Oscar's Cerveteca

Drink up!

Oscar's Cerveteca
523 Rose Ave
Venice, CA 90291
Menu

Review: If I had a dollar for every time I declared my promised return to Oscar's Cerveteca, I'd buy you dinner. Here's the thing - Oscar's is hip. Actually, a bit too hip. Everyone here is dressed like you'd imagine LA beach-dwellers who like to eat well and live well might: really, very cool. Fresh-faced, toned, and effortlessly efforted, don't go here if you're having a bad day. In other news, Oscar's sits on Rose and neighbors Superba, Cafe Gratitude, and several other bars and eateries that all pose the same. But oh, who cares. Oscar's is so good that I'll turn a blind eye, fork over my wallet, and wait out on the sidewalk in order to sit and eat and drink from that Cerveteca menu.

Must-eat: The La Puente Backyard Burger. The Chicano Cheese Pots. The Mac 'n Cheese with Bacon. Patatas Bravas. Key Lime Pie.

Must-drink: Fresh coconut. Everything else beer and wine related.

Fun: Brunch on Sunday's offers an entourage of Beer-Batter Waffles. Chorizo Breakfast Burger.

Simply? I'll see you there.

Blue Daisy Cafe

French Toast

Blue Daisy Cafe
2303 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, 90403
Menu

Type: Restaurant
Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch (8am-5pm)
Company: Serious brunchers, lunchers, and any-time munchers
Tip: Get the zucchini fritters no matter what

Review: I love weekend brunch. It's uncertain which came first - my dear swoon for the weekend, or my obsession with long midmorning meals over piping coffee and delicious spreads - but no matter how you take it, I'm always on the lookout for a good brunch spot. Impressively rated on yelp, and right next to Bread & Porridge and Snug Harbor on the 23rd block of Wilshire, this petite cafe holds its own against the local bigwigs. 

BDC is known for the crepes, french toast, lox, and benedict. Also, something I've never seen anywhere else - the zucchini fritters, which are basically like potato pancakes but with shreds of zucchini instead of potato. Delish. Per the usual, there is the typical fare of coffee, tea, and espresso. On order you'll find sandwiches and salad, so whatever your breakfast-lunch craving is, it will, undoubtedly, be met.

LA's 8 Most Off The Couch Dishes

Here at Off The Couch LA we firmly believe in menu motto: Try Everything Once. And in the past year or so, we've had great opportunities to do just that. If you are looking for some ideas, here are our picks LA's 8 Most Off The Couch Dishes:

1. Typhoon: Scorpion on Shrimp Toast
2. Tar & Roses: Whole Fish

3. Superba Snack Bar: Cauliflower Steak

4. FIG: Bacon Wrapped Bacon

5. Shoop's: Salmon Belly Bacon (special order)

6. Robata Bar: (from Sushi Roku) Kurobuta Pork "Kakuni"

7. Chego: Sriracha Bar

8. Ushuaia: Crispy Sweetbreads

Go on - dig in, get weird, and remember the moments!

Cafe Del Rey

Wagyu Beef Tartar

Cafe Del Rey 
4451 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Menu

Type: Restaurant
Category: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Bar, Happy Hour
Company: Locals, business dealers
Tip: Request a table by the window!

Review: Aside from the 50's orange and blue color scheme, Cafe Del Rey makes a mean meal at which you'll have to fight to eat any fewer than three courses. Spanning a dock's length of view at the Marina Del Rey yacht club, Cafe Del Rey promises a view that makes up for the otherwise clashing decor (sorry).

Tip: Whatever other full plates you get, order the truffle pizza. It's a perfect ratio of caramelized onion, truffle cream, and reggiano.

Duck in a bowl

Fun to note is the Raw Bar menu that gets prepared in full-view. If you can, linger and stare at executive chef Daniel Roberts as he tenderly slices Wagyu beef for his tartar. Then, get it. It's a delicious combination of Wagyu, black currants, almonds, olives, shallot, and harissa. Served with chips, in some small eater's world it could be enough for a meal.

Check:

1. Truffle Pizza
2. Wagyu Beef Tartar
3. Sea Bass (brussel sprouts, green apple, cippolini, pancetta, potato)
4. Pan Roasted Duck Breast (duck confit, cassoulet, baby carrot, pom gastrique)
5. **Rosemary Brown Sugar Bacon** (not a side or appetizer...definitely a snack embedded in the entree section)
6. Chocolate Truffle Cake (off menu)

Truffle Pizza

As noted, definitely get the Truffle Pizza (appetizer or main), the Beef Tartar, and the Roasted Duck. Our mains came in deep and large bowls, which I took particular delight in since the bowl is my plating of choice for everything (minus coffee). I also hear Cafe Del Rey is delightful for lunch, which adds the highlight of daylight on the fabulous Marina view.

Shoop's

Banana Pancakes

Shoop's
2400 Main Street
Santa Monica, 90405

Type: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Category: Cafe
Company: Only good food by and for good people
Tip: Always get a banana pancake no matter what else you've ordered

Review:
Everyone has a place. And if you don't then you should. Some call it home, others call it their spot. Mine is named Shoop's, and it's one block from my apartment and has 23 seats and a wall of haribo candy.

You'll see why I've been shy to share. Shoop's is my favorite place for breakfast and brunch and it's truly a treasure and I'm yet to speak to the menu. So if you go: tread lightly, eat heartily, and only say I sent you if you exhibit to like food and love to eat.

Shoop's is European deli by pantry, and cafe by menu. Breakfast lists eggs, omelets, wraps, and pancakes. Lunch offers sandwiches, salads, and soups. The coffee is copious, and no matter what time of day you go there will always be a table of cops. If you see a guy in a red chef coat his name is Matt, and he's the owner. The tall blonde with short hair is his wife, Llonna. Their menu is built on local favorites, personal likes, and regulars' customizations.

The most popular item is the body wrap. The banana pancakes taste like griddled banana pudding and are creamy and crispy and heavenly. The omelets are big enough to share, and once you try the garlic potatoes you'll see that they aren't optional. Matt also makes his own smoked salmon, which is great on a sandwich or just by itself. Also fantastic is Matt's daily soup, and the line of hot sandwiches on baguette. Here's what I love:

1. Banana Pancakes (the best in Los Angeles)
2. The Body Wrap (egg whites, chicken, mozzarella, spinach) - get no salsa and I add pesto, yam, onion
3. The Ranger (hot roast beef, swiss, grilled onion, coleslaw, russian dressing)
4. Smoked Salmon BLT Wrap (lettuce, mayo, havarti, bacon, tomato) - I add onion and avocado
5. Green Eggs & Ham (poached eggs, ham, pesto, baguette)

My most recent order is taking the first breakfast wrap listed on the little plastic table stand of specials and making it an omelet (sub sausage for turkey) - I believe it's swiss, eggs, onion, mushroom, spinach, and bacon.

And thus, I am at the same time sharing and thankful.

Library Ale House

Courtesy of Ben F. via Yelp

Library Ale House
2911 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Type: Ale House
Category: Lunch, Happy Hour, Dinner, Late-Night
Company: Beer nerds, food geeks

Review:
Pretty much a nook of my favorite things: hard-wood everything, books, a beer and wine list akin to Noah's arc, and a varieteful menu to match. Oh, and high table tops and outdoor patio seating. Swoon.

Luckily, Library Ale House knows how to handle what could quite possibly mount to several thousands of combinations of beers and foods and wine. Can't decide on just one pint? Try the customized beer sampler, and or the weekly happy hour offerings.

OTC Tip: Happy Hour is M-F from 3pm-6pm and includes $3 off wine by the glass and certain red-chalked beers. Snacks and plates (think fries, sliders, mac 'n cheese, etc) $2.5-$7.

Since nothing goes better with beer than a burger and crispy-salty-fried sides, whenever I've been to the Library Ale House I've opted for a hand-held. Every burger is worth each bite, and I'm particularly fond of adding a side of onion rings with extra aioli.

OTC Tip: Monday night you can take off $3 from any burger!

Also delicious to note is that the salads look particularly abundant and amazing - it's rare (ok never) that I'll order a salad when out, but these are quite captivating and head-turning. So, if that's your way then definitely do it here. Also - the fried pickle chips (frickles) can't be skipped.

OTC Tip: Top the night off with a beer-cupcake.

Cheers!

Benny's Tacos

Benny's Tacos
427 Lincoln Blvd
Venice, CA 90291

Review: Like all of my childhood friends, my entry in to burritos, quesadillas, and nachos exists because of Gordo's on Solano Avenue in Berkeley. A hole in the wall taqueria 1/2 mile from home, Gordo's is known for its Super Burrito which contains a steamed-and-cheese melted tortilla, authentic rice, beans, meat (shredded chicken, crispy carnitas, marinated steak, and grilled chicken), sour cream, guacamole, and hot sauce all for $5.35.

