A Plate of Freshly Baked Cookies

What could be more satisfying than freshly baked cookies?

James’ Beach: Filled with walnuts and chocolate chips, these cookies are baked to order and served warm and gooey, seven or eight to an order. Have a cappuccino and split a plate with a friend. (Chocolate chip cookies, $8.) James’ Beach, 60 N. Venice Blvd., Venice, (310) 823-5396.

the house: Here comes a plate of childhood favorites: a tiny brownie, a raspberry thumbprint cookie, and peanut butter, oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, along with a homemade sucker, fresh marshmallows, a miniature candy bar, cappuccino bonbons and a pecan melt-away. And animal crackers that change nightly--you might get a dragonfly or a rhino! (Plate of cookies and milk, $7.) the house, 5750 Melrose Ave., L.A., (323) 462-4687.

Lucques: This plate features four cookies: a crisp sugar cookie, a Valrhona chocolate chip, a crunchy but moist gingersnap and an almond thumbprint cookie flavored with lemon zest. (Plate of cookies, $6.) Lucques, 8474 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (323) 655-6277.

Sage: Pastry chef Suzanne Schoen changes her cookie lineup weekly, but you’ll always find a couple of her classics, such as chocolate chip, peanut butter or oatmeal, or a buttery Russian tea cookie or an almond madeleine. You also might find a maple syrup butter cookie or a chocolate kringle. (Plate of cookies, $5.) Sage, Eastbluff Center, 2531 Eastbluff Drive, Newport Beach, (949) 718-9650.

Michael’s: Pastry chef Efren Roberts’ cookie plate often includes a peanut butter cookie, a chocolate chip, a rich sugar cookie and a lemon bar. You might also find some chocolate-covered fruit, baby candy bars and a tiny chocolate truffle or creme caramel. In the center of the plate: a seasonal sorbet (at the moment, strawberry). (Cookie and confection plate, $8.) Michael’s, 1147 3rd St., Santa Monica, (310) 451-0843.

Barney Greengrass: This sophisticated deli on the fifth floor of Barneys New York offers a huge choice of cookies, five or six to the plate: peanut butter, chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin; walnut biscotti, fudge brownies, Florentines, jelly centers, assorted rugelach and more, all baked daily on the premises. (Mixed cookies plate, $5.50.) Barney Greengrass, Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 777-5877.

Jessica Strand