Don’t be surprised if you’re greeted at this gem of a neighborhood restaurant by a handsome, tattooed man in a T-shirt, jeans and fedora. That would be Jared Simons, 28, the chef/owner, who is now trying to spend more time up front greeting the many regulars who frequent his Santa Monica neighborhood spot. Ironically, the reason they come is Jared’s work in the kitchen preparing his small plates. After graduating from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, the San Diego native apprenticed at Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe before opening up his own Carlsbad eatery, Le Passage, at the ripe age of 22. The former self-described “fat kid” wants to keep preparing simple and straightforward upscale comfort food at a good value. His food, like his style, illustrates his complete lack of pretension.