Houston's, We've
Got a New Link
In the Chain and
It's Not a
Problem
Everyones' still
talking about
R & D
Kitchen,
currently one of
the most
happening spots
to wine and dine
Tony Montana
style in Santa
Monica. Start
with
indoor-outdoor
seating; they've
got that covered
by uncovering
the huge roll-up
windows that
give you a
breaking the
fourth wall kind
of feeling, very
easy breezy.
Pretty people is
a given, as this
is the Montana
crowd, grabbing
a nosh and a
cocktail in
between credit
card swipes. And
though it does
look a bit like
its sisters
Houston's and
Bandera's, R & D
has its own
stylish charm,
all wrapped up
in a Frank Lloyd
Wright look.
The limited
menu is simple
American fare
done well.
Stand-outs
include the
Newport Salad,
perfectly cooked
chicken breast,
mixed greens,
apples, cashews,
walnuts and a
killer dressing;
the messy but
delicious
signature
Reubenesque
Sandwich , which
quite frankly,
you will become
if you eat too
many of these
beauties. And
the 3 layered
carrot cake with
Mascarpone icing
is most
definitely a
finger licking
good ending.
No
reservations are
taken, so
waiting is what
you do here.
And be
forewarned,
there are a few
other "quirks"
to this place.
No tables for
parties
consisting of
more than 4, so
not a great
place for a
group of friends
to catch up, or
if you are a
family of 5.
Think intimate.
And, if you like
your adult
beverages, you
are only allowed
3 per person,
which is
generally
enough, but what
if it has been a
tough day? On
the up side of
the alcohol
issue, there is
no corkage fee,
so bring that
magnum gathering
dust in the
cellar, and ask
for a really big
glass.
~ Fallon
Milligan
Where:
R+D Kitchen, 1323 Montana
Ave, Santa Monica
When:
Mon-Wed 11:30am-10pm, Thurs-Fri
11:30am-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm
