By MAUREEN TOBIN & THOMAS YOUNG Special to the Daily Press
■ When you feast on the cuisines of the Mediterranean, expect the foods to excite and stimulate you and penetrate your very soul. Lincoln Bay in Santa Monica evokes such feelings with Italian, French, Greek and Middle Eastern foods. The owner/chef Kamal Ibrahim, is a connoisseur of fine foods and a worldly man with impeccable credentials. Step into an elegant style born of a man who has come from abroad and brought with him his desire to give you a taste of worlds old and new. Over the years, Ibrahim has honed his skill at bringing his clientele flavors unique to many lands.
For seven and a half years, Lincoln Bay, a small and intimate bistro in an unlikely spot has been serving up Mediterranean treasures. It’s been one of our favorites since we discovered it a few years ago. Just recently we joined several friends here who have dined at Lincoln Bay with us before. All pronounced their meals superb. Enjoy wines with your dinners. The perfect background aura with your dinner is the melodious, pleasing sounds of Nick Future on the piano, and singing. He plays 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. every night except Monday when the restaurant is closed. How many times have you driven by on Lincoln Boulevard, just south of Pico Boulevard and glanced at this restaurant? Next time, turn around and come back. Cancel your other plans for dinner and dine here. Make it one of those spur of the moment got-to-try-it evenings — 1928 Lincoln Blvd., (310) 396-4039. ■ “The Best in traditional Italian” isn’t just a slogan at Cantalini’s Salerno Beach Restaurant in Playa del Rey. Raised by her grandmother Anna Cantalini in Salerno, Italy, owner Lisa Schwab learned from a young age what real Italian cooking was all about, including molding raviolis. Her dream was to bring that kitchen with all its joys, memories and flavors to you, and she did.
Lisa Schwab is a tour de force owner/host, caring about every detail of this restaurant, including making every customer feel special. Merrill Shindler, well-known restaurant critic summed it up, “Cantalini’s is a joyous and delicious reminder of why we fell in love with Italian cooking in the first place.” Even with reservations, expect this place to be packed. The regular, upscale crowd comes from all over to quench their thirst for this incredible food and unmatched atmosphere. There’s something about the hundreds of hanging wine bottles, the mood lighting, Italian frescos painted on the walls, or the smell of garlic emanating from the kitchen. This is Italy. You might start with the excellent Bruschetta, chopped tomatoes, olive oil and garlic. Thomas was totally content with his basic spaghetti and meatballs. The veal piccata is a heavenly rush to the senses. Gnocchi Salerno, one of their signature dishes is truly divine. A couple irresistible dishes are seafood ramona, penne vodka and Aangulote — moon-shaped ravioli with duck and mascarpone. Enjoy a full bar and huge wine list to go with your meal. Do try some of the requisite desserts. Tiramisu anyone? Lisa makes it herself, a cloud-like delight that will make you qvell (smile) with pleasure. On Sundays, live music will augment your dinner. We saw a romantic trio of seasoned performers singing, playing guitar, mandolin, accordion, and entertaining us with timeless pieces. They are a perfect accompaniment to your dining experience. Then a man joined them with an operatic voice booming through the restaurant. What a thrill. Many of the regulars sang along with the trio. Lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Sunday. www.salernobeach.com, 193 Culver Blvd. (310) 821-0018. ■ If you are partial to people in their perennial pursuit of fun, head over to the carefree Bitter Redhead in Santa Monica. What makes this locals’ bar/nightlife spot so popular is the owners’ flair as hosts. A few years ago, college grads Jeff Savich and Craig O’Neil, tired of their boring occupations, declared, “Take this job and shove it!” All money and not much happiness wasn’t making it. Together they pooled their resources and have owned Bitter Redhead for about two and a half years.
Here in this locals’ niche is an establishment with all kinds of diversions from live music Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, including rock, alternative, pop, etc, comedy on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and karaoke on Fridays. Every Sunday, Jeff and Craig invite you to a steak BBQ and potatoes outside on the patio for only $9. On special event days like the Super Bowl, outside they make a big hamburger bake, etc. Then you go inside and party hearty. This place is so cool with its jukebox, six TVs, regulars of all ages. Feel comfortable coming here alone or with friends. Many businesses rent the space for special events including Oscar parties. Weekdays 6-8 p.m. happy hour, 2-for-1 on all beers. Three to four times a year Bitter Redhead hosts sororities and frats from UCLA. Usually entertainment starts around 9:30 p.m. — 2101 Lincoln Blvd., (310) 450-6776 Thanks to all who have written. Please e-mail your comments or suggestions to, and keep having fun.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 13, 2004. Read the original PDF.