A.O.C.

Chef Suzanne Goin has made a name for herself with easy yet elegant seasonal California cooking, working under fellow Golden State icons like Alice Waters and Mark Peel before opening her first restaurant, Lucques, in 1998. At A.O.C., her beloved West Hollywood wine bar, the effortlessly chic cooking is perfectly matched by a beautifully homey atmosphere, including a main dining room replete with hefty dark wooden beams and a rustic fireplace, as well as an adjacent vine-wrapped garden accented with laurel trees. Parties of up to 40 guests can enjoy an intimate seated dinner in the wine room, which features original wood paneling and a glimpse of the wine collection, as well as patios overlooking the garden. For larger affairs, the garden can seat up to accommodate up to 70 seated guests, while the main dining room offers space for 120.