One Night in Santa Monica

[Raboi]

Looking for a great restaurant for our only night in Santa Monica prior to heading to the Pier. We are a family of 4 with 2 little kids (7 and 8) who are really good in any upscale restaurant but we do like a more lively atmosphere. Nothing generic. We don't really care for Italian food but EVERYTHING else goes. Would like to keep the bill below $200/everyone but rules are made to be broken if need be. I think we will be there on a Sunday.

So in other words, if you had one night in Santa Monica, where would you go??

[Ginger9]

I agree with everyone who has mentioned Musha - great food, fun environment, fits your budget. Order some of the items that are prepared tableside that will wow the kids like the grilled steak on a charcoal burner on your table, or the risotto prepared in a huge block of cheese, or the apple tartin dessert torched in front of you.

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Musha
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[mollyomormon]

This is where I take my nieces in town. I think it's a great place for kids and adults alike: great food, lively atmosphere, reasonable prices. I'm not sure where the OP is from or whether they have izakayas available there, but that would also be a consideration. Some of the other types of food mentioned might be easy to find elsewhere, so that might also be a consideration.

[Raboi]

We live just outside Ft. Lauderdale. We really have mediocre Sushi in our area and no such thing as an Izakaya. This is just our speed. We had already planned for one night of classic Sushi but it sounds like we have to make more room for more Japanese during our vacation. Ginger's description of tableside preparations sounds too good to miss out on. Aside from just the japanese thing.... we love small plates!

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Izakaya
8420 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[Emme]

Border Grill and Musha are both good suggestions, esp for fun.

i don't know if i'd call it "fun," but Gjelina is really goood.

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Border Grill
1445 4th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401

Musha
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

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

[mdpilam]

Annisette, Fig or Umami.

[foodiemahoodie]

Gjelina pretty much has the hippest crowd on the west side.

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

[jdwdeville]

But does that affect the quality of the food? They are an excellent restaurant, with an excellent wine list, and they have the "more lively" atmosphere the OP specified.

[foodiemahoodie]

Of course not, but one of the requirements was a lively atmosphere.

[jdwdeville]

Oh! We're agreeing with each other! Ha- I misunderstood- read "hippest crowd on the west side" as a negative (many have meant it that way and I get defensive...). Sorry!

[Servorg]

"Hippest" = Lively Dressed all in Black

[jdwdeville]

... and sporting an "old-timey" moustache.

[J.L.]

Hey, didn't you know that black is the new black? :P

[wienermobile]

I really like Blue Plate Oysterette on Ocean Ave. For the kids they have lobster mac and cheese (well maybe not just for the kids).
http://blueplatesantamonica.com/bpo/h...

[maudies5]

Problem with Oysterette is that they do not accept reservations and the wait can be quite long on a weekend night, particularly if the weather is good. I was there recently for lunch on a Monday and the server told me that folks were waiting up to 90 minutes for a table on the previous Sunday night.

[foodiemahoodie]

Just go early. Hey, they have kids - they probably eat early. Get there around 5:30 and you shouldn't have a problem.

[nelehelen]

I just went to BP Oysterette this past Sunday around 7 PM and there was no wait. I think this might have been because of the chilly weather. I did call when i was in the area and let them know I was looking for parking. They put my name down on the list just in case people started showing up. But yes, generally the wait is long, so going with kids wouldn't be ideal.

[yogachik]

Does it need to be walking distance from the Pier? If so, there a few options on the roof of the new Santa Monica Place. Zenga and La Sandia are both very good. Anisette is also an option. Musha is further by foot, but great - Japanese tapas. Border Grill is fun, La Serenada di Girabaldi is great (both mexican). Giraffe is consistently very good. Catch has great views and a great menu.

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Border Grill
1445 4th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401

Musha
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Raboi]

Don't know the area well but we have a car and will drive anywhere for great food!

[J.L.]

Musha
Wilshire
Whist at the Viceroy