Partyhopper

From In Style's Karen Levy in Los Angeles: Katsuya, a restaurant in the San Fernando Valley, has long been a hot spot for stars who not only groove on the fresh sushi and sashimi but also dig the low-key atmosphere. Very low-key (think: strip mall).

It was even sometimes worth the drive for us non-valley dwellers, who don't exactly relish the idea of  braving the 405 and the 101 freeways for some crab or spicy tuna rolls.

Photos courtesy of Katsuya

Well, now we don't have to. The owners smartly decided to open a branch in Brentwood, right near the In Style West Coast offices. Lucky us!

The newer version is much sleeker in design (thanks to famed interior designer Philippe Stark) but has the same high-quality fare. (Of course, the hip factor is high, given that it's owned by SBE Restaurant Group, which is also behind some of the hottest spots in town, including Area and Hyde.) Apparently, Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart, Bruce Willis, Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have all checked the place out, and Lindsay Lohan took her mom there just the other week.

Recently I went with our bureau chief, Glynis, for a PR lunch to see what all the fuss was about. Not really in the mood for sushi that day, we ordered the creamy rock shrimp tempura, steak robata, meat-wrapped asparagus and yaki onigiri (seasoned rice ball)—and we were not disappointed. We were so stuffed by the end of the meal, though, that we didn't get to try the  chocolate "lover" cake, which everyone says is to die for.

One drawback: There is no valet service at lunchtime, so if you mind driving around for a parking space, you might be better off going for dinner when the valet is out front. Oh, and if you make it there, please try that chocolate cake and let us know how it is.

-- James Patrick Herman