Hidden Restaurant
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: (310) 399-4800
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Marine Street
- Hours:
- Tue-Sun 5pm-1am
Editorial Review for Hidden Restaurant – by Mar Yvette
The Scene
Aside from the obvious reference to its name--yes, it's impossibly concealed behind a jungle of palm trees and the Courtyard Shops on Main Street--this outdoor/indoor eatery is an ambitious homage to diversity. The main dining room exudes old school luxury (thickly padded walls in shimmery gold brocade, tear drop chandeliers), while the patio takes a pedestrian twist on mid-century modern (shiny red plastic chairs beneath clunky heat lamps). Even the crowd--trendy young couples, friends with money and stylish 40-somethings--is a study in contrasts. And then there's the menu . ..
The Food
The old expression "too many cooks in the kitchen" comes to mind when you realize that each respective cuisine--Spanish, Italian, Vietnamese and Japanese--is prepared by a separate chef, but somehow they manage to pull it off. Owned by the same folks behind Via Veneto, the restaurant says it's not about fusion, but rather, bringing together cuisines. The Japanese tukuri, a juicy mound of cubed salmon and albacore lightly bathed in chili and grapeseed ponzu sauce, is a cool-to-the-tongue take on textures. Spanish potato croquetas get decent marks for flavor and crunch, although the shitakes with truffles suffer from saltiness. One surefire dish is the stew-like mini brasato: slowly braised beef marinated in Barolo (Italian wine) for 24 hours. Think of it as the hautest version of Dinty Moore beef stew you'll ever have.
Hits: Desserts are just as unusual and artful as the main courses. Coconut flan is garnished with a frothy cilantro sauce and sashimi-thin slices of pineapple, while the custardy pineapple creme brulee is served in a mini pineapple with the top cut off.
Misses: Unless it's the generously sized thin-crust pizza, servings are modest. Translation: Eating here can get mighty expensive. Also, the hidden location isn't doing the place any justice.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
ParkingThe valet drop off on Main in front of the Dino Clark salon is about $6, which is a steal compared to the menu's prices.
What to DrinkLike the menu, the wine list is eclectic, with many global picks, plus sake and a full cocktail list of signature martinis. More expensive wines by-the-glass are kept in a nitrogen dispenser. Corkage is $25.
When To GoThe restaurant is also open for lunch, Monday through Friday from 12pm to 3pm.
Look GoodForget ordering a regular cup of coffee with your dessert; the restaurant only serves cappuccino and espresso.
User Reviews for Hidden Restaurant
04/13/2008 Posted by yackyack
i hated everything about this place... the food was bad and confusing. The staff not friendly. the management rude. very disappointed
04/06/2008 Posted by jkeen2
I went to Hidden for my first time tonight and really enjoyed the place. I liked the overall ambiance of the place. It had a great feel to it. I thought the music was good. The crowd was really into the DJ, people were dancing and having lots of fun. Hidden is free from the prententiousness that some of the newer places in Santa Monica have adopted. I would highly recommend this place if you're looking for a great place to hang and have fun with friends.
Pros: Fun, Great Service, Ambience
