Favorite Restaurants and Markets

Favorite Restaurants and Markets

Index to the lists on this page:

Pacific Palisades restaurants and markets
Santa Monica restaurants and markets
Brentwood restaurants and markets

OK, OK, so I'm not Elmer Dill, but I know good value, and I like good food.

Pacific Palisades restaurants

Cathay Palisades 15315 Antioch St. 310.459.9628

Conscious Chinese cuisine, specializing in low-fat, no-MSG dishes. Rated highest in County Department of Health inspection for Pacific Palisades.

Il Sogno 863 Swarthmore Ave. 310.454.6522

ATMOSPHERE, excellent food, salads, patio/courtyard, very sweet

Modo Mio 15200 Sunset Blvd.(La Cruz) 310.459.0979

Romantic and sensuous, true Italian cuisine. Pricey.

Mort's Deli 1035 Swarthmore Ave. 310.454.5511

Conscious deli fare and THE WORLD'S BEST TURKEY VEGETABLE SOUP - They don't make it every day, so call ahead!

Naturally! 15200 Sunset Blvd. 310.459.1010

Need a squirt of wheat grass or some steamed veges, a pita pocket with organic this and that....vegetarian soups and juices. This is a whole (pun intended) in the wall where the local health conscious grab a bite. Fast, reasonable. Corner of building at S.E. corner Sunset and La Cruz.

Terry's Cafe 1028 Swarthmore Ave. 310.454.6467

Nothing trendy here, just terrific food at reasonable prices, quiet and kid friendly. Health conscious American food.

Tivoli 15306 Sunset Blvd. 310.459.7685

Just an all around good lite-Italian restaurant: pizza, salad and delicious soups. Conscious. Reasonably priced.

Vittorio's 16646 Marquez Ave. 310.459.3755

Great Pizza, cheerful help, excellent squid dishes- good family restaurant

Pacific Palisades markets

Gelson's Market Corner of Via De La Paz and Antioch 310.459.4483

Contains: Wolfgang Puck Pizza Kitchen and terrific deli and flower departments. Excellent veggie department, well run store.

Palisades Liquors 15333 Sunset Blvd. 310.454.4018

Ronnie's Market 16642 Marquez Ave. 310.454.0515

Ronnie is a gem! Lotto to luxury beer, convenience store with heart.

Santa Monica restaurants

17th Street Cafe 1610 Montana Ave. 310.453.2771

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are fresh and good, reasonably priced and quick.

Babalu Restaurant SE Corner 10th and Montana 310.395.2500

Sunday Breakfast, mmm! Reasonably priced

Border Grill 1445 4th Street 310.451.1655

Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (TWO HOT TAMALES) have a winner here! A bit noisy, but the last time I was there, Geena Davis was too. Need I say more? Great food! Reservations suggested.

Caffe Delfini 147 W. Channel Rd.
(Santa Monica Canyon) 310.459.8823

If Will Rogers had eaten at Giorgio's, he'd say, "there's been an Eye-Talian invasion of Santa Monica Canyon. I give up, let's go to Cafe Delfini, tonite." Reservations a musto. Hip and Pricey.

Drago Restaurant 2628 Wilshire Blvd. 310.828.1585

Rich, excellent.....Italian....nice special occasion, lunch and dinner, valet parking.

Giorgio's Restaurant 114 W. Channel Rd.
(Santa Monica Canyon) 310.573.1660

If Will Rogers were still with us, he'd ask for the grilled Santa Barbara prawns. Reservations essential. Valet parking. Hip and Pricey.

Giraffe 502 Santa Monica Blvd. 310.917.6671

Might be the best restaurant in Santa Monica. Reservations necessary.

Gourmet Grub to Go 1627 Montana Ave. 310.451.2021

Low fat and luscious! Take-out or eat in. Veges, turkey everything, almost Pritikin..sandwiches. Next to Tanaka's Produce ... Fresh lychees in season.

Hal's Bar and Grill 1349 Abbott Kinney Blvd. 310.396.3105

Extremely contemporary, good art and comfortable atmosphere.

I Cugini 1501 Ocean Ave. 310.451.4595

Seafood. Selection, menu and service, excellent. Like the patio except for the smokers.

Il Sogno 1023 Montana Ave. 310.458.4880

Convenient, relatively quick service, wonderful coffee house.

Marmalade 710 Montana Ave. 310.395.9196

Cute drop-in place, festival seating, European deli - great food and take-out. Hollywood bowl Number #1 Box Dinner Choice.

