Pizzeria Mozza is LA's top-rated newcomer.
Just released today, our 2008 Los Angeles/Southern California Restaurants Survey – based on input from 8,859 frequent diners and covering 2,187 restaurants – confirms what those trying to get reservations may have already suspected: Mario Batali and Nancy Silverton's Hollywood hot spot, Pizzeria Mozza, is the Top-Rated Newcomer.
Los Angelenos also embraced newcomer Canele, a hip Mediterranean in Atwater Village that took second place. New-to-the-scene Celadon, a swanky Eclectic/Eurasian on Third Street, and Blue Velvet, a Downtown New American with a strong commitment to the environment, followed in third and fourth place.
“Few cities offer more variety than Los Angeles’ dining scene,” said Tim Zagat, co-founder of Zagat Survey. “The people of Paris can only dream of having as many top quality Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Mexican and Cal-Med style restaurants from which to choose."
Other big winners included Mélisse, which has reclaimed the number-one spot for Food, and Spago, which captured the title of Most Popular restaurant for the first time. For the second consecutive year, Hotel Bel-Air Restaurant took both Top Decor and Service honors.