Beach Eats

Earlier this month, executive chef Alex Ageneau- formerly of Patina and The Royce at Pasadena’s Langham Hotel- debuted Aestus, his 60-seat upscale eatery in the heart of Santa Monica. Situated on the ground floor of the Arezzo building near the Third Street Promenade, the intimate charmer- with a lengthy brass bar and an open kitchen framed in marble- could double as the set of Mad Men. The decor is mid-century modern but the food is New American, as Ageneau offers a California influenced menu, celebrating local ingredients infused with classic French and Italian technique. Aestus is a seasonally driven restaurant that is quickly becoming a neighborhood hit, much in vein with nearby Tar & Roses and Rustic Canyon.

Ageneau crafts, cures, pickles, and bakes all his ingredients in-house and weaves them into dishes like the Charcuterie board with duck pate, pork rillettes, and saucisson a l’ail. He also makes use of the wood-burning oven for his grass-fed beef with sunchokes, kale and mushrooms, and roasted chicken with potatoes, bitter greens and espelette. And speaking of bitters, in addition to the esteemed wine list, Aestus offers a cocktail menu that highlights the classics. Bar director Marissa Grasmick, who joined the team from DTLA’s The Varnish, creates timeless concoctions including the House Gin & Tonic and Brandy Alexanders. This is the perfect spot for a beachy date night with your surfer guy… or maybe even Don Draper. www.aestusrestaurant.com