Residential blocks around Ocean Park Boulevard hiding the city's best bread, bagels, omakase and vegan Thai.
Shunji on Ocean Park Boulevard is Santa Monica's serious omakase counter, a chef-led 295 dollar procession of aged and marinated fish booked via Tock.
OrderOmakase only; the aged marinated tuna nigiri is the anchor
TipThe room is tiny and reservations go through Tock; aged marinated tuna nigiri is the signature move.
Cosetta cooks wood-fired Italian on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, porcini-rubbed wagyu tri-tip and vodka arrabbiata shells with burrata.
OrderPasta shells in vodka arrabbiata with burrata
TipTwo hours of validated parking off 31st Street takes the sting out; happy hour runs 16:00-17:00 on weekdays.
Piccolo Ristorante hand-rolls its pasta on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica, chef Antonio Mure's Venetian-leaning dinners with a deep Italian cellar.
OrderHomemade pasta of the day with a glass from the Italian list
TipThe room is candlelit and small, better for two than six; Prosecco by the glass opens the night properly.
Ghisallo blisters Neapolitan-and-New-York-style pies on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, with arancini, radicchio salads and a semi-hidden back patio.
OrderSquash blossom pizza in season, the diavola year-round
TipThe back patio is the seat; squash blossom pizza when it is on, diavola otherwise. Wine list stays well priced.
Shunji on Ocean Park Boulevard is Santa Monica's serious omakase counter, a chef-led 295 dollar procession of aged and marinated fish booked via Tock.
OrderOmakase only; the aged marinated tuna nigiri is the anchor
TipThe room is tiny and reservations go through Tock; aged marinated tuna nigiri is the signature move.
Ghisallo blisters Neapolitan-and-New-York-style pies on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, with arancini, radicchio salads and a semi-hidden back patio.
OrderSquash blossom pizza in season, the diavola year-round
TipThe back patio is the seat; squash blossom pizza when it is on, diavola otherwise. Wine list stays well priced.
Pita House grills certified halal Mediterranean plates on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica, shawarma, falafel and kebabs late into the evening.
OrderMixed shawarma plate with garlic sauce
TipEverything on the menu is certified halal and there is no alcohol; the mixed shawarma plate feeds two.
Satdha Plant Based Thai Kitchen has cooked gourmet vegan Thai food on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2013, no fake meats, just vegetable craft.
OrderKhao soi and the lion's mane mushroom fried chicken
TipChef Gunn Pankum's lion's mane mushroom fried chicken converts sceptics; the khao soi is the quiet best dish.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
OrderA sourdough loaf and the tuna melt at lunch
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
Layla Bagels hand-rolls sourdough bagels daily on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, open-face builds with seasonal fruit, honey and smoked salmon.
DrinkDrip coffee
TipThe Pre-Jam with seasonal fruit, cream cheese and honey is the signature; the everything loosies sell out first.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
DrinkEspresso
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
Worth the queueSourdough country loaf
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
Layla Bagels hand-rolls sourdough bagels daily on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, open-face builds with seasonal fruit, honey and smoked salmon.
Worth the queuePre-Jam open-face bagel
TipThe Pre-Jam with seasonal fruit, cream cheese and honey is the signature; the everything loosies sell out first.
Pita House grills certified halal Mediterranean plates on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica, shawarma, falafel and kebabs late into the evening.
TryShawarma plates
TipEverything on the menu is certified halal and there is no alcohol; the mixed shawarma plate feeds two.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
OrderA sourdough loaf and the tuna melt at lunch
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
Layla Bagels hand-rolls sourdough bagels daily on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, open-face builds with seasonal fruit, honey and smoked salmon.
OrderPre-Jam open-face bagel with a drip coffee
TipThe Pre-Jam with seasonal fruit, cream cheese and honey is the signature; the everything loosies sell out first.
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