365 Places to Eat

We had a mixed experience eating at Fraiche last year. Good food, horrible service, but great desserts. We decided to give Riva, from the folks who brought you Fraiche, a try to see if things were any better over there.

I can say that yes, our experience was better and that yes, we had a terrific meal.

Riva has a sizable Crudo portion of their menu, about equal number of selections as their appetizer and entree sections. We started with a Japanese hamachi, which was cubed and topped with a very light citrus and green onion flavor. My wife determined, and I concurred, that two of the small cubes were a perfect bite to get the flavor and texture just right.

Along with the crudo, we also ordered the Wood Fired Mushroom salad. This was a little different than I pictured, but in a good way. I pictured large mushrooms, grilled and tossed with a little lettuce. In fact, the salad had a mixture of mushrooms, small in size, big in flavor. The greens and the herbs perfectly matched the mushrooms. A great salad to share, especially with the crudo.

I had asked the waiter for his advice in deciding between the pork chop and the chicken. His response was “where is the choice? The pork chop”.

I would like to try the chicken still, but the pork chop more that tantalized my taste buds. A generous Kurobuta chop with a melange of vegetables with pine nuts and small skinless grapes. I can’t pin down what the sauce on the side was, but I would like to. I love a juicy pork chop and this fit the bill.

My wife had a perfectly cooked pair of halibut medallions topped with crisps. I will forever be impressed with fresh fish that is cooked to be hot in the middle while staying moist and nowhere near being overcooked. I can get my fish nice and hot in the middle when I cook it, but it also ends up tough and overdone. The Riva halibut was heavenly.

For dessert we had a cherry crisp topped with almond sorbet and with a small mini carafe of whipped cream and a caramel sauce. The cherries were market fresh and were a nice treat.

I will mention the wine list, although I can’t remember exactly what we had. Each of us had a glass and I really appreciated that the waiter gave tastes before committing to the full pour. I find that to be classy and rare in many restaurants.

And so I give Riva my seal of approval. Would go there many times over Fraiche. There also a wood fired pizza menu that I would like to try for a more casual experience. The Riva space is airy and comfortable, with a nice bar and also a place to sit in front of the oven iteself - would be nice for some solo dining.

Riva
312 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.451.RIVA

Bistro of Santa Monica is a neighborhood Italian joint, with a comfortable feel.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Bistro of Santa Monica. From the outside, it looks a bit formal. On the inside though, there is a bit more of a casual feel.

It’s easy to go to an Italian restaurant and find old favorites. Simple pastas and meats, with basic sauces and fillings. At BoSM (the waiter likes it when you call it “bosom”. But not really) the menu is refreshingly unique.

Take the filled pastas. There is the Messina: home made ravioli, filled with fresh spinach and ricotta in walnut cream sauce. Or the all Iden: Homemade chicken ravioli, fresh tomato, and light cream. The gnocchi bolagnese includes less traditional ground turkey.

It’s all good stuff, and flavors that you will remember afterward.

Prices are very reasonable too with the home made pastas in the $13-15 range. The meats and seafood are priced higher, for good reason, and the wine list sports a range selections to accompany your meal.

Bistro of Santa Monica
2301 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica
(310) 453-5442‎

il Forno Caffe is hidden in the back of the mini mall on Ocean Park where The Counter is out front. It’s easy to miss, but should not be skipped.

il Forno has the Italian Trattoria feel where everyone feels like a regular. The kitchen is small and open to the restaurant and figures prominently in the dining room.

There are a couple pasta dishes that I really like, but my favorite is the Linguine Mare e Monti: Linguine with baby lobster, shitake mushrooms and fresh tomatoes in a red bell pepper sauce. The flavor of the red bell pepper sauce grabs my mouth and does not let go - in a good way.

Most of the pastas are home made and have original flavors. If you want something heartier the entrees run the gamut of Italian meaty favorites.

Prices are reasonable, especially for the size of the portions. I usually have enough pasta left over for a nice lunch the next day. Pastas are $15-$19 and entrees in the $20-$25 range. Meals come with fresh baked bread and a balsamic bruchetta.

Added note, if you buy a case of wine at Wine Expo, you get a coupon for a free pizza (dine in or take out) at Il Forno.

il Forno Caffe
2901 Ocean Park Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 450-1241

Italian is, by nature, simple food. Higher end Italian food is good too, but sometimes you want the the simple stuff. That’s where Fritto Misto comes in. Basic pastas and meats, simple sauces, and great flavors.

Fritto Misto is a cozy spot, the tables are close together and sometimes the two of you are sharing a table with two other random diners. The wait can be long, especially on weekends. Parking is scarce, but you can usually grab something on the street within a couple blocks. Prices are very reasonable, with design your own pastas for around $10 and most other dishes under $15.

You can see by the menu that there is something for everyone. Some of my favorites are the Mushroom Marsala Ravioli, the Chicken Piccata and the create your own pasta option. The Misto Salad is a good start.

I pretty much only go for dinner, but Fritto Misto is a very popular lunch spot too.

Other reviews

• Yelp
• Potatomato
• Tasting LA
• Oishii Eats

Fritto Misto
601 Colorado Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-2829

On the corner of Culver and Cardiff in Culver City is Ugo Cafe, an Italian eatery that aims for the feel of a European sidewalk cafe.

With a simple style and basic menu, Cafe Ugo is a relaxing spot to enjoy lunch and a glass of wine or beer with friends. When the weather is nice, it’s imperative that you grab a seat outside and watch the people walk by.

The menu is basic, as I said, but there are plenty of choice options. I had one of my favorite chopped salads at Ugo. Everything was cut up with near scientific precision and uniformity, plus the dressing was light but flavorful so that it didn’t overpower the ingredients.

Service seems to be spotty, in the sense that it can take a while for the server to stop by, and perhaps takes a while to get your food, but in the end the atmosphere and the food win over.

Prices are very reasonable, with most dishes in the around $10 plus or minus a few bucks. There is a range of Italian beers and Italian wines by the glass or the bottle, plus a dessert menu that will transport you back to Rome.

Ugo Cafe
3865 Cardiff Ave
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 204-1222

How to get Michelin starred food for half price? Go to La Botte Deli on the weekdays for lunch and get their home made pastas and soups for $7-10.

La Botte Deli opened right next door to the main restaurant in downtown Santa Monica earlier this year. The menu is limited, but has a nice selection of soups, pastas, salads and sandwiches all served in eco-friendly to go containers.

There is one indoor communal table that seats about 10 people, depending on how communal you want to get. There are a handful of outdoor tables for two, but the main focus for La Botte Deli is to go business.

The soups are simple, capturing the essence of the main ingredient. Depending on the seasonal ingredients available, there are usually three to four soups available, including a soup of the day. The other day, I had the spinach soup:

The pastas are equal in quality and flavor combination to what is served at the main La Botte restaurant. The gnocchi and tortelli are very nice, especially with the parmesan brown butter sauce.

Like I said in the beginning, the prices are a steal, with everything (to my recollection) for under $10.

The signage is pretty poor from the street and I think many people walk past La Botte Deli without realizing the hidden gem that they are missing.

La Botte Deli
620 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica 90401
310-576-3072