For Adam Alper, every great meal is worth the hunt. Better known to his hundreds of thousands of followers by his social media moniker, Rick Lox, the popular food influencer has built a loyal audience through his honest, no-holds-barred restaurant reviews and relentless pursuit of the perfect "Lox Level, 10/10." Whether spotlighting iconic institutions or hidden gems, his mission is simple: help people discover restaurants truly worth their time. Although his search regularly takes him across Los Angeles and around the world, it's Brentwood that he calls home with his wife, Alex Georgy—herself a content creator—and their young son, Ari. A born-and-raised Angeleno, Lox always envisioned putting down roots here. "Brentwood has a unique balance of being peaceful and family-oriented while still feeling connected to everything LA has to offer," he says. It's also the perfect home base for one of the city's emerging culinary voices. "The Brentwood food scene is now one of the most exciting in Los Angeles, with new noteworthy restaurants opening weekly," Lox says. "It's become a neighborhood where you really don't have to leave to have an amazing meal, regardless of what you're craving." When he's not chasing his next review, Lox serves as co-founder and COO of BWB, the experiential and influencer marketing agency he and his wife built together. Here, Lox shares a few of his favorite local spots. @ricklox; bwbagency.com
"While Matū Kai is probably best known for its cheesesteak (it's absolutely delicious), it's also one of the best modern steakhouses in Los Angeles." 11777 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 134; 310-810-2501; matusteak.com
"Neighborly has been such a great addition to the Brentwood community—providing a wide variety of cuisines and options all under one roof, with my favorite being Mini Kabob!" 11754 San Vicente Blvd.; 424-289-4124; beneighborly.com
"I've been going to Pizzana's original location in Brentwood since the beginning, and they're still serving some of the best pizza (and more) in the city." 11712 San Vicente Blvd., 310-481-7108; pizzana.com
“PopUp Bagels is one of my favorite bagel destinations in the country and I was super excited when they chose Brentwood as their first location in Los Angeles." 11710 San Vicente Blvd.; 855-747-6347; popupbagels.com
"Petitgrain Boulangerie is hands down the best bakery in all of Los Angeles. You can't go wrong with anything here, but my favorite items are the croissants and cinnamon roll." 1209 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica; 424-229-5155; petitgrainboulangerie.com
"Muse is one of LA's most underrated restaurants. Chef/owner Fardad Khayami has created one of the best elevated dining experiences in the city–the food, drinks, ambiance and service are all spectacular." 108 W. Channel Rd., Santa Monica; 424-238-5107; musesantamonica.com
"Helmed by award-winning Chef Dave Beran, both Seline and Pasjoli are located on Main St. in Santa Monica. Head to Seline for one of LA's best fine dining tasting menus and Pasjoli for neighborhood French bistro vibes." Seline; 3110 Main St., Suite 132; 424-744-8811; selinerestaurant.com. Pasjoli; 2732 Main Street, Santa Monica; 424-330-0020; pasjoli.com