A showcase of world cultures through delectable dishes will have Santa Monica residents inundated with delicious choices this weekend. Through July 26, 35 Santa Monica restaurants are highlighting unique menu items for Dine LA Restaurant Week, a twice-annual endeavor that promotes dine-in experiences across the Los Angeles area.
"Dine LA’s mission is to promote LA as a top culinary destination, and Restaurant Week is the perfect way for people to explore LA’s great culinary scene," Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board VP of Product Marketing Stacey Sun said.
Participating restaurants offer special dine-in menus for lunch and dinner at fixed prices, with each spot spotlighting its latest and greatest specialty items. Over 350 restaurants participate in the Los Angeles area overall, but the Santa Monica selection is all residents need for a fine meal.
"It is a great platform for them to be able to showcase what they do best and what dishes best represent their restaurant," Sun added.
World cuisine is on display for the city, broken down into the categories of American, Barbecue, Steakhouse, Mediterranean, Chinese, Italian, Californian, Japanese, Middle Eastern, French, Mexican, Sushi, Seafood, Vietnamese and Spanish menus.
American-inspired dishes start on the Third Street Promenade with 1212 Santa Monica’s menu curated by Executive Chef David Gualberto. For $55 per person, the meal consists of either a Sea, Land or Vegetarian Crostini Trio, followed by either a Minestrone soup or a Belgian Pear Endive Salad, then a main course choice of chicken parmigiana, roasted salmon, mushroom risotto or filet mignon, finished off with a dessert choice of either chocolate croissant pudding or gelato/sorbet.
Other American-style dishes can be found at Chelsea Restaurant Citrin, Fia Restaurant, Lunetta, The Misfit, The Penthouse at The Huntley and The Surfing Fox at The Pierside Hotel. Other home favorite options are Bludso’s BBQ as well as Californian-inspired menus at FIG at Fairmont Miramar and Papille Gustative.
Santa Monica’s dining scene wouldn’t be complete without world cuisine, a particular highlight of Dine LA Restaurant Week for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
"[If] you want to visit another country, figure out what restaurant you want to go to, and you can visit that country right here in Los Angeles," Bass said.
The most popular world cuisine in the city is Italian, with nine Italian restaurants participating, including Colapasta’s lunch and dinner menus for $45 per person. The menus include a choice of three unique pastas, a Moringa Agnolotti with Fontina cheese and fresh truffle, a Colonne di Pompeii extra-long fusilli pasta or a classic beef ragu lasagna.
Italian menus can also be found at Il Forno, Local Kitchen & Wine Bar, North Italia, Osteria del Fornaio, Palma at Santa Monica Proper Hotel, Piccolo Ristorante, UOVO and Via Veneto. Italy isn’t the only European food hotbed represented, as Massilia brings the taste of France with a menu featuring 8-hour Lamb Shank and Tagliatelle Aux Morilles with morel mushrooms and a cream sauce.
Asian-inspired cuisine is also a strong part of the Santa Monica scene, with spots like Chinois On Main delivering Chinese goods such as Jidori chicken breast and Maine Lobster Spring Rolls, alongside Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ and Kappo Miyabi serving Japanese dishes.
For a complete listing of Dine LA Restaurant Week menus and to book a spot for lunch or dinner, visit discoverlosangeles.com/dinela.
