Warasawa

Warasawa is a nondescript building on Lincoln Blvd in Santa Monica. It really isn't the kind of place most people would just walk into on a whim. The thing is, you should. Warsawa is such a pleasant surprise once inside.  This building is a transformed house and it feels like going into someone's dining room.  Each room has just a few tables making the restaurant almost as private as eating at home.

We dined here on a Wednesday night and it wasn't that crowded at all. The service was good for the whole time and the waitresses were attentive and helpful. All of the wait staff are Polish and even have the accents. I was charmed when one of the waitresses talked about our crepe as a pancake later in the evening because it seemed like what you might call it at home.

We started out sharing the mushroom gnocchi and the beef tartar. I have never had tartar that comes with so many different things-all tasty though. The appetizers were big enough to be an entire meal and all of them sounded interesting and I could easily make a meal out of a few appetizers.

After filling up on the appetizers, I managed to save some room for my lamb dumplings. I loved the lamb nuggets inside the perfectly cooked dumplings. The sauce was a nice touch as well. I liked that all the entrees came with small sides and weren't overwhelming in size like most restaurants. The carrot puree was very good and a nice contrast to the lamb dumplings.

After dinner we probably should've stopped eating but I was interested in the coffee after smelling it brewing when we came in. It was delicious and came with these little cookies on the side. We also shared the lemon crepe and the chocolate cake. Skip the cake and go for the crepe--the textures and flavors were great and it was still a light enough dish to follow the evening of heavy foods.

Warsawa is a very good representation of a Polish food I'm not that familiar with. When I lived in Chicago it was known to have the largest population of Polish people besides Warsaw itself. However, the only Polish food I remember having was perogies. I didn't realize there were so many other options and had no idea what their specialties were. I do have a soft spot for dumplings of any variety though and I'm glad I do because I would like to have some more.

Warsawa

1414 Lincoln Boulevard  Santa Monica, CA 90401

TrueFood Kitchen

Around the same time that the Market opened in the Santa Monica Place, a new restaurant on the first floor also opened--TrueFood Kitchen. It's a little confusing when trying to explain to someone the Market and then also TFK because the concepts are similar but they sit on absolute opposite ends of the mall. The Market's concept is local gourmet shops that offer foods to buy and take home or to eat for a treat. TFK's concept is a sit-down restaurant with fresh local foods that are healthy enough for you to feel good about eating out.

I have been to TFK twice and I loved it each time. Unfortunately, I haven't tried lots of different things--my meal was so delicious the first day that I had to get it again the next.

TrueFood Kitchen has a variety of things on their menu from soups and salads to sandwiches to other fresh specialties. Due to the nature of their fresh and local healthy feel the price tag is kind of high. It's worth it, but this isn't an everyday place with most meals $13+--and some of those too small to count as a full lunch.

The restaurant serves fancy spritzers, bottled vintage-style sodas, tea and water. Don't look for your diet coke fix here. The spritzers are around $4 a piece which is pretty pricey although I noticed that some of them offer refills-but you'll have to qualify which. I tried the Red Moon the first time and was disappointed by how tart it was. I was hoping for a sweeter red orange flavor. The second time I ordered the honey lemonade and it tasted like it is called--lemonade with honey...I'd rather have it without the honey.

For my entree, I ordered the grilled halibut tacos. The meal comes with three palm-sized soft corn tacos stuffed to the brim with large chunks of halibut, cabbage, pickled onions, tomatillo salsa and cojita cheese. Each ingredient tastes as though it were made just for me. The tortillas were the freshest I have ever had. The tacos came with a small bowl of pinto beans topped with a little salsa fresca and some cheese--making these beans stand out from the traditional side order. My friends ordered a variety of other menu items including the turkey burger, the bison burger, the ahi sliders, the ravioli (small for an entree), and the salads (sure you can add fish but it will bring the price up to $20...for a salad...).

I also sampled the chocolate banana tart and as a non-banana lover it was absolutely fantastic! I loved the caramelized banana, the crunchy tart bottom, the light chocolate flavor--even the dollop of whipped cream. However, one tart cannot feed five people..just one person, $7.

