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  • The entrance to Marelle in Santa Monica, with the restaurant name on a wood-paneled wall, a woven pendant light overhead, and open doors leading to a stone-floored dining room
    Dining

    Marelle Santa Monica Review: Pretty Patio, Disappointing Dinner

    October 14, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    Our honest Marelle Santa Monica review: the menu, ocean view, kids menu prices, parking validation, cost, and whether this Sandbourne hotel restaurant is worth it.

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  • A tiered stand of Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea treats, featuring freshly baked scones on illustrated china, colorful desserts, and two bottled “Drink Me” potions, with a server presenting tea sandwiches in the background.
    Dining

    Dining in London With Kids: Our Honest Reviews of 4 Spots

    October 6, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    Dining in London with kids: the Mad Hatter’s tea, our Marriott breakfast, Aqua Shard, and Indigo at One Aldwych, with what we ordered and what it cost.

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  • Dover sole with beurre blanc at La Monique Santa Monica, next to mini French onion grilled cheese
    Dining

    La Monique Santa Monica Review: 5 Dishes Worth the Splurge

    October 2, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    We gave La Monique, the 14-table French brasserie at the Oceana in Santa Monica, a second chance after Valentine's Day. Here's what to order, from escargot poppers to the chocolate soufflé.

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  • Vanilla St. Honoré dessert at Muse Santa Monica
    Dining

    Muse Santa Monica Review: What We Love and What to Skip

    September 30, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    An honest Muse Santa Monica review after three visits: how to get a reservation, what to order, what to skip, and the dessert we get every time.

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  • Landwer's Famous Schnitzel, ordered kosher style with housemade crushed potatoes, at Cafe Landwer in Brentwood.
    Dining

    Cafe Landwer Brentwood Review: A Family Dinner With a Vegan

    September 28, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    Our Cafe Landwer Brentwood review: great hummus, a $24 schnitzel for two, plenty for my vegan brother, and frozen yogurt downstairs at Go Greek.

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  • Outside view of Bad Roman restaurant in Beverly Hills, showcasing its stylish entrance and inviting facade.
    Dining

    The Best Things to Order at Bad Roman Beverly Hills

    September 25, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    Our honest review of Bad Roman Beverly Hills: the must-order garlic babka, fun cocktails, the secret menu, what to skip, and why dessert is the highlight.

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  • A vibrant La Flaca cocktail served at Telefèric Barcelona restaurant in Brentwood, showcasing its colorful presentation.
    Dining

    Telefèric Barcelona Brentwood Review: Tapas With and Without the Kids

    September 22, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    We took a rare kid-free trip to Telefèric Barcelona for tapas and cocktails, then walked down San Vicente to Bacio di Latte for gelato. Here's our honest take on both, including the one dish we won't order again.

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  • Outdoor patio dining at Sora Brentwood sushi restaurant
    Dining

    Sora Brentwood: An Honest Review

    September 15, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    Sora Brentwood, the new hand-roll-focused sushi restaurant, has been packed since the day it opened. We made a reservation before heading over on a Saturday night with our two daughters and a friend who met us there, and it’s a good thing we did. Every table was full and the room stayed loud and busy the entire time. After working our way through about sixteen hand rolls across eight different flavors between the four of us, I walked away with mixed feelings: the food is excellent, but the experience comes with real trade-offs worth knowing before you go. The Concept:…

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  • Two bottles of AJA Vineyards 2011 Proprietary Red Wine sitting on a rustic wooden wine barrel alongside etched AJA wine glasses and a small plate of crackers and cheese at the Agoura estate.
    Dining

    AJA Vineyards Santa Monica: Tastings, Wine Club, and Member Events

    August 25, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    Our honest guide to AJA Vineyards in Santa Monica after years as Alec's Club members: tasting flight prices, what to order, bringing kids, how the wine club tiers work, and what the member events are really like.

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  • The exterior entrance of Duke's Malibu restaurant, with its peaked A-frame roof and round Duke's sign, a bronze statue of surfer Duke Kahanamoku draped in flower leis, and Hawaiian and California flags under a blue sky
    Dining

    Duke’s Malibu Review: What You Need to Know Before You Go

    August 17, 2026 - By Ginger Graham

    We visited the newly reopened Duke's Malibu on a regular Saturday with no reservation — the honest truth on the wait, the newly remodeled dining room, what to order (and what to skip), and what it actually costs for a family of four.

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