365 Places to Eat

From the buzz about Huckleberry, knew that the place gets crowded fast on weekends. One Saturday when we were all up early, we decided to take a chance and walk down for gourmet brunch.

Even getting to Huckleberry before 9:00, the line was to the back door. Credit to Huckleberry, though, their line management is pretty effective. No table sitting until you place your order and the food comes out pretty quick. Plus, truth be told, the pre-10am crowd is usually the family set that is on a tight schedule to get in and out before the kiddies have a meltdown. The post 10:30 hangover set tends to linger as they nurse their cafes…

I couldn’t avoid ordering the signature Green Eggs and Ham: La Quercia prosciutto on
house made English muffin topped with eggs (poached in my case) and then covered with a fresh arugula salad and drizzled with a mild pesto oil. For $12, it seems expensive, but the ingredients and the combination of flavors make it a worthwhile treat.

Being a specialty bakery, the home made English muffin is a gem. Flavor, texture and depth kicks Mr. Thomas’s buns. We also tasted a couple of the sweet breakfast items. The fresh strawberry crostada was so delightful that we practically giggled while eating it. How could something taste so fresh and light and buttery at the same time?

With an expertly concocted Americano on the side, brunch at Huckleberry is a real treat. It’s true that the prices are high and that it’s crowded. The crowds are manageable and the prices are worth the quality and creativity of the menu. Also, most dishes are rich enough to be shared. I would split the Green Eggs and Ham along with a pastry between two people and you can get out of there for a comparable cost as most other local breakfast spots.

Huckleberry
1014 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-2311

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

Joe’s has been one of my favorite spots for a long time. When Joe Miller opened his small Spanish Tapas themed wine bar last year, I immediately added Bar Pinxto to my list.

It’s a tight space, with a max capacity of 30 people inside and a few tables outside. Bar Pinxto isn’t meant for lingering though. It’s a faced paced service of small dishes eaten on bar tables and small stools. You will get friendly with your neighbors, or in my case receive a few elbows in the back from the guy behind you.

The tight space sort of lends to the ambiance though. It makes you feel like you are in a much more central urban spot than being a block from the ocean in Santa Monica.

We tried the happy hour special, which runs daily from 4-7pm if you believe the website, or 4-6pm if you believe the sign outside of Pinxto. You get six small tapas for $6, plus $3 sangria or $1.50 Stella. Everything is small, but tasty. The drinks are 6-8 ounces? And the tapas are different specialties of the house served atop small pieces of grilled bread.

We sampled:

• Crimini Mushroom, Jamon And Diced Vegetables
• Jamon Sofrito With Fried Leeks
• Esparragos Blancos Con Romesco
• Endive, Roquefort Cream, Anchovy & Walnut
• Radish, Jicama, Avocado, Cilantro and Lime
• Fresh Tomato, Serrano Ham, Grilled Bread

And followed up with some full orders of:

• Dates Wrapped in Bacon with Cabralas Cheese
• Costillas De Cordero - Lamb Chop, Chorizo Crust, Small Salad
• Sauteed Brussel Sprouts with grapes
• Grilled White Shrimp with garlic and lemon

With a few glasses of sangria, the bill for the whole dinner for two was around $65. I would definitely go back, although not with too many more people. If there are more than four in your party, it’s too tight quarters.

Bar Pinxto
109 Santa Monica Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.458.2012

Arnold Palmer

Snug Harbor is exactly the kind of diner that you want to be able to walk to for breakfast on a weekend morning. Fortunately for me, I can!

Snug Harbor may be the only diner where I don’t always order coffee with breakfast. Their Arnold Palmers are the best of the best. Fresh squeezed lemonade topped with brewed iced tea. Served like a black and tan. Delicious.

The same friendly servers can be found each week, taking care of you at the counter, at one of the few booths or outside on the shaded patio.

Snug Harbor is well liked for their blackberry pancakes when the season is right. I pretty much stick with the huevos rancheros, I have strayed a few times and the huevos are the way to go.

Huevos Rancheros

My wife likes the 2+2+2 with pancakes, egg whites and bacon. Snug Harbor knows how to do bacon how she likes it, a little on the chewy side.

Snug Harbor is no frills, and that’s what is nice about it. Good prices too, around $20 for two to eat breakfast. Sometimes a bit of a wait depend on when you show up. Don’t forget the patio too, I didn’t even know it was there the first few times I went.

Snug Harbor
2323 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica
View Larger Map

I have been meaning to try Noma forever. Legend has it, that up until a couple years ago, Noma was owned and operated by Mr. Noma himself and that the sushi was terrific. The same legend says that Noma sold his joint and that maybe the new owners don’t provide the same service as Noma did.

I can’t say for sure, because a) I don’t know the history and b) I didn’t go when Mr. Noma owned the joint.

Noma is a pretty standard sushi experience, nothing overly special and not too much to complain about. The service is pretty spotty, it goes in spurts of attentiveness and then neglect. It’s best just to be assertive and let your server know that you need some help, don’t wait for them to come to you.

The rolls at Noma were actually a little disappointing. Rather bland and overpriced for the size. The nigiri, however, was quite good with generous cuts.

A couple of appetizers worth ordering. One is the spicy tuna on crispy rice, along the same lines of Roku’s signature appetizer. The other is a Korean style tuna sashimi that borrows some inspiration from Hawaiian Poke with a nice sesame oil flavor.

Noma looks big from the outside, but in reality, there are limited tables and seats at the bar. If you time it wrong on a weekend, you could be waiting a while.

Prices are a bit on the higher side, especially for the quality, but stick to the nigiri and sashimi and you should be satisfied.

Noma
2031 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica

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

The Bookmark Cafe at the Santa Monica Public Library might be one of the best kept lunch secrets in downtown Santa Monica.

For around $8 you can get a half sandwich, a small soup and a small salad. Add in a brewed iced tea to go with it and you have a full lunch for $10 in the tranquil library courtyard.

Soups vary daily, last time I was there it was cauliflower (my choice) or lentil with sausage. You can choose from a list of sandwiches, I like the tuna on rye. Their tuna has some nice extra crunch from cucumbers, don’t see that in tuna too much. Teh small salad is no slouch either. It’s not just iceberg lettuce and dressing, there are pieces of broccoli, zucchini and mushrooms along with the normal salad base.

The cafe also has a full coffee bar and also serves breakfast and dinner. Afterward you can go check out some cookbooks…

Bookmark Cafe at the Main Santa Monica Public Library
601 Santa Monica Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA
View Larger Map

It’s citrus season! Few places in the world offer the quality citrus that you find grown in Southern California. Our house is regularly filled with oranges and tangerines from the Garcia Farms stand at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market.

My wife can usually make it to the Wednesday market, but Garcia Farms also is at the Saturday and the Sunday markets if you can’t go to the markets mid-week.

You will always find Laticia working the stand, pointing you to the best produce and new arrivals. Sometimes her husband, Armando, and baby girl, Rosie, are running around back there too. It’s a true family operation and you can taste the love.

In addition to the citrus, they also have some of the best avocados around, albeit at a price ($2+ per), but they ripen perfectly and are worth the treat.

Like most other stands, you can taste the citrus before you buy, so you don’t have to take my word for it!

You can find Garcia Farms just East of the 3rd Street Promenade on Arizona during the Wednesday market.

Garcia Farms
Santa Monica Farmer’s Market

« Older Entries