THE PENTHOUSE at The Huntley

1111 Second Street, Santa Monica 310 458-9776

 

Location!  Location!  Location!  No one takes this mantra more seriously or maximizes assets more than The Huntley in Santa Monica, freshly reincarnated after an $18 million dollar comprehensive redesign with the Thomas Schoos touch.  

 

Floating atop the modern, beachside luxury hotel is the swank Penthouse lounge and restaurant boasting a 360-degree view of the Pacific Ocean, Malibu Mountains, and Los Angeles skyline.  For once, the scene inside the chic restaurant, enjoyed by the likes of Kate Hudson and Jessica Biel, is rivaled by the one outside the window.  Whether you arrive early enough to see a glowing sunset or later, when the city unfurls at your feet like a carpet of lights, The Penthouse will not disappoint in ambiance and panorama. 

 

Chef Seth Greenburg gleans from the city’s farmer’s market to create a widely appealing menu.  The ‘starters’ section flaunts chilled oysters with Serrano ham, Tuscan melon granita and chili threads, and evokes perpetual summer.  The oysters are scooped and delivered on a spoon with ice chips providing an invigorating crunch.  Though delicate in presentation, the steak tartar is hearty and accompanied by truffle-grilled cheese on rye.  From the entrees, the perfectly pan-seared diver scallops with braised pork belly, tomato gremolata and braising jus are a popular alternative to the choice of certified premium steaks.

 

Schoos (Koi, Tao, Citizen Smith) uses Santa Monica as an inspiration down to the distinguished hardwood floors with six-inch planks representing the boardwalk and an oceanic color palette of sea foam greens, pale blues and bright whites.  Comfortable white lacquered cabanas are ensconced by sheer gauze curtains and rich chocolate furnishings glow in the light of Murano Venetian chandeliers and votive candles.  A 19-foot backlit circular bar with vintage chrome sidewalls and an indoor mother-of-pearl fireplace attract their own coteries of small plate and martini patrons.  Being a watering hole for the party crowd, the tranquil-minded may prefer Sunday brunch with equally mesmerizing views.  The beauty of this hotspot is that it maintains its allure like a seductress changing outfits.  

 

-- Ghalib Dhalla