Restaurant: The Penthouse

Location: 1111 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90403. (310) 394-5454

Date: June 17, 2017

Cuisine: American

Rating: Quite good, Greek influences

It’s date night again with my wife and we decided to try the Penthouse (atop the Huntley Hotel) after a long absence.

This space has always had a great view of Santa Monica and the bay — it was a cheesy Mexican joint in the 90s called Toppers but got a “Stark-style” white redo around the Millennium which has been kept up.

They have a new chef – places like this always do.

From my cellar: 2002 Faiveley Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale. 91 points. Ruby red. A nose that screams Pinot, sous Bois, Earth, plums, raspberries, strawberries and a light cinnamon dusting. Medium body with more velvet than silky mouthfeel. Fruit purity on the palate with a sour cherry midpalate. Medium plus acidity and fine tannins. At peak.

Yummy looking bread.

Beets & Goat Cheese. Pistachio, mustard frill, arugula.

Wagyu steak tartare. Bone marrow, black truffles, foie gras, quinoa. Super rich, but totally delicious. Different than a normal tartar. Fattier, lots of pepper. Good stuff.

Wild King Salmon. Artichokes, fingerling potatoes, piquillo peppers, cerignola olives.

Shrimp Saganaki. Ouzo, San Marzano Tomato Sauce, Baby Fennel, Feta. Tasty, although not as cheesy as a traditional Saganaki.

Mac & cheese. Solid. There is a truffle/lobster one too, but this was the “normal.”

The dessert menu, but we were too full.

I was pleasantly surprised by The Penthouse. The view and atmosphere has always been great but the new chef is doing nice things. This is a slick menu, and execution was pretty on point.

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