Santa Monica’s restaurant roundup
CITYWIDE — It can’t be refuted: Santa Monica is one of the best cities in the region to dine in. With an abundance of fresh produce trucked in almost daily and the aesthetic beauty so apparent, top-rated restaurants rush to serve us the finest dishes. Food fanatics already have a lot to look forward to this year as several new restaurants have opened their doors or will be soon, while others are looking to expand.
Here’s a quick rundown of a few for your dining pleasure:
Redwood Grille will be added to the dining deck of the third floor in Santa Monica Place, replacing Xino. Originated in Canada, this restaurant tackles local cuisine, specializing in American fusion, and it will include a full bar! Redwood Grille will open in spring, 2013. Prices for menu items are not currently available online. See for yourself at http://redwoodgrille.com/
Truxton’s American Bistro will be expanding into Santa Monica after having great success in Westchester. It will replace Over Under Sports Grill at 1329 Santa Monica Blvd. Favorites from the original menu will follow this new venue, as will the healthy choice menu and a full bar to enjoy. Truxton’s American Bistro will open at this new location early this year. Entrees range from $10 — $18. http://www.truxtonsamericanbistro.com/
Cafe Demitasse, a Little Tokyo staple, heads to Santa Monica this April, taking over the empty spot left by Infuzion Cafe. Cafe Demitasse is known for using only house roasted beans, much like Cafe Luxxe in Santa Monica (which now has its own roasting facility near Downtown L.A. dubbed IL Laboratorio), and will brew them in the very fancy Alpha Dominche Steampunk multi-group siphon machine that allows for baristas to extract 120 cups an hour! Drinks range from $2 — $6, treats range from $2 — $6. http://cafedemitasse.com/
Infuzion Cafe will be leaving its Third Street Promenade location to upgrade to a bigger venue at Fifth Street, between Arizona Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. Established in 2003, Infuzion Cafe is a casual neighborhood coffeehouse that serves organic coffees and teas, boba, smoothies as well as tasty treats and sandwiches. Drinks range from $2 — $6. http://www.infuzioncafe.com/
Bamboo Izakaya opened for the first time early this month. Located on Ocean Avenue, the restaurant maintains a traditional Asian, beachside vibe. The restaurant includes a large sushi bar and a lounge patio to relax and enjoy the view. Executive chef Toshio Sakamaki offers a small plates menu, with items starting at $6, a fair price to pay for this modern Asian fusion. What makes this restaurant especially interesting are the tablets guests are given to use to order their food. Entrees range from $6 — $16. http://www.bambooizakaya.com/
Fresh Brothers Pizza branched into Santa Monica this year on the ground floor of a new mixed-use apartment building at the corner of Broadway and Lincoln Boulevard, serving their raved about “skinny” pizza, which puts thin crust to shame. Diners can enjoy a traditional deep dish pizza, but also have the option of ordering from the gluten-free menu. Vegans are also welcome here as Fresh Brothers offers a vegan cheese option for those hungry herbivores. Entrees range from $7 — $25. http://www.freshbrothers.com/
Jersey Mike’s Subs, which many consider to be a step above Subway or Quiznos because they slice the meat right in front of you, has a new location in the same building as Fresh Brothers. It opened late last month and while not as authentic as Bay Cities Deli down the street, when there are long lines at that eatery, expect Jersey Mike’s to reap the benefits. The food is tasty, fresh and convenient. Subs range from $8 — $13. http://www.jerseymikes.com/
Hole in the Wall Burger Joint, which started in West L.A., has replaced La Salsa on Colorado Avenue in the Plaza at Arboretum apartment complex, across the street from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The menu is the same, serving delicious, juicy burgers for anyone who needs a meet-fix, but the venue is now larger, making it not so much of a hole-in-the-wall anymore. Entrees range from $9 — $13. http://www.holeinthewallburgerjoint.com/
Spazio Caffe opened its doors on Montana Avenue to espresso lovers last month. The menu offers a multitude of drink options, including 35 teas to choose from and yummy salads, sandwiches, gelato, and 18 hot chocolates. From the same owners as Caffe Bello, Spazio serves only San Vendemiano’s Manual espresso beans, grinded fresh to-order. Drinks range from: $2.75 — $4, salads around $9, sandwiches around $10. http://www.facebook.com/SpazioCaffeUS
