7 Ladies Lunch Spots in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills was founded by Alphonzo E. Bell, Sr. in 1923. It was later called the "Golden Triangle" as it was part of the exclusive Bel-Air and Holmby Hills.

One feels as if they are meeting friends at an exclusive social club upon entering Parq Bar, yet you don't have to go through the application and sponsorship process. It feels rich and exclusive inside.

Ladies of Beverly Hills lunch here to get their lobster chopped salad fix. At Parq the salad has gem lettuce with sliced avocado, cut fresh corn, sliced Marcona almonds for crunch, tomatoes and a slightly tangy Chipotle dressing.

Others enjoy the chilled crab tower with lovely lump crab in the center, surrounded with sliced tomato and avocado. With a drizzle of lemon oil and herbs, this dish is low in calorie, yet satisfying. It's listed under the Suite 100 section of the menu.

Suite 100 is a concept that the five leading hotels in Beverly Hills created to honor the celebration of Beverly Hills' centennial year. It's called "Suite 100," as each property created suites themed to different decades from the past one hundred years.

At the Montage Beverly Hills, the sultry suite designed by Nina Petronzio takes you back to the 1940s. There is a “champagne” button to have a bottle delivered to your door. The two Suite 100 menu items at Parq Bar include a panzanella salad and chilled crab tower.

The Parq Bar offers a Tiffin box daily. It's the chef's version of a Bento Box with a soup, salad, sandwich and dessert. The portions are perfect for lunch.

For those who feel like splurging, the Parq Burger is an 8 oz. grass fed beef burger with white cheddar cheese, tomato and delicate watercress. It comes with a cone of French fries. Guests have a choice of truffle parmigiano, garlic and parsley or jalapeño and paprika dust.

Some ladies enjoy a spa treatment at Montage Beverly Hills before or after lunch at Parq Bar.

For lunch reservations please call 310.499.4199. 225 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | phone (888) 860-0788

Villa Blanca is located in a beautiful old art-deco building on the corner of Brighton Way and N. Camden Dr. The hue white is the theme throughout the restaurant, from the floors to the tablecloths and the floral arrangements.

Lisa Vanderpump’s daughter, Pandora greeted us and took my friends and I to a nice table. Pandora is a real beauty inside and out. Her quiet and peaceful presence keeps the pace of the restaurant calm, even with all the excitement of the paparazzi outside on the streets of Beverly Hills.

We started with a Caprese a la Villa Blanca salad. It arrived layered with three slices of firm heirloom red and yellow tomatoes dressed lightly with a balsamic reduction, purple basil leaf, large scoops of creamy Burrata cheese and sliced avocado. Purple basil is pretty, yet not as flavorful as the standard green leaf.

Next, crispy rock shrimp appeared in crunchy little taco shells with a spicy harissa (Tunisian hot chili sauce) and citrus-based ponza sauce used in many Japanese dishes. It had a just a tiny kick and was not too spicy to enjoy.

By the time we ordered our entrées, the restaurant was packed with people and excitement was brewing. A Ferrari revved its engine loudly outside near the valet stand. Within minutes, Lisa Vanderpump gracefully strolled into the restaurant, followed by her handsome husband, Ken Todd.

My grilled vegetable sandwich arrived with julienne cut eggplant, green and yellow zucchini, mushrooms and roasted bell peppers dressed with a pesto mayo and melted mozzarella cheese. The flavor was pleasing,

My friend ordered the Villa Blanca fish and chips.They looked fabulous with a large plate of whitefish lightly bathed in Guinness beer and then tempura battered and fried.

Pandora tempted us with the dessert menu, however we declined. Within minutes, her father, KenTodd came to our table and said that we must try the sticky toffee pudding and sent one to our table.

Todd sat down next to me, grabbed a spoon, and fed me a bite of the pudding cake with vanilla ice cream. “Of course it’s good, it’s Grandma Edith’s recipe from England,” Todd said.

Todd and Vanderpump own 27 restaurants and bars. In Southern California, they own the the sexy Sur in West Hollywood, Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills and the elegant PUMP in West Hollywood.

The fame that Vanderpump and Todd receive from appearing in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Sur keep their restaurants full. The food is worthy of a visit, however it’s the possibility of seeing a reality star or celebrity that is a big draw at Villa Blanca. $$-$$$ 9601 Brighton Way, (310)859-7600.

