Ahi tacos. Pesto chicken flatbread. Shaved prime steak sandwich.
Santa Monica’s Ocean Avenue restaurant row just got a welcome addition to its dining scene with the splashy opening of Del Frisco’s Grille, where these signature items and others from the menu quickly disappeared from the trays that were generously being passed to guests that partied well into the night.
Del Frisco’s has a prime location – across from the pier in the spot that used to be Il Fornaio– at the corner of Ocean and Colorado. Yes, it’s the epicenter of Santa Monica’s tourist district during the summer, perhaps reminiscent of the crowds that flock to Times Square, but it’s worth working your way through them to take a table at the new restaurant.
This is the establishment’s first outpost in California, with others in New York, Washington DC, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta and Phoenix.
Management pulled out all the stops at the party last week, and succeeded in making a great first impression, from having the general manager greet guests before they were plied with cocktails to incredibly attentive service from the wait staff, who offered bountiful selections from the menu.
There were not one but two huge showstoppers that had everyone talking. The raw bar, stocked with large tail-on shrimp and fresh oysters, and a scene-stealing ice sculpture replica of the iconic Santa Monica pier sign– through which specialty cocktails were being dispensed.
Luckily, despite torrid temperatures throughout Southern California, the moderate climes at the beach enabled them to last all night.
Several hundred invited guests enjoyed the festivities, both indoors and outside. Although tables had been removed to make room for everyone, scoring one on the patio overlooking the pier is sure to be one of the greatest pleasures of summer at the beach.
The wide-ranging menu offers something for every taste for lunch and dinner, from salads to steaks and seafood, sandwiches and flatbreads, even including gluten-free items.
Del Frisco’s Grille, 1551 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA (310) 395-7333
