anton & michel mission st./ocean ave., (831) 624-2406. l-d daily; $$$. reservations advised. overlooking the court of the fountains, this sophisticated, soothing restaurant is welcoming, and original oil paintings adorn the walls. in good weather, courtyard seating is available. on a menu laden with the best of old-time classics, the specialty is items prepared tableside, including flambéed desserts--cherries jubilee, crepe suzette, and bananas foster. we started our divine, flawless repast with a martini--heavy on the olives--and a grilled giant local artichoke with fried capers and garlic-mint aioli. our mains were deeply flavorful, long-braised kobe beef short ribs with mashed potatoes and rack of lamb. an extremely good 2014 lucia pinot noir from nearby vineyards made the perfect companion. more options not to overlook include french onion soup, pan-roasted chicken with root vegetables, and california red abalone. or you can pull out all the plugs and make your selection simple, yet still impress the surrounding tables, with the 3-course classic dinner for two prepared tableside that includes caesar salad, rack of lamb, and a flambéed dessert. we ended our meal with cherries jubilee featuring delicious, very large, premium bing cherries over vanilla ice cream. as would be expected, service is top-notch. the bar is a great choice for a smaller meal, and lunch features a selection of sandwiches and salads.