I love this restaurant. I think the food is fantastic, I think the service is good, I like the fresh healthy feeling. I don't actually know how healthy the food is except that they tell me so since the calorie listing isn't on the menu like other restaurants around town these days. But the food does feel healthy when eating it and the chefs line the wall in view to show they aren't hiding anything that they cook. I will continue to go back here again and again--but as a special treat, the prices here are not low enough for every day.





TrueFood Kitchen, 1st Floor
Santa Monica Place

Santa Monica, CA 90401
Map

The Curious Palate

I have been doing my do-diligence and trying to dine at all of the new restaurants at the Santa Monica Place Market. My goal is based purely on convenience--my office is a stone's throw away from the market and I want to find new and delicious places to eat and to take my friends that come to dine with me.

This Friday, I decided to try The Curious Palate. I've noticed the intriguing blackboard of daily soups, sandwiches, quiches and entrees but the line is always out the door and around the corner. Finally it was small enough that I could manage the time strain.

I ordered The Brooklyner sandwich and it came with one side--I opted for the barley salad. I was drawn to the sandwich because it had smoked salmon on it. I stopped reading the ingredients list after thing 4...I'd just be surprised.

I took a seat on the outdoor patio overlooking nothing much and busied myself with my phone while I waited for my food to arrive. The sandwich was relatively large between hefty slices of light rye bread. I was disappointed by the number of different ingredients in the sandwich that managed to mask the delicate taste of the salmon. Among the other ingredients were the classic accompaniments--cream cheese, onions, tomato and some more unusual ones--sweet pickles and some kind of red sauce. I think I would've preferred the smoked salmon in a more classic way but I suppose it did appeal to all the senses on the palate per the name.

My lunch was $15--sandwich, side, water. The restaurant also sells fancy teas and coffee, vintage-style sodas and I think even a variety of beer and wine. I'll probably head back there again but go for something with a shorter ingredient list--maybe one of their popular quiches.

Also, one woman stopped off here with her small child. The Curious Palate does not have a children's menu and didn't seem to have any smaller menu items that would really work. This woman ordered the $13 burger for her under-5-year old and it was about the size of the kid's head. Since technically the curious palate is inside the market, if you really want something from there, I recommend heading over to The Bakery and picking up something smaller for your child--the curious palate probably won't mind if you bring something over from nearby or you could get your order to go and sit outside--but the man-sized burger seemed like a waste of money.

The Curious Palate, The Market

3rd Floor

395 Santa Monica Place

Santa Monica, CA 90401
Map

Norcino Salumeria Cheese Bar "The Butcher"

The Market in Santa Monica Place opened just last month and it has already become an old favorite to me. I still can barely go in there without picking up a chocolate chip cookie--but that bakery is not the only thing that makes my heart swoon.

The Butcher, as it is called when you get a sandwich instead of a sampler at the cheese bar, is a fast favorite. Since day one they have adapted to their environment and now offer a small list of sandwiches that highlight their super-high quality meats and cheeses for about $8 each. I'd say that's a pretty standard Santa Monica lunch.

The speck, the proscuitto, the cheeses, the manners. The food is delicious and the staff is friendly and helpful. I've gotten two different sandwiches from this place and I can eat them even after I am full because of all the textures and flavors that meld together wonderfully.

If you are so inclined, you can also join the Butcher at the cheese bar for a cheese sampler or tastes of meat and a glass of wine. If you like anything enough, you can buy chunks of cheese and slices of meat to take home. This place is not to be missed.

The Butcher, The Market
3rd Floor
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Map

Aurelie The Cookie Guru

I am a big cookie fan. Alright, you got me, I just love all desserts--but especially cookies. Whenever I went to the mall in my youth I would beg and beg my mom to buy me a cookie from Mrs. Fields. When each birthday came around I would hem and haw over cake or giant frosted cookie. And so I consider myself a bit of a cookie connoisseur, which means that when I saw a cookie stand in the middle of the newly opened Market at the Santa Monica place, I skipped over the massive lines for gelato (apparently they were offering a free scoop) and rushed on over.

Aurelie only sells chocolate chip cookies at this time, and that's just fine with me. The cookies were perched on cake plates with others coming right out of the oven. To compliment the cookies, you can buy a glass of milk--plain or flavored, soy, dairy or almond.

