Favorite Dining Choices in the Santa Monica Bay Area

California is a Mecca for those seeking fabulous food, and the Los Angeles area has a wide array of dining experiences to choose from. Savvy diners go to the Santa Monica area for a combination of great food paired with a fun seaside experience.

For those on a budget or with small children, Bubba Gump's has a location on the Santa Monica Pier. Bubba Gump's is all about shrimp, but this restaurant is low key and quick. There are a lot of cute cocktail drinks with names like "Run Forrest Run" and "Jenny's Favorite." This is casual, chain dining. Reservations are not needed, but if you want to call, they can be reached at 310-393-0458.

Another casual restaurant located on the pier is Rusty's Surf Ranch Dining. This is a step above Bubba Gump's, with traditional bar food, like chicken wings and burgers, with an occasional Jamaican inspired dish for interest. The fish tacos are great! Rusty's has more of a bar atmosphere, and there's live music at night. There's a great selection of beer, and the waitresses are friendly and quick. Most entrees are priced under $10, which makes it a great value. There is more information on Rusty's web site at http://www.rustyssurfranch.com/, or you can call them at 310-393-PIER.

Possibly the best restaurant on the Santa Monica Pier is The Lobster. Originally built in 1923, The Lobster has undergone several incarnations, first starting out as the wildly popular Seafood Shack in the early 1920s. The restaurant changed hands a few times, was shuttered for a while in the 1980s, and finally reopened in 1999 in its current glory. There's dining al fresco for those who want to take in a sunset or sea breezes.

It shouldn't come as any surprise that The Lobster specializes in seafood. The menu changes seasonally, but typical items include lobster, Dungeness crab, scallops, shrimp and fish. Steak, veal and chicken are also on the menu, in case your dinner party includes any carnivores. The wine list is adequate, with some French and Washington state wines thrown into the mix of interesting California vintages.

The Lobster is located at 1623 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, right at the entrance to the pier. The phone number is 310-458-9294. There is much more information located on the restaurant's web site at www.thelobster.com.

Not far from the lobster is the Ma'kai Lounge and Restaurant, located at 101 Broadway (310-434-1511) in Santa Monica. Headed by executive chef Ryan Bailey, a graduate of the California School of Culinary Arts Le Cordon Bleu, the restaurant fuses Asian and French cuisines, using all of the interesting ingredients California has to offer. Before you think this is just another beach hangout, think again. The Ma'kai is sleek, dark and sophisticated. The Ma'kai experience is a thrill ride for adults.

The menu is interesting, what I would consider West Coast fare with a few plot twists. Hors d'oeuvres include edamane, miso and a variety of sushi, all dressed up. For example of some of the adventurous entrees, the grilled salmon is paired with Indonesian spiced spinach and shiitake mushrooms, and the organic lamb chops are served with a red curry peanut reduction and honey glazed asparagus. Even a traditional item like teriyaki chicken is given an interesting side dish in Asian potato au gratin.

The lounge is well stocked with premium cognacs, beer, wine and sake. Additional information can be found on their web site at http://www.makailounge.com/.

Probably the most expensive restaurant in Santa Monica would be Melisse, located at 1104 Wilshire Boulevard (310-395-0881). Even with that price point, it is well worth it to experience the gastronomical delights and flawless attention by the wait staff. This is French dining with a California edge, impeccably prepared under the watchful eye of Chef Josiah Citrin. Melisse has been voted by Zagat as Best Restaurant in Los Angeles in 2006, Best New Restaurant by Food and Wine in 2000 and Best Newcomer in Gourmet Magazine.

You'll find many traditionally French inspired dishes here, including slow cooked rabbit, duck and lamb. There's a tasting menu for $105 (which I would recommend if you are new to the restaurant) that allows the diner a small sampling of many of the great dishes found here. As you can imagine, there is a wonderful wine list as well.

More information can be found on their web site at http://www.melisse.com/index.html.