Hoteliers Jon Blanchard and Nicolo Rusconi of BLVD Hospitality, in partnership with ESI Ventures, are delighted to announce the launch of The Restaurant at The Georgian. Perched above the Santa Monica waterfront on Ocean Avenue, The Georgian has been a fixture of the Southern California coastline since its debut in 1933. The iconic property has now reopened to the public, showcasing cuisine under the direction of globetrotting Executive Chef David Almany, cocktails from award winning Bar Director Jerom Morris, and wine program from Kristin Olszewski.
New Oceanfront Restaurant at The Georgian in Santa Monica
Known simply as The Restaurant at The Georgian, the coastal culinary destination stretches across three unique spaces within the hotel – Sunset Terrace, Sunset Bar, and the Dining Room – and welcomes hotel guests and the public alike for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Having worked under Chef Nancy Silverton for almost a decade, California-native Chef David Almany leads the culinary offering with an Italian-inspired menu that’s both uniquely elevated and delightfully heart warming.
“With The Restaurant at The Georgian we wanted to explore the intersection of timeless culinary classics with Italian cuisine – spanning from the rich heritage ingredients of the Italian North, to the emblematic dishes of Puglia, and the fragrant flavors of the beautiful Amalfi coast,” says Almany. “We’ve carefully hand-picked word class purveyors like Thomas Keller’s Regiis Ova Caviar, and we source fresh, seasonal produce weekly just around the corner at the renowned Santa Monica Farmer’s Market to deliver an elevated menu that is both distinctly Italian while remaining uniquely Californian.”
Against the stunning backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, The Restaurant at The Georgian offers guests the opportunity to choose from both indoor and outdoor venues to dine or imbibe. High ceilings accented with custom Art Deco chandeliers and original decorative reliefs welcome guests into The Georgian’s lobby, with the visually striking horseshoe-shaped Sunset Bar to the left, and intimate Dining Room to the right. Weekly floral installations by LA-based French floral artist Jean Pascal decorate the space.
One can take their morning coffee or breakfast at the Sunset Terrace – offering a set of sure to be coveted tables on the hotel’s striped awning-covered terrace with unobstructed views of the Santa Monica bay – where First Mother Rose Kennedy used to read her morning paper and end their day with dinner in the warm glow of the Dining Room.
The Restaurant at The Georgian’s breakfast offering sees a host of breakfast classics ranging from sweet to savory, including Challah French Toast, a Smoked Salmon Bagel, and Steak & Eggs.
The lunch menu expands into an array of antipasti, hearty paninis, and pastas including:
Mozzarella in Carrozza – sourdough bread, taleggio fontina, smoked mozzarella, pickled chili
Squid Ink Chitarra – dungeness crab, jalapenos, tomatoes, scallions, marjoram
Chicken Milanese – organic chicken, mozzarella di bufala, tomato, basil relish, arugula
Dinner further builds off the lunch selection with a plethora of fresh seafood and contorni from the nearby Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. Highlights include:
Pappardelle Ragu Bolognese – pork and veal bolognese, 24 month parmigiano reggiano
Blue Prawn Posillipo – jumbo sweet shrimp, stewed tomatoes, sofrito, white wine sun-dried tomato bruschetta
Celery Root Cappellacci – wild mushrooms, thyme
Bar Manager Jerom Morris has designed a globally curated beverage program equal parts refined and creative. The offering encompasses craft cocktails, a wide-ranging spirits list with an added focus on Italian digestivi, and non-alcoholic options intended to innately compliment Almany’s food. Morris is deeply dedicated to pushing the limits of cocktails in a way that pits complexity against simplicity – nuance and precision in preparation are accented by a refined, delicate presentation.
On the cocktail program, Morris shares, “I wanted to focus on flavor profiles and presentations that complimented Chef’s wide reaching Italian fare in a way that really lets the ingredients do the talking. Bitters and bubbles by the beach. Light and bright with an intertwined obsession with rare aperitivo and amari.
The Sunset Bar’s cocktail menu is inspired by the Italian coast and far away shores, each playfully named to reference the property’s rich history and the lore of Santa Monica’s past. Libations include:
Famous & Frisky – mezcal, amaro ramazotti, fino, ginger, lemongrass, citrus
Red Griffin – sloe gin, thyme, amaro montenegro, gentian, vermouth
Siren Song – strawberry, radicchio, vermouth, bitters, prosecco, tonic
The wine program by Wine Director Kristin Olszewski rounds out The Restaurant at The Georgian’s selection. One of Wine Enthusiasts 40 under 40, Kristin left Harvard medical school to pursue her passion for wine and service. With over a decade of experience in some of America’s best restaurants – Saison, Sons & Daughters, Husk, and Osteria Mozza – her program at The Georgian is driven by the mantra, “great wine is made in the vineyard, not the cellar.” The wine list was developed through a similar Italian heritage to the culinary program, combining a wide ranging showcase of Italian excellence alongside the best wines from Southern California’s backyard. The list features legacy Italian producers like Bartolo Mascarello, Giuseppe Conterno, Emidio Pepe, and Gaja as well as highlighting up and coming talent in the California natural wine scene.
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A destination where global culture intersects with Californian charm, The Georgian has been carefully restored by Blanchard and Rusconi through the eye of leading interior architecture and design firm, Fettle, to offer a glimpse into the hotel’s 1930’s heyday which underscores its inherent traditional elements. The original concept’s striking features and presence have been maintained throughout and complemented by thoughtful design. Overlooking the California coastline, the building’s unmistakable turquoise façade has pride of place on Ocean Avenue, where the architecturally stunning property’s timeless elegance and historic significance have been on display since opening in 1933.
The Restaurant at The Georgian is now open to hotel guests and to the public through reservations only.
