Upper West

Upper West Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: In this part of Santa Monica, where dining options are relatively scarce, we are always happy to have interesting options like Upper West. When a crowd assembles at the bar and adjacent high-topped communal tables, that can make the modern dining room, with its 28-foot ceiling, very lively. (In other words, if you want a quiet atmosphere, come early.) There's also a projector for screening films and sporting events on the wall.

Food & Drinks: Longtime chef Nick Shipp uniquely enhances every dish with an unexpected twist. The traditional pairing of burrata and tomatoes gets a boost with black chai salt and tomato-peach-chutney. If you are in the mood for a burger, there is a juicy one served with a steak knife skewered through the toasted brioche bun. Macaroni and cheese is loaded with mozzarella, gouda, white cheddar and roasted papilla pepper. Desserts continue the comfort food theme with house-made ice creams and brioche bread pudding. The globally sourced wine list is short, and the beer selections change seasonally. Cocktails put a twist on the classics. Keep an eye out for specials like half-price bottles of wine on Thursdays and happy hour Wed.-Sun. 4 p.m.-7 p.m.