I purchased two cookies and a glass of the caramel milk. I had the caramel milk for lunch to accompany my sandwich from "the Butcher." It was the perfect mix of sweet and creamy. I loved how the flavors mixed together and I've never even thought about making caramel milk!

And then there were the cookies. Chewy chocolate chip cookies with delicious warm and giant chocolate chips melted on top and inside in delicious layers. I ate one and immediately wanted another...but I restrained myself. I have also tried several of their monthly flavors and they are usually delicious. This is my favorite place to go for a treat in Santa Monica now.

The lady in front of me purchased a dozen cookies to take and bake at home--and I would consider it, they were so delicious it is worth the price! Now I know where to go for my afternoon snack!






The Cookie Guru, The Market
3rd Floor
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Map

The Market

I have been counting down the days until the Market would open at the Santa Monica Place mall. I had visions of something like a mix of Whole Foods and Bay Cities Deli with a few shops added on. This isn't exactly what the result was--although it's still a neat place to visit. I'd say it's similar to the Farmer's Market at the Grove except with less places to eat.

The market has a couple of sit down eateries, a few more grab/go style places, a place that doesn't sell food at all and then lots of desserts. Despite today being opening day, I was surprised to see that only some of the stands were crowded and others had room to spare.

The market is expensive. It is certainly catering toward the Santa Monica rich yuppy who loves local and fresh foods. This is not a place to go every day but instead to visit for a special snack or sweet.

I walked around the market several times and then visited Aurelie The Cookie Guru, Norcino Salumeria Cheese Bar and L’Artisan du Chocolat. I will review each restaurant separately--but don't wait for my review, stop by the Market yourself to take in all the sights, sounds and smells and sit on the patio while you enjoy your sweets and snacks.





The Market
3rd Floor
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Map

The Misfit

The Misfit just opened up in the beautiful historic clock tower building in Santa Monica on 2nd & Santa Monica Blvd. Even though the restaurant has only been open for a week, they don't have any of those "new restaurant" glitches that I've come to expect from dining out in new places.

The Misfit kept the historic art-deco feel inside the building as well as out. The high vaulted ceilings make the restaurant seem much bigger than it is. Ceiling height bookshelves line the wall behind the bar filled with books and various bottles of alcohol. The red stools accent the bar and the frosted glass makes for different corner's in the restaurant. The whole place reminds me of the similarly architectural wonder of a restaurant--the 410 club in Chicago's Wrigley building.

The staff is very friendly and attentive. I was seated immediately at a slightly hidden corner table. My waitress came by almost instantly for drink orders. And when she returned she still offered just the right amount of time for me to decide on a menu choice before coming back again.

The waiters use an electronic ordering pad so they don't have to re-type your order into the computer which I think helps speed up the entire process. I read only a few pages of my magazine before my food was delivered to my table, still piping hot.

I had the green chili mac & cheese. The pasta is made of brown rice so that it works for a number of dietary concerns and is also a little bit healthier. This was a baked mac & cheese, so the melty cheese combined with the sweet-spicy peppers giving the dish an interesting flavor. The pasta part was a little bit undercooked I thought--but it was still good enough to eat! I liked it but I think I would order something else in the future--if not only to try something new. I also ordered the leek, fennel & tomato vegetable side. The restaurant serves different vegetable sides each day depending on what ingredients are fresh. My vegetable side was sauteed so that all the ingredients were soft. I enjoyed it but felt that both my entrée and the side were a little small for a filling lunch. This restaurant has a small-plates feel at large-plate prices.

This is a good place to go with a medium-sized group--say 4, so that you can try lots of things and fill up with appetizers and sides. The other plus is the full bar. The bar and restaurant isn't filled with TVs like other restaurants seem to always have these days, so it is a good place to go for a drink with people you want to talk to. Perfect for a business lunch, a slightly celebratory dinner, or just a drink after work with friends.

The Misfit

225 Santa Monica Blvd

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Map

Marmalade Cafe

Every once in a while I leave campus for lunch at work. It is rare these days though so it is always a big treat when we traipse around Santa Monica. This day we headed to Marmalade Cafe over on Montana.

