Whenever I'm in Santa Monica, I try to get over to Santa Monica Seafood to pick up some fresh fish to bring home to cook for dinner. The quality is tops; they're the suppliers to many Los Angeles restaurants.
There have been plenty of times that I've gone there to get some fish to cook for dinner and been hungry for a snack. So I buy a small portion of one of their prepared foods to go (poached salmon, mango salsa, shrimp in pesto sauce- the seafood is always cooked to perfection) and eat it in my car. It's one of those things that you do and don't tell anyone about, unless you have a blog, then everyone knows.
A couple weeks ago, after 40 years in the same location, Santa Monica Seafood closed their Colorado shop and moved to a store that's double in size, at the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and 10th St., just a couple of doors away from Huckleberry. They now have a wider selection of fresh fish, about the same amount of prepared foods, and they've expanded their selection of non fish items. They have a cheese section, fresh bread, flowers, pasta sauces, chocolates, vegetables. Basically, you can shop there for a complete meal without having to go to another store.
The best part about the move, they now have a indoor cafe with table service and an oyster bar. The menu has a little bit of everything,with fish as the main ingredient. There's soups ($3-6), sandwiches, salads ($10-13), entrees ($12-17), starters ($6-12), and crudo ($9). It's a great menu. Here are some stars: Potato and Parmesan Frittata topped with poached shrimp, mascarpone and American sturgeon caviar; Grilled Swordfish Sandwich on a ciabatta roll with roasted red and yellow peppers, Kalamata olives and capers, served with an organic green salad; Cioppino, the classic Italian dish with clams, muscles, fish, shrimp, and calamari in a spicy tomato broth, served with grilled ciabatta bread.
They get a huge lunch crowd. When I was there it was packed and people were waiting to be seated. They have plans in the works to add more seating, including outdoor tables. A better alternative might be ordering to go and eating in the car, at home or the office, if you can wait that long.
Alli411 Tips:
1. There's a huge parking lot in the back, major bonus points.
2. If you are going to buy fresh fish, bring a little ice chest so you don't have to run home. They will supply ice, but bringing a chest will let it sit safely in your car for hours. The last time I checked 99¢ Only Stores had ice chests for 99¢.
3. After lunch visit Huckleberry for a fresh baked dessert.
Found this article useful? Mention Alli411 in your post, subscribe to our feed, link to us, or bookmark this site. Thanks for your support!
1000 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-5244
3 comments:
Dear Miss 411,
Thanks to you and your blog, I am obsessed with food. Really. However, I am amazed by how good I look, how good I feel, and what a good mood I'm in - my husband checks your site and takes me out to dinner at least once a week. Thanks from both of us!
Nice... First to report back in Blogsphere. Drove by on opening week but good god the crowd looked heinous.
Thanks Mia and Tony.
Post a Comment