Perhaps Gordo's carries nostalgic cred, but I have yet to find a burrito in LA that stands up to the ideal. The issue tends to be in the tortilla and rice: Gordo's does it thin and steamed with short-grain and almost sticky mexican rice. Everything else here is thick and grilled, dry and almost chinese-like.

Then it happened, as most stumble-upons do: I was in the mood a for a burrito, and spotting Benny's Tacos I pulled over. Like the initial impression of any bi-themed restaurant (Benny's is Mexican and Mediterranean) I was a tad skeptical, but nonetheless I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Opting for the burrito with steak and carnitas, rice, pinto beans, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and extra chips I forked over $8.73 after being given (without asked) a 10% discount and card for all future purchases. Grand! Walking out I grabbed a few (ok six) little containers of mild salsa (pico de gillo) and medium (green).

Verdict?

YAY! The size of a football and expertly rolled, my Benny's burrito was not only satisfying and exactly what I had ordered, but it reminded me of my usual order from Gordo's at home (minus the hot sauce). Topping off at sub-$9, Benny's won a coveted weekend OTC post. So, go. And if you try something from the mediterranean side, do report back.

Magnolia

Go for dessert, but dinner first is the way to go!

Magnolia Restaurant 
6266 1/2 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
Menu

Type: Restaurant, Bar
Category: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Late-Night
Company: Anyone willing to hang out on Sunset

Quickie: Like a person, you can tell a lot about a restaurant by the hours it keeps. Magnolia is open from 11am-11pm Sunday and Monday, Tues-Thurs 11:30am-Midnight, Fri-Sat 11:30-1am. Basically, this resto is 25 in people years and enjoys late nights and brunch.

Review: I love the moments when I realize that the more I eat, the more I become aware of what I haven't eaten. More specifically, it's rare that you'll find this beach-dweller east of the 405 - and even more rare to be on Sunset in Hollywood. Holly-what/why? But the joke is on me - pulling up to Magnolia on Sunset, the flanks of restaurant options flooded my periphery vision and despite my focus (dessert at Magnolia) - "what a dunce I am" was all that really came to mind. There are so, SO many restaurants in Los Angeles, and the drive or traffic is never what we remember about a day, food, or moment, now is it? So, get up and off to Magnolia....

Enter Magnolia. Unsure how hip/busy it is 10pm+, but there's a bar, several tables, cool booth-chairs flanking the wall, a few back rooms, and the general ambiance that "this is the hangout of local industry types." The menu is simple and classic, nothing that you'd need a degree in gastronomy or mixology to re-create which is nice in face of hipper things that tend to trend on this side of town. Despite going for dessert, we opted for dinner first (how mature, I know) - and I sifted through the following recommendations:

Waitress: Beet and Avocado Salad. Tuna Tartare. Herbed Jidori Chicken. Macaroni and Cheese.

Dining Buddy: Pappardelle Bolognese. Pan-Seared Scallops. Cobb Salad.

Since Dining Buddy put dibs on the Pappardelle Bolognese, I wavered between the Mac and Cheese with a side of brussels sprouts (with which I hold a mild obsession) and the Pan-Seared Scallops. Finalizing on the latter, I was thrilled when the three caramelized scallops arrived nestled in a cloud of parmesan risotto and diced asparagus. Delicious, warm, and one of those plates where it was just what I needed - I highly recommended it. I also nabbed a bite of the Bolognese, which was an equally delicious experience of wide noodles cloaked in a rustic tomato-meat sauce highlighted by a hint of sweet carrot.

Then - DESSERT!

Like many destination restaurants, Magnolia is known for one sweet ending in particular: The Ice Cream Sandwich. A twin set of hulking sized chocolate cookies, smashed on both sides of your choice - salted caramel ice cream or mint chip (choose the mint) cut in to quarters (makes sharing optimal) and flanked by a strawberry. Oh my, get this - it's worth the trek and whatever else you may have to endure. Even though it will only last three seconds, I've heard that's all we remember anyway.

Brick + Mortar

Brick + Mortar

2435 Main Street

Santa Monica, CA 90405

Menu

Type: Restaurant, Bar

Category: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour, Bar

Company: Everyone!

Cost: Mains $15-$25, Starters $7-$31, Sides $7, Desserts $8

OTC Tip: Happy Hour prices are $10/pizza, $4 fries, $2 off beer, etc

Review: Restaurant by day, "line across the street" bar by night. Tucked behind Peet's Coffee on Main street in Santa Monica, B+M boasts outdoor seating (with space heaters), a long indoor bar with sub-extravagant prices, and a satisfying food menu with a range of snacks through shares and mains that stretches to dessert (if you aren't drinking your dinner).