This is an order at the counter you're lucky if you can find a table kind of place. We were lucky enough to share one of the larger tables with some other people. The cases at the front counter are filled with salads of all shapes and sizes, all looking delightful. In addition, they have a menu of sandwiches and soups. On the other side of the restaurant is a dessert case. That's right, a dessert case, don't get too full.

I ordered the sandwich/salad combo. One of my other friends got the 3-salad combo, and the third got the soup and salad combo. The portions are really big. The guys working there don't seem to weigh them out or anything, they just piled the salads on the plates. All the options use fresh quality ingredients. The staff offers suggestions of their favorite dishes but stands by everything being delicious.

I think the sandwich/salad combo was the best deal. The sandwich, which was grilled vegetable and brie had fantastic flavors and very fresh bread. The brie had the perfect flavor and was very thinly sliced (which is amazing, have you ever tried to slice brie?) and it paired well with the Oaxacan Chicken Salad. The salad's chicken was moist and delicious but the corn in it was slightly overcooked which made it hard to chew. It could've been a bad day though, I'd totally get it again. I also got a chocolate chip cookie which was large but a little too crispy for my tastes--I should've gone with one of the sinfully delicious looking brownies...

The Chili had a sour aftertaste of too much vinegar. The beat salad was good but needed something and the chicken salad was delicious. I think that these guys know their chicken. The main downside of the place was the price. For lunch upwards of $15 didn't seem right. But then again it is good quality homemade food with a flair with outside of the box offerings encouraging me to go back for seconds.





Marmalade Cafe
710 Montana Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Map

Bay Cities Italian Deli

When it is a beautiful day in Santa Monica it is hard to force yourself to stay on campus for lunch. So we jumped in the closest convertible and headed over to Bay Cities Deli to try their raved about sandwiches and picnic on the bluff.

When people say that this restaurant is crowded they are not kidding. If you have a tight lunch schedule and you plan on stopping by and getting your food and finding a seat and eating and getting back to work in an hour you're fooling yourself. So think ahead! You can order online and pick up your sandwich 30-45 minutes later in a separate area of the store--no need to fight for deli attention. Then grab some drinks and chips in the shop and head to the checkout.

We ate on the bluff overlooking the ocean just a short drive away. On a perfect day it was wonderful, there was plenty of parking and really relaxing after a morning at the office. So take my advice and get your sandwich to go.

The sandwiches, oh the sandwiches. I had the Caprese with added proscuitto. This is not your everyday caprese--the cheese was melt in your mouth milky. There was a pesto spread that added some delicious flavor. The bread was chewy, but actually a little too hard on my teeth, the proscuitto added just a bit of salt. It was really fantastic, and cheap! A good deal for such a high quality lunch.

Bay Cities Deli is also a store and some day I'd like to stop by at an off time and pick up some Italian supplies or just browse. The cheese counter alone could keep me interested for hours.





Bay Cities Italian Deli
1517 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Map

City Kitchen

City Kitchen is probably a chain, but since I've never seen it before anywhere, I'm counting it as a non-chain or local chain. City Kitchen is a small little deli in an office building near my work. It was only recently discovered by my circle of coworkers and is a new favorite of mine. Sure, build your own sandwich was made famous by the likes of Subway and Quiznos but what about building your own sandwich with gourmet ingredients? That's what City Kitchen has going for itself, unique and gourmet ingredients.

I have been to City Kitchen twice and both time I ordered a build your own sandwich. They also have a small selection of paninis and a build your own salad option. For the build your own sandwich you get a choice of bread (the first time I got the french baguette the second time the pretzel roll), choice of meat (I got roast beef and then the next time tried ham), choice of cheese (provolone and then fresh mozzerella), choice of 3 toppings (it's a long list, I chose tomatoes, pea sprouts, and cucumbers the first time and the second time I honestly don't recall), and your choice of spread (both times I went the boring route and got dijon mustard but I was curious about some of the aiolis.)

The sandwiches all come with housemade chips and a pickle slice. Then you can also get drinks from the fountain and they have a selection of baked goods. I tried the chocolate chip cookie and it was not only large but also chewy and delicious. I think the baguette sandwich was a better deal than the pretzel sandwich because it was bigger, however, both times I was hard pressed to finish the whole thing.

