THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Abode Restaurant & Lounge

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Abode Restaurant & Lounge Restaurant Review:

Santa Monica is home to quite an array of restaurants but we are always happy to see fine dining destinations. Husband-and-wife restaurateurs Kelly Gleason and Anastasia Israel took over a space tucked away in Paseo del Mar, a stone's throw from the Santa Monica Pier, and redecorated it in a 1960s-reminiscent style with white, dark chocolate and beige tones. The bar is slightly set off from the main room, keeping the noise level for diners to a minimum---much appreciated in this era of the co-mingling bar-dining scene. Three large booths and tables with orange-colored high-backed chairs are two seating options; the outdoor patio is another, for a drink (check out the $300 martini with a Tahitian black pearl), a meal or a smoke---or all three. Opening chef Dominique Crenn has left but her sous chef, Cyril Kabaoglu, has successfully taken the reins. The pair had worked together for quite a while and even though they shared some similar ideas, they each have their own distinctive style. Kabaoglu is a talented young chef who likes to play with ingredients, such as mixing escargots with prosciutto in black tea and garlic cream, foie gras with walnut ice cream flecked with vanilla-roasted pineapple, smoked salmon croquette topped with caviar, and scallops with yuzu citrus cappuccino sauce for appetizers. We like his interpretation of surf ‘n’ turf with fresh squid stuffed with ratatouille and venison accompanied by two purées, one of kuri squash, the other of peas with dark chocolate. Chocolate appears again in the white chocolate sauce supporting his black cod. Cheeses come with a delicious prune compote but for a real sweet ending, go for the soufflé made with a rare Hawaiian dark chocolate or try the “round” of apples. A short wine list is offered to accompany a memorable meal.