Driving up to the Beverly Hills Hotel for lunch, I am always impressed with the array of luxury automobiles parked in front. There are usually a Maybach, Mercedes, and Rolls Royce parked by the entrance.

Margaret Anderson and her son Stanley S. Anderson were commissioned to build a hotel halfway between Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean on May 12, 1912. Since Anderson had been the manager of the Hollywood Hotel, she hired Pasadena architect Elmer Grey to design the new hotel. He had designed the Huntington Library and the Pasadena Playhouse.

In 1923, Will Rogers is sworn in as the mayor of Beverly Hills on the grounds of the Beverly Hills hotel. This location became Rogers and his friends watering hole after polo matches.

In 1930, the hotel closed due to the depression. The bungalows were leased out to individuals until a bank reopened the hotel in 1932.

In 1941, under new ownership, the restaurant inside the hotel, El Jardin, is renamed The Polo Lounge, in honor of Will Rogers, Darryl Zanuck, Tommy Hitchcock and Neil McCarthy.

A group of friends and I enjoy lunching at the Polo Lounge. On our last visit, we were excited to sit next to comedian Tom Arnold, (once married to Roseanne Barr). Astronaut Buzz Aldrin and actress/ comedian Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live) sat outside on the lovely garden patio at separate tables. Aldrin’s ex-wife, Lois Driggs Cannon was dining inside the restaurant with a friend. An interesting moment happened when Buzz, carrying a book with a rocket ship on the back of the cover, walked by Cannon’s table.

What I like about the Polo Lounge is the impeccable service. Servers Felix and Pepe have worked at the Polo Lounge for years and have waited on many celebrities. One of their favorites was Princess Diana sitting in the back garden patio.

We decided to order our favorites - the McCarthy salad and Tortilla soup. The salad was named after Neil McCarthy, who frequented the restaurant after casual polo games. When the actor/polo player got hurt after a game, his mouth was sore. The chef in the kitchen finely chopped all the ingredients in the salad he ordered. It was a hit with the actor and his friends. Today, this wonderful chopped salad is still one of the most popular items on the menu.

For Beverly Hills buffs, Robert Anderson, the great-grandson of the hotel’s original owner, Margaret Anderson, is launching his book ”The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows – The First 100 Years.” As the official historian of the Beverly Hills Hotel, he has exclusive images of many dignitaries and celebrities, historical facts and documents that are featured on each page. Many of the photos have never-been-seen-before of celebrated guests relaxing and enjoying the grand hotel. His book is available at the hotel’s Logo shop and on the website. Each guest room in the hotel has a book on display.

To learn more www.thebeverlyhillshotel.com 9641 Sunset Blvd. (310)887-2777.

While I was enjoying a Friday lunch at Spago’s in Beverly Hills, Barbara Lazaroff, the co-owner of the restaurant approached each table to personally invite guests to a special charitable event that she and Sherry Lansing, former CEO of Paramount Pictures were hosting. “I lost a parent to cancer,” Lazaroff said. “The money raised at this event goes to The American Cancer Society.”

Lazaroff is a dynamic woman who wears many hats – restaurateur, interior designer, public speaker, mother, author, and philanthropist. Walking into each room in the restaurant, her presence and enthusiasm is felt by all.

Wolfgang Puck and Executive Chef and Managing Partner Lee Hefter, have re-invented the entire menu with a new signature iconic California farm to table philosophy.

Sitting under a large skylight, we started our lunch with three different types of Spago’s famous pizzas. The house cured smoked salmon resting on dill crème fraiche was my favorite. I also enjoyed the chicken pizza with caramelized sweet corn and roasted peppers.

You never know who will be dining near you at Spago’s. Guests dining with us in the main room became silent as Sir Sidney Poitier walked into the room and took one of the back booths. This Oscar winning actor, film director, author and diplomat enjoyed lunch with a friend.

We savored the fresh burrata with a generous serving of prosciutto. The salad was presented with sliced figs, baby arugula and old balsamic dressing.

I ordered the Alaskan halibut poached in mushroom nage (a mushroom broth used in poaching), and surrounded by sweet corn, braised pancetta and maitkake mushrooms presented on French earth color stoneware.

