646152 Thu Aug 20 10:37:42 -0700 2009 39 2 Los Angeles Area 0 4962675 Is there any outstanding restaurants with-in walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier.I am taking my wife to Cirque Du Soleil and would like to park once and walk to the show.Thank You in advance! Thu Aug 20 10:37:42 -0700 2009 71457 woodranch 1 4962729 The Lobster is closest, and I consider it to be very good. Thu Aug 20 10:53:25 -0700 2009 4962675 74905 jaykayen 1 4962752 What do you consider "walking distance"? There's The Lobster right on the pier. A bit further south of the pier is Ocean and Vine, Capo, Whist, and One Pico. Just north of the pier is Boa Steakhouse and Anissette. Thu Aug 20 10:58:08 -0700 2009 4962675 11583 ipsedixit 1 4962801 Next door to One Pico is Catch (in the Casa del Mar hotel) which I consider to be superior to Pico. Just across the street from the pier is Ivy at the Shore, which many consider to be good, if somewhat expensive. Thu Aug 20 11:10:33 -0700 2009 4962675 14405 TomSwift 1 4962820 Capo is excellent and very expensive. I Cugini serves delicious Italian seafood & fish. Lobster has a killer view, but can get loud, and some of the food's been inconsistent, imo. Love Catch at Casa del Mar. Love Anisette & Boa, as well, all are expensive, with different types of food. And loved Whist, tho haven't been back since new chef appeared. Those would be the most "outstanding" IMO. Thu Aug 20 11:15:08 -0700 2009 4962675 90755 Phurstluv 1 4962957 Riva, Bar Pinxto, Houston's, Border Grill, Chinois on Main, Via Veneto. Via Veneto is the furthest away (1.3 miles), but a nice stroll along the beach after dinner and before the show can be enjoyable. Thu Aug 20 11:47:46 -0700 2009 4962675 51760 joshekg 2 4962965 All good choices. But Chinois & Via are in Venice, for the OP. You may want to cab it. And there is so much right where you will be, I don't really find those places worth the hike, if I had to walk. Thu Aug 20 11:50:09 -0700 2009 4962957 90755 Phurstluv 3 4963867 Actually, both of them are still in Santa Monica. I mentioned them because they are right by my house and I will be making the walk to the pier for Cirque du Soleil as well - so they are aren't outside what I would consider walking range. I wouldn't think of cabbing such a short distance. Thu Aug 20 16:15:03 -0700 2009 4962965 51760 joshekg 4 4963874 You're right, they're Main Street, which is closer to Venice than the pier. Thu Aug 20 16:20:15 -0700 2009 4963867 90755 Phurstluv 4 4966683 Okay, I just drove to the airport & back last night, and all I could think about was this particular post, since I was going right past the pier & Main St. Let me tell you something about women. We don't like to spend time on our hair & makeup, get dressed for dinner, and then expect to walk 1.3 miles (x2!) and get all sweaty and our cute new shoes or heels are hurting our feet! Trust me, makes for a very CRANKY wife. So, if you're with a date, and want to walk that far to dinner & back, WARN her, so she wears sneakers, or expect to get a cab! Fri Aug 21 15:14:12 -0700 2009 4963867 90755 Phurstluv 5 4966785 The other thing about women, is, we don't like to have any one person speak for all of us. :-) Chinois to the Pier is a very pleasant 1 mile stroll, each way. I've done it in 3" heels, and it wasn't an issue. But visions of deep-fried fish dancing in my head might've kept my feet motivated! ;-) But if you and your companion aren't feeling up for the stroll, there is also the fun little Santa Monica Tide Bus that will take you there, or any of the municipal buses, if you only want to walk one way (or hitch a ride both ways). I think Chinois would be a fabulous addition to your night at Cirque. Fri Aug 21 15:55:11 -0700 2009 4966683 10592 LicketySplit 6 4966923 Excuse me for bringing up a point. Obviously, I wasn't speaking for you. ;-) Fri Aug 21 16:59:42 -0700 2009 4966785 90755 Phurstluv 7 4968578 yeah, usuallly girls if they are dressed to the nines would not want to make a 3mile trek in high heels but then again what do i know???? there's also that italian joint, the old majiofso style joint right by lobster just a short jau8nt away as well as chez jay a couple blocks away. Sat Aug 22 14:59:12 -0700 2009 4966923 10866 kevin 8 4968587 If they are dressed to the nines they most likely aren't going to be happy to be taken to Chez Jay's either. Sat Aug 22 15:02:23 -0700 2009 4968578 108169 Servorg 9 4968591 you're point is well taken. come to think of it no wonder why there was no second date. Sat Aug 22 15:04:04 -0700 2009 4968587 10866 kevin 8 4970679 Which old Mafioso joint are you referring to?? I'm trying to rack my brain... Capo? I Cugini? Il Fornaio? Sun Aug 23 15:27:06 -0700 2009 4968578 90755 Phurstluv 8 4970905 Is Bruce Marder a mafioso? Who knew? Sun Aug 23 17:05:09 -0700 2009 4968578 225868 Senzinina 9 4971297 I didn't even think he was Italian!! Sun Aug 23 19:37:49 -0700 2009 4970905 90755 Phurstluv 5 4967454 I agree that for some people this may be outside their comfort range for walking, but I included them since it would be within walking range for others. And yes, a 1 mile walk for a woman wearing heals require a courtesy warning. Fri Aug 21 21:55:54 -0700 2009 4966683 51760 joshekg 6 4970678 Appreciate that you've acknowledged my point :). That makes women happy too!!! (LOL) But again, if she's prepared, she probably wouldn't mind the walk