The new hot spot on Main Street in Santa Monica is Brick + Mortar located in the Frank Geary designed Edgemar building.  Elegant, lean, simple and relaxing, Brick + Mortar hit the ground running when it opened in January of 2012.  Formerly Salute Wine Bar, the new owners (BRG Group) re-modeled the entire restaurant in [...]

This April, Craving Cocktails?™ was privileged to have been invited to attend the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc. (WSWA) 69th Annual Convention and Exposition at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.  WSWA is a national trade organization representing the wholesale tier of the wine and spirits industry.  Founded in 1943, WSWA has over 340 member [...]

The Wine Cellar at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is home to one of the most impressive public wine collections in the United States.  Public though it may be, homey is the operative word here.  With and old-world feel, a musty smell, supple leather couches and soft lighting, the soothing atmosphere [...]

  The Santa Monica Daily Grill is located in the Yahoo Center and across the street from the Water Garden in the heart of Santa Monica’s music and entertainment industry.  The highly successful Daily Grill restaurants were founded in 1984 with the advent of The Grill on the Alley in Beverly Hills.  This was a straightforward, [...]

  The Center Cut Steakhouse at The Flamingo Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip opened a few weeks ago.  This swanky, sophisticated venue is housed in the third resort to open on the Strip.  It is also the oldest resort on the Strip still in operation today.  Originally owned by Bugsy Siegel, the Flamingo [...]

Chef Josie Le Balch, the proud owner of Josie’s in Santa Monica since 2001, has created a younger sister to her eponymous restaurant aptly titled Next Door by Josie.  Chic, stylish and full of panache, this new venue offers fine dining food at happy hour prices and a less formal dinner option.  Using only the [...]

  If you are looking for a vibrant fun-filled Happy Hour, Pink Taco in Century City is the place for you.  This is a fast-paced, electrically charged Mexican restaurant and bar.  Pink Taco delivers a great dining experience served to you by a gorgeous, high-energy staff.  Created by Harry Morton (Morton’s Steak House, Hard Rock Hotel [...]

  Craving cocktails in Kyoto but finding yourself a little short on frequent flyer miles?  Head on over to Sushi Roku in Santa Monica instead and be rewarded with the next best thing to seeing those cherry blossoms blooming in spring.  Sushi Roku’s Happy Hour offers a variety of favorites from the regular menu at extremely [...]

The 10-year-old Cameo Bar at Viceroy Santa Monica trumps all expectations of a pleasurable Happy Hour experience.  Executive Chef Tony DiSalvo’s culinary savvy is evident even in his smaller offerings during cocktail hour.  Chef DiSalvo creates Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist, showcasing produce sourced both locally and globally.  The Cameo Bar’s stunning interior is [...]

CHAYA Venice is located in the heart of this world famous beach community and imparts a neighborly feel to guests.  A well-loved dining destination for just over 20 years, Executive Chef Shigefumi Tachibe embraces the spirit of its proximity to the sea as well as its Euro-Asian culinary tradition with entrées categorized by Land or [...]