Fia

Largely known and belvoed for its string-lit hidden patio, this crowd-pleasing Cal-Italian restaurant is one of the best date night spots in Santa Monica. The food here isn't half bad either, with delicious handmade pastas, wood-fired meat and seafood and excellent starters and happy hour bites. While the menu has changed significantly from the restaurant’s peak popularity, you can still find some seriously tasty spicy beet-cured salmon cones and a solid chicken parm. During weekend brunch, the restaurant also serves a $49 prix fixe brunch menu that includes antipasto for the table, your choice of entrée (think: a Dutch baby pancake with stone fruit preserves, smoked salmon eggs Benedict and chilaquiles rojos), plus fancier supplemental entrées like steak and eggs and caviar-topped scrambled eggs for $10 more. For the bottomless mimosas, full table participation is required. Just make sure not to linger too long: This spot is a popular one, so tables have a two-hour limit.