It was Saturday morning and I was in a really good mood. It may have been the fact that the weather was ideal, that I found perfect street parking, or Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” coming out of my car radio and the thought of Terry Crews in White Chicks played in my mind. Whatever it was, I was growing happier by the second since I was walking into Herringbone in Santa Monica. I was invited to the restaurant to review a few items on their brunch menu and the moment I stepped inside, I was so happy to be there.

Herringbone is one of those restaurants that you can tell hired a creative interior designer—if they didn’t, then someone has serious talent. The core of the restaurant feels as if you’ve been taken from the streets of Santa Monica and transported into a fairy tale. The restaurant could be a cross between Narnia and Alice and Wonderland, but without the eccentric characters who have an inability to sit still. Leafy greens covered walls, boats turned upside hung above the walkway, and varying tiles were accent pieces in places you probably would overlook otherwise. Anywhere else, such décor could come off as distracting, but here it was inviting.

In the same way the restaurant hired a unique designer, they hired a wonderful waitress. Nicole is the type of person who has a smile that spans from ear-to-ear and an energy that seems to have a direct connection to the sun. In the instances when we interacted she was a joy to be around. What I liked most about her was her knowledge of the menu and her ability to take my preferences and find something applicable on the menu. With her suggestions, I ditched my own idea of what to get and went with hers instead.

Her first recommendation was the Peter Rabbit Mimosa ($12). The pale colored mimosa was a combination of champagne and bruised basil lemonade. As expected, the champagne was refreshing and a great way any brunch lover could start a meal. The portion of the lemonade was a faint companion of the drink that added a delightful aftertaste to follow the bubbly. Although the drink seems dainty in its appearance, don’t underestimate it. For light-drinkers like myself, one will be enough. If you consider yourself to be an experienced drinker, by all means order more until your taste buds are content. I won’t judge you.

Just like I could tell they hired a wonderful waitress in Nicole, they did the same in hiring a skilled chef to execute the menu. With Nicole’s guidance, my first dish arrived and I was excited the moment I saw it! The Whole Fish Ceviche ($26) was beautiful in its simplicity and color arrangement. A branzino (European seabass) lay open faced across a slate white plate. Politely scattered across the fish were red onions, bell peppers, cilantro, and drizzle of lime with fresno chili. The fish tasted extremely light with a buttery coating and a smooth texture. Each fork brought bites of freshness that were followed by a subtle saltiness and citric taste. It was absolutely delicious!

Following the decorated branzino was the Two Hand Burger ($14). Almost a mammoth of a burger, this is the type of dish that makes you think you should do hand stretching exercises in order to get a solid grip across it. The burger comes with grilled bacon, avocado (excluded here), aged cheddar, a fried egg, and a side of fries. If the chef hoped that it would be a challenge to get a hold of the burger then mission accomplished. It became an amusing balancing act to try and get my hands and later mouth across the burger. Once I finally did, the taste was worth the energy exerted to clutch it. A juicy beef patty with nicely cooked bacon and melted aged cheddar alongside a well fried egg was just what I could have asked for—even if I already had a full plate prior. The burger was beautiful when Nicole brought it to me, but didn’t look that way after the first bite. A mess quickly ensued. What I loved most about this plate was it was priced very well in relation to its size. This burger has officially secured a spot on my mental (and soon to be blog post) “Top Burgers in LA” list.

While I thought I was going to end the brunch on that note, Nicole suggested an Espresso ($4). It was hard to say no to a girl who made expert suggestions on plates thus far so I conceded with very little objection. Within a matter of minutes, a modest cup of espresso with a cube of sugar sat atop of the marble table. Small in size, the dark and dry espresso was just what I needed to add a jolt of alertness for the rest of my day.

Brunch at Herringbone far exceeded my expectations! From the beautiful interior, amicable presence of Nicole, and well executed drinks and entrees I was elated to have such a delightful dining experience. Considering that I ate alone, I can only imagine how nice it would be to have had a friend along with me. Looking at the guests who sat with friends and family I could see they were having the same type of enjoyment which showed this is the perfect restaurant for whatever occasion, whether you’re catching up with friends or spending quality time with yourself.

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Address: 1755 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 971-4460
Hours: Monday through Thursday – 11:30am to 2:00pm, 4:30pm to 10:00pm; Friday – 11:30am to 2:00pm, 4:30pm to 11:00pm; Saturday – 10:00am to 2:00pm, 5:00pm to 11:00pm; and Sunday – 10:00am to 2:00pm, 5:00pm to 10:00pm
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