"This may come as a surprise, but Brentwood has only two steakhouses: the traditional Baltaire and Matu Kai, a new-school spot that mostly forgoes the stuffiness associated with places selling slabs of red meat. At this dim and sexy spin-off (the original location is in Beverly Hills), the star is grass-fed wagyu from New Zealand and meaty appetizers like steak tartare, ribeye skewers, or an excellent fancy cheesesteak only available at the bar. If it’s your first time, get the “Matu Dinner for Two.” The five-course tasting includes a cup of bone broth and steak tartare, and it’s your best chance to eat wagyu ribeye west of the 405 for less than $90 per person." - sylvio martins, brant cox