HIDDEN AWAY...

I finally got to check out Hidden Restaurant & Garden Lounge in Santa Monica. Located in the old Schatzi's On Main space along Main St. (cross street: Marine), If there's anything to be said about the place, it is definitely the antithesis to Schatzi's. While Schatzi's was a perfect example of a neighborhood watering-hole (with a super great happy hour, by the way), its casual atmosphere has given way to a swankier, uber-chic dwelling place. Schatzi's open-air, elevated lounge area is still in place. But it's newest incarnation is as Hidden's "garden" lounge.

I checked-out Hidden with a friend, and we actually stumbled in on accident since the bar area at Chaya Venice was packed. For happy hour on a Saturday night, it was pretty dead; Chaya Venice,on the other hand, was bustling. But the ambiance was nice enough for us to hang out and check things out. The place is huge with dining and lounge areas that can go on for days. It seems like it would be a great place to host a beach-side, swanky party. We sat at the bar, and pretty much had it to ourselves for the first half hour or so. We drank vodka-sodas at the special happy hour price of $7. Not so special, actually. We also had a few appz, starting with the kobe beef tacos and pan-sauteed calamari. The calamari was sauteed with strips of pancetta, which added a nice saltiness to the dish. The beef tacos were yummy two-biters. We were obviously hungry... still. We ended up ordering ahi tuna spring rolls, and a vegetarian pizza (tomatoes, onions, eggplant and roasted red pepper).

The prices were a little high, even for happy hour. But with a continuous flow of drinks, the experience was quite bearable. I'd like to see how the place gets on a busier night. I've read reviews that glossed over the ambiance and "laid back" vibe of the scene-worthy spot, but I've also heard that the place missed the mark in service. The bar service that evening was spotless, but then again, we were two of maybe five or six people seated there.

We'll see what the future holds. I actually feel like the place could go under if it remains as quiet as it was that night, but we'll see how things work out as the warmer weather comes through. It is a nice addition to that area sitting on the cusp of Venice and Santa Monica.
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Hidden Restaurant & Garden Lounge, 3110 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-399-4800