Westside Real Estate: Trendy and delicious.
I Yoo: After a long day of travel, I craved a pasta dish that inspire a good nap. I ordered the fettuccine bolognese with low expectations. Well, I was wrong: the noodles were *chef’s kiss*. So good!
Melanie Martin: Mushroom tortellini, filet mignon tartar
3. Dogtown Coffee
8.4
2003 Main St (at Bay St), Santa Monica, CA
Café · Ocean Park · 99 tips and reviews
Eric Hinman: Yerba matte latte. Wow. Hip spot with outdoor seating.
Jessica Placencia: The perfect breakfast. Trendy
jennifer han: their breakfast burritos are my favorite—the ranchero and the munchies, with bacon. the iced chagaccino is also great (espresso with chaga mushroom extract...i know, but trust me). perfect breakfast.
4. Farmshop
8.8
225 26th St, Santa Monica, CA
American Restaurant · Brentwood · 69 tips and reviews
Amber Jamal: Love their retail area, and their dinner menu is fresh & hip. Decent wine selection, nice for a date or dinner with a friend.
Eater: Farm Shop serves near-perfect versions of dishes like French toast with blueberry marmalade, rolled omelets with soft herbs and fried potatoes, and pastrami and eggs served with green tomato ketchup. Read more.
LA Weekly: "Farmshop's French Fries are what Fries should be." - Jonathan Gold
6. R+D Kitchen
8.5
1323 Montana Ave (at 14th St), Santa Monica, CA
Gastropub · North of Montana · 115 tips and reviews
Mike Ferguson: If the wait is more than 20 minutes, there are significantly better (albeit less hip) places within two blocks
Meg Farmer: More for the scene than the food, though it's not bad. Draws a trendy crowd, love the open windows to the street in the front. This place is always overflowing.
Jeffrey Fahey: If you're having brunch, definitely grab a Bloody Mary. Great vibe with good service. Enjoy
7. Sweetfin Poké
8.8
829 Broadway (at Lincoln Ct), Santa Monica, CA
Poke Restaurant · 35 tips and reviews
esther kim: Got the siracha tuna bowl with half bamboo rice and half kelp noodles. Added on topping and it was a loooot of food. The coconut water infusion was super refreshing; don't miss the matcha popcorn!
Dylan Boyd: Can't get enough of this poke.
GQ Magazine: This year’s poke-splosion in L.A. happened without explanation, practically overnight, yet we’re amazed it took this long. Sweetfin Poké goes the Cali-cuisine route, like a snapper bowl with kale. Read more.
9. Cassia
9.1
1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA
Asian Restaurant · 62 tips and reviews
Eater: The vibe is wonderful: expansive and vibrant without being too formal, it's the kind of place you can drop in for a cocktail and raw seafood at the bar, or a long sit-down dinner with friends. Read more.
Vivian Doan: Loved their green papaya salad (the spiced walnuts give it a kick!) and clay oven bread with chickpea curry! Can't wait to go back again and enjoy their patio
Simple Foodie: Charcuterie Platter, Kaya Toast, Whole Grilled Sea Bass, Charcuterie Fried Rice, Chopped Escargot, Spicy Lamb is spicy.
10. Rustic Canyon
8.0
1119 Wilshire Blvd (at 11th Ct.), Santa Monica, CA
Wine Bar · Wilshire-Montana · 86 tips and reviews
Vanity Fair Agenda: The hip L.A. version of Chez Panisse, this is one of the best spots in Santa Monica offering small plates and seasonal ingredients.
T Man: The food was ok. Service is good and timely not intrusive and not lacking. My personal opinion is that they are trying too hard to be trendy. The tables are on top of each other.
BordeauxWines: This wine bar has an ever-evolving menu of the best of the best in food and wine. One thing remains consistent, their selection of Bordeaux, whether by the glass or bottle, is a must try.
11. Blue Plate Oysterette
8.9
1355 Ocean Ave (btwn Santa Monica Blvd & Arizona Ave), Santa Monica, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 149 tips and reviews
LIVESTRONG_COM: This fresh seafood spot is super chic and super Southern California. The low cal ceviches are a sure winner.
g oconnor: Well, as one of the three restaurants in Los Angeles that sells Whole Belly, fried Ipswich Clams! They have another New England favorite: The Lobster Roll. Both are excellent! Oyster selection superb!
Bon Appetit Magazine: The LA area has arguably the most diverse food scene in the country. Exemplary lobster roll - served on top a split brioche roll with a side of house-made sweet potato chips. Read more.