Caché
3110 Main St, Santa Monica; 310.399.4800
Sometimes, simple's better, unless we're talking about watches without calculators. For a restaurant whose menu agrees, check out Caché.
From some of the guys behind Hidden (in whose former space it's opening tomorrow), Caché graciously simplifies the previous venture's impossible-to-navigate Spanish/Vietnamese/Japanese/Italian menu to focus on classic, farm-fresh, American eats influenced by French technique -- so it goes to junior prom, but totally knows how to make out. The enormous joint's now rocking a foliage-enclosed, Christmas-lighted patio and a swanky multi-room interior with vaulted ceilings and a glowing-blue, glass-and-mahogany wine case w/ 200+ vinos; food's from the Michelin-starred Mélisse guy, who starts with apps like seared foie gras w/ glazed fruit & brioche; salads like summer peach w/ duck confit, garlic croutons, & candied walnuts; and flatbreads including spicy sopressata w/ mozzarella, crimini mushroom, & sage, cause if you're smart, you're eating fancy pizzas. Once all that's taken care of, you can dig in on mains like Scottish salmon w/ capers, raisins, & pine nuts; a Kurobuta pork chop w/ pineapple chutney & mint; or "Tea Smoked Ahi Tuna", which nevertheless insists it's totally baked.
Caché's also got a steel-topped indoor/outdoor bar w/ snacks like duck confit and eggplant olive tapenade served in Mason jars -- a simple contraption that's better when it's filled with anything but Masons.