There is no indoor seating at this location but you can lounge at any table in the Water Garden adjacent. The food is delicious and fresh and prepared right before your eyes. The staff is friendly and fast. I will be going back and back and back for their delicious sandwiches and so many different options and combinations!





City Kitchen
1620 26th St
Ste 1001
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Map

Fritto Misto Italian Cafe

A group of ten of us went to a birthday lunch at Frito Misto on Thursday. We called in advance so that they would set aside a table for us and arrived at noon. The restaurant is a little cafe on the corner. It is filled with tables in two fresh and airy rooms.

The menu is large. I checked it out before going and was thrilled to see reasonable prices--$10-$12 per entree. The menu is mostly pasta with a selection of entrees as well.

The service was pretty good considering there were two groups of 10 (ours included) as well as a packed restaurant at the lunch hour. While we waited for our dinners the waiter brought out drinks and warm French bread. The bread, although I noticed came to the restaurant pre-made, was absolutely delicious.

The sweet potato ravioli was not at all what I expected. It was actually a little bit too sweet for my taste. However, it was cooked to its best with a perfect bite to the pasta, a beautiful plating with the red and yellow raviolis. My friend got the pumpkin ravioli which was an October special. The special was a great deal because it came with a side salad. The pumpkin ravioli was in black pasta and a creamy sauce--it was absolutely delicious. Another fellow diner got this pasta with cilantro. I never would think of cilantro in an Italian dish, but it was pretty good. It actually added something I would never expect.

Overall, I found the restaurant to be a delicious place to eat and a good treat from the Monotony and Cheese over at the office.





Fritto Misto Italian Cafe
601 Colorado Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Map

Lemon Moon Cafe

Back in 2004 I interviewed all across Los Angeles for jobs. One such interview was at Bizrate, a now defunct company which was purchased by Shopzilla. The interview was long and disappointing (I think they told me my IQ test was too good meaning I should look for a more challenging position). Anyway, I walked around the grounds for awhile because I was early for my interview and I noticed a cute looking cafe called Lemon Moon. I have always wanted to go there since, and finally, last Friday I had the opportunity!

Now that we work out in Santa Monica, I have a whole new selection of restaurants to try out. Lemon Moon has been on my list for ages and someone else actually suggested it! Parking is free in the garage with validation so that is another plus.

There was quite a crowd at the cafe with nearly every table taken. We were lucky to catch a table on the patio big enough for the whole crowd of people that came with us.

The menu is large and diversified--if you like salad. They have a variety of salads you can get from the case that change daily. They have sandwiches and soups and then even some entree salads. They also have a small selection of baked goods. The choices and build-up for the restaurant really led to my having a hard time choosing. I didn't know what to do, I wanted to try everything. I ended up choosing an entree salad of Caprese over a bed of greens with a vinaigrette. I also got a chocolate cookie and some fruit punch lemonade.

The fruit punch lemonade was delicious. It had a light taste of fruit mixed with the sour/sweet lemonade. It was a perfect refreshment, but I don't think there were refills on it. My salad came along with everyone else's food and I was immediately sure I made the wrong choice. The tuna melt across from me looked great (and I don't even like tuna), the burger and fries looked amazing--and apparently tasted great and the roast beef sandwich next to me looked slightly different and delicious.

My salad was not so delicious. It was absolutely drenched in the vinaigrette and it was very vinagery, almost spicy. The salad consisted of a row of tomato and fresh mozzerella across a bed of greens. I needed something more and a lot less vinegar. The cheese was nothing special (not buratta for sure) and the tomatoes weren't fully ripe. I knew I should have gone for a sandwich.

The cookie, which I ate later, was amazing. It tasted like a brownie with a cookie crust and chocolate chips oozing inside. My lunch was expensive with the drink, cookie and salad, but I would consider going there again and I would get something different, for sure. Maybe I can get someone else to order for me.





Lemon Moon
12200 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Map

New York Bakery & Deli

In the new office, we don't get free food, so I have to either bring or buy. It's the Westside though, so I tend to bring because buying is often causes a big dent in the checkbook. But once in awhile, I go for the easier option and buy. Yesterday was no exception.