The servers couldn’t have been more accommodating to guests. Each made sure our every culinary wish was fulfilled. The service at Spago’s is comfortable and attentive.

Our dessert plate consisted of scoops of housemade farmers’ market sorbet with berries, sliced summer plums and flowers was visually stunning and very refreshing as the temperatures outside reached 90 degrees.

Lunch is served on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 12 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. On Fridays, lunch is served from 11:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Dinner is served from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Friday. Saturday dinner service begins at 5:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Happy Hour in the bar starts at 9 p.m. until 11 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. $$$ 176 N. Canon Dr. (310)385-0880.

For a colorful ladies lunch, try Venezuelan cuisine. There are hundreds of Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles and a few Argentinean eateries. Peruvian restaurants are a popular destination right now, but where can you find authentic Venezuelan food?

In Beverly Hills is Coupa Cafe. The owner, Camelia Coupal, is a young, personable and attractive woman. The café has a large outdoor patio in the front and a tropical feeling interior.

The tiny tiles on the flooring are hand painted by a friend in Venezuela. In the back of the restaurant near the large bar, is a cozy sitting area with large pillows, a roaring fireplace and flat-screen television. Upstairs is a private room that looks down on the café. They host book club lunches and business meetings in this more private area. The walls throughout the café are painted a warm yellow and a pretty sweet potato hue.

For lunch, a good dish to try if you’ve never tasted Venezuelan food, is the Degustacion plate. It’s a colorful sampler plate that is fun to share with two to four friends. The dish is often served at parties in Venezuela with wonderful dipping sauces. I enjoyed the sweetness of the maracuchitos, which is fried cheese wrapped in plantains. I also liked the ground beef empanadas and the mini corn griddle pancakes with fresh queso de mano (white cheese). It looks like pats of butter on the little corn cakes. The flavors of these petite bites are enhanced with three sauces that accompany the dish. The guasacaca is avocado based, like a Venezuelan guacamole. The red picante trujillano has a spicy kick to it and the salsa de ajo is like a garlic aioli.

Next, we tried the arepas. They are wheat and gluten-free tasty treats. My favorite was the reina pepiada filled with white shredded breast of chicken, avocado and mayonnaise. It looks like a pita sandwich, yet is made with white cornmeal. The vegetarian arepas are filled with grilled eggplant, caramelized onions and heirloom tomatoes. Both were served with a green leaf salad.

In Venezuela they pack empanadas for picnics at the beach. They also eat them for breakfast. Spanish empanadas are different, because they are baked. At Coupa Café they are fried and served with Venezuelan white cheese, carne with black beans, cheese and plantains or chicken or ground beef. ”We tried other cheeses, like mozzarella, yet it melts and oozes out. The Venezuelan cheese stays firm and is the best,” Coupal said.

The last authentic dish we ordered was polvorosa de pollo. It’s a Venezuelan version of a chicken pot pie. The crust is made with raw sugar cane pulp. “It’s not doughy. Our guests love this crust,” Coupla declared.

It arrived with a side salad. The sweet crust is scrumptious and layered with shredded chicken, leeks, feta cheese and olives. I loved it.

Coupal encouraged us to try one more dish, the Pabellon, which is the National dish. “It’s staple food the poor people eat. Black beans, rice, shredded beef and sweet plantains, with corn arepitas. It’s presented on a platter beautifully. “Venezuelan food is not spicy like other countries, yet filled with delicious flavors,” Coupal said.

We finished with a demitasse of piquant hot chocolate with a touch of cayenne and chili pepper that tingles your throat as it glides down.

Come listen to the sounds of Venezuela while enjoying the essence of food from a country located on the northern coast of South America. $$ Hours are Sun. through Tues. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Wed. through Sat. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. 419 N. Canon Dr. (310)385-0420.

Not only ladies, but men love to lunch at this iconic hot spot in Beverly Hills. The food is great, however the staff make people feel very special.

There have only been three maître d’s at The Grill on the Alley in Beverly Hills in almost 30 years. The current maître d, Pamela Gonyea has been a beloved team member for 12 years. She greets each guest with a warm smile and fondly welcomes many of the regulars with a hug.

The Grill, as it’s fondly referred to by frequent guests, is located in the heart of Beverly Hills. It's known for its power-lunches with deals being negotiated by many of the entertainment industry’s elite.