OTC Tip: For the most bang-per-buck go for happy hour (till 7pm) then stay a while longer!

I've had the cured meat board with mustard and baguette, the mac & cheese, the cheese burger, the cheese pizza with tomato, and the short rib pizza. All are fantastic - I recommend the burger and the truffle fries (to diiiie for). 

OTC Tip: Always ask for the complimentary warm baguette, butter, and olive tapenade

Aside from an enjoyable two-blocks-from-seaside locale and the fifteen-stride walk to neighbor Ben & Jerry's (open till 10pm), you'll find that weekend brunch offers bottomless mimosas/marys for $15 with purchase of a main (and at a 2-hour max). Offering typical brunches of eggs, meats, toast, potatoes, french toast and sandwiches, I recommend going early to beat the weekend storm.

Dogtown Coffee

DTC Sweet 'n Sea Salty

Dogtown Coffee
2003 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Type: Cafe
Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner (yep, open till 8!)
Company: Locals
Cost: $2.25/large coffee, $3.75/large latte, $7.95/panini
OTC Tip: Remember these 4 words - DTC Sweet 'n Sea Salty. Order it.

Review:
With more places to get coffee on Main Street than you can count on two hands, there's not much room left for another cup of average joe. Luckily, DTC brought it - in the form of an iced drink called DTC Sweet 'n Sea Salty. Think an iced coffee with a dredge of caramel and a topping of "sea salt infused foam" which is better explained by "salty-unwhipped-CREAM."

Lunch: Turkey Melt

Yes, it's decadent, and yes - it's indulgent. But none of that matters when you are viciously stirring and whirling your straw to mix it all up before sucking it down in oh, probably five minutes flat. Additionally, DTC has the typical coffee house fare, including smoothies and tea. Even more pleasing is the food menu - finally, a coffee shop that has more than just two kinds of croissants and cardboard cups of oatmeal.

Impressively, DTC offers breakfast through cafe dinner, including "create your own" egg sliders, breakfast burritos, granola, and signature paninis. The best sandwich is the Bacon Bomb which sports bacon, aged white cheddar, tomato, a bold layer of caramelized onion, arugula, and DTC's "secret" chipotle sauce. Get it on the ciabatta, and be warned that while it comes cut in half, you won't be sharing. All sandwiches come with a tiny cup of thinly sliced cucumbers in a vinegar-dill marinade.

Parked on the corner of Bay and Main (kitty corner from Stella Rossa and menu-rival M Street Kitchen), DTC is a welcomed new neighbor that you'll consider a staple ever after your first sip.

Cha Cha Chicken

Lines often extend this way...

Cha Cha Chicken 
1906 Ocean Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Menu

Type: Cafe
Category: Brunch, Dinner
Company: Locals, beachcombers
Cost: $9-$16/plate
Quickie: Lines get long - order ahead if you are getting "to-go"

Review: 
Self-proclaimed "Carribean Food with Latin Fusion" Cha Cha is known for the bright shack-like exterior on the corner of Ocean and Pico (one block from the beach). Don't be deterred by the grass-tiki exterior that looks decorated by a preschool art class - this is a casual place for adults (and ok, kids) to sit and dine or grab and go most any night of the week.

Primarily offering chicken in many forms (roasted, pulled, fried, baked) inside an enchilada, a wrap, a sandwich, on top a salad or in gumbo - Cha Cha provides a selection of sides (fried plantains, dirty rice, sweet potatoes, cuban fries, slaw) so you can create a nicely rounded meal to your liking. No matter what you get, make sure to try the mango and jerk dipping sauces (my fav is the mango sauces mixed with a bit of sour cream).

Oh, and did I mention it's BYOB?

Recommended: Fried Chicken, Enchiladas, Spinach Quesadilla, Gumbo (and any of the nightly specials)

Feel Good Today: Volume 1

Feel Good Today: Volume 1
Remember The Moments.

Candied Bacon @ M Street Kitchen

Eat:
M Street Kitchen
At its best for breakfast/brunch. Sit outside. Order the Havana Latte (condensed milk is what makes this a true treat). With whatever else you get, make sure to include the bacon (it's candied!) and one of the house-made, face-sized english muffins.

