Spend any time with the local of Ojai, and expect to hear about Suzanne's Cuisine. The charming restaurant offers one of the best patios in town, with upscaled cuisine that makes for a perfectly elegant evening out among the hills and trees. The restaurant has been keeping those same customers happy since 1992, and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down now.

Approximate drive from Downtown without traffic: 1 hour and 45 minutes

The party is always on at Lure Fish House in downtown Ventura. The large, open dining area really cranks on weekends (especially during the summer), when locals and tourists alike line up for drinks or wait for a table. The effort usually pays off thanks to an expansive menu that includes line-caught fish, fresh oysters, and lots of grilled lobster. Lure boasts multiple locations across the Ventura area, but this flagship is the one to try.

Approximate drive time from Downtown without traffic: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Big Bear is known for its shimmering lake and big mountain vistas, but the food is often considered rather lackluster. That's why so many folks flock to Himalayan Restaurant, a joint Nepalese-Indian outfit that isn't afraid to play the hits. Explore curries, masalas, and naan bread baed in a tandoor, but don't skip on the mo-mos, hefty Himalayan dumplings that seem to hit every table, all night long.

Approximate drive time from Downtown without traffic: 2 hours and 10 minutes

The San Manuel Casino in Highland, CA is hardly the place one might expect to find upscale dining done right, but the recently renovated steakhouse The Pines is trying to change all that. Fine cuts of beef match well with a surprisingly substantial wine list, with customers trickling in from the gaming floor or the nearby community. And truly, what better way to work off some of that hard-earned cash than with an opulent white tablecloth kind of meal? Don't sleep on the weekend brunch buffet either.

Approximate drive time from Downtown without traffic: 1 hour and 10 minutes

This breakfast and lunch destination tucked away in the Topanga Canyon is a great place for hikers and mountain bikers to start their day. With hearty breakfast sandwiches using house baked English muffins to a fluffy three-egg salmon scramble, it’s one of the most compelling destinations for early birds in the hills between Malibu and Agoura.

Approximate drive time from Downtown without traffic: 50 minutes

This popular wedding venue and restaurant was the historic Chumash Indian site and also the place of Aimee Semple McPherson’s private retreat in the 1930s. The property was then rehabbed in the 1970s and has been a meeting place for local artists and hippies ever since. The whole vibe’s a little on the culty side, with a focus on wholesome, organic food, but the romantic environs are undeniable.

Approximate drive time from Downtown without traffic: 40 minutes

This modern fine dining restaurant inside the Monarch Beach Resort is a treat for gourmands and serious food lovers wanting an elevated experience in Orange County. The Michael Mina outlet sports a reasonably priced $125 tasting menu with a $75 wine pairings. There’s an a la carte menu for tables that want to go that route too.

Approximate drive time from Downtown without traffic: 1 hour and 10 minutes

A true find in the Topanga Canyon, The Old Place is a lovely Western-style lodge with wood-fired grill cooking that time seems to have forgotten. Founded in the 1970s, the place was spruced up after the son of the original owner took over ownership in 2009. With a classic steakhouse-style menu, try the bone-in oak-grilled ribeye.

Approximate drive time from Downtown without traffic: 50 minutes