Sure Hollywood is the center of all entertainment and glamour, but you’ll also find some of the tastiest and most elegant dining experiences in the urban sprawl of Southern California known as the City of Angels. Celebrities who earn millions per picture aren’t worried about spending big bucks on the best meals, as evidenced by their visits to some of the best and most expensive dining spots in the Southland. There are a handful of restaurants in and around Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the surrounding areas that are known to attract famous faces every day. Most of these restaurants pride themselves on protecting the privacy of the stars; some even seat them in special sections.
Perhaps the best place to catch a glimpse of someone you’ve seen on the big screen is Spago’s Beverly Hills. The restaurant was originally known as Bistro Garden and was a favorite of former First Lady Nancy Reagan. But in 1997, international celebrity chef and television personality Wolfgang Puck bought the place and gave it a name synonymous with his Hollywood restaurant. Puck’s Spago’s Beverly Hills is located in North. Canon Drive. Stars known to frequent the restaurant include Tom Hanks, President Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Billy Crystal, Elton John, Lou Diamond Phillips, Sandra Bullock, Robin Williams, and Sharon Stone.
The former president was at the restaurant just a few months after its grand opening in November 1997. His presence was part of a Rock the Vote effort and was attended by a long list of other celebrities including Kevin Spacey, Graham Nash and Michael Bolton. About a year later, in 1998, Sir Elton John moved his star-studded after-Oscar party to the restaurant, where celebrities in attendance paid $1,000 a plate for a charity dinner benefiting AIDS research. The big names present that night were Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Jon Bon Jovi and Faye Dunaway. During normal business hours, the cost of dining at Spago’s Beverly Hills starts at around $70 for two.
The Ivy on Robertson Boulevard has long been one of Los Angeles’ top celebrity hangouts. The restaurant has not only attracted the biggest names for decades, but also periodically serves as a Hollywood set; some of the most important film directors have shot scenes in the large patio of the restaurant. Just two examples are ‘The Bodyguard,’ starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, and ‘Get Shorty,’ starring Danny DeVito and John Travolta.
The Ivy isn’t exactly known for its tasty meals, but more for the Hollywood glamor it attracts. The venue is a favorite hangout for stars and paparazzi looking to get photos of the latest blockbuster stars. In September 2003, stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez turned up at the Ivy shortly after announcing the postponement of their wedding. Insiders believed that the two went there to put gossip aside that they would spoil. Other stars seen there at the same time include Steve Martin, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, even Michael Jackson and more celebrities.