R&D Kitchen

R&D Kitchen
1323 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403
rd-kitchen.com ($$$)

Eat AND Drink: Great food without the fuss.  For an especially fun evening, sit at the bar and mingle.

R&D Kitchen in Santa Monica is located on fashionable Montana Avenue.

Nestled along Montana Avenue is the very stylish R&D Kitchen.  LIke other restaurants in the Hillstone group, R&D keeps the menu simple and the quality high.   A very popular place with locals, you should be prepared to either arrive early, or settle in for a long wait for a table.  If you are lucky a spot at the bar will open up - definitely nab it for interacting with the friendly bartending staff while people watching adds to the atmosphere.

A great wine selection awaits.

There is a great cocktail menu to complement an excellent wine list.   I just described what kind of taste I was in the mood for and was treated with a wonderful Malbec. 

I was alerted to an off menu treat: the tuna steak burger!

Thanks to my co-diner, I was able to sample the off-menu tuna burger.  The ahi tuna steak was cooked to perfection.   On previous visits the meatloaf reminded me of home.  

An omelete may be a simple choice, but delicious nonetheless.

Even though many of the items on the menu are simple and straightforward they are prepared to perfection - including the basil omelete. 

By sitting at the bar we interacted with the friendly staff, even getting our bartender to take an impromptu selfie.

The real star of the restaurant is the atmosphere.   We had a very leisurely unhurried dinner - perfect for those much needed catch up sessions with your friends.  The waiters were highly attentive, but never pushy.  We even convinced Charles the bartender to get in on our photograph commemorating another great night out.