Sweat:
Santa Monica Stairs
Park up San Vicente or along Ocean and run to the base to warm up your legs. Walk/climb/run up, then jog back down and around so you save your knees. Drink a lot of water. Take in the view of the ocean at the top.

Connect:
MeatHead Movers
Employing student athletes, aside from being a fantastic group of movers MeatHead also invests ample time in to local community service. "Providing premium moving services as well as assisting victims of domestic violence with a fresh start in life," if you're ever in need of moving services choose the group that gives back.

The best movers I've ever had (and easy on the eyes)!

M Street Kitchen

M Street Kitchen
2000 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
M Street Kitchen on Facebook

Type: Restaurant, Cafe, Bakery
Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, HH, Dinner, Bar
Company: Everyone!
Cost: Ranges- $2.50/Muffin, $10/BLT, $18/Tacos, $6/Sundae
Quickie: Let's be real. The Happy Hour Menu is what you really want to see.

Review:  Main Street in Santa Monica may be known for its proximity to the beach and fittingly, M Street Kitchen/Bakery is a mirror of the location and clientele. Up at 8 for breakfast, turning to brunch and lunch at 11, winding down at 4 with happy hour, gearing up for a fun night with dinner, and closing the bar at midnight – the vibe matches the neighborhood, the menu plays to the season, and the pace fuels the people.

As you’d imagine, in order to shoulder the variety there are nine menus – and the shortest, which is breakfast, offers forty-four individual items.

So yes, it goes without saying that there is something for everyone at M Street Kitchen – anytime of day, and impressively, from a multitude of cuisines, as well. Per my duty, I’ve been to M Street for every possible meal, including a special event. I’ve nibbled, munched, crunched, sipped and swooned  - and since few people have the luxury (let’s be real, it’s an obsession) of finding the best things on a menu, here’s  a cut to the chase:

Breakfast/Lunch: Courtesy of M Street Bakery, I now know where to find the Best Muffins. Streusel-topped and rich, tender, and moist, you can’t go wrong with whatever flavor you pick. Also amazing, the M Street English Muffins (homemade, and the size of a saucer). The Havana Latte (made with condensed milk), the Berry French Toast (caramelized jacket, creamy interior), Farmers Market Root Vegetable Hash (aioli, poached eggs), to name a few more, are all worth getting up and in there before 11am.

Brunch/Dinner: Pulled Chicken Nachitos. Evil Thai Princess Salad. Dixie Pan-Fried Chicken. Cheese Burger, add Fried Egg(!). I advise getting a few plates and sharing. If you ask, they’ll even pre-cut the burger (and divide the fries).

Dessert: Take it back to the M Street Kitchen and go for the cookies. Any of them – I love the Snickerdoodle, the Gingersnap, and the Sugar Cookie. Get them plain, warm with ice cream, or (and!) a few to go. If you have some room and a few minutes, order the Campfire Pie (chocolate pudding, toasted marshmallow, graham cracker crust).

Like everyone else on Main Street, M Street Kitchen likes to work hard and play hard. Every few months, the bar hosts Toast of the Coast, an unlimited tasting event that offers 25 wines for $25 that also includes appetizers (bacon-wrapped figs, mini lobster rolls, sliders, and more) so by the end of the two hours you can (safely!) make your way home.

The next Toast of the Coast is April 10^th from 6:30-8:30pm. Sign up early to reserve your spot!

Tavern: Bacon & Buns

Tavern
11648 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Follow Tavern on Facebook

Type: Restaurant, Cafe
Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Bar
Company: Everyone!
Quickie: Great for any meal, but even better for their Summer Picnic Boxes to up the ante at any outdoor event!
OTC Tip: Happy Hour is Monday-Friday, 3pm-7pm. $8 margaritas on Wednesdays!

Review:
Tavern is known for fantastic meals that span a day's worth of eating, which means you can find pretty much the best of everything at any moment - sweet breads for breakfast, soft eggs for brunch, sandwiches and salads for lunch, an infamous happy hour, and even a dinner menu hot enough to land the President during his most recent LA stay.

But enough about burgers and spirits - in the light of spotting and sharing unsung treasures in everyday places, this post is entirely focused on a particular menu item (or shall I say "gem") that is much more than its name might propose - the Pecan Sticky Bun, "Suzanne" Style:

I'm not sure how much more I really need to say about this, aside from the fact that Yes, That Is Bacon On Top Of A Sticky Bun -  and - you're welcome.

