New Yorker in LA (Santa Monica) for Ten Days - Help!

[eklyons]

Hi, I am visiting LA (Santa Monica) for ten days. I live in Manhattan and enjoy lots of Italian, French, Spanish, Mexican and various other types of foods. In the city, I have always enjoyed La Esquina, Pastis, Locanda Verde, Bar Pitti, Burger Joint, Blue Ribbon, Cabrito, Raoul's, etc. I like LA but I have yet to enjoy a really great meal there. I am excited to change this now that I have the time for an extended stay. Please help me! :) Any thoughts you have for dinner, lunch, brunch and drinks would be fantastic and greatly appreciated. Thanks for your recommendations and ideas.

[Ciao Bob]

Try Gjelina and/or Tasting Kitchen on Abbott Kinney.
Giorgio Baldi will remind you of home, by way of Italy; in Brentwood Vincenti or Toascana serve up some fine Northen Italian.
Capo is very good, very LA/Med and very expensive.
Melisse and Huckleberry on Wilshire desrve a look.
While here you should check out Koreatown, San Gabriel Valley and Little Tokyo, ELA Mexican, heck, even little Saigon if time permits.
Enjoy!

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Vincenti Restaurant
11930 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA

Little Tokyo Restaurant
150 E Bonita Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773

[smfoodie]

As far as Santa Monica restaurants, here are my recommendations.
Anisette
Rustic Canyon
Huckleberry
Wilshire
Fraiche
Melisse
Jiraffe
Joe's (Venice)
Gjelina (Venice)

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Jiraffe Restaurant
502 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA

[wienermobile]

Animal
http://www.animalrestaurant.com/

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Animal
435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[jackattack]

Dinner at the Getty Center on Saturday night!

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Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049

[jaykayen]

This post should give you plenty of options.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/724226

My personal faves are Father's Office, Anisette, Amandine, El Super Taco (the tortas are amazing,) and Nook. Seemingly, some of the Italian places especially near the Promenade are tourist traps, so I would check if they are CH-approved. I like Pizzicotto in Brentwood, and nearby is Osteria Latini. Copa d'Oro is not to be missed for drinks.

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Father's Office Bar
1618 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA

[eklyons]

Thanks for your reply. I will check on those spots you recommended. I am not sure if it is worth mentioning that I have been to Shutters' brunch and Chateau Marmont for drinks - both were fair to good. .

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Chateau Marmont
8221 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046