Santa Monica random updates

Went tonight.

The issue isn’t the prices; the problem is the food.



First impressions are good upon entering. The interior for the restaurant appears to have been left largely untouched.

Most of the peach pieces were crispy or VERY crispy. Not much ricotta, and, while the sorrel pesto was nicely tart on its own, it essentially got completely lost in the peach flavor. There was a very tiny background note of heat. Should ricotta have salt in it? This ricotta was sort of a non-entity.

My first bite was a crispy peach, and I couldn’t help but think that I’d probably never be served a peach like that at Lulu…

Veggie burger (which does come w/ fries, even though that’s not listed on the menu) and regular burger were also a miss. I specifically asked if the kitchen could do medium rare and informed they could. Burger seemed pretty well done to me (it’s one patty, I think, even though it kind of looks like two in the pic). Bun was kind of oily and there was something texturally unappealing about it.

Server offered to re-make the burger; I informed her I was fine it.

Neither of the burgers felt elevated. Not sure if it’s clear in the picture, but neither of the burgers also looked particularly good on the plate.

Partner’s veggie burger was lost, both in taste and texture, to the condiments on the burger.

Fries were nicely seasoned but kind of limp.

4% kitchen charge (can’t remember what the exact name for it was on the bill), and 20% tip was pre-selected on the credit-card machine.

Partner and I went to Ingo’s shortly after it opened and were utterly delighted w/ the food. I know this place has only been open for a few days, but I was really surprised at what we were served.

I politely gave feedback to them.

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The roast pork special on Tuesdays at Bread Head was delicious, but $30 for a sandwich is real tough to stomach even if it’s huge.

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The $30 sandwich is for two people - unless you are a growing teenage boy.

Breadhead just opened a shop in Manhattan Beach - they sell out by about 3pm.

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I really think Breadhead is doing themselves a disservice with the size names. As @yogachik and others have mentioned, a half is the size of many normal full sized sandwiches. They should sell a “standard” and a “double”, not a “half” and a “whole”. As for the food - I think Breadhead is pretty good but not as good as say Lorenzo.

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It’s not as good as Lorenzo or Gjutsa or Cheese Store BH or Lady and Larder or… I like the bread but, the RC Provisions meat is not good, and who wants iceberg lettuce?

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Haha it is definitely enough to feed 2 average people, but even the whole thing wasn’t enough for me.

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Haven’t had that one.

Noticed a change of ownership sign at BH Montana…wonder what’s up???

Agree that the meats are not great, but love that Mozzerella sandwich.
The bread and spreads (za’tar spread, apple butter, etc) and overall composition, I think, are great.

Do love the newish Lorenzo Rafaello:

Change of ownership is just a new LLC because they’re branching out.

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I have never heard of this restaurant (the new restaurant, not the existing/closed one).

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The Gotts (from the winery family) took over the longtime Taylor’s Refresher up in St. Helena sometime around 2000 and changed the name to their own some years later. Since then, they have opened several locations in the Bay Area and are now moving South.

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Is them opening in Santa Monica something to get excited about (I know very little about wineries since I don’t drink much)? :slight_smile:

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It’s like an elevated Shake Shack. Wider menu. Interesting specials. Definitely not bad, but nothing too notable.

I’ve generally enjoyed my meals there. It’ll be a good addition to the neighborhood.

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I have only been to the St. Helena location and not in a few years. Like the name suggests, the food is good, basic fare (with some fun additions)–not a destination place but a more than decent option for a quick meal. It does not bring much new to the table for that part of Santa Monica. The Farmer’s Market location (which is supposed to open sooner) makes more sense to me than the Santa Monica space.

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Love the soft serve at Gotts. Solid burgers and fries. Probably the best wines by the glass selection of any burger stand.

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Thanks, all, for the info. We shall see if Gott’s can somehow escape the exceedingly bad feng shui (IMHO) of that intersection…

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Anyone know what’s replacing the Dell Taco (formerly JitB) on Wilshire just west of Douglas park / 26th street? Just curious

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Haven’t seen any for sale sign or anything. Lights all still on. Very curious. Wonder if they’re turning it back into Jack in the Box or something

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It’s a good location. I wouldn’t mind it turning back into a Jack in the box, the other 2 closest ones are not really in the area for a quick bite. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see

On the subject of shuttered storefronts, the Izzy’s Deli building has finally sold after 5 years (well it wasn’t on the market the whole time, but Izzy’s has been closed that long), which means something new may be on the horizon.

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