One Saturday Night Meal Cool and Casual near Santa Monica

[taiga]

Any suggestions anywhere near the Pacific?

[wienermobile]

Here are some older links that will help you. take a look and start asking questions. Welcome to LA
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/845134
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/704403
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/796740

[beaubourne]

Try Sonoma Wine Garden. Cool rooftop location with a lot of wines and some decent food. Great atmosphere.

[yogachik]

Your question is too broad, which is probably why no one has wanted to tackle it. Are you visiting the area? From where? What kind of restaurants do you like? When you say "cool", do you mean trendy, hip? What budget? How many people? What's the occasion?