The terrace at Baltaire

In Brentwood, this steakhouse tends toward the luxe with mindful meat and fish (and more) on offer from the team behind the longtime neighborhood favorite Coral Tree Café.

Website: baltaire.com
Number of seats: 215
Average per-person check: $125
Popular dishes: Lobster mac and cheese; Tableside Greek salad; A5 Japanese wagyu; Chilean sea bass with fermented black bean and baby bok choy.
What people come for: Wine and cocktail list, private dining options, live music in lounge, lunch daily and brunch on weekends.
Address: 11647 San Vicente Blvd.
Phone number: 424-273-1660

Inside Cassia

This progressive Indian gem in Culver City is the newest move by celebrated chef Akasha Richmond, who tends toward the more traditional at her nearby restaurant Akasha and takes more chances here.

Website: sambarcc.com
Number of seats: 130
Average per-person check: $35
Popular dishes: Mississippi Masala Wings: southern-style fried chicken wings, malabar hot sauce and summer fruit chutney; pork shoulder roasted with vindaloo masala, served with naan, pickled radish pods, malabar hot sauce and papaya chutney; naan with fresh turmeric and kalonji seeds.
What people come for: Happy hour daily with special snacks menu 4-7 p.m., two different patio spaces
Address: 9531 Culver Blvd., Culver City, Calif.
Phone number: 310-558-8800

Viviane offers poolside dining.

Brioche hen served at Viviane

The bar at Sambar

In Los Angeles this season, look out for updated takes on classic Southeast Asian and Indian dishes.

Fried cauliflower, laksa and kaya toast

Truck stop goat curry, lemon rice with curry leaves and toasted dal

A market-driven sensibility drives the Southeast Asian fare on offer here in Santa Monica from chef Bryant Ng, formerly of the Spice Table in downtown L.A.

Website: cassiala.com
Number of seats: 200
Average per-person check: $55
Popular dishes: Vietnamese “Sunbathing” Prawns: a chilled seafood bar specialty marinated in garlic, Fresno chiles, and Vietnamese hot sauce; Vietnamese pot au feu with Creekstone Farms short rib stew, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, bone marrow, grilled bread, bird’s eye chile sauce and walnut mustard; kaya toast with coconut jam, butter, and slow cooked egg.
What people come for: Inventive cocktails, distinctive beer list.
Address: 1314 7th St., Santa Monica, Calif.
Phone number: 310-393-6699

Decorated chef Michael Hung gives a California spin to classic European and American fare at this airy, amenable spot with poolside dining options at The Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Website: vivianerestaurant.com
Number of seats: 55 + 20 poolside + 32 cabanas
Average per-person check: $75
Popular dishes: Fuyu persimmon and pomegranate salad with wild arugula, honey-thyme vinaigrette and sunflower seeds; grilled 12-ounce Piedmontese rib eye steak with bone marrow gremolata and creamy potato purée; ricotta ravioli with chanterelle mushrooms, roasted corn, brown butter.
What people come for: Progressive cocktail program, poolside and al fresco dining.
Address: 9400 West Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, Calif.
Phone number: 310-407-7791