We’ve discovered a great restaurant in Santa Monica, Bistro of Santa Monica.  It’s at the corner of 23^rd and Santa Monica Blvd.  It feels like it’s been there forever. You come in out of the bright California sun and you’re back in the 40s.  It’s dark even though it’s got lots of windows. There’s a piano in the dining room.  The waiter told me they have someone playing several times a week.  One pianist is an expert at old obscure songs, he said.  I feel like there ought to be cigarette smoke hanging in the air but of course, there isn’t.  There are mirrors everywhere.  It was a little disconcerting when I met myself coming out of the bathroom.

The place feels like something that’s worked well for years so why change it?  I almost feel like I’m intruding on something that’s been going on for years without me, like I need a membership.  But they welcome us and show us to a table.

The food is northern Italian.  This visit I started with an arugula salad with a lemon oil dressing.  Arugula is a bitter green and I would have added a little sweetness, perhaps a little ripe fig balsamic.  Then I ordered the Chicken Gideon.  Gideon is Dr. Gideon, a friend of the chef’s.  It was a chicken breast broiled in lime and saffron and served with basmati rice and vegetables.    Not very Italian.  Obviously a favor for a friend who wants a lighter lunch.  It was delicious.  I had a glass of Summerland Voignier and it was a perfect complement.

It will definitely be one of “our places” in Los Angeles.  Maybe we’ll catch someone at the piano one night.  Dress up, have a martini, lean on the piano and sing along.  Just like in those old movies.