Monsoon 1212 3rd. Street (Mall) 310.576.9996

Hip (chic) oriental flavor (no pun) Interesting atmosphere and food.

Remi 1451 3rd. St. Promenade 310.393.6545

Enjoyable atmosphere, special occasion priced, convenient to theatres, terrific wine selection. Reservations probably necessary. Sexy clientele.

Rockenwagner 2435 Main Street 310.399.6504

Aggressively interesting presentations of food. Pricey, worth it. Candidate for "best" restaurant in Santa Monica.

Thai Dishes 111 Santa Monica Blvd. 310.394.6189

Best bet for quick, fresh, Thai food, inexpensive, good take out. Alternate location 1910 Wilshire Blvd. (310.828.5634)

Valentino's 3115 Pico Blvd. 310.829.4313

Pierro Selveggio's triumph! Great for special occasions. Candidate for "best" restaurant in Santa Monica. Pricey. Valet parking.

Zipangu 802 Broadway 310.395.3082

If you can imagine a Japanese-Italian restaurant, you've been to Zipangu. Very interesting choices, fresh fish, green tea soba noodles/linguini. Quite reasonable.

Santa Monica markets

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3rd and Arizona
Farmer's Market Wednesdays 9AM-2PM

A gift from the European lifestyle of open air markets. Fun!

Co-opportunity 1525 Broadway 310.451.8902

Health, vitamins, organics, join and save $.

Fireside Cellars Next to Wild Oats Montana 310.393.2888

Excellent California and imported wine selection. Lottery. All price ranges, pleasant and informed staff, and a Web site.

Santa Monica Seafood 1205 Colorado Ave.(12th and Colorado) 310.393.5244

Positively the freshest and finest seafood available, chic and clean. Open M-F 9AM- 7PM / Sat. 9AM - 6 PM. Demos, sushi, etc.

Wild Oats 1425 Montana 310.576.4707

All around conscious market, organic vegetable and herb section, vitamins, aromatherapy. Great to get a quick healthy bite or your morning coffee jolt "organic". They are pricey but there is good selection, the vege section is well-run, the employees are informed and pleasant.

Brentwood restaurants

Asakuma 11701 Wilshire Blvd.
( N.W. corner Barrington and Wilshire) 310.826.0013

Excellent sushi bar, pleasant atmosphere, good family restaurant. Parking garage and valet. Well priced as Japanese restaurants go.

Daily Grill Brentwood Gardens
11677 San Vicente Blvd. 310.442.0044

Upscale and hipper deli par excellence. Home cooking, pleasant, noisy, full bar. Validated valet parking.

La Terrazza 11701 Wilshire Blvd. (NW corner of Barrington and Wilshire. Valet and parking garage) 310.820.2802

Antipasti extraordinaire! Well priced, good quality, terrific selection.

Taiko Brentwood Gardens
(11677 San Vicente Blvd, valet parking) 310.207.7742

The best Japanese restaurant I've ever found. Home-made soba noodles, cold and hot, excellent lunch and dinner specials. Validated, valet parking.

Toscana 11633 San Vicente Blvd. 310.820.2448

The "in" place to eat. Italian, of course, tasty, pricey, valet parking.

Brentwood markets

Whole Foods 11737 San Vicente Blvd. 310.826.4433

Excellent chain reflecting today's healthier attitude toward food. If you care to brave the picket line, the store is a visual treat and pleasant shopping experience.

Cathay Palisades	15315 Antioch St.	310.459.9628
Conscious Chinese cuisine, specializing in low-fat, no-MSG dishes. Rated highest in County Department of Health inspection for Pacific Palisades.

Il Sogno	863 Swarthmore Ave.	310.454.6522
ATMOSPHERE, excellent food, salads, patio/courtyard, very sweet

Modo Mio	15200 Sunset Blvd.(La Cruz)	310.459.0979
Romantic and sensuous, true Italian cuisine. Pricey.

Mort's Deli	1035 Swarthmore Ave.	310.454.5511
Conscious deli fare and THE WORLD'S BEST TURKEY VEGETABLE SOUP - They don't make it every day, so call ahead!

Naturally!	15200 Sunset Blvd.	310.459.1010
Need a squirt of wheat grass or some steamed veges, a pita pocket with organic this and that....vegetarian soups and juices. This is a whole (pun intended) in the wall where the local health conscious grab a bite. Fast, reasonable. Corner of building at S.E. corner Sunset and La Cruz.

