A sense of community and warm hospitality pervades this beloved Santa Monica institution where the lighting is just right and where the bar and booths exude intimacy. Open since 2006, the restaurant has gone through many chapters and evolutions, but one guiding, foundational principle is a commitment to market-driven cooking. The menu today proudly acknowledges the farmers and producers behind every asparagus, chicory, persimmon and fish. The cooking is far from fussy. Think hearty pork terrines with pickled cauliflower, poached trout with sauerkraut, bay scallops with tomatoes and saffron, and roast chicken with walnut mole. Cocktails also follow the seasons and should be explored with no hesitation.