Dinner w/ parents in Brentwood, SM, Venice

[turtle07]

My parents are coming in town next week and we are looking to go to a great restaurant in Brentwood, WLA, Santa Monica, Venice, etc... on Thursday evening. In the past they have enjoyed Lucques and Vicente. The only restriction is noise--looking for a place that is more on the quiet side so that we can have a conversation. Thought about Rustic Canyon and FIG (have not been to Fig), but would really appreciate some other suggestions. Thanks!

[woofer]

josie
capo
wilshire

[Nicole]

Josie has excellent food and a very nice, quiet atmosphere.

[NYCnowLA]

i have never been, but Rustic Canyon has a rep of being extremely loud. Can anyone confirm?

[Phurstluv]

Did not find it loud, but it is rather small and I'm sure on a busy night, it would be since the sound would carry and there's not much there to absorb it. Not to mention the communal tables where, I'm sure you get sucked into your neighbor's conversations.

Josie is a more refined in atmosphere and a notch or two better, foodwise, than RC, IMHO. Other ideas could be Melisse, tho pricey, it was pretty hushed when I visited. Or possibly Jiraffe, in an old bank building, but I don't recall it as being loud. You can also try Whist at the Viceroy and request a patio table - great atmosphere, but again if it's a busy night you may encounter some larger boisterous parties in your vicinity. Haven't been back, tho, since last chef left.

In fact, it's pretty hard to recommend restaurants based solely on noise factor, except to steer clear of those which are excessively noisy.

[Nicole]

Jiraffe has good food but is noisy downstairs. If you go there, ask to be seated upstairs. But I would still pick Josie for parents...quieter and--as phurstluv said--more refined.

[noshie]

La Cachette near Century City is near these places, also Melisse in SM

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Melisse Restaurant
1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401

La Cachette Bistro
1733 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401

[lizziee]

Valentino
3115 Pico Blvd. (bet. 31st & 32nd Sts.)

From Zagat Wire

What better way to celebrate the start of summer than a culinary trip to the Mediterranean? Head to Santa Monica for a taste of Sicily at this delicious seven-course dinner including frittura di paranza con polipetti, calamari e pesciolini, la caponatina nella melanzana, tortino di caciocavallo, involtino di pescepada, rigatoni con broccoletti e ricotta salata, and cannoli con scorzette di arancia candite. And if that isn't enough for you, Sicilian wine pairings are also available.

Event Details: $70 for seven courses, $120 with wine; tax and tip not included.

Pics of a Vin Bar/Valentino dinner here:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6141...