PRICE:
Frommer's Exceptional

Located down the street from Spago -- so you know it's expensive -- is one of the best steakhouses in Southern California: Mastro's. Typical of an upscale steakhouse, the dimly lit dining room on the first floor has a dark, leathery, serious men's club feel to it, so be sure to request a table on the second floor, where the bar, live music, and cool vibe are located. Slide into a plush black leather booth, order a Mastro Dry Ice Martini (which comes with the shaker, so it takes only one to get a groove on), and start off the feast with an Iced Seafood Tower -- a massive pyramid of crab legs, lobster, shrimp, clams, and oysters the size of your palm. Oh, and I've found the beef: Fred Flintstone-size slabs of hand-cut USDA beef served on sizzling plates heated to 400°F (204°C) so your steak stays warm and juicy throughout the meal. Forget the greens -- the only side you need is the Mastro Mash, a big bowl of creamy mashed potatoes mixed with sour cream, chives, bacon, and butter. ("I'll have a Diet Coke with that.") The bad news is that a bone-in rib-eye runs about $50; the good news is that one will feed three normal-size people. The white-jacketed waiters are friendly and attentive; be sure to say hello to the manager, Jin Yu -- he's got some great stories to tell about this celebrity-filled joint.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Los Angeles 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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