Modeled after the grills of the 1930s and 40s in New York and San Francisco, the co-founders Bob Spivak, Mike Weinstock and Richard Shapiro, came across the space located on Wilshire Boulevard in 1984. The noise from the busy street clashed with the type of ambiance they were trying to cultivate. The partners changed the entrance to the alleyway behind the building to give the restaurant a more exclusive feel.

They offered classic American fare by trained professional and attentive servers in a dignified atmosphere. The Grill soon became famous for dishes such as pan fried John Dory, chicken pot-pie and their signature Cobb salad.

Ladies call ahead to see if the thinly coated and pan fried John Dory is being served on the day they want to lunch. It's seasoned with a lemon butter sauce and served with chunks of grilled vegetables drizzled in a balsamic barbecue sauce.

Don't be surprised to see ladies sharing a plate of the classic triple layered strawberry shortcake made with fresh baked biscuits and a heaping of fresh whipped cream.

The Grill on the Alley in Beverly Hills was the first to open of its kind. From 1998 to 2008, the partners opened The Grill on the Alley in San Jose, Chicago, Hollywood, Dallas, Westlake Village and in Aventura, Florida. They also opened various Daily Grills and Public School restaurants.

For steaks, chops, salads and classic fare, The Grill is a destination that will please all of your senses. $$$ Open for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Sundays open for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. 9560 Dayton Way (310)276-0615.

Ladies are meeting at the new and improved California Pizza Kitchen in Beverly Hills for lunch.

The interior has been transformed with reclaimed wood floors throughout and warm colors with a hint of the trademark yellow. The table tops are from barns across America.

They still offer some of the greatest salads, pastas and pizza that include Chicken Tequila Fettuccine and the original BBQ chicken salad. The SVP of Culinary Development Brian Sullivan has added some new items on the menu that include a creative Sunny Side Up Bacon + Potato Pizza and Lobster Roll on Parmesan flatbread with Maine Lobster.

In 1985 attorneys Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax opened a bright yellow casual restaurant on Beverly Drive. It was located on a block in Beverly Hills that didn't get as much foot traffic as the Beverly Drive north of Wilshire Blvd received.

Within a year this street starting becoming more of a social hub as locals and visitors flocked inside to try a unique barbecued chicken pizza and wonderful pasta dishes.

For lunch and midday diners looking for a diverse selection of Lunch Duos offers dozens of pairing combinations starting at $8.95. Select a pizza or half a sandwich. Next select a cup of soup or a lunch size salad and finish with a beverage. Available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In 1992, PepsiCo bought CPK for almost $100 million. Unfortunately, the restaurant changed. Regulars noticed the different in quality and service. In 2003, Flax and Rosenfield resumed control of CPK. Thank Goodness!

In 2011, Hospitality expert GJ Hart became the CEO of California Pizza Kitchen. He has embraced the roots of the culinary innovation and authenticity of CPK. Renovating the Beverly Hills restaurant is revitalizing the success of CPK's future.

Some ladies like to start their lunch with a refreshing Blueberry Ginger Smash or the summer favorite, a citrus adobe margarita made with a smooth tequila is popular.

They also offer a unique and divine wine selection with 6 oz., 9 oz. and sold by the bottle. Sangria and wine flights include three 3 oz. pours for $11.99.

California Pizza Kitchen has over 230 locations in 32 US states and 11 other countries. They have 26 California Pizza Kitchen ASAP kiosks in airports and shopping centers to serve people quickly.

The following are television shows or movies that have been filmed in Beverly Hills.

In the 1960s they filmed The Beverly Hillbillies. Now they film The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills about wealthy women and their families living in and around Beverly Hills. You will see Vanderpump's Villa Blanca sometimes in the show.

The E Channel has #Rich Kids of Beverly Hills giving viewers a taste of the wealthy Beverly Hills lifestyle.

Julia Roberts and Richard Gere went on a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive in the movie Pretty Woman. Roberts stayed at the prestigious Beverly Wilshire. The hotel has been a 'home away from home" for celebrities such as Elvis Presley and John Lennon, as well as, leaders including President Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama and the Emperor of Japan.

In 1990, millions of viewers followed the drama of a group of friends living in Beverly Hills in the Aaron Spelling television hit 90201.