LUNCH PICKS ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE

dineLA Restaurant Week returns for the second and final time in 2013 from July 15-26. Restaurants that do it right repeatedly include The Bazaar, Craft, Fogo de Chao, and Lawry’s. You’ll be happy if you go there, but also be sure to check out these places. After all, you’ve got 24 meals to play with, so make your calendar count with my top picks.

Establishments appear in alphabetical order instead of in order of preference.

DINNER

1. Bashan Restaurant ($45)

SUMMARY: Chef Nadav Bashan and wife Romy have carved out a nice culinary niche in the northern Glendale neighborhood of Sparr Heights. The couple routinely delivers cuisine that can compete with most restaurants in the flats.

STANDOUT DISHES (aka, what I’d order): McGrath Family Farms Grilled White Nectarine Salad • Lemon Thyme Roasted Wild Alaskan Halibut • Crème Fraiche Cheesecake

2. Crossroads Kitchen ($25)

SUMMARY: Parnell Delcham and team tapped famed vegan chef Tal Ronnen to deliver an upscale dining experience for the meat-averse denizens of West Hollywood.

STANDOUT DISHES (aka, what I’d order): Kale Salad • Wood Roasted Okra • “Crab Cakes” • Scaloppini Piccata • Chocolate Ganache Tartlet

3. The Gorbals ($35)

SUMMARY: Offbeat chef-owner Ilan Hall doesn’t approach cooking like other L.A. chefs, which has enabled him to turn the windowless core of downtown’s Alexandria Hotel into a destination.

STANDOUT DISHES (aka, what I’d order): Green Tomato Gazpacho • Broccoli • Banh Mi Poutine • Sticky Toffee Pudding

4. Loteria Grill ($35)

SUMMARY: Mexico City native Jimmy Shaw embraces new dishes during Restaurant Week at his rapidly expanding restaurant empire, which stretches from Westlake Village to Studio City, and soon enough, down to LAX.

STANDOUT DISHES (aka, what I’d order): Huarache Azul de Medallon de Res • Chile Relleno de Manzana y Nuez Garapinada con Salsa Epazote • Helados de la Casa (Sweet Cheese)

5. NIGHT + MARKET ($35)

SUMMARY: Kris Yenbamroong runs this fashionable Thai restaurant next to his parents’ neighborhood institution, Talesai. His no-holds barred dishes would stand out anywhere in L.A.

STANDOUT DISHES (aka, what I’d order): Peek Gai Hey-Ha (“Party Wings”) • Gaeng Pa Hoi • Khao Soi Haw

6. Picca ($45)

SUMMARY: Ricardo Zarate and Stephane Bombet did the unthinkable; they brought a party to sleepy Beverlywood, and people have responded by flocking to Sotto’s upstairs neighbor for modern Peruvian food.

STANDOUT DISHES (aka, what I’d order): Eggplant • Amaebi • Saltado de Quail • Tiradito de Salmon • Lucuma Panna Cotta

7. The Spice Table ($35)

SUMMARY: This contemporary Little Tokyo restaurant from chef Bryant Ng and his wife Kim reflects their connection to Singapore and Vietnam, which shines between brick walls.

STANDOUT DISHES (aka, what I’d order): Peanuts & Fried Baby Anchovies • Grilled Beef Salad • Kon Loh Mee • Kaffir Lime Custard