Cream of the crop: Top L.A. Times restaurant reviews

Fine dining is alive but a bit fragile at Joachim Splichal’s downtown spot, where the economy and changing tastes have put a dent in business. But not on the Patina experience.

Spanish chef José Andrés works four-star magic at the SLS Hotel, with tapas bars Blanca and Rojo transforming small plates into delicious theater.

The local flag carrier for Tom Colicchio’s fine-dining chain upholds the big-city restaurant concept with high style and nimble execution.

Paul Shoemaker adds an a la carte menu to the elegant French restaurant.

Chef John Rivera Sedlar’s unique combination of Latin cuisines and French techniques steps up into deliciously uncharted territory.

Three’s a charmer as a new Hungry Cat curls up in Santa Monica Canyon with excellent seafood in a simply designed space and ocean views.

David Féau brings fine dining with a light touch to the Langham hotel in Pasadena.

Five years after its opening, Michael Cimarusti’s Melrose Avenue restaurant continues to make its mark in fine dining. Seafood is its strength.

Rick Bayless brings his Mexican cuisine to Los Angeles from Chicago. You’ll need a reservation to taste it, but it’s worth it.

The veteran chef combines high-end Asian cooking with a stunning highrise view in downtown L.A.

The satisfying cooking of Daniel Mattern, who had worked at Campanile and A.O.C., helps make for a civilized dining experience.

A new chef has breathed southern Italian life into Piero Selvaggio’s Santa Monica institution.

Quinn and Karen Hatfield have relocated to a larger space. The new restaurant is gracious, satisfying, well-priced and often excellent.

The small-plates restaurant and tavern whips up imaginative creations on the edge of Little Tokyo.

Thomas Keller makes a triumphant return to the L.A. area with a contemporary, sophisticated bistro.

As friends and I approach Studio, the restaurant at Montage Laguna Beach set on the edge of a bluff, I can see chef Craig Strong silhouetted against a silvery mauve sky as he talks to a table of guests on the outdoor terrace.

A revamped menu at the restaurant hotel channels southwest France. Bring on the best duck confit in L.A.

The French bistro has a stripped-down menu well-crafted by Walter Manzke, formerly of Bastide.

Octavio Becerra’s new Glendale bistro-wine bar is just revving up. Its fresh and polished food celebrates California’s great bounty of local ingredients.

With chef and co-owner Nicola Mastronardi, the queen of the Brentwood Italians offers an authentic dining experience with fresh ideas and classics.

Chef Michel Richard stages a virtual return, bringing artful cuisine to the menu at Social Hollywood.

With a new chef at the helm and the bar scene toned down, Wilshire restaurant has reinvented itself.

Time for that important holiday dinner out? As always, Suzanne Goin’s got your back. Nine years in, this chef’s chef continues to delight.

Grab a seat at the bar and jump right in at Silverton and Batali’s lively, high-spirited new spot.

Bistro classics get special treatment in Costa Mesa.

Two creative chefs bring their personal best to new San Diego County restaurants: Addison and the modern bistro Market.

Chef Mark Gold, who most recently ran the kitchen at Cafe Pinot downtown, is turning out some terrific food. Who knew he could cook like this?

There’s something so sensual about Silverton’s relationship to food and her aesthetic that’s entirely her own -- direct, focused, uncompromised.

At Cut, Wolfgang Puck shows beef’s serious side in a smart, sophisticated setting. What a thrilling addition to the scene.

Michael Mina masters the art of the unexpected at Stonehill Tavern. It’s so urban chic, you’d never dream you’re in a Dana Point luxury resort.

At Triumphal Palace in Alhambra, each dish is flawlessly executed. The dim sum is meticulous, the roast pig sublime.

For those who really know Chinese food, New Concept Restaurant in Monterey Park is the place of the moment.

At La Terza on 3rd Street, Gino Angelini and his two partners make serious Italian food and wine not just accessible, but irresistible.

Hiro Urasawa, once Masa’s assistant, masters the art of intricate and exquisite sushi at the former Ginza Sushiko.

Florida chef Norman Van Aken brings his global palette to L.A. diners.

At Jar, chef-owner Suzanne Tracht thrives on the discipline of repetition. After two and a half years, she’s hit her stride.

Whether for omakase or sushi from the menu, Morihiro Onodera delivers a singular experience at Mori Sushi.