As all lotharios know, waiting for something you crave just enhances the eventual reward.

It's similar to the feeling you get when you step inside the new Crudo Bar & Ristorante. After much buzz and prepwork, the Sunset Strip venue is now soft-open for weekday lunches.

With a spacious bar and lounge area, covered patio and dining room, this raw-Italian haven can be used for a meeting, a hot double date or a boring one with her parents. The big draw of the place is the central crudo bar, which is like a sushi bar, but with more Italian accents. There you can feast on cold specials like Carpacco di Salmon and Pinzimonio (raw vegetables…mmm).

If you can't stomach the thought of a meal that's not hot, we suggest the filet, the Carbonara di Mare (homemade spaghetti with whitefish and zucchini) or the Bistecca di pescespada (it's like a swordfish steak).

The best place for privacy is one of the dining room's rear booths.  There you can get down to work on an exciting new business venture.

Or to the business of explaining what you were doing last night.