Avra Beverly Hills

With a sweeping indoor-outdoor space and simple but deftly prepared seafood flown in daily from the Mediterranean, this upscale modern Greek chain is a welcome change of pace from the 90210’s Italian-heavy dining scene. Originally from New York City, the restaurant excels best at giving the people what they want, whether that’s vegetarian-friendly dips with housemade pita, crowd-pleasing seafood starters or a big slice of steak. If you’re looking for more traditional Greek fare like tarama (salted fish dip) and fried saganaki (a honey and balsamic-laced cheese starter), Avra has that too—and while the cuisine can be inconsistent at times, the service and ambience never waver. Of course, Avra’s two outstanding aspects come with high prices to match, but for a big-ticket lunch or dinner in the company of those who prioritize the scene over the food, you can’t go wrong with a reservation here.