Lunch suggestions in Santa Monica

[shermanoaksfoodie]

Looking for a Friday lunch suggestion (sandwiches, salads) in the Santa Monica area to take an out of towner. Outdoor seating would be wonderful, but not required. Is there anything along the Montana strip of stores? Again, not required but we will likely go there afterwards to do some shopping. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Burger Boy]

Go to Bay Cities and sit on the bluffs at Santa Monica.

[FromLV]

I concur with the Bay Cities suggestion. All their sandwiches rock. My favorite is the Godmother with the spicy dressing. I've never made it home to the Valley with one intact. I always start on it on the way in the car and by the time I get home I've devoured most of it and I'm wearing the rest. It's that good.

[mollyomormon]

Along similar lines, I've also gotten sandwiches from Andrew's Cheese on 7th and Montana and walked down to eat them on the bluffs overlooking the ocean.

[fdb]

Wilshire is my favorite place to dine outdoors (nice patio) in Santa Monica. On Montana, Kreation (healthy) has a zen-like back room that feels like outdoors. Non-outdoors, I like Blue Plate and 17th St. Cafe (delicious salads).

[Phurstluv]

Gotta say, Montana Avenue is sorely lacking and not just w/ restaurants, but many stores now For Lease, unless you count Father's Office, but that's not open for lunch and has no outdoor patio. Maybe Rosti - had decent roast chicken sandwich there once a long time ago.....

If you want to go shopping afterward, might want to try Main Street instead. At least you can park, eat somewhere and maybe window shop, etc. depending on what block you ended up on. There are lots of places on Main St. that have patios, but I hate to rec anything without having eaten there and knowing your food or price ideas.

[yogachik]

Father's Office is open for lunch on the weekends.

[Phurstluv]

I know, but the OP said a Friday lunch.

[whatsfordinner]

I agree. Montana Ave is pretty depressing these days with all the empty storefronts. I'd recommend Abbot Kinney. Better restaurants and interesting stores. Joe's, Lilly's, Primitivo, 3 Square, Jin all have patios.

[yogachik]

Cynthia's (at 15th) or R+D (at 14th) on Montana. Both are great.

[kevin]

did you actually try the new
cynthia's location?

i heard some bad notices so far. but how was the fried chicken and how was the cobbler?

thanks. i was a little weary of trying it.

[yogachik]

I'm addicted to the chopped salad with fried chicken and have eaten there several times. I think it's a great addition to the area.

[kevin]

did you try the burger, meatloaf, or infamous blackberry cobbler yet?

and have you tried the blackberry crostata at Huckleberry?

[mollyomormon]

wait, where is this on montana? in which space? how did i miss this???

[kevin]

it's on the same block as cafe montana., i guess 16th or 17th and montana.

[fdb]

It replaced Grateful Bread.

[kevin]

Yep, the sign for the bread company is still up there in fact. and it's called cynthia's on the corner, and you know what it's actually on a corner.

[mollyomormon]

okay, i guess the confusing signage is how i missed it. definitely will have to check it out this weekend.

[fdb]

I've never been to the original location but tried this one after reading about it here. I don't love the fried chicken, but my kids liked the mashed potato and mac cheese. The top crust of the blackberry cobbler tastes like a big chuck of brown sugar. While I love sweets, this is just a bit too much for me. Their cookies are really delicious though.

[goodhealthgourmet]

if you want to sit outside on Montana, i'd say R+D Kitchen or Babalu.

[sdv231]

Bay Cities deli......The Godmother Sandwich, the best in town for sure