-612-1562. Savor homemade pasta and international cuisine in a casual Mediterranean setting. Choose from the à la carte menu or have a little of everything from the buffet. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily 6:30 a.m.-11 p.m. $$

Sonora Café – 180 S. La Brea Ave.; 323-857-1800. Texas pork chop with a sweet potato tamale and mango-papaya salsa is the signature dish, but you can also get sauteed ostrich medallions, tortilla soup, and garlic mashed potatoes. Chef de cuisine Felix Salcedo takes his desserts seriously; witness the mocha-orange cheesecake and the brioche bread pudding. Lunch weekdays; dinner Mon. 5:30-9 p.m.; Tues.-Sat. 5-10 p.m.; and Sun. 5-9 p.m. $$

The Tower Restaurant – 1150 S. Olive St.; 213-746-1554. American cuisine with emphasis on steaks and seafood. Lunch Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner Tues.-Sat. 5-10 p.m. $$$ Craig: 213-742-2627

Water Grill – 544 S. Grand Ave.; 213-891-0900. The mission of Water Grill is to be the best seafood restaurant in America, and it shows in every detail, from the worldly wine list to the Spiegelau crystal that perfectly complements the topnotch service and, more importantly, executive chef and adroit fisherman Michael Cimarusti's creative and sumptuous entrees, like seared Alaskan halibut with morel mushrooms and red mullet with chickpea fritters. Lunch weekdays; dinner nightly. $$$

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