The annual Bon App?tit magazine list of best new restaurants is a rather big deal in the food world. It's the rare culinary publication that still covers the entire country, so the competition is pretty hot. This list of 50 is just the first step: Later in the month the magazine will announce the top 10, and then after that one lucky restaurant reaps the rewards of being named No. 1.Here are the five Southern California finalists.Baroo

Have you heard about the glory of fermented foods? You certainly will here. It's something of an unlikely success story, but then, who doesn't like a good pickle?

5706 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; (323) 819-4344, baroo.com.Winsome

This is, of late, the hottest brunch spot in town. The baked goods get a lot of praise, as do savory items such as roasted root vegetables with spiced carrots. It's all very wholesome.

1115 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park; (213) 415-1818, winsome.com.RiceBar

Filipino food is making an overdue splash in SoCal right now, so we're glad to see it get national attention. And this place specializes in heirloom grains and housemade charcuterie. So very L.A.

419 W. Seventh St., downtown; (213) 807-5341, ricebarla.com.Trois Familia

Co-owners Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo and Ludo Lefebvre are the kind of chefs who get noticed. Between their charm and their buttery burritos, it's not a shocker their latest, Trois Familia, is on the list.

3510 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake; (323) 725-7800, troisfamilia.com.Cassia
This might be the most perfect French-Vietnamese restaurant open today ? and there are a fair number of such establishments. Try the seafood and the charcuterie.

1314 Seventh St., Santa Monica; (310) 393-6699, cassiala.com.