JiRaffe
502 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA
310-917-6671
JiRaffe may be the ideal Santa Monica restaurant. Irreverent and fun, its logo is the Eiffel Tower morphing into a giraffe. The food from home-grown surfer-chef Raphael Lunetta is an amiable mix of California and country-style French. He does wonderful things with foie gras, wild mushrooms and salads. He's especially strong on seafood, which,
sad to say, is unusual this close to the coast. Pan-roasted dorade is as crisp and flavorful a fish as you'll ever come across. It's set on a bed of springy capellini drenched in thyme-scented truffle sauce with peeky toe crab, pearl onions, black chanterelles and baby artichokes mixed in.
— S. Irene Virbila
Times Restaurant Critic
June 23, 2002
Hours: Lunch, Tue.-Fri.; dinner nightly.
Fax: 310-917-6677
Venue Details
| Cuisine |
California
,
French
,
Mediterranean
|
| Rating |
|
| Ambience |
Two-story corner bistro with a mezzanine. Decorated with giraffe art and glittery chandeliers.
|
| Best dishes |
Roasted pear salad, herb gnocchi with rock shrimp, wild mushroom salad, pan-roasted dorade, pancetta-wrapped bass, grilled pork chop, warm chocolate truffle cake.
|
| Payment |
Checks
,
American Express
,
Carte Blanche
,
Diners Club
,
Discover
,
MasterCard
,
Visa
|
| Prices |
Entrées, $19-$30.
|
| Service |
Competent and friendly.
|
| Wine list |
1999 Chalone Chenin Blanc "Chalone Vineyard," Monterey; 1998 Chateau du Cedre Cahors, Southern France.
|
