Restaurants
Simon says:These restaurants are ones that my wife and I enjoy going to on a relatively regular basis. The prices are about what the average entree costs."
Babalu - $18
1002 Montana Avenue
310-395-2500
One of our favorite restaurants on Montana Avenue. It's only a few blocks from our home and a great place to take clients out to dinner. The atmosphere and the staff are friendly and unpretentious. It has a real Santa Monica feel and the food is very good with something for everyone. The desserts are awesome too-- especially the strawberry shortcake, all baked on the premises.
Le Marmiton - $18
1327 Montana Ave.
310-393-7716
Very good French restaurant that serves traditional fare. I love the skinny fries, the tarts, pate and steak dinner. Along with Babalu and Cafe Montana the breakfast is one of the best on Montana.
Genghis Cohen - $14
740 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 653-0640
Our favorite chinese restaurant in town-- period. We love the ambiance, the food and the service. It's a good place to take an out of town guest who would like to tell their friends back home that they saw at least one celebrity. Don't worry though, it is not snobby, stuffy or pretentious. Get the NY egg rolls.
My Father's Office - $15
1018 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 393-2337
www.fathersoffice.com
Awesome hamburgers and sweet potato fries-- some people say they are the best burgers around. You might have to wait in line a while and have no place to sit and eat. It is also a beer and wine bar that has a pretty popular scene.
Hot Too/Benice - $6
Pacific Ave. near Windward Circle
One of the only restaurants in Venice I like to travel too. It's has great food at great prices. When you only feel like spending $6 on lunch or breakfast and you want something good and simple, go here. I can't find the restaurant address on the net, so I guess you could call it a secret local favorite.
Pradeep's Indian Cuisine - $17
1405 Montana Ave.
310-393-1467
Very light and healthy. The only Indian restaurant I have ever liked eating at. A great place to go when you want to eat something that tastes good and is good for you at the same time.
Bay Cities - $5
1517 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-8279
baycitiesitaliandeli.com
Excellent gourmet shop with lots of imported Italian food, some of them very rare. The sandwiches on fresh baked bread are considered by many to be the best on the westside. The Godmother is my favorite. Great place to go on your way to the beach on a hot summer day. The closest thing to Manhattan's Zabars.
Amandine Patissiere - $9
12225 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Wilshire Blvd at Bundy
(888) 669-7785
Best croissants and french baked goods in town. Delicious sandwiches and breakfast dishes. Probably one of the best quality breakfasts you can find on the westside.
Warszawa - $20
1414 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 393-8831
Elegant and refined Polish restaurant. Very beautiful and quiet atmosphere with food that seems like it was cooked at someones home. A lot of care goes into the cooking and you can tell.
P.F. Changs - $14
326 Wilshire Blvd,
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 395-1912
Even though it is a franchise, this restaurant is awesome when you are in the mood for Chinese food. The orange peel shrimp and beef with scallions are excellent. Afterwards you can stroll around on the Third Street Promenade.
Musha - $15
424 Wilshire Blvd,
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 576-6330
Very cool and hip Japanese pub food restaurant. The food is excellent and the atmosphere and staff are full of charisma. A fun and exciting place to take out of town guests to. It is not a sushi restaurant--something much more unique and special.
The Little Door - $35
8164 W. Third St. (Crescent Heights Blvd.)
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323-951-1210
The first time my wife and I went here I was terrified to find myself in line behind Paris Hilton. Not because it wasn't fun to be around an ultra-celebrity, but because I knew it would expensive. Well, it was worth every penny. If you are looking for refined continental french cuisine this is the place. The atmosphere is very romantic. It is hard to find and a bit hidden on the South side of W. Third St.
Divino - $28
11714 Barrington CT,
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 472-0886
Exceptionally good Italian food. I lived in Tuscany for six months some years back and this food is as good as the best I had while in Italy. Very expensive but well worth it
Le Saigon - $8
11611 Santa Monica Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 312-2929
Very healthy, friendly and high quality Vietnamese food. This restaurant is run by a very nice local family who are true gourmands at home and have an outstanding record for consistently good traditional Vietnamese dishes at their restaurant.
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