Reese Witherspoon is adding to her A-list friend circle.

The Academy Award winner -- whose celebrity BFFs include Chelsea Handler and Robert Pattinson** -- shared a meal with sitcom star Mindy Kaling** at Tavern Restaurant in L.A.'s Brentwood neighborhood Dec. 1.

The fast friends were seen laughing as they left Witherspoon's favorite restaurant. Before Witherspoon sped off in her own car, the 36-year-old mother of three stopped by a local newsstand to pick up a couple of magazines.

Kaling, 33, has long been a fan of romantic comedies -- Witherspoon's included. During a recent episode of FOX's The Mindy Project (which Kaling created and stars in), the actress' character made a direct reference to Witherspoon's 2005 chick flick Just Like Heaven, costarring Mark Ruffalo.

"Call me Reese Witherspoon, cause I'm going on a date with an architect tonight!" Kaling's character, Dr. Mindy Lahiri, joked.

Witherspoon, meanwhile, has been keeping a low profile since the Sept. 27 arrival of her son Tennessee James (with husband Jim Toth). She next appears in the movies Mud (opposite Matthew McConaughey**) and Devil's Knot (opposite Colin Firth**), both slated for release in 2013.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: PICTURE: Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling Go on a Lunch Date!