Bru's Wiffle

Bru's Wiffle
A Waffle Joint
2408 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Follow Brus Wiffle on Facebook

Type: Cafe
Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Company: Everyone!
Cost: $6.50-$12.00

Quickie: Tired of googling "places for breakfast in Santa Monica"? Annoyed by the weekend brunch lines? Try Bru's Wiffle, quite possibly the best place to eat dessert for breakfast or have breakfast for dinner. Want a "Chocolate Waffle Party" (butter cream, oreos, whipped cream and chocolate sauce sandwiched between two waffles) at 9 am? This is your place!

OTC Tip: Trust the weird sounding combinations ("The King" boasts a waffle adorned in peanut butter, banana, and bacon) and always ask about the specials.

Review:
Since there is always room for more brunchy-eateries in Santa Monica, Bru's Wiffle is a welcomed addition. Squashed in the 2400 block of Wilshire (across from California Chicken Cafe), while I can't promise you ample parking, I can attest to a bright and airy "french country" sort of vibe where you can get eggs and bacon anytime of day, a panini or soup/salad if you want a stead-fast lunch, or a blueberry waffle topped with ice cream for dinner if you wish a whimsical evening.

Being of the "salty-sweet" variety, I went for Dwight's Special Fried Chicken & Waffle. Sound familiar? It should, (think: Roscoe's) but without the commute. As one who gets fried chicken for the sole purpose of eating the crispy skin, I was thrilled to find the outside of two huge chicken breasts thoroughly fried it a nice jacket of spiced skin that slid right off the flesh (should you be one who wants to eat the actual meat). The waffle was equally as delicious, and when smothered in butter and real maple syrup, became the vehicle for an eating enlightenment:

Fried Chicken & WAFFLE

OTC Tip: Fried chicken dunked in maple syrup beats gravy and ranch dressing. No contest.

While I have yet to venture in to the Bru's Wiffle assortment of sweet breakfasts and "non-waffle" offerings of salads and burgers, I can say with utter certainty that I will be back, and I think the burger is next on my list (bacon, fried egg, onion, avocado, tomato & garlic aioli on a brioche bun!).

Yeay for more all-day breakfast places to shoulder the weekend rush (caveat: does not serve mimosas).

The Market at Santa Monica Place

Welcome to The Market!

The Market
Dining Deck, Level 3
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Follow The Market on Facebook

Type: Indoor Market
Category: Meal or Snack between 10-9 (Mon-Thurs), 10-10 (Fri-Sat), 11-8 (Sun)
Company: Everyone!
Quickie: This is Santa Monica's version of SF's Ferry Building Market Place and Brentwood's Country Mart. Picture Main Street's Sunday Farmers' Market minus the dirt and pony rides, then add permanency and a bar or two all inside a lofty warehouse-ish structure.

OTC Tip: Go for any meal of the day, but understand that you won't be able to leave without gelato (N'Ice Cream), an ice cream sandwich (Beachy Cream), or a cookie-and-milk combo purchase (The Cookie Guru).

Beachy Cream!

The Do's                                                              
1. Go now and check it out. Take time to walk around and enjoy samples.
2. Try (then buy) every single flavor of gelato at N'Ice Cream.
3. Seek Cast Iron Gourmet and buy her Couch Mix and the Pimento or Bacon Chutney.
4. Buy bread at Rockenwagner and a plate of slice-to-order meat and cheese at Norcino Salumeria Cheese Bar.
5. Get a cookie and glass of milk (soy, caramel, plain, or chocolate) to-go from The Cookie Guru

Cast Iron Gourmet's COUCH MIX!

The Don'ts
1. Just sample - don't be that person.
2. Judge if a vendor isn't serving their full menu yet. Be patient.
3. Forget that these shops are the hearts of their proud owners; chat them up and you'll leave with an arsenal of recipes and great local "who knew?" tidbits (best way to eat bacon chutney: with cheese).
4. Leave without posing in front of either the "Life Is Uncertain Eat Dessert First" or the "You Should Always Play With Your Food" signs.

The point here is that life is too short to not a) eat well nor b) enjoy doing it. Luckily, the Market is the place to do just that!

Sweet Lady Jane

"I'll take this slice, thanks"

Sweet Lady Jane
1631 Montana Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Follow SLJ on Facebook


Type: Cafe, Late Night
Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert
Company: Date, Friends, Family, Visitors
Cost: $7.50+/slice

Quick-Rec: Cake for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Yes, please. SLJ is open Sunday-Wed, 6:30am to 10:00pm and Thurs-Sat, 6:30am to 11pm, which means you can eat dessert first at pretty much any hour of the day.

