The epitome of a celeb-friendly restaurant: casual discretion, good food and a din loud enough to ensure that no one could possibly overhear the personal conversation taking place at the next table.

Il Sole isn't hidden in the bucolic, serene-setting sense; it's just so understated that many people drive right past it on the Sunset Strip. Compact and often booked well in advance, it's not for the party-on-the-spot scenesters, and not really for foodies clamoring for the next big thing. It's more a place to get a delicious plate of pasta without having to worry about wowing the crowds (or ducking away from them). The casual we're-all-somebody vibe often includes A-listers like Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The menu and wine list are similar to others in town—fresh salads with an Italian twist, penne alla vodka, spaghetti with Manila clams and garlic white-wine sauce—and with prices this kind of crowd won't notice. The dessert list is lengthy, and everything is made in-house, but the plate of cookies is the biggest crowd pleaser. The charming, professional servers are incredibly adept at swooping between the close-knit tables. —Lesley Balla