fig restaurant

having the gall to tell the chef that his lengua with green tomatillo sauce, served at a santamonicahotel restaurant bistro with french aspirations, is the second best lengua after e. la street taco stand, and with the chef accepting this as a great hon

march 30, 2011 in happy hour , restaurants , santamonicai love fresh figs; my friends who have fig trees always give me their excess bounty. i've been hearing about fig for years but for one reason or another (usually having to do with traffic / parking at the beach), i never got to taste the food here until today. the timing worked out perfectly as i missed the farmer's market morning traffic and got there in the afternoon to watch a movie at the laemmle down the street. the movie was great (the documentary "i am" ) and the movie let out just in time for me to walk the two blocks to the fig for their happy hour from 5-6pm when everything on their menu is 50% off. the hostess asked for my name (fig is in the miramar so some diners are hotel guests) and seated me with a nice view of the small pool. service was excellent, from the waitress to the bus boys, never intrusive but always prepared to meet any need, whether it be for clarification on a menu item or a refill of water. the warm

fig is an exceedingly principled place, an organic-minded restaurant that bows before the open-air temple that is the santamonicafarmers market. although the market guides nearly all of the serious kitchens on the westside, fig is a particularly dedicat

a very disappointing dining experience. i used to frequent fig restaurant when it first opened several years ago since i live across the street. i absolutley loved their fresh baguette bread accompanied by their handmade arugula butter along with their chopped salad and beef tongue dish. while we moved to a different la neighborhood, we elected to make a return visit this past weekend resulting in a very disappointing dining experience.
the waitstaff were curt and service was spotty. the food was bland this time around. plus i asked for the bread and flagged down a waiter who rudely explained that i would be charged $7 for the artisnal bread platter. when i inquired about this with the gm, christopher sand, he just shrugged us off acknowleding that changes have been made to the menu. what i wanted to let everyone know is that the fig restaurant is housed within the fairmont hotel which is undergoing management change in the city proposal for zoning both housing and hotel lodging which has put the place in limbo. as such, the attention to detail has been lacking. we will not be returning anytime soon, since there are many other dining establishments in the santamonicaproper area that are willing to provide stellar service, food and ambiance.

fig restaurant at the fairmont hotel in santamonicahas a great happy hour; half-off everything. i happened to stop in on the recommendation of a colleague of mine for a pre-dinner snack and drinks with good friends,monicaand jackie. lamb meatballs with kale in a tomato sauce and njuda with pickles and toast were the two apps we ordered. the meatballs in sauce were really good, as good as anywhere i've had them up in san francisco, somewhat similar to marzano's in oakland, just without the spicy characteristic. the meatballs were moist, well seasoned and the tomato sauce was solid. the njuda was also good, but i admit, i've never had it with pickles. i've only had njuda at barbacco in san francisco or at my house courtesy of boccalone. i don't think i'll serve it with pickles at my house. i might consider serving it with some form of marmalade or something other than a dill pickle. the fig bar for a light app and a drink during happy hour is a good choice if you're in santa monica.

rosemary & rhubarb, blueberry & thyme, lavender & cucumber. nope, i'm not talking about yummy-scented bath soaps or what i'm currently growing in my garden. h'yeah! like i know how to garden. these are actually the sorts of cocktails new santamonicarest

figlicious. i was invited to the preview of fig last week. santamonicais in for a treat. the prices are affordable; the food is fresh and delicious; and the vibe is casual chic. the sablefish, roasted tomato soup, and cauliflower with hazelnuts and sage are my personal favorites. don't forget dessert! you can't go wrong with a fig bar (like a fig newton...but so much better).