Santa Monica suggestions meal family with 2 teenage children

[Pluto123]

We will be staying in Santa Monica for one night Can anyone please suggest a place to eat for an evening meal and breakfast

We will be Staying at the Sheraton Defina Hotel

530 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405,

Preferences ...American ,Mexican Italian

regards Brian

[nosh]

Three blocks east of your hotel, on the S/W corner of Pico and Lincoln (which is 8th), is Tommy's Burger. This is a legitimate sister restaurant to a classic L.A. mainstay near downtown. Famous for chili-cheeseburgers and chilidogs, their fries are a big order and really good if ordered welldone.

I do NOT recommend Tommy's because it is fantastic or life-changing. I recommend it because the OP has two teenage kids, and if one or both are boys they likely will get hungry late. Tommy's is very inexpensive and if this location isn't open 24 hours, it is very close to it. And a very short walk (or drive) from their hotel.

[Pluto123]

A big thank you to everyone for your help and suggestions I have copied and pasted your ideas into a document and sent it to my wife for her perusal
I last posted on this site when we visited New York in November 2012 The help given then greatly improved the eating experience we had and gave us the opportunity to sample local food We would not have been able to do this without the generous help provided by people on Chowhound

regards and thanks

Brian

[Servorg]

If you want to give us an effective thanks then simply come back here after your trip and let us know where you ended up going for your meals, what you ate and how you liked it. That's the thanks that keeps on giving around here. So "Thanks" and hope to see you back with a post trip report...

[Pluto123]

I will as asked post a reply on my return after my holiday in July/August

regards Brian

[Servorg]

I look forward to reading it and finding out how you liked where you end up. See you in late summer.

[whiner]

I'll second Mercado.

Umami Burger if you want burgers is a good suggestion.

[Dirtywextraolives]

I like Jinky's cafe for breakfast on 2nd street.
http://www.jinkys.com/Santa-Monica.html

Loteria Grill has decent Mexican, but it's on the 3rd Street promenade, so prices are higher since that's the most touristy part of town. Back away one block and there is Border Grill, made famous by the Two Hot Tamales chefs, Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken. It's on 4th street.

On Main Street, there's Lula's Mexican Cocina, which is pretty good, fresh prepared Mexican, not canned gringo fare.
http://www.lulacocinamexicana.com/

I also like Finn McCool's, it's a comfortable Irish pub with lots of good American fare. http://www.finnmccoolsirishpub.com/

Enjoy your stay!

[Servorg]

http://www.mercadosantamonica.com/ about a 15 minute walk from your hotel

[budlit]

The kids might enjoy sitting outside on the Promenade at Loteria Grill, eating Mexican food and people watching. The jalapeno margaritas are pretty good too.

[PeterCC]

There's so many places to choose from in Santa Monica and surrounding. :-)

+1 on weinermobile's rec of Wurstkuche, even jaded teens might get a kick out of the exotic flavors. +1 on Umami for dinner as well.

Other affordable Italian options, Fritto Misto is near where you're staying, Spumoni a little further north in SM.

Bagel Nosh, Lazy Daisy for decent breakfasts. Amandine a bit further away for excellent French pastries. Farmshop for more upscale breakfast.

La Playita Mariscos Guillen for "street tacos" and seafood cocktail. New restaurant Tacos Punta Cabras for Ensenada-style seafood tacos and cocktails.

What day of the week will you be there? Santa Monica's Sunday Farmers Market at Main and Ocean Park has a variety of food vendors and would be good for breakfast.

[wienermobile]

Great Pizza at Stella Rosa, very close to you on Main Street in Santa Monica.
http://stellarossapizzabar.com

You might like Umami Burger on 5th Street in Santa Monica (inside Fred Segal).My favorite is their Manly Burger with
beer-cheddar cheese, smoked-salt onion strings, bacon lardons, umami ketchup & mustard spread or their great Hatch Burger with roasted green chiles & house-made America cheese
http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/

Inexpensive Italian with Killer Garlic Rolls at C & O in Venice Beach.
http://www.cotrattoria.com

Gourmet Sausages (I love their rattlesnake and rabbit) at Wurstkuche in Venice.
http://www.wurstkuche.com

Close by breakfast at The Omelet Parlor on Main Street &1/2 price omelets from 6-7am.
http://theomeletteparlor.com

Great Italian sandwiches that are perfect to take back to your hotel room at Bay Cities Italian Deli in Santa Monica. closed Mondays
http://www.baycitiesitaliandeli.com

Enjoy LA!

[CharlesKochel]

Great recommendations: I also like Cora's for breakfast (blueberry pancakes are phenomenal.) http://www.corascoffee.com/

Chez Jay can offer a nice "local" experience and a chance for the teens to see some celebs. Love the pizza at Stella.

[latindancer]

+1.

Cora's pancakes are some of the best in town.

[Pluto123]

We do have a car , budget mid range

reards Brian

[Dirtywextraolives]

Do you have a car?
Do you have a budget?