Roll Like a Nominee in Award-Season L.A.

By day the city is awash in lunches staged by publicists looking to get clients a bit of Oscar press (whether they warrant the attention or not). High-wattage lunch spots such as The Ivy are part of the tabloid assembly line, with perfectly dressed actresses lingering at the valet before indulging in lunches where they forgo the favored crab cakes or spectacular swordfish tacos in lieu of undressed salads. A lesser glare can be had a nearby spots such a Cecconi's with its perfect bar and an evolving menu that is only getting tastier, or the even more casual Joan's on Third, a gourmet deli and bakery that hosts a more relaxed kind of power lunch.