THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Del Frisco's Grille Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Del Frisco's Grille Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: There are great spots and there are prime ones. It’s the latter for the Santa Monica location of Del Frisco’s Grille: right across from the entrance of the historic Santa Monica Pier. Yes, we like the modern design of the interior, which creates a vibrant atmosphere with its central bar, communal tables, the open kitchen and its wood-oven. However, sitting on the patio on the iconic Ocean Avenue overlooking the neon sign of the pier with the solar-powered ferris wheel for a backdrop is a real treat, even if you are a local.

Likes: Location, location.
Dislikes: Not sold on the coffee-braised pork shank.

About the food: The Dallas-based restaurant group has added a California twist to its comforting American steakhouse fare with the help of executive chef Daniel Tiger, who oversees the Santa Monica location. Start with the artichoke beignets to dip into a sweet basil dressing, or the roasted baby beets served with whipped feta and Sherry vinaigrette. Don’t miss the cheesesteak eggrolls --- you might even end upordering seconds. The sweet corn bisque or the flatbreads are kind of classics. The jumbo lump crabcake is a nod to the oh-so-close ocean, as are the seared Asian tuna salad and the pan-seared scallops on a bed of goat cheese polenta with blistered tomato chermoula, sprinkled with pine nut gremolata. But after all, the word “grill” is part of the restaurant’s name and calls for meat, right? You will have a choice of four cuts, and a fifth one, an 18-ounce bone-in prime rib, on Friday and Saturday only. Sides include truffled mac ’n’ cheese, charred lemon Parmesan broccolini and three types of fries. Finish with the six-layer lemon cake or the salted caramel pudding. Cocktails will spice up your evening. The wine list is quite long with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and California labels at a wide range of prices