"Hey Man, Want Some Beef?"

Venice's new steakhouse, American Beauty just might be one of the hottest tickets in town! The Rose Avenue digs are the brainchild of Jeff Goodman and Paul Hibler (Superba Food and Bread, Pitfire Pizza) along with Bruce Horowitz (Tasting Kitchen on Abbot Kinney). The dining room, while relatively small, boasts vintage wooden booths and a beautiful bar bar attached.

The wine list is spectacular. We enjoyed the Sauvignon Blanc, Les Chardons,Touraine, Loire, FR 2018 before dinner. I loved this and would definitely add to my favorites.  There are several wines by the glass and wonderful selections by the bottle. We didn't drink too much more as we were heading out to another location afterward.

We started with the chopped vegetable salad with three different lettuces, crispy breadcrumbs,fresh tomatoes, cheese, and garbanzo beans all mixed in a tangy vinaigrette. We also enjoyed the charred long beans with Fresno chili,lemon, and anchovy. This dish was bursting with flavor and was one of my favorites! The Aspen Ridge Prime Hanger steak was tender and flavorful. I tried the steakhouse burger with Swiss cheese. The burger was juicy and perfectly cooked. Perhaps the most amazing dish was the stuffed hash browns. Trust me when I say these are crack hash browns. The more you eat, the more you want! Stuffed with melted onion and sour cream,then fried to a perfect crunch; this is one of the best things I've ever eaten...ever! Dessert was a little disappointing for me as I'm not a big fruit for dessert believer. Hopefully, on our next visit, the dessert menu will change. All in all, it was a fantastic dinner with exceptional service. American Beauty 425 Rose Avenue Venice (310)412-0075

Hours: Sun-Thurs:5:30-10pm, Fri-Sat: 5:30-10:30pm

Note: Bar hours Sun-Thurs 5-11pm, Fri-ST: 5pm-12am

There is also a burger takeout window open from 11am-4:30pm daily.

 Calling all beefeaters! I mean it! If you take your beef seriously, as I do; you have to try out Belcampo. We've already made our Vlentine's Day reservations way in advance. The inside of the restaurant is very modern and hip, with a beautiful illuminated bar. The staff is very thoughtful and efficient and General Manager Steve is extremely welcoming. We started with the Grilled Bread and Lardo Butter followed by the grass fed organic, free-range pastured cheeseburger with butter lettuce, caramelized onions, Belcampo house sauce, Grafton's cheddar, and Bread Bar brioche. Fries were outstanding too!  Then came the piece de resistance: The 31 oz. Cowboy Steak cooked to perfection medium rare. It was huge, flavorful, and tender but our carnivorous appetites managed to gobble most of it down! The au gratin potatoes are the best I have ever tasted...EVER! Broccolini with Belcampo bacon is to die for. Bacon is sauteed then thickly chopped into chunks, who even cares about the broccolini? Well, maybe a little. Even I was too full for dessert, though I tried to force myself. I rate Belcampo outstanding! Belcampo 1026 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica (310) 744-8008 Closed Monday Open for Lunch and Dinner 

Since 2004 we have been enjoying Boa Steakhouse in Santa Monica, and every time it's five stars! We love Boa and can always count on perfect ambience and service. I have to admit, that I love their place mats so much that I even have them at home! Beside boasting upscale steakhouse fare and cocktails, Boa combines a gorgeous, colorful modern environment right at the beach. Steaks and chops include prime Omaha beef, organic beef and American Waygu. On our last visit we enjoyed  Charred Tuna Tartare ($17) with capers, lemon zest, and shallots served with crostini. We also enjoyed the Table-side Caesar Salad ($15) made to order, just the way you like it. It's huge and enough for two!  I also love the BLT salad ($14) with Applewood smoked bacon, crisp lettuce, tomato, avocado, and creamy bacon dressing. Ask for the bacon salt and sprinkle a pinch on top! It's crazy good! All veggies ($11) are fresh from the Santa Monica Framer's Market. Some of our favorites include Smashed Broccoli and Chipolte Lime Corn. Baked potatoes ($11) are seriously the size of a shoe. You can split and smother with butter, sour cream, chives, roasted garlic, smoked cheddar, and bacon. Mac and Cheese ($12) is filling and served very creamy. Our favorite meats are the 21 Day Dry Aged Bone In Rib Eye ($51) and the Center Cut Filet-Mignon ($48). I add the Blue Cheese Crust ($2). For non-meat eaters the Organic Chicken Breast ($31) is juicy and tender, and the Faroe Island Natural Salmon is ($34) fresh and flavorful. Try to have dinner at Boa on your birthday or other special occasion. You'll get a huge sparkler firework lit up on a special dessert! (Baked Alaska). The cotton candy ($12) is my personal favorite. Boa is first class all the way! Boa Steakhouse 101 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica. (310) 899-4466 Hours: Monday-Sunday 12 p.m.- 3 p.m. Mon-Wed: 5 p.m.- 10:30 p.m. Thursday: 5p.m.-11p.m. Friday: 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday 5:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m., Sunday 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Recommended Dishes:  21 Day Aged Bone In Rib Eye, Filet Mignon, Baked Potato, Mac and Cheese, Caesar Salad, Ahi Tuna, Salmon, Chicken, BLT salad, corn, broccoli, hamburger.

