Providence

Very few restaurants aim for, little less achieve, the level of grace exhibited nightly at Providence. While this hushed, white-tablecloth restaurant is based around seafood, it’s really much more than a fish palace. It’s one of the finest restaurants on the West Coast. Fish just happens to be its primary muse—from farm-raised sustainable caviar to Dungeness crab, Maine lobster, abalone, geoduck clams, Spanish octopus, Santa Barbara spot prawns and wild, line-caught Atlantic striped bass. Whether you're ordering a la carte or opting for the chef's menu (a $220 splurge), there’s always an incredible cut of steak thrown into the mix as well. Bonus: Providence serves lunch only on Fridays, and it’s one of those Champagne lunches you’ll be reminiscing about for the rest of the year.