on a nice summer night. ;) PS - to Licketysplit, I'm still not speaking for you!! ;) Sun Aug 23 15:24:58 -0700 2009 4967454 90755 Phurstluv 1 4963082 I second the choice of Ivy at the Shore. Somewhat of an institution...very good food and cheaper (and less formal) than Capo. Thu Aug 20 12:24:47 -0700 2009 4962675 1082636 stevedi 1 4963259 IL FORNAIO is across from the pier and serves pretty good and reasonably priced Italian food. I've never had a bad mean there. http://www.ilfornaio.com/page1.htm Thu Aug 20 13:12:19 -0700 2009 4962675 177468 Baron 2 4963745 It is LOUD tho, but the food's decent. I forgot all about them! Thu Aug 20 15:38:58 -0700 2009 4963259 90755 Phurstluv 2 4964623 Definitely concur about Il Fornaio...great in the morning for capuccino and a pastry..great bread and rolls,too... Thu Aug 20 23:37:30 -0700 2009 4963259 1094158 lapizzamaven 1 4963808 Your recent posts indicate pretty high standards. I would say that of the restaurants mentioned, Annisette might be your best choice for good food. It's a few blocks from the pier. For decent food and great view, I would recomment the Lobster which is the most convenient for your purposes. Just one thing. We would appreciate feedback from you regarding your dining adventures. Thanks. Thu Aug 20 15:59:11 -0700 2009 4962675 62188 Ogawak 2 4964529 I second Anisette. Closer, though, would be Catch, which would be my first choice (in Casa del Mar). And it's a great companion to a night at Cirque. Thu Aug 20 21:55:25 -0700 2009 4963808 42095 yogachik 1 4964130 Cora's Cafe for VERY casual good, healthy food. Thu Aug 20 18:18:44 -0700 2009 4962675 113445 energy 2 4964197 Cora's is only open for breakfast and lunch though, right? woodranch, depending on when you're going to Cirque du Soleil, La Cachette Bistro might finally be open by then . . . Thu Aug 20 18:49:13 -0700 2009 4964130 14819 cookie monster 3 4964594 Yeah, Cora's recently cut out dinner service (now closes at 3 p.m.) -- found out the hard way. It's a decent little coffee shop / diner type of place, but really not appropriate for a night after the Cirque (even if they were still open for dinner). Thu Aug 20 22:52:24 -0700 2009 4964197 11583 ipsedixit 4 4964625 Cora's should never have been bought by Bruce Marder or whoever destroyed one of the great greasy spoon joints ever! Thats when Cora's was great. Thu Aug 20 23:39:47 -0700 2009 4964594 1094158 lapizzamaven 3 4966672 Drove by today and it still looks half done. Be surprised if he finishes before the end of the month. Fri Aug 21 15:10:21 -0700 2009 4964197 90755 Phurstluv 3 4970897 I noticed La Cacchette's awnings the other day. Is this owned by same as the restaurant of the same name up in Century City? Exciting! Sun Aug 23 17:03:51 -0700 2009 4964197 225868 Senzinina 4 4970907 Moving from CC (closing) to SM. Sun Aug 23 17:05:37 -0700 2009 4970897 108169 Servorg 4 4971301 Yes, but Francois Meiteigner (sp??) has closed the Century City store, and is remaking his concept into a more accessible bistro type place, that is my impression, anyway. Sun Aug 23 19:38:53 -0700 2009 4970897 90755 Phurstluv 2 4964553 since you opened the discussion to more casual food, musha should be mentioned. . . Thu Aug 20 22:16:37 -0700 2009 4964130 11935 westsidegal 1 4964646 Capo for steak and pasta or Catch for seafood. They are not only close to the pier they are both two of the best restaurants in LA, IMHO. Fri Aug 21 00:10:14 -0700 2009 4962675 68093 wasabica 1 4970894 Capo on Ocean just north of Pico - tiny wood floor, brick oven place with HUGE wine list, beautiful grilled meats and unlike most LA restaurants, you can actually hear your dinner mate talking. Catch in the Casa Del Mar - right on the beach, super sleek, modern white leather, chrome kinda place. Crudo and large sake selection. The bar is comfy and wonderful for late night drinks and good convo. Annaisette - Santa Monica at 2nd (just before 3rd st promenade) - Wonderful French styled bistro. The baked chicken with pommes frites is so authentic. Good wines by the glass. The Huntley - In the Huntley Hotel on the top floor between Wilshire and Calif street on 2nd (or 3rd?). Contemporary, overlooks the entire bay. Amazing for sunsets. I fell in love with my fiance there, so I"m a bit partial. But it's swanky in a easy SMonica kinda way. Some of the dishes are so chic chic, that they quantity leaves you hungry, but the meats, we had the Beef Wellington and mushroom soup that I remember to this day. The Lobster - ick. Loud. Tables on top of each other. Touristy. Michaels - on 2nd street at Wilshire. One of LA's most famed foodie stops. Decor very 80's, but food.... ? Oh yeah. ..... must go. The owner, Michael McCarty, makes his own wine grown from his home in Malibu. Sun Aug 23 17:01:48 -0700 2009 4962675 225868 Senzinina 2 4971308 Michael's is on 3rd. I found their food a little inconsistent, even though Michael is still there. Sun Aug 23 19:40:17 -0700 2009 4970894 90755 Phurstluv 3 4972743 Maybe it's my menu choices, but I've found the food consistently superior. Michael does do the flesh-pressing rounds and the patio is one of the most beautiful in the city. Mon Aug 24 10:00:18 -0700 2009 4971308 14405 TomSwift 4 4972904 Agree with you that Michael is the consummate Host and has a beautiful patio, but never have been able to eat in it, actually!! Mon Aug 24 10:36:33 -0700 2009 4972743 90755 Phurstluv