Long, long ago, when I was still a youngster, I worked for Cheryl Ladd as her personal assistant. I loved Cheryl and her husband Brian Russell. One of the perks of working for this lovely Charlie's Angel was that we frequently got to eat at the original Palm on Santa Monica and did so right underneath her picture. Last night was a bit of nostalgia for me and my husband, as once again we dined under Cheryl's picture, in the new and improved Palm on Canon in Beverly Hills. Looking down on us from across the room was Farrah Fawcett-Majors and The Six-Million Dollar Man (Lee Majors) which made for some mighty fine dining conversation. With or without the angels, The Palm is five star all the way. Our server, Heather, has been with The Palm for quite a while and has the perfect personality to work with the crowd that hangs out here. She was funny, outgoing and very knowledgable about everything on the menu. We started with a great glass of wine and beer then moved on to the fantastic Wedge Salad ($14). So the wedge is just a wedge, right? Wrong. Not when Danish blue cheese, bacon, cherry tomatoes, chives and fried onions star in the show! The dressing is remarkable with big chunks of blue cheese and hands down is my favorite wedge in this city!  Enjoy with warm pumpernickel, wheat, or sourdough bread and sweet butter. I had them all. The Filet Mignon ($51) was 14 ounces of pure bliss. USDA prime beef is corn-fed, hand-selected and aged a minimum of 35 days. The marbling in this beef makes it so tender, juicy, and flavorful. Topped with olive oil, kosher salt, and parsley butter, it doesn't get any better than this. The sides are incredible too. I am in love with Asparagus Fritti ($13). Tender spears are fried with lemon garlic butter and are definitely one of my favorite things on the menu. Three Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin ($13) are not far behind. For dessert we enjoyed the deep dark intense 7 Layer Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache. To say we were full would be an understatement. To say we had the perfect meal would not. Go see for yourself! We love The Palm! The Palm Restaurant 267 North Canon Drive Beverly Hills (310) 550-8811. Hours: Mon-Fri: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon-Sat. 5 p.m.-11p.m. Sun 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Recommended Dishes: Wedge Salad, Asparagus Fritti, Three Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin, Filet Mignon, 7 Layer Chocolate Cake.

For all of you Mastro's lovers who enjoy dining by the beach, this is the perfect place. The former Charthouse has been somewhat redone and is the current home to Mastro's Ocean Club, a fancy-schmancy name for Mastro's with a view. Sure the interior has gotten somewhat of a facelift, and yes the view is gorgeous, but I don't really get what all of the hoopla is about. Of course the service is top-notch, and it should be, and reservations are recommended, but the food's no different than Beverly Hills or Thousand Oaks. The restaurant is significantly smaller and very casual (think tourists in Hawaiian shirts with huge cameras slung over their shoulders). Prices are comparable to Beverly Hills. We went for lunch yesterday and had a beautiful table overlooking the ocean. The calamari was delicious, fried and crispy, seasoned to perfection and served with a garlicky dipping sauce. The serving was plenty for three. We went with the Saturday/Sunday brunch menu. One of us had the Mastro's Prime burger, and prime it was. A beautifully grilled hamburger is topped with sharp cheddar, thick applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Perfectly seasoned, salty skinny fries are served alongside with some flavorful Thousand Island dressing. We also ordered the Eggs Benedict which you can have with Maine Lobster or with bacon. Try the Truffle Hollandaise for a special touch!  The Smoked Salmon Plate is hand cut, fresh smoked salmon, fresh ripe, red, juicy tomatoes, Bermuda onions, capers and cream cheese with a toasted bagel. For dessert, we never miss the Butter Cake. I mean never. This is definitely up there on my Last Supper dessert list. Made with cream cheese, butter, eggs, and I don't know what else, this cake does me in every time. Top it with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, and it's a meal in itself. At dinner, we're all about the steaks, the Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese, and the Ocean Club Crab Cakes; but give us a good brunch anytime! Prices are not listed as they vary .Brunch for two will run you about $75-$100. (without drinks). Dinner: over $100. Mastro's Ocean Club 18412 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu. (310) 454-4357 Hours: M-Thurs: 5:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. Fri: 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m.

Recommended Dishes: Brunch:Calamari, Prime Burger, Eggs Benedict, Smoked Salmon Plate, Butter Cake  Dinner: Ocean Club Salad, Gorganzola Mac and Cheese, Creamed Spinach, Petite Filet, Bone In Ribeye, Herb Roasted Chicken, Warm Butter Cake.