A Guide to the Best of Southern California : AT HOME : Restaurants in a Flash

GETTING TOGETHER with friends for a meal can be a challenge, especially when they’re spread out all over Los Angeles and Orange counties. It’s not uncommon to hear the suggestion, “Let’s meet for dinner somewhere between our house and your house.” But where? “Flashfacts Restaurant Guide for Los Angeles and Orange County,” a no-frills directory designed for quick reference, can help.

A reference map, which identifies 15 Southland geographic dining areas with referral page numbers for more than 800 restaurants, is included in the center of the directory. Each dining-area section begins with a detailed map showing neighborhoods, major cross streets and freeways, and is followed by a restaurant list and cuisine category (both alphabetically ordered). Data includes address, telephone number, business hours, estimated meal costs, reservations, parking information, composite rating and special features.

As the publisher states in the introduction: “The primary purpose of our publication is not to dazzle you with our insights about the restaurants covered, but to help you identify your best choices for lunch, brunch or dinner in a given area as quickly as possible.” The guide, $4.95, will be updated every six months. An all-new edition, which will cover the San Diego and Palm Springs areas and include a special section on the best restuarants in Tijuana, is due out in May.

“Flashfacts Restaurant Guide for Los Angeles and Orange County” is available at area newsstands and some major supermarkets and bookstores, or by calling (800) 451-3622.