By N. John Gazey Santa Monica
The Anisette Brasserie is indeed a welcome addition to Santa Monica and as Merv Hecht, the SMDP’s wine and food editor, points out, the decor is exceptional. Whether it is as he states “one of the most beautiful restaurants in the United States,” I cannot say as I have only been in a very small percentage of them, however I will accept his word on that.
My experience of the Brasserie is also rather small, it consists of one brief mid-morning visit shortly after the establishment had opened to the public. During that visit I regret my not making a selection from the wine list so very well put together by Mr Hecht. I was there simply to look the place over and read the menus with a view to returning accompanied by friends on a forthcoming special occasion. Instead, a draught Guinness was my choice as it so often is in the a.m. and therein lay my error.
The libation was served to me by a delightful young lady named Sky. It came in a lager glass which was only somewhat larger than a test tube and it was rather colder than I like. After a most pleasant conversation it was time to settle the bill and move on.
That is when I became aware that the Anisette Brasserie is probably not for the likes of me. [They charged] $9 for a rather small Guinness, when large quantities (20 oz. ) are available for $6.50 at Ye Olde Kings Head and The Britannia. Not to mention The Tudor House which has recently been remodeled and is now open in the evenings, they too serve Guinness.
All of these excellent establishments are within a stones throw or should I say bottle toss of the Brasserie so don’t tell me it has further to travel.
Next time you are in France or Italy on one of your wine buying tours Mr Hecht, I suggest you check out the bars and restaurants that charge $9 for a Guinness, you will find they only do it to keep the British tourists out.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 14, 2008. Read the original PDF.