There has been quite a boom in new restaurants in Santa Monica that will challenge even the most avid foodies. Fortunately, the Daily Press put together a round-up of all the new culinary hotspots. This is part two to see part one: Southeast Asian street food, churros, and mocktails, see the November 2nd issue.
Pink Daisy Cafe
Hardcore Blue Daisy fans, tired of the long lines outside the cafe for brunch, will be delighted to hear that they have a new place to fix their waffles. Pink Daisy is known as Blue Daisy’s little sister and serves a variety of coffee, boba, waffles, pastries and snacks.
The new room, which is almost entirely pink, unsurprisingly, places a clear emphasis on cuteness. The cone-shaped bubble waffles can be filled with a variety of delicious ingredients, including Nutella, ice cream, fruit, and whipped cream. Boba is a staple on the menu and comes in matcha, milk tea and creamy espresso flavors. There are also a range of sandwiches for those in the mood for something a little more hearty, and superfood lattes for the health conscious.
The Pink Daisy Cafe is open daily from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on Santa Monica Blvd 321.
Sugar palm
The newly renovated Viceroy Hotel has a brand new restaurant that is perfect for lounging by the pool. Sugar Palm is an indoor-outdoor restaurant that focuses on California coastal cuisine. Seating includes an indoor dining room, outdoor deck, wraparound bar, poolside lounge seating, and a dining cabana. The menu was designed by Chef Jason Francisco and focuses on fresh seafood, sourced primarily from Fish King in Glendale.
Highlights include Peruvian ceviche-style scallops, charred Spanish octopus, fried jidori chicken, and hanger steak. The restaurant could also win the earliest opening time in Santa Monica with its aptly titled Sunrise menu, which serves dishes like duck confit chilaquiles from 6:30 a.m. The restaurant also offers a custom cocktail menu with creations such as the SaMo Sunset, which is designed to evoke the local coastal sky at dusk and includes rye whiskey, pomegranate liqueur, cherry liqueur and bitter.
Sugar Palm is open daily for brunch from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm and for dinner from 3 to 10 pm. It is located on Viceroy Santa Monica at 1819 Ocean Ave.
Yagul Cafe
The Yagul Café offers Santa Monica’s first Oaxaca coffee bar alongside a range of traditional Mexican home cooking in a cozy, central location.
Chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and breakfast burritos are some of the breakfast staples, while the lunch menu includes tortas, tacos, tamales, memelitas, and chilli rellenos. Adventure seekers should check out the chapulines – an Oaxacan specialty made from roasted grasshoppers sautéed in lime and garlic butter and served with rice, beans, and handmade corn tortillas.
The Yagul Café also offers a comprehensive drinks menu with mocha from Oaxaca, hot chocolate from Oaxaca, a selection of coffees, horchata and agua frescas. The juice bar offers a range of freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable mixes, while the smoothie menu offers a range of dairy-free and sugar-free mixes.
The Yagul Café is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday until 4 p.m. on Wilshire Blvd. 530, Ste 107.
Renaming: Sushi Roku
While this 20 year old restaurant is certainly not new, the completely redesigned interior and redesigned Omakase menu would certainly deceive idle passers-by. The dining room has new open-air windows that let in the coastal breezes from Ocean Ave, while the renovated terrace offers an alfresco option by the ocean.
Although the sushi restaurant has been around for a long time, it is certainly not traditional. The menu combines Japanese tradition with Latin American and European ingredients. The dishes are artfully designed with accents such as edible flowers and shaved black truffles. Sushi lovers will not be disappointed with the range of nigiri, sashimi and rolls, while those looking for something a little different can try one of the charcoal cooked main courses like the grilled salmon with wasabi yuzu creme fraiche.
Sushi Roku is on Ocean Ave 1401 Monday through Thursday 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday 2:00 p.m. Open at 9:00 p.m.
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