Joe's (CLOSED)

When chef Joseph Miller opened this restaurant in 1991, Abbot Kinney was a rough area. However, the gangs have been replaced by valet parking, and Joe's is now the top dining destination on what's become a very hip street. Brunch and lunch are a bargain, especially the prix fixe; the excellent Cal-French dinners are also fairly priced. Get recommendations from your server or from Miller himself, who's often found out front chatting with diners.