OTC Tip: If you want anything (i.e. your slice of pie) a la mode, you will have to BYO - Jane offers pretty much everything except for ice cream, and that's not going to change.

Review:
"Why are you taking pictures of my cakes?" a cheery gentleman inquires boisterously as I aim my camera at his cake case.
"Because...I love them" I gush. He nods. Good answer, I note, and thankfully - apparently, I had just met Paul, the GM of SLJ on Montana (the original location is in WeHo).

I've been a SLJ customer for years. Taking a hiatus here and there due to my varying schedule and the less-than desirable commute from West LA to WeHo during the collision of evening traffic and prime dessert time, despite everything SLJ has maintained its spot in my heart as THE cakery for four reasons:

1. Slices of high-end cake, deli-style: along with availability of the typical bakery fare (think: whole cakes, cookies, breads, tarts, muffins) at all hours, SLJ notoriously sells slices of boutique-quality cake, pie, trifle, etc. Sure, you say, aren't there other places (like Susie Cakes) that does the same thing..?

2....Oh, but all those bakeries aren't open until 10pm during the week and 11pm during the weekend. Yep, so just when are finishing a late dinner or getting home from that post-work run, SLJ isn't just closing on you - in fact, they are staying open late just for you.

3. The staff. During my just-post-collegiate days when I could put down a slice and a half or so of cake in one sitting, the servers at SLJ WeHo would give us the "end piece" just so they could witness the sugared gluttony, and sometimes even plunk themselves down and join us with a cup of tea and sugar-centered banter. The smiling faces at SLJ on Montana are no different.

4. And now: SO CLOSE TO HOME. With the opening of SLJ on Montana in Santa Monica, I can now fuel my stamina for everything sweet for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert - all within ten minutes of my abode. I'm so happy it fits in to my schedule again - which will be about the only thing I fit in to within a month's time, guaranteed.

Back to Paul, the GM of SLJ on Montana. Not only was he an absolute delight to ensnare in the "What's your favorite...Have you had the Trifle? The Almond Roca?" frequent-customer game, but despite refusing to join me for a picture, he indulged my "Will you take a picture of me with my cake.." plea and even knocked it up a notch by handing me the cake from which it came (Chocolate Strawberry) to truly bring out the rose in my cheeks.

Luckily, I didn't drop anything, so our (I'm sure, brief) parting was not only amicable, but so fabulous that I pledged to tell every single person I came in to contact with there after (this morning) to go to Sweet Lady Jane. No excuses, it's open late! And tell Paul I say "Hi, XOXOXO."

Primitivo Wine Bistro

Primitivo Wine Bistro
Tapas and Wine Bar
1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
Follow Primitivo on Facebook


Type: Restaurant, Bar
Category: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Company: Date, Friends, Visitors of the 21+ variety
Cost: $6-$18/tapas, $4+/taste-$7+/glass-$29+/bottle

Quick-Rec: Make reservations, ask for a seat outside, drink & eat abundantly! 

OTC Tip: There aren't any kids here. The crayons on the table are meant for you!

Review:
Rarely will I concede that the sparkly lights draped on a fairy's whim is what makes a place - but there is something so innocuously romantic and sexy about the patio seating at Primitivo that if the only thing on the table was Bud Light and peanuts, I'd still drag/send quite possibly everyone I know.

Tucked like a duck in a row with other such Abbot Kinney fancies, Primitivo is always a little too dark, almost a little to busy, and always 100% worth enduring the territorial hipsters.

When you step inside, the little podium womaned by two pretty ladies is immediately to your left. To your right is the bar, which is set at such an angle that everyone around it has prime "check you out" seating - which is exactly what they do as the hostesses linger over your reservations and mull over what table suits your personality, level of attractiveness, and overall appearance.

(I always wonder about this. I wonder if restaurants seat people somewhat like valet parks cars: the hot ones are always in front - but I digress)

Of course, not sure what this says about me: every single time I've been to Primitivo I've ended up in the back, outside. But I prefer it this way: sitting beneath drooping trees and dripping golden lights sets a remarkable mood.

Note: Last night we went in sweatpants and sandals and were promptly seated in the front - isn't that great to know??

