Upland

"Are you really thinking of bringing your family to The Smith again? Try Upland instead. The menu here is similar in spirt to what you'd find at The Smith, but with a few more Italian-leaning options. Even if you have a bunch of picky eaters in your family, the pasta-burger-salad-dominant menu is large enough for everyone to find something that they’re at least mildly excited about. The space also looks like Martha Stewart's doomsday bunker (in a good way), and there are plenty of spacious booths." - hannah albertine, kenny yang

"Upland works for everything. Dinner, lunch, brunch—the American restaurant does it all, and has room for every single member of your book club or extended family. The huge space, with its dark green booths and jars of preserved lemons, looks like it fell out of a Williams Sonoma catalog, and the California-inspired dishes are both slightly boring and very reliable. Get a pizza, some pasta, or a branzino for two, or swing by during the day if you want to try the best burger in the neighborhood." - bryan kim, hannah albertine

"Only served at lunch and brunch, Upland’s burger tastes like an In-N-Out double-double that started going to Crossfit, got jacked, and began wearing avocado and peppers. The whole thing is basically a love letter to California, complete with a tiny state flag toothpick that holds it together. And at $28, it’s also a lot less expensive than a flight to LAX." - will hartman, bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, kenny yang

"Foodies all over are trekking to sample Chef Justin Smillie's California-inspired cuisine. But design buffs should also take note: the interior here (by Roman and Williams) is just as stunning as the kale sausage pizza. With an open kitchen, an airy dining room and copper light sconces sparkling all over, the entire restaurant seems to glow with effortless sophistication. Whether it’s a special occasion, a romantic night out, or a fancy brunch, Upland always seems to hit the spot." - Marcelo Cardoso

"Upland is one of the few restaurants that we fully endorse for just about any type of lunch. You'll likely be surrounded by people having business meals in the emerald green booths, but, despite the high ceilings and massive wall of preserved lemons, this place isn't especially uptight or fancy. Share the beef tartare, have a midday martini, and dive into a plate of pasta. Also, the burger is only available at lunch and brunch, so you should probably order that, too." - Bryan Kim, Kenny Yang, Hannah Albertine