Mary Ann's Guidebook for Santa Monica
Food scene
Although this is a local restaurant, I only tried it after a guest of mine who was visiting from Italy told me she ate here every day and that her friend's family owned the place. What's truly amazing about it is that they fly their pasta in daily from Italy! They want you to have the just-so experience which means some dishes are not allowed to be taken to go, but they have worked out ways to help it travel better, thankfully, since I love the tagliatelle al ragu and it used to be dine-in only but that has changed! If you eat red meat, it is the absolute best dish in my opinion, and I know that regulars of this place would concur. That dish along with roasted broccolini on the side: magnifico! (My Italian guest always got the Carbonara, which I have not yet tried. I didn't love the Linguine and Clams, not enough flavor for me.)
18 המלצות של מקומיים
UOVO
1320 2nd StAlthough this is a local restaurant, I only tried it after a guest of mine who was visiting from Italy told me she ate here every day and that her friend's family owned the place. What's truly amazing about it is that they fly their pasta in daily from Italy! They want you to have the just-so experience which means some dishes are not allowed to be taken to go, but they have worked out ways to help it travel better, thankfully, since I love the tagliatelle al ragu and it used to be dine-in only but that has changed! If you eat red meat, it is the absolute best dish in my opinion, and I know that regulars of this place would concur. That dish along with roasted broccolini on the side: magnifico! (My Italian guest always got the Carbonara, which I have not yet tried. I didn't love the Linguine and Clams, not enough flavor for me.)
This place serves tapas as well as main dishes, has a full bar and offers (at least pre-pandemic, I haven't been there post-pandemic) community table seating as well as seating at the bar or at smaller tables for singles, couples or small groups. I have enjoyed myself every time I have eaten here, I love their Skinny Margarita and their food and that's why I recommend it to my guests.
193 המלצות של מקומיים
Mercado
7910 W 3rd StThis place serves tapas as well as main dishes, has a full bar and offers (at least pre-pandemic, I haven't been there post-pandemic) community table seating as well as seating at the bar or at smaller tables for singles, couples or small groups. I have enjoyed myself every time I have eaten here, I love their Skinny Margarita and their food and that's why I recommend it to my guests.
This place serves healthy meals in good proportions and is reasonably priced. I think they also offer beer and wine. There is a Santa Monica location near the Promenade, but they have locations all over and it's a favorite for lunch in business settings.
432 המלצות של מקומיים
Tender Greens
6290 Sunset BlvdThis place serves healthy meals in good proportions and is reasonably priced. I think they also offer beer and wine. There is a Santa Monica location near the Promenade, but they have locations all over and it's a favorite for lunch in business settings.
This is a popular local hangout, full bar and restaurant. I'm not a big bar person but I've met friends here and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere. It opens at 11:00 a.m. so is a good lunch spot as well as offering later fare.
199 המלצות של מקומיים
The Misfit Restaurant + Bar
225 Santa Monica BlvdThis is a popular local hangout, full bar and restaurant. I'm not a big bar person but I've met friends here and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere. It opens at 11:00 a.m. so is a good lunch spot as well as offering later fare.
This is a very popular place for breakfast and brunch and is often very busy so you would have to wait for seating, most usually. It's a bakery and a restaurant and is within reasonable walking distance from my location.
141 המלצות של מקומיים
Huckleberry Cafe
1014 Wilshire BlvdThis is a very popular place for breakfast and brunch and is often very busy so you would have to wait for seating, most usually. It's a bakery and a restaurant and is within reasonable walking distance from my location.
This cafe is usually very busy, and offers dine-in indoor and some outdoor seating, and pickup/delivery. The food is consistently delicious and worth the cost, which isn't cheap if paying for delivery. The Primavera Pizza is amazing, though how it looks is not consistent with the photo on the menu. Turkey burger, Nori sushi, vegan pumpkin pie, yum! The lox and bagel plate might be better ordered in person. But I think travelers would not be disappointed to visit this place in person or order delivery during a short or longer stay in the Santa Monica area. I especially like the spinach mushroom quiche, which is packed with both, and the almond croissants are amazingly fresh and delicious.
256 המלצות של מקומיים
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main StThis cafe is usually very busy, and offers dine-in indoor and some outdoor seating, and pickup/delivery. The food is consistently delicious and worth the cost, which isn't cheap if paying for delivery. The Primavera Pizza is amazing, though how it looks is not consistent with the photo on the menu. Turkey burger, Nori sushi, vegan pumpkin pie, yum! The lox and bagel plate might be better ordered in person. But I think travelers would not be disappointed to visit this place in person or order delivery during a short or longer stay in the Santa Monica area. I especially like the spinach mushroom quiche, which is packed with both, and the almond croissants are amazingly fresh and delicious.
This has become a staple of mine. The food is fresh, delicious healthy and beautiful. Everything is worth trying, but I especially love their taco salad which you can customize with any kind of meat or fish, egg, or without added protein. You can customize every ingredient and the salad is always delicious! Also, they make plantain chips and guacamole that is out of this world.
Tocaya Modern Mexican
This has become a staple of mine. The food is fresh, delicious healthy and beautiful. Everything is worth trying, but I especially love their taco salad which you can customize with any kind of meat or fish, egg, or without added protein. You can customize every ingredient and the salad is always delicious! Also, they make plantain chips and guacamole that is out of this world.
טיפים לגבי העיר
התמצאות בסביבה
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, LA Metro public transport nearby.
I'm within walking or bicycling distance from the Santa Monica Pier and Promenade (20 minute walk), 11 blocks from the beach. It's near many eateries, upscale and regular (for example, Shutters on the Beach, and Subway). Walgreen's, Subway, Domino's and 7-11 are on the northeast corner of Pico & Lincoln @3 blocks away; El Pollo Loco, Starbucks, and Donut King are located in a little shopping center on the southwest corner of Pico & Lincoln. There's also a Von's grocery store at Broadway and Lincoln.