Per the set up, the last time I was out back I worked my way through the following list of tapas:

Braised Chipotle BBQ Short Ribs with Apple Smoked Bacon-Cheddar Cheese and Potatoes with Caramelized Onions ($15)
Apple Smoked Bacon-Garlic Crusted Salmon ($16)
Paella with Saffron Rice, Chicken, Tiger Shrimp, Mussels, Chorizo and Peas ($15)
Mussels in Broth (Garlic & Butter?) with Pommes Frites

To-Do:

1. The paella is plentiful enough to feed a group of four, their horses, and maybe the stable staff. Order it.

2. Even the biggest shell-fish hater will find themselves spooning up the mussel broth/bath as if it were nectar from the heavens (again - MUST be shared - so much garlickly butteryness in this dish it could be mistaken as a product from the kitchen of The Stinking Rose).

3. Wine: Talk to your server and let them help you pair your wine to your order.

...Which brings us to dessert. Memorable odd listing: Peach Jelly Donuts. If you happen to come across the infamous and aptly named "Man" Dessert (no joke) then get it. Otherwise, order more wine, as nothing else has a fighting chance to beat a mason jar filled with fudge pudding and ice cream, an accompanying bowl of brownies, and a shot of Guinness. Instructions are to toss the brownies in to the mason jar, pour in the Guinness, and stir. Totally sloppy. And absolutely fucking delicious.

Venice Happy Hours!

Don't let the search for the local/daily happy hour sour the moment. Yesterday, when on the hunt for a (not-too-cool & cheap) hot spot to catch a drink and feed my face post sunset RUN on the Santa Monica beach, I came along Girl Gone Broke's site/blog (basically, an Out And About Los Angeles for VENICE BARS):

Venice Happy Hour (.com)
"Cheap Drinks for Cheap People in Venice, CA"

Type: Blog/Directory (and my new best friend?)
Category: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Company: Everyone 21+
Cost: $3+
Quick-Rec: Make it a bookmark. Read through every post. Export to an excel google calendar and share with friends!

Tip: Follow Girl Gone Broke on TWITTER for sweet deals

Review: Not only does Girl Gone Broke stick to the TRUE meaning of Happy Hour (inexpensive) but she also makes the decision easy by listing bar/dive/restaurant names on the right-hand side, and categories on top. Want to know the hours and feel of the HH at a specific venue? Search for the name on the right. In need of a place to "day drink," go on a certain day (like "Sunday") or with a certain view (my fav is "Boardwalk Boozing")? Choose from the colloquial categories up top.

You can't go wrong here: time spent browsing means your pennies stay in your pocket. As for the post-run drink/meal? Lisa and I went to Bravo Pizza (Main St, Santa Monica) and gorged on pizza and Stella ($5 each) while sitting on benches at the outdoor patio (tip: sign up on their email list and receive occasional coupons for FREE SLICES).

Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery

Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
1517 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Bay Cities Deli on Facebook


Type: Italian Deli
Category: Picnic, Lunch, Dinner
Company: Date, Friends, Visitors, Family
Cost: $6+/sandwich (depends on size and additions)
Quick-Rec: Always get the "Italian roll" and an extra loaf of fresh-baked bread (it won't last the trip home). Delicious sandwiches, soups, hot-case items like pastas and meats. Great place to pick up any item you might ever need for an Italian snack or meal.

OTC Tip: Order online and pick up in the back- even though it takes 45 minutes, it saves you the pretty-much guaranteed 45 minute standing wait/line at the deli. Get to know the guys who make the to-go orders. Get "the works" (mayo, mustard, onions, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, italian dressing, pepper salad) on your sandwich. Never go on Monday - it's the one day BC is closed.

Review:
There are 1,483 reviews for Bay Cities on Yelp, hundreds of discussions on Chowhound, and even a feature on the Food Network's show The Best Thing I Ever Ate - so clearly, I'm not breaking news here.

Since my goal is to filter through the clutter and just shine light on the best, I'll spare you any specific suggestions/reviews/comments on "what to get" - aside from insisting that you get a sandwich of one of the million varieties (the infamous is the Godmother, but I'll let you know that most people opt to customize their own) my only insist is that you do some of your own research and go order whatever sounds delicious to you (because it will be).

In addition, considering Bay Cities is located on Lincoln Blvd (about seven blocks from the beach), opens at 9am, and sells everything you might want for a picnic - this is a great place to stop before embarking upon any Los Angeles activity where you need to bring-your-own-meal such as visiting the beach, going hiking, or attending an event at the Hollywood Bowl, etc etc.

Great for brunch, lunch, dinner, a hangover, a picnic - Bay Cities will not disappoint so you may as well bookmark the online ordering page as a favorite and call yourself a fan.