Casa Dani

This upscale, vibes-first restaurant at Westfield Century City comes from SBE and Dani Garcia, one of Spain’s most famous chefs. Sometimes, you need a conveniently located restaurant with a little bit of something for everyone—and with an impeccably designed high-volume dining room that offers dinner and lunch, Casa Dani delivers on the promise of a sit-down meal at one of L.A.’s most popular malls that offers something special. The lack of socarrat on the paella will disappoint most Spanish food lovers and I wasn’t impressed by the tortilla española, but look to the tuna-centric menu items and never-fail appetizers like fried calamari and jamón ibérico for a fleeting taste of the Iberian peninsula in the heart of Los Angeles. There’s also the oxtail brioche with bull sauce, meant to be inverted and eaten like a slider, which tastes like a mass-produced version of the oxtail bao from three Michelin-starred Somni (and I mean this as a compliment). Throw in the tableside flourishes and freshly caught seafood on display as you walk in the door, and you’ve got a halfway decent option for local talent agents and shoppers in need of a special-occasion meal at the mall.