Help! Boston 'hound seeks recs near Sheraton Delphina, Santa Monica

[twentyoystahs]

Hi there,
So I am staying in your fair city from Thursday-Sunday and looking for good walkable spots for breakfast and lunch in this general area. I *think* I am close to 3rd street promenade, but after doing a search on this board it doesn't seem like there is a lot recommended there. I'm looking for good spots to grab a coffee, maybe a pastry/bagel for breakfast, perhaps a good fish taco and/or sandwich place for lunch. Will take dinner recs too, though I will be hanging with a LA native at night so I think he can steer me in the right direction there. I will have a car though would prefer not to drive for breakfast or lunch, though actually I have no clue how close this hotel is to actual places I can walk to.

Anyway, appreciate any/all advice you can give me. I promise to return the favor if you visit Boston sometime soon :)

[Ginger9]

In Santa Monica, but it would be a longer walk, is an excellent breakfast place call Huckleberry on Wilshire Blvd at 10th. Very good food that emphasizes local ingredients, artisanal methods and ... pastries that are awesome. You have to get there really early or later, or else be prepared to wait in line for up to 20 minutes to get to the counter.

[Phurstluv]

It's good, but not worth that long of a walk, really, and then to get there with no where to sit would be a total bummer!

[yogachik]

Walk to Umami Burger, inside Fred Segal. Father's Office is good, Umami is better.

La Grande Orange, Urth, and Coras for breakfast. Or, hang out with locals at Peet's on Main. It's worth the drive to Huckleberry just for the maple bacon scones.

Tacos, drive the short distance to Tacos Por Favor on Olympic. Also, there's a great Oaxacan place just steps from your hotel, on Pico, can't remember the name though. Can't miss it, it's bright blue.

Dinner, walk over to Chinois on Main or Chaya Venice. Drive to Abbot Kinney and eat at Gjelina, or Joe's, or Primitivo.

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

[sushigirlie]

For breakfast, I second Le Pain du Jour and Urth Caffe. I don't think Le Pain du Jour has coffee anymore, and it's not really a sit-down experience. Urth Caffe is (some might say this derisively) a Santa Monica landmark. As far as Cora's Coffee Shop goes, it's fine, but I don't see why people line up to eat there. I prefer Jinky's, somewhat nearby.

For lunch, I've had good sandwiches at Amelia's.

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Urth Caffe
267 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Cora's Coffee Shop
1802 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Jinky's Cafe
8539 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[westsidegal]

i share your opinion about Cora's, sushigirlie

[Peripatetic]

Cora's does a very decent huevos rancheros, though I agree some of their other offerings are unexceptional.

[New Trial]

Adding another link for Jinky's so the Santa Monica location shows up...West Hollywood is probably a longer walk than OP had in mind.

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Jinky's Cafe
1447 2nd St Fl 1, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Servorg]

When you say "Urth...is more of a sweet pastry type of place rather than a savory type of place for breakfast." - I don't find that to be the case. Check out their rather extensive savory menu here: http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/urthca...

[ryoray]

Servog
Just my opinion of Urth's strengths. I don't go to a place like Hide for their complex sushi rolls.

[Ogawak]

For coffee/breakfast in walking distance:
La Grande Orange on Main Street. It serves Intelligentsia coffee with a terrific array of pastries and breakfast.

Pain Du Jour is an authentic French bakery that serves excellent croissants and baguettes. No coffee, though. I highly recommend.

Donut King has decent croissants and fritters with a nice selection of breakfast sandwiches. I like the No. 8.

Cora's Coffee shop is highly regarded, but I have yet to try it.

It's a long walk, but Bay Cities Deli serves up the Godmother, a selection of cold cuts and cheeses on the best sandwich bread around.

Taqueria Chihuahua is a decent taco place within walking distance. There are better ones, but not close by.

Joe's for pizza is also a long walk away.

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Cora's Coffee Shop
1802 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Servorg]

You are about a half mile from Urth Caffe on Main Street, which is an excellent place for coffee and something to eat in a casual atmosphere. You are also less than a mile from Umami Burger http://www.umamiburger.com/ at Fred Segal's in Santa Monica, which would be a good place to catch lunch.

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Urth Caffe
2327 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

[twentyoystahs]

Thanks!
How about Father's Office? Is that nearby? Sounds like a good burger (but I may have to bring my own ketchup?)
Keep the recs coming, I appreciate it!

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

[mc michael]

Not too far from Cora's Coffee Shop for breakfast.

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Cora's Coffee Shop
1802 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Servorg]

Father's Office would be walkable if you were looking to get a workout in. More likely you would drive there. I believe the Santa Monica location up on Montana is only open for lunch on the weekend, while the Culver City adjacent location opens for lunch on Fridays at noon (plus Saturday and Sunday).

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

[Servorg]

One other very close option for breakfast or lunch is Michael D's which is a little cafe attached to the bowling alley (maybe all of 2 tenths of a mile directly west of your hotel) on Pico Blvd.

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Michael D's Cafe & Catering
234 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

[Phurstluv]

Michael D's is probably passable for breakfast, but nothing to get excited over. It's really just an extension of the bowling alley, not much more.

You are about 1/2 block from Tommy's Original burgers on the corner with Pico Blvd. Old LA institution with decent chili burgers & fries, for fast food.

Across the street from them is La Taquieria Chihuahua (I think that's the name) that have decent tortas, Mexican sandwiches. At least it's clean inside. There's also El Tecate, which is behind the Arco station, and has standard Mexican and a happy hour.

I hope I'm getting those names right, I drive by them all the time, and now I'm having a hard time remembering the actual names!!

Also, down on Bay Street & Main is Le Grande Orange, which has decent coffee, breakfasts & lunches, open all day, I believe.

[Servorg]

We like Michael D's because we enjoy real diner type places that haven't been designed by the latest restaurant architects. For the same reason we frequently end up at Pepy's Galley at the Mar Vista bowling alley. Michael D's has really good breakfast. Great pancakes and cinnamon french toast too and they serve breakfast all day/night. If you like diners this is a good place to check out.

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Pepy's Galley
12125 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

[Ogawak]

Servorg, how do you compare Michael D's with Pepy's because it used to be a Pepy's Galley, as KJ's in Westchester was as well?

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Pepy's Galley
12125 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

[Servorg]

I didn't know that. I've always liked it for having the same feeling as Pepy's. So that explains it... ;-D> I have a special affinity for Pepy's because I am addicted to their red salsa.

[Ogawak]

Good to know. I will have to give it a try. I have always liked KJ's.

[mc michael]

Short drive to Bay Cities for the Godmother.

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Bay Cities Italian Deli
1517 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[coffeebrownies]

IMHO, the subs at Bay Cities are as good as a very good sub in New Jersey, so hardly the best and most interesting food you could find in California that you couldn't find nearer to home. Don't let the driving intimidate you--the west side of LA is fairly linear--on a grid (unlike Boston) and the traffic, while annoying is not at all daunting, and parking isn't that tough, either. It isn't like Boston or NY--feels more like a big close-in suburb.