Buddha's Belly Restaurant Review
205 Broadway (Second St.) 
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Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-458-2500 | Menu
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Cuisine
Open
Lunch & Dinner dailyFeatures
- Kid-friendly
- Private room(s)
- Air conditioning
- Reservations suggested
- Casual
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| A neighborhood joint this definitely is, as is evidenced by the casual demeanor of the servers, who feel more like your neighbors dropping by your table for a chat than hired help. The prices are reasonable, given the generous size of the main dishes. For starters, the chilled Vietnamese rolls are nicely done (the rice paper is the right consistency), but we feel that the spicy crispy calamari is a little too soggy in its green curry vinaigrette. Still, it's worth ordering---just ask them to hold back on the dressing. On this all-around-Asia menu you'll find plenty of standards, such as pad thai and Vietnamese pho. While the latter is good, it's a somewhat faux pho, lacking the richness of the real thing. But you can't beat the freshness and lightness of the food here. Oenophiles take note: wine is served in small, bulbous glasses that feel like a cross between juice and Turkish tea cups. In this casual setting, though, they get the job done. Overall, your belly should keep you smiling like the Buddha's. |
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