Dining, Restaurant, Santa Monica

Dining News In Santa Monica & The Westside

Posted Nov. 14, 2013, 8:09 am

Brenton Garen / Editor-in-Chief

The Charleston Launches 
Big Band Thursdays

The Charleston, Santa Monica’s premier 1920’s style gastropub, is serving up some old-time jazz tunes every Thursday night with Big Band Thursdays, the second introduction to their all new fall lineup.

Big Band Thursdays will feature the musical stylings of Lounge-O-Rama, a full band that was recently named the “Best Party Band in L.A.”

Lounge-O-Rama will be playing selections from their library of 100-years-of-popular music, emphasizing early jazz standards from Isham Jones, Hoagy Carmichael, Gershwin, and Cole Porter, to name a few.

The old-time jazz set is an homage to The Charleston’s 20’s speakeasy theme.  As the party gets going, Lounge-O-Rama will crank up the beat and move the music time machine forward like a DeLorean.

The party starts every Thursday night at 9:30 pm.

The Charleston is located at 2460 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica.

Dinner reservations are recommended via Opentable at www.charlestonla.com or by calling 310.828.2115.

Café del Rey Offers New Midday 
Getaway Lounge Menu

Ushering in the fall season, Café del Rey, Marina del Rey’s seaside dining destination, and new Executive Chef Chuck Abair launch a Midday Getaway Lounge Menu, featuring seasonal Mediterranean bites and market fresh cocktails ($8-$18).

The Midday Getaway menu offers 50 percent off items such as Beef Tartar, Tuna Nicoise Salad, and Lamb Burger from 2:30-7 pm and 9-10 pm, daily.

Market fresh cocktails inspired by seasonal flavors highlight the warmth of fall in drinks such as the Quebec ($13) comprised of Crown Royal, Cointreau, maple syrup, cinnamon, cloves, and burnt orange peel.

The Midday Getaway menu emphasizes seafood-driven starters, raw bar bites, and main entrée selections including Frito Misto Calamari, Mussels with Red Wine, Duck Confit Pizza, and Dungeness Crab Cake.

Cafe del Rey is located at 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey.

For more information, call 310.823.6395 or visit www.Cafedelreymarina.com.

BLVD 16 Celebrates 5th Anniversary 
With New Menus

For LA trivia buffs, did you know BLVD 16 restaurant, located on Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood, is named after that very boulevard stretching 16 miles from downtown to Santa Monica?

Located adjacent to Kimpton’s The Hotel Palomar Los Angeles-Westwood, the restaurant celebrates its fifth anniversary with a series of new menus, including dinner, cocktail, and meals-to-go. And, in keeping with Kimpton’s wellness mantra, BLVD 16 now serves a selection of Pressed Juicery juices.

BLVD 16 at The Hotel Palomar, led by Chef Richard Hodge, functions as an all day dining restaurant for hotel and non-hotel guests alike.

The restaurant’s sleek design belies the approachable menu – not meant to break the bank – featuring items from $8 for shareable plates to $32 for large plates and a three-course prix fixe lunch for $15.

The Hotel Palomar is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles.

For more information, call 310.475.8781 or visit www.hotelpalomar-lawestwood.com.