THIS WEEK: LIGHT FARE

The steak might be tender, the veggies perfectly fresh, your date a true charmer, but if the lighting is off, none of that really matters. Some perfectly illuminated spots.

CANELE

Orange light bounces off dark wood tables and blankets this entire Atwater Village restaurant in warmth. It’s so comforting you’ll find yourself ordering dessert, then coffee and an extra glass of wine just to linger a little longer. In this case, we recommend the peach cobbler. 3219 Glendale Blvd., L.A., (323) 666-7133

CITIZEN SMITH

Soaring ceilings, elaborate chandeliers and candles give this Hollywood bar and restaurant plenty of bang for the many bucks you’ll shell out for drinks and dinner. The decadent wood tables will make the sometimes two-hour time limit fly by. 1600 N. Cahuenga Blvd., L.A., (323) 461-5001

CAFE STELLA

Even if you’ve been fired, dumped and evicted, you’ll find something to toast. The string of lights crisscrossing the patio makes for a celebration every night. The indoor rooms -- warmed by amber candles and decorated with paintings and oddities -- are as authentically Parisian as any we’ve seen. 3932 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A., (323) 666-0265

THE LITTLE DOOR

Behind its unassuming barn door lies an enchanted forest - if enchanted forests had Mediterranean cuisine, a bar and enthusiastic smokers, that is. In the striking patio, candelabras hang down from a canopy of vines, and two-foot-high candle holders light each table flatteringly from above. 8164 W. 3rd St., L.A., (323) 951-1210

PICCOLO RISTORANTE

It’s not only the soft beige candles and pristine matte walls that make this Northern Italian eatery a pleasure of experience. Located on a walk street around the corner from the Venice Beach boardwalk, often the fog rolls right by the storefront windows, transporting diners to a place where the traffic consists only of pedestrians and weather. 5 Dudley Ave., Venice, (310) 314-3222

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theguide@latimes.com