Five Star Restaurant

For a special occasion or romantic evening out, here are California's best restaurants, as featured in the Forbes Travel Guide 2011 awards.

One of my favorite chefs, Craig Strong, received a five star rating for his cuisine at Studio Laguna Beach, which also boasts some of the most romantic views along the California coast. To learn more about this five star restaurant, and watch Chef Strong prepare one of his signature dishes, click here.

Following is a list of Forbes five star restaurants in California. For the complete list of Mobil five star restaurants around the world, including five star Las Vegas restaurants (located about 3 1/2 hours from LA), go to www.forbestravelguide.com.

Here are their 2011 5-star and 4-star award winners.

Five-star restaurants

• San Diego: Addison
• San Francisco: Dining Room at The Ritz
  
• Yountville: The French Laundry
• Laguna Beach: Studio

Four-star restaurants

• Beverly Hills: The Belvedere
• Big Sur: Sierra Mar Restaurant
• Carmel Valley: Marinus
• Dana Point: Stonehill Tavern
• Healdsburg: Cyrus
• La Jolla: A.R. Valentien
• Los Angeles: Ortolan
• Los Angeles: Patina
  
• Los Gatos: Manresa
• Newport Beach: Andrea
• Oakhurst: Erna's Elderberry House
• San Francisco, Campton Place
  
• San Francisco, Fleur de Lys
  
• San Francisco, Gary Danko
  
• San Francisco, La Folie
  
• San Francisco, Masa's
  
• San Francisco, Quince
  
• San Francisco, Silks
  
• San Francisco, Spruce
  
• Santa Barbara: Miro
• Santa Monica: Melisse
• St. Helena: Terra
• St. Helena: The Restaurant at Meadowood
• Woodside: The Village Pub