Terry's Cafe	1028 Swarthmore Ave.	310.454.6467
Nothing trendy here, just terrific food at reasonable prices, quiet and kid friendly. Health conscious American food.

Tivoli	15306 Sunset Blvd.	310.459.7685
Just an all around good lite-Italian restaurant: pizza, salad and delicious soups. Conscious. Reasonably priced.

Vittorio's	16646 Marquez Ave.	310.459.3755
Great Pizza, cheerful help, excellent squid dishes- good family restaurant

Gelson's Market	Corner of Via De La Paz and Antioch	310.459.4483
Contains: Wolfgang Puck Pizza Kitchen and terrific deli and flower departments. Excellent veggie department, well run store.

Ronnie's Market	16642 Marquez Ave.	310.454.0515
Ronnie is a gem! Lotto to luxury beer, convenience store with heart.

17th Street Cafe	1610 Montana Ave.	310.453.2771
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are fresh and good, reasonably priced and quick.

Babalu Restaurant	SE Corner 10th and Montana	310.395.2500
Sunday Breakfast, mmm! Reasonably priced

Border Grill	1445 4th Street	310.451.1655
Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (TWO HOT TAMALES) have a winner here! A bit noisy, but the last time I was there, Geena Davis was too. Need I say more? Great food! Reservations suggested.

Caffe Delfini	147 W. Channel Rd. (Santa Monica Canyon)	310.459.8823
If Will Rogers had eaten at Giorgio's, he'd say, "there's been an Eye-Talian invasion of Santa Monica Canyon. I give up, let's go to Cafe Delfini, tonite." Reservations a musto. Hip and Pricey.

Drago Restaurant	2628 Wilshire Blvd.	310.828.1585
Rich, excellent.....Italian....nice special occasion, lunch and dinner, valet parking.

Giorgio's Restaurant	114 W. Channel Rd. (Santa Monica Canyon)	310.573.1660
If Will Rogers were still with us, he'd ask for the grilled Santa Barbara prawns. Reservations essential. Valet parking. Hip and Pricey.

Giraffe	502 Santa Monica Blvd.	310.917.6671
Might be the best restaurant in Santa Monica. Reservations necessary.

Gourmet Grub to Go	1627 Montana Ave.	310.451.2021
Low fat and luscious! Take-out or eat in. Veges, turkey everything, almost Pritikin..sandwiches. Next to Tanaka's Produce ... Fresh lychees in season.

Hal's Bar and Grill	1349 Abbott Kinney Blvd.	310.396.3105
Extremely contemporary, good art and comfortable atmosphere.

I Cugini	1501 Ocean Ave.	310.451.4595
Seafood. Selection, menu and service, excellent. Like the patio except for the smokers.

Il Sogno	1023 Montana Ave.	310.458.4880
Convenient, relatively quick service, wonderful coffee house.

Marmalade	710 Montana Ave.	310.395.9196
Cute drop-in place, festival seating, European deli - great food and take-out. Hollywood bowl Number #1 Box Dinner Choice.

Monsoon	1212 3rd. Street (Mall)	310.576.9996
Hip (chic) oriental flavor (no pun) Interesting atmosphere and food.

Remi	1451 3rd. St. Promenade	310.393.6545
Enjoyable atmosphere, special occasion priced, convenient to theatres, terrific wine selection. Reservations probably necessary. Sexy clientele.

Rockenwagner	2435 Main Street	310.399.6504
Aggressively interesting presentations of food. Pricey, worth it. Candidate for "best" restaurant in Santa Monica.

Thai Dishes	111 Santa Monica Blvd.	310.394.6189
Best bet for quick, fresh, Thai food, inexpensive, good take out. Alternate location 1910 Wilshire Blvd. (310.828.5634)

Valentino's	3115 Pico Blvd.	310.829.4313
Pierro Selveggio's triumph! Great for special occasions. Candidate for "best" restaurant in Santa Monica. Pricey. Valet parking.

Zipangu	802 Broadway	310.395.3082
If you can imagine a Japanese-Italian restaurant, you've been to Zipangu. Very interesting choices, fresh fish, green tea soba noodles/linguini. Quite reasonable.

Co-opportunity	1525 Broadway	310.451.8902
Health, vitamins, organics, join and save $.

Fireside Cellars	Next to Wild Oats Montana	310.393.2888
Excellent California and imported wine selection. Lottery. All price ranges, pleasant and informed staff, and a Web site.