Tartine, “a thoughtful expression of modern craft through good food and warm experiences.” 

Upon researching where to take my cousin for brunch on her birthday, Tartine Santa Monica was the location that we were most interested in. Both the location and the menu was appealing! There are five Los Angeles locations, but the Santa Monica one we visited has the nicest outdoor seating and overall aesthetic. There is a neighboring lot for easy parking; however, you still have to pay, even with validation. Tartine is known for their in-house, fresh-baked bread, which is proudly displayed on top of the glass case immediately inside the doors. The outside looks like a church, and the doors were decorated with dried fruit wreaths which was festive! Additionally, the little wine shop inside consists of cookbooks, coffee grinds, and of course, wine. To order, you wait in line by the pastry case, order at the counter, and take a number to wait for the food to be brought to the table. There is plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating, and if you are lucky you will score a picnic table under the vines outside, which is where we sat.

We got fresh-squeezed orange juice, the smoked salmon tartine, the avocado tartine, and several delicious-looking pastries! The orange juice was extremely refreshing and the perfect way to start lunch. The avocado tartine consisted of yuzu, scallion, sesame, radish, and cilantro. The bread was a wonderful ratio of hard on the outside, and doughy on the inside– perfect to top with the options they serve: avocado, lox, and mushrooms. The bread alone made the dish delicious, but the toppings were also fresh and paired perfectly altogether! This is one of the most unique avocado toasts I have ever had– definitely in my top 3 in LA! The smoked salmon tartine was amazing as well. It consisted of whipped cream cheese, pickled mustard seed, preserved lemon, pickled red onion, and dill. It was packed with fresh lox, and everything paired perfectly together so that each bite was bursting with the various flavors. The quality of the ingredients on both of these toasts certainly validates the moderately high prices. We also got two chocolate croissants, a slice of the lemon cranberry pistachio tea cake, and a banana cream tart. The croissants were perfectly flaky and had just the right amount of chocolate.

The lemon cranberry pistachio tea cake was super good as well as it was uniquely  flavored with the lemons, cranberries, and pistachios. The banana cream tart was not my favorite, but the other pastries and toasts made up for the taste and texture it was lacking.  

The ambiance of this place is the perfect spot for brunch with your girl friends, or even a family gathering as it is quite spacious between each table outside. The inside area is perfect to grab a cup of coffee and a pastry and get to work on your computer, or to meet a friend for brunch! This spot matches both vibes perfectly! Although I loved the Santa Monica location, maybe I will visit one of the other locations just to see what it is like. Next time, I want to try the mushroom tartine which consists of onion yogurt, lemons, chiles, and cilantro, as well as their bread pudding. I most definitely will be visiting Tartine again soon.