Sofi

One of L.A.'s premier Greek restaurants, Sofi is not the kind of place where exuberant dancing and plate-smashing distract diners from the food. This is a more restrained environment in which high-quality, authentic Greek cuisine takes center stage.

The restaurant's two-tiered dining room is warm and cozy, comparable to dining in a friend's home. Even more alluring, however, is the secluded, vine-covered patio, which provides a true taste of the Aegean without ever leaving town.

The cooking here rarely disappoints, whether you order dolmades, marinated octopus, pastitsio, or moussaka. Be sure to dip your pita bread into the creamy, pleasantly salty taramasalata and enjoy the flaky spanakopita and surprisingly tender pan-fried squid. Combination plates make it easy to sample the varied menu with friends.