Pinches Tacos features upscale fast-food Mexican dishes such as tortas, tacos and burritos. It is located on the third floor of the Santa Monica Place mall, with easy access from the parking garages and mall elevator. Situated at the east end of the food court, diners can order off of a digital screen that displays up-to-date menus and meal options. Guests also have the option of eating inside or outdoors on the patio, which overlooks the ocean. The indoor space is bright and still lets in plenty of sunlight with its two walls of windows.
Centrally located between Ocean Avenue and Third Street Promenade, Thai Dishes provides authentic Thai cuisine. The restaurant's interior is Santa Monica trendy, with dim lighting, dark furniture and a laughing Buddha statue. The use of ingredients such as coconut milk, curry, ginger, lime, lemon grass, and sesame oil creates a taste that will excite most any pallet. Vegetarian dishes and catering is available.
In 2008, Keith O'Brien and Steve Lieberman, two friends from New York City, decided to open a restaurant merging "West Coast beach atmosphere with New York atmosphere." The result is a cozy, two-story "Bar of the People" with comfortable couch-style benches and specialty beers at affordable prices. Drink and food specials abound almost every day of the week, and catch almost any major sporting event of two large flat screen TVs. Stop by for a Chimay or Boddington's, or maybe just some late night fish 'n chips, anytime before midnight.
The Tiato Market Garden Cafe is located on Colorado Ave next door to the Lion's Gate building in Santa Monica. Dining at Tiato is a unique experience. The outdoor garden seating is landscaped with a circular brick mosaic floor and round tables with red patio umbrellas. Entering the restaurant cutomers get the feeling that something exciting is going on. A nine-foot projection TV showing sporting events including the Lakers games dominates the room. A glass room divider creates a quiter section where diners can sit in dimly lit boothes for more privacy. The full bar is a large half circle and serves everything from from beer and wine to cocktails and champagne. The second section of Tiato is a salad bar and fresh market cafe. Customers can prepare their own salads and choose cuts of beef, chicken, fish, shrimp and more that will be prepaared in the kitchen and brought to your table in one of the dining areas. Tiato is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The extensive menu features everything from Omelettes and French Toast at breakfast to Tomato Bisque, Turkey Taco Salads and Dim Sum boxes at lunch. The dinner menu features Pho Beef or Chicken, Herb Roasted Jidori Chicken and Turmeric Poached Salmon and more. Visit the website for a full menu.
