THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Inotheke

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Inotheke Restaurant Review:

At Inotheke in Santa Monica, Carolos Tomazos pays tribute to his home island of Cyprus. (His résumé boasts Alain Ducasse, Per Se and Le Bernardin in New York, but local foodies will know him from his partnerships with chef Brendan Collins, which include Larry's gastropub in Venice and the since-shuttered Waterloo & City.) At this friendly neighborhood bistro, patrons can savor traditional Greek and Mediterranean dishes in a modern setting. White pegboard walls, black and white photographs, and both classic and modern art pieces are featured in a color palette of blue and white with accents of sunny yellow. A soundtrack of '80s classic rock and pop plays in the background. No matter your level of hunger, or whether or not you have a vegetarian in tow, Inotheke fits the bill. (It's also a great option for takeout.) Light and fresh options include the classic Greek salad, pickled octopus and eggplant-tahini salad. Continue with shrimp "saganaki" or the flavorful cod "skordalia" with tangy garlic-lemon mashed potatoes. On the more substantial side, short rib stifado (stew with red wine and shallots) and moussaka with ground beef, eggplant, zucchini and "béchamel" are both fine examples of Greek comfort food. For dessert, the galaktoboureko (custard sandwiched between a crispy bottom and flaky top layers of filo dough) makes for a nice finish. Classic baklava is also available. Wines are mostly from the USA, France and Italy, with a scattering of Greek wines. There are a few craft beers on draft, plus more than a dozen bottle selections.