A taste of Santa Monica through the eyes of Michael McCarthy
Michael McCarthy of Michael’s Santa Monica is an icon in the world of modern California cuisine. His 1979 restaurant embodies the essence of California with a foundation in French cuisine; launching the careers of some of the greatest L.A. Chefs like Nancy Silverton and Jonathan Waxman.
During my first visit to Michael’s I got the added bonus of having items off their brand new and more affordable All Night Happy Hour Menu!
The restaurant has incredible lighting and ambiance, but unfortunately, that doesn’t do much for the quality of my photos. At least I hope you get a feel of how fabulous it is to eat dinner here!
What to Drink
I began the meal with a Mexican sword fight cocktail, and it was the perfect pelea for my taste buds!. I attribute it to the house-made Applewood smoked salt rim on the glass…UNREAL! The cocktail menu created by Jason Robey offers combinations not seen at most other spots!
All Night Happy Hour begins at 5:30 p.m. during which Specialty Cocktails and Wine are only $8 and the Daily Cocktail is just $5!
What to Eat
The dinner menu has a category that would suit any palate, including a vegan section. Actually, one of the best dishes of the night was their Fall Risotto made with Chanterelles and White Corn instead of rice. If you DO happen to eat meat though then do not leave without having The Michael’s Burger! This is their take on the In-N-Out burger and it just might be enough to stop you from ever doing drive-thru again.
Other not be missed dishes include the Weiser Farms Beets Salad and the Duck Confit Ravioli.
Another reason to head over to Michael’s is for Executive Chef Brian Bornemann who has worked with Chefs like Casey Lane of The Tasting Kitchen and several New York City hot spots. I look forward to seeing how he interprets the vision of Michael McCarthy for Michael’s Santa Monica and makes it his own.
Did you enjoy this look at Michael’s Santa Monica? Save it in your Pinterest for later! Your Stomach will thank you 🙂
YUM! Getting hungry thinking about the amaaaazing feast we had there! ; )