Holiday Shopping: Where to Refuel

When you’re out holiday shopping, you’ll have to refuel.

Santa Monica: On Main Street, try the panini ($7.95) at Panini Garden: pollo marinato (mozzarella, bacon, chicken and peppers) or pesto (grilled zucchini and eggplant, tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto sauce). On the Third Street Promenade, get the Broadway Deli’s Reuben sandwich ($9.95), Nicoise salad ($9.50) or crunchy potato pancake with smoked salmon ($6.50). On Montana Avenue, get Babalu’s fish tacos ($11.95) or blackened sombrero chicken sandwich ($9.95) and save room for the banana brownie ($5.75). Panini Garden, 2715 Main St., (310) 399-9939. Broadway Deli, 1460 Third Street Promenade, (310) 451-0616. Babalu, 1002 Montana Ave., (310) 395-2500.

Beverly Hills: At Bar on Four on the top floor of Neiman-Marcus, grab a turkey chili ($9.50) or the decadent lobster roll with smoked bacon and avocado ($18.75). On Beverly Drive, drop by the Farm of Beverly Hills for a hearty sandwich, such as the steak with grilled onions, roasted peppers and Jack cheese ($12.75) or the salmon salad ($12.75). For dessert, don’t miss the warm, molten chocolate cake ($6.95). The Bar on Four, Neiman Marcus, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., (310) 550-5900. The Farm of Beverly Hills, 439 N. Beverly Drive, (310) 273-5578.

Century City: While you’re braving the crowds at this lively mall, stop by Jody Maroni for a smoky chicken andouille sausage or a Venetian chicken sausage made with sun-dried tomatoes, basil and Parmesan (both $3.99). All sausages come with grilled onions and peppers. There’s also Tacone, for unusual wraps such as the Thai cone, with rice, chicken in peanut sauce and Thai cucumber salad, and the Spa, with grilled vegetables, feta cheese and balsamic dressing (both $6.25). Jody Maroni Sausage Kingdom, Century City Marketplace, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., (310) 556-0899. Tacone, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., (310) 557-3003.

Northridge Fashion Center: At Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill, tuck into the chicken salad with fresh corn and white beans ($7.95) or a sandwich piled with sliced tri-tip ($8.95). If you have room, get a hot fruit cobbler a la mode ($3.95). Sushi Factory Japanese Seafood has an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet ($12.95) featuring 30 kinds of sushi and hot entrees such as Mongolian beef, baked mussels, sukiyaki, teriyaki beef and chicken. Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill, 9301 Tampa Ave., (818) 886-6464. Sushi Factory Japanese Seafood, 9301 Tampa Ave., (818) 700-0131.

Pasadena: At Clearwater Seafood, try the grilled shrimp Caesar ($12.95) or the heartier Atlantic salmon with dried cherries in Pinot Noir sauce ($14.95). For dessert, share a buttery warm apple tart a la mode ($5.95)--or have it all to yourself. Goldstein’s Bagel Bakery serves hefty bagel sandwiches such as the New Yorker with lox ($4.55) or the kids’ favorite, a bagel pizza ($3.39). At Father Nature’s Lavash Wrap, order the Fisherman’s wrap with salmon ($6.50), the eggplant a la Delacy ($4.95) or the Father Nature wrap of chicken with hummus and garlic sauce ($4.95). Clearwater Seafood, 168 W. Colorado Blvd., (626) 356-0959. Goldstein’s Bagel Bakery, 86 W. Colorado Blvd., (626) 792-2435. Father Nature’s Lavash Wraps, 17 Delacy Ave., (626) 568-9811.

South Coast Plaza: Some of the best chefs in Orange County have restaurants here. At Pascal Olhat’s Cafe Pascal, the light menu is full of things like a goat cheese and smoked salmon crepe ($7.95) and a prosciutto panini, a sandwich of Kalamata olives, mozzarella and prosciutto ($8.25). Try the very European Nutella crepe ($4.75) or cafe liegois, an espresso and caramel ice cream sundae, the Southwest Z’Tejas for its pecan-crusted chicken spinach salad with warm bacon vinaigrette ($8.95), wild mushroom enchilada with ancho mole cream sauce ($7.95) and nutty ancho chile fudge pie ($4.95). Cafe Pascal, 3333 Bristol St., Suite 2505, Costa Mesa, (714) 751-4911. Z’Tejas, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, Suite 1876, (714) 979-7469.

Jessica Strand