Monsieur Dior

This stunning terrace restaurant atop Dior’s Rodeo Drive flagship is helmed by Dominique Crenn—the first, and thus far only, female chef in the United States to earn three Michelin stars. Given the area code, it should go without saying that you’ll be paying upwards of $150 to enjoy a three-course lunch here—but surprisingly, I found the service, cuisine and atmosphere to be well worth the money. The restaurant features Dior-branded everything, from the silverware to the table linens, plus the typical Golden Triangle clientele of flashily dressed tourists and 90210 locals. The dishes here are technical marvels, and I appreciated the inclusion of amuse-bouche and mignardises. All of the savory items I tried during a recent leisurely lunch were tasty, if slightly safe, and beautifully presented. Where Crenn truly distinguishes herself is in the pastry department. Each meal begins with a complimentary bread course accompanied by a rose-shaped pat of butter; I sampled both options (sourdough and laminated brioche) and found both to be exemplary. The dreamy coconut rose tart comes with two concentric circles of rose-stamped white chocolate, destroyed with a few delightful cracks of one’s spoon. And while I’ve yet to experience the dinner service, I can decisively say Monsieur Dior is the ideal ritzy new place to splurge on lunch or run the company card.