Viceroy Santa Monica unveils Sugar Palm, a new restaurant that has now opened as part of a dramatic renovation of the iconic beachfront lot

Sugar Palm Patio (Courtesy Viceroy Santa Monica)

SANTA MONICA, California (PRWEB)
October 30, 2021

Sugar Palm – the ultimate indoor and outdoor seaside dining concept from Viceroy Santa Monica – is now open for daily brunch and dinner. The restaurant, which includes an indoor lounge, an outdoor terrace, a café, a restaurant and a pool bar scene, is on the cusp of a major redesign of the legendary Los Angeles beach hotel by the award-winning San Francisco design firm EDG – recently named one of the 15 best City hotels in the continental US by Travel + Leisure and the No. 2 resort in LA in the Condé Nast Traveler 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards.

As the vibrant social hub of Viceroy, Sugar Palm offers a California coastal menu prepared by Executive Chef Jason Francisco (Comme Ca, Cut, Eataly and The Raymond) who takes inspiration from his diverse backgrounds in Singapore, Italy, Germany, Holland and Turkey lives, and Hawaii.

“After a year of social and emotional distancing, I hope Sugar Palm is a place to get together and break bread,” says Chef Francisco. “Given our location in Santa Monica, I wanted to create a menu and dining experience that was relaxed and fun, but also sophisticated and luxurious. It is a very personal menu for me as it is influenced by the many places around the world where I have had the opportunity to live and experience. ”

Rooted in using the freshest ingredients with an emphasis on local produce, Chef Francisco and his team use California suppliers like Niman Ranch in Northern California for meat, Fish King in Glendale, which sources almost all seafood from Long Beach and Santa Barbara, and Scarborough Farms in Oxnard for products.

The sunset menu, which is available from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., takes guests on a journey along the diverse coast of California with kombu, yellowtail, striped bass, oysters, tai snapper and more from the Pacific Ocean. There are also several herbal options available. Dinner highlights include:

· Peruvian scallops – ceviche style, green apple mignonette, wakame

· Ocean Chowdah – King Salmon Sashimi, Clams, Sweet Potato, Lobster Tomato Broth, Grilled Sourdough

· Beetroot and Burrata – Roasted beetroot, stracciatella, beet dust, crushed pistachios, citrus fruits, ripened balsamic vinegar

· Charred Spanish Octopus – Squid Sabayon, Paprika Puree, Crunchy Potatoes, Chorizo ​​Dust, Microgreen Salad

· Pesca del Dia – Fresh catch of the day, bouillabaisse, charred lemon

Chef Francisco completes the sunset menu with local dishes made with free-range jidori chicken and USDA Prime beef, including:

Fried Chicken – Jidori half chicken, gochujang and orange honey, roasted roots, herb gravy

· Hanger Steak – Prime 8oz Hanger Steak, Roasted Roots, Aged Balsamic Vinegar

The Sunrise menu, which is available from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., includes sophisticated variants of classic breakfast favorites and hearty lunch dishes with a coastal flair. Brunch highlights include

· The Omnivore Frittata – Red onions, spinach, baby heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, and pumpkin

· The Frenchie – mix brioche, tiramisu cream, berry jam, cocoa

· Duck Confit Chilaquiles – Mole, Corn Tortillas, Fried Egg, Mashed Avocado, Queso Fresco, Baby Heirloom Tomatoes, Coriander

· The Coastal Avo Toast – Norwegian Lobster Tail, Spicy Mayo, Unagi Sauce, Mashed Avocados, Grilled Sourdough, House Vegetables

The Aqua Burger – Ora King Salmon, tomatoes, rocket, pineapple relish, salmon skin aioli, Hawaiian rolls

In conjunction with Chef Francisco’s menu, Mario Leal-Cruz, Jr., Area Director Food & Beverage of the Viceroy Hotel Group, has curated a collection of cocktails made with homemade syrups and juices. The cocktail menu is inspired by the Mexican heritage of Leal-Cruz, which can be found in the regional spirits and local ingredients such as agave, mezcal and Ancho Reyes, and his current hometown of Santa Monica, which can be seen in the colors of the SaMo Sunset – reminiscent of it of the coastal sky at nightfall. The ingredients are also sourced straight from the Viceroy Santa Monica backyard at the local farmers market. The highlights include:

Poblano – Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila, Licor 43, lime, agave, Aztec bitters

The Botanist – Empress 1908 Gin, Rayu Mezcal, Lemon, Aquafaba, Chamomile

Mai Tai – Cruzan Light Aged Rum, Orgeat, Lime, Dry Orange Curaçao, Cihuatan 8yr

SaMo Sunset – Pinhook Rye, Pama, Luxardo, Peychaud’s Bitters

Sugar Palm’s design reflects the laid-back elegance of Santa Monica and effortlessly switches indoors and outdoors – from the lounge to the wraparound bar, the terrace and seven cabanas, including a special dining cabana that can accommodate up to eight guests. Outdoor fireplaces and a colorful mural – “IJEOMA” by local artist Evelyn Leigh – immediately lure guests to dine under the palm trees on the terrace. The wood accents of the indoor lounge are reminiscent of the nearby Santa Monica Pier, while colorful abstractions by artist Monica Perez underline Sugar Palm Ocean Avenue as the social hub of Viceroy Santa Monica.

The restaurant will also host a variety of exciting activities and collaborations with local businesses, including juicy workshops led by The Juicy Leaf.

Sugar Palm is open daily for brunch from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm and for dinner from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The restaurant seats up to 15 people and table reservations and cabanas can be made through OpenTable or by calling the restaurant directly at (310) 260-7511. Sugar Palm is located at Viceroy Santa Monica, 1819 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401. For more information, visit Sugarpalmoceanave.com.

About Viceroy Santa Monica

Viceroy Santa Monica is located at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Pico Boulevard in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city and offers 169 beautifully appointed guest rooms / suites, a completely new experience by the pool with an expansive terrace and open-air cabanas, a stylized lounge and is steps away from an array of upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment including the historic Santa Monica Pier. The hotel completed a $ 21 million renovation in 2020 led by award-winning San Francisco-based design firm EDG. Viceroy Hotels & Resorts inspire travelers with unique authentic lifestyle experiences that combine provocative design and intuitive service in sought-after locations. Viceroy’s atmospheric hospitality leads the way in modern luxury and is guided by the brand promise “Remember to Live”, an affirmation to create lifelong memories for each and every guest. For more information, visit Viceroy Santa Monica on Facebook and Instagram.