Michael’s Santa Monica

Founded in 1979, this charming bungalow restaurant was one of the earliest pioneers of California cuisine. While farmers’ market-inspired menus and interesting wine lists are now commonplace across Los Angeles, Michael’s still satisfies today with a seasonally driven menu of comfort food classics and an ever-changing specials. On my recent visit, I enjoyed the Wagyu bolognese, served with buttery noodles and a luxurious tomato basil soup served with grilled cheese. The real show-stopper, however, was an off-menu octopus ceviche, served with housemade potato chips cleverly seasoned with rice vinegar. The verdant back patio is one of my favorite dining rooms in Santa Monica, and quite possibly all of L.A. The hospitality, however, is the cherry on top; at a time when standards for customer service have dropped to all-time lows, the staff at Michael’s takes special efforts to make sure newcomers feel right at home among a predominantly gray-haired regulars’ crowd.