I didn't want the classic fair in the nearby restaurants, so a couple friends and I walked a couple blocks up to Wilshire to a little sandwich shop someone knew of. This sandwich shop defines hole in the wall. If you didn't know it was there, you might not find it in shadow Whole Foods casts from across the street.

New York Deli is a bagel bakery that also makes sandwiches. The bagels are baked right in the front of the store so it looks a little unkempt when you first walk in, but it's worth the disheveled atmosphere when it comes to the sandwiches.

I have been to the Deli twice and ordered the same thing--on a different bagel, both times. The bagels are fresh and flavorful and don't resemble the bulk sale varieties that you find in your grocers freezer at all. The outside is perfect and the inside is soft and chewy. I ordered the lox sandwich. I have a weak heart for lox and order it almost every time I see it, because it was a family tradition growing up for both Christmas Eve and after-church brunch. When I lived in Seattle, I discovered another kind of smoked salmon--but it never compared to my good friend lox.

I made my sandwich a combo with a drink and chips and it was under $10. The shopkeeper was liberal with the lox. There was just enough cream cheese, and the onions and capers complimented it excellently. One of my friends got a turkey sandwich with all the classic toppings and it looked absolutely delicious and I heard it was.

This deli serves a variety of high quality Boarhead meats, has several kinds of mustard, and you can choose from a variety of bagel flavors from traditional egg to spinach for your sandwich. The variety matched up with the quality brings back regulars and new restaurant-goers alike.





New York Bakery & Deli
2216 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Map

The Counter

On Saturday afternoon we decided to enjoy a late lunch at The Counter in Santa Monica. Ever since my boyfriend started going there with his work buddies I have been intrigued. Not only did he rave about the place, but also it makes several lists a year for "the best burger in LA."

The drive from Burbank was a little long because the freeway was packed and then the side streets were slow. Once we got there, we parked on the street at a meter (although there was a small lot) and went inside. The restaurant was crowded, but the wait was shorter than expected.

They handed us clipboards and pencils and we sat on the empty chairs near the windows to fill out the burger list. There is a regular menu and then there is a list to fill out where you can build your own burger. While we were waiting a man came along and asked us if we had any questions about the process or the menu. We later found out that he was the owner. It is very neat that the owner of the restaurant was there and interacting with the customers--very personalized. A couple of minutes after we got there we were seated. My boyfriend said that usually he orders, pays and then finds his own seat and someone brings the burgers. This time though we sat down in the regular waiter/customer service.

For just $8, you get a burger with the following:
-1/3 patty (beef, veggie, turkey, grilled chicken)
-Choice of one cheese
-Choice of 4 regular toppings
-Choice of one sauce
-Choice of bun

If you want to pay a little more you can get a larger patty, premium toppings--like bacon or avocado, or more regular toppings or cheese or another sauce.

There are a lot of choices for all the different categories. In the cheese category they have everything from American and cheddar to horseradish cheddar and jalapeño jack. The toppings category has the typical lettuce, tomato, pickles plus unusual toppings like roasted chilies, dried cranberries and sprouts. There are plenty of sauces to choose from too.

The burger I made was a little more ho-hum than expected--but I believe it was my own fault. I didn't know what I felt like and had a hard time coming up with new combinations. I had a 1/3 burger with horseradish cheddar (not as strong as I had hoped), sprouts, tomato, pickles and roasted red peppers (I wish I had gotten the roasted chilies), garlic aioli on a honey whole wheat bun. Even though I didn't choose the ultimate toppings, the burger was delicious. The meat was cooked perfectly and the textures together were wonderful. The only problem was the juicy burger, sauce and toppings soaked through the bottom bun faster than I could eat it.

Everyone else loved their burgers. One diner in our party ordered the grilled cheese trifecta. I tried some of the extra cheese that oozed out and thought it would be better without the American, but it was still gooey and delicious. We also ordered the half and half fries to go with our meal. Half the fries were sweet potato and the other half were just regular. Both kinds of fries were thin with crunchy outsides. They provided individual dipping bowls for ketchup and a special sauce came with the sweet fries.

Overall, the experience was very positive. I am looking forward to going back again soon so I can attempt a more unique burger.





The Counter
2901 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica 90405
Map