Top Chefs Reveal Their Favorite Power-Dining Spots In New York, L.A. & Nashville

Vespertine’s Jordan Kahn, Henrietta Red’s Julia Sullivan and The Grill’s Mario Carbone -- who helm three of the most popular power-dining spots in the nation -- share where to dine now in the music industry’s creative hubs.

LOS ANGELES

Breakfast: Gjusta
320 Sunset Ave., 310-314-0320

“Throw a dart at anything on the menu, and it will be amazing,” says Kahn of the Venice-based artisanal bakery/deli that offers up killer sandwiches like the Tuna Conserva, served on sourdough bread with caper aioli, roasted peppers, salted cucumber and tapenade.

Lunch: Pine and Crane
1521 Griffith Park Blvd., 323-668-1128

Situated in the heart of Silver Lake, this casual Taiwanese-Chinese restaurant serves small plates (spicy shrimp wontons with house chili oil), traditional cold appetizers that change daily, vegan substitutions and staples like the braised beef brisket noodle soup.

Dinner: Bar Ama
118 W. Fourth St., 213-687-8002

“There are so many options in this city, but this is the one I continually crave the most,” says Kahn of the downtown outpost that serves thoughtful Tex-Mex. “It’s delicious, fun and leaves you wanting more. My favorite items tend to be the vegetables. I [usually] order every item on the right side of the menu.”

NASHVILLE

Breakfast: Cafe Roze
1115 Porter Road, 615-645-9100

“People have been loving this newly opened East Nashville spot,” says Sullivan. “It’s got a great cafe environment with lots of wonderful egg options for breakfast and really great coffee.” The eatery also is solid for lunch or dinner, for which Sullivan has a clear go-to: “Give one of the grain bowls a try.”

Lunch: Adele’s
1210 McGavock St., 615-988-9700

James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathan Waxman serves cultural cuisine, including bucatini carbonara and his American signature JW Chicken, in what used to be a tire garage in the Gulch neighborhood. “It’s a convivial atmosphere, but it’s not too boisterous,” says Sullivan.

Dinner: Two Ten Jack
1900 Eastland Ave., Suite 105; 615-454-2731

This izakaya-style East Nashville gem with a stellar selection of single-malt Japanese whiskeys “has the best ramen in Nashville,” says Sullivan, though she primarily goes for the small plates: “Brussels sprouts, octopus or seaweed salad, and hush puppies with miso.”

NEW YORK

Breakfast: Sant Ambroeus
1000 Madison Ave., 212-570-2211

This sophisticated Milanese confetteria has more than proved itself to be the place for a morning meal on the Upper East Side since opening in 1982. “I’m a sucker for the Italian coffee and pastry. No one does it better,” says Carbone, who goes for the cappuccino and cornetti.

Lunch: Empéllon
510 Madison Ave., 212-858-9365

Carbone enjoys the newest of chef Alex Stupak’s three Manhattan restaurants. “They have world-class tacos,” he says, that span vegetarian options like falafel and ones with pastrami and mustard-seed salsa. There’s also a dessert version filled with corn ice cream.

Dinner: The Beatrice Inn
285 W. 12th St., 212-675-2808

Chef Angie Mar has revamped the chophouse -- that now serves a 160-day whiskey-aged tomahawk ribeye for a whopping $375 -- into a West Village culinary destination. “I love supporting old-style restaurants like that to keep them busy and vibrant,” says Carbone, adding, “The duck flambé is my go-to dish.”

This article originally appeared in the Jan. 27 issue of Billboard.