aestus (507 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA; 424.268.4499) from Alex Ageneau (Patina, The Royce), is open with 60 seats, an open kitchen, brass bar, and dishes like fried smelt with crudites; beef with sunchokes; grilled octopus salad with clementines; charcuterie including duck pate and saucisson a l’ail; and fire-roasted chicken.
Wash down that menu with cocktails from bar director, Marissa Grasmick (The Varnish). The cocktail menu features a house Gin & Tonic, brandy Alexander with cognac and creme de cacao, and a Shanghai buck with rum, ginger, lime, and soda. Wine director Kevin O’Connor (co-founder of LIOCO) puts together a wine menu while Ian Harris and it has a good mix of old names with new names.
