(Gerry Furth-Sides) Los Angeles as the city with most diverse ethnic cuisine in the world also boasts “secret garden” venues that surprise and delight. Two are classics that have renewed themselves with outdoor dining. We start with a favorite, actually a “sand garden,” Back to the Beach, and work our way east. On the list: Tiato Kitchen + Venue (Santa Monica); newly realized back patios of Marino Ristorante (East Hollywood)and Casita Del Campo (Silverlake); and the classic The Raymond 1886 Restaurant.
(1) Back to the Beach, Santa Monica
A place that reminds you of why you live in LA just minutes down the Pacific Coast Highway off the 10 freeway. Coming out of the tunnel and seeing the ocean is one of my favorites views in town. Owner Fred Deni is on hand, with decades of ownership behind him. He oversees a seamless operation of a staff happy to be there, too.
Plant your feet on a solid floor or at a table on the beach. The simple menu of favorites, salads & sandwiches, is capped by the best baker in town’s desserts (including my favorite lemon hazelnut torte). You just want lunch to last and last, and stay all day – and we always do.
Back On The Beach Cafe, 445 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90402, (310O 393.8282. www.backonthe beach cafe.com
(2) Tiato Kitchen + Venue, literally tucked into a tree-filled Santa Monica neighborhood so that it is hidden from street view, has no rival as the prettiest, most lush indoor-outdoor garden eatery, let alone the city’s biggest outside dining space. Indoors, the soaring ceilings and polished concrete floors, reclaimed wood furniture and eco-friendly materials lend an organic sensibility and a contemporary sense of grandeur at the same time.
It is fitting that Tiato is named after the “tia to” Vietnamese perilla plant, which has a fresh flavor similar to the Japanese herb shiso. It is one of Catherine’s favorite. The fragrant leaf also symbolizes the cooking style of Executive Chef and family matriarch Helene An (Crustacean Restaurant). For the story, please see: //localfoodeater.com/titan-brings-california-inspired-vietnamese-vietnames-inspired-california-cusine/
The Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-free and Gluten-free menu is dotted with ingredients like kale, blueberries veggie smoothies and antioxidant-rich ingredients. Health conscious dishes even include a Kale Caesar Salad. An described the food as “California-inspired Vietnamese and Asian-inspired California cuisine.’
Fresh Pressed Juices can turn out to be a welcome meal in itself. We love the name and ingredients of the rich Royal detox (beet, carrot and green apple) and the Green Goddess (broccoli, celery, green apple, honeydew and spinach). The cafe also offers draft and bottled beers, organic wines and a sake bar.
Fresh herbs abound in the outdoor garden and are used in the kitchen whenever possible. Meyer lemons, kaffir limes, blood oranges, mulberries and bushels of herbs grow seasonally. What makes the original east-west fusion Chicken Banh Mi Burger ($12), special, along with the house-made potato chips, pillowy brioche bun and spicy mayo is that the veggie slaw is pickled and dotted with cilantro grown in the garden.
Espressos and warm over-sized chocolate cookies are favorite customer picks. The Tiato muffin is usually sold out by the afternoon.
Engaging proprietor, Catherine An heads up Tiato + Venue, initially created as the family restaurant’s catering division with the garden as an event space. Read about mom, Helene An, (Crustaean in Beverly Hills) and sister Hannah’s District in West Hollywood. (www.anfamily.com).
Tiato Market Garden Café, 2700 Colorado Avenue, Suite 190, Santa Monica, CA, 310.866.5228 to leave a message. For hours and more information, please see, www.tiato.co
(3) Marino Ristaurante
Friend and second generation proprietor, Mario Marino, and I daydreamed about the day when the family could create backyard al fresco dining area under an old olive tree in the back of the restaurant. And the pandemic made it happen, with the feeling of some good out of the overall. It had the the same immaculate service and authentic Neapolitan cuisine. Chef Sal heads the kitchen and Mario is “front of the house” as always. Consistent classic southern Italian cuisine in a white tablecloth setting – whole branzino offered three ways; roman bread; ricotta cheesecake; the best anti pasti in the world. Legendary Dad Ciro Marino started 50 years ago and would be proud.
And summer is tomato season. It was Marino Ristorante Chef, Sal Marino, put one on a plate, insisting on dotting it with salt, and I fell in love. But until now it was farmers market, Melissa’s Produce when available or nothing.
Marino Ristorante, 6001 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, Ca 90038, (323) 466-8812, www.marinorestaurant.com
(4) Casita del Campo
A historic, neighborhood place for all ages with delicious, carefully made Mexican food — founded by one of the dancers in West Side Story for his entertainment friends! Patio, dining room, private room seating makes any lunch or party special. Excellent, friendly service and parking lot out back!
The Casita de Campo patio carved out of the back parking lot behind the restaurant is new. It is relaxing and lively with beautiful plants and fountain. After an inconsistent winter-spring season, the patio is once again open for dining with protocols in place. And the same attentive staff is there.
The original recipes and cooking practices have stayed the same since the day the restaurant opened 57 years ago. Every morning, fresh vegetables are chopped for the tasty salsa, the guacamole and chips all made fresh daily as evident in the enormous amount of food carried out from the kitchen. The new vegan menu items such as the tacos and fajitas, already popular with customers, reflect the current health-conscious times and neighborhood’s gentrification.
Casita Del Campo, 1920 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027. is open for take out and delivery. For more information please visit www.CasitaDelCampo.net or call 323.662.4255.
(5) The Raymond 1886
The Pasadena’s Craftsman cottage on South Fair Oaks Avenue with its high-ceiling, captivating veranda is another nostalgic nod to the past. The Grand Raymond Hotel at one time fronted this South Pasadena estate and its spirit lives on.
It’s always fun to people watch and just relax after pulling into the shady glen of patio, a sharp turn off the road just northwest of the Arroyo Freeway, and out of the blazing sun outside.
The Raymond 1886 open for Lunch Tuesday – Friday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; Dinner every Tuesday – Sunday from 5:30 to 10:00 pm and Brunch Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 2:30 pm.
For information or reservations, please visit www.theraymond.com or phone 626.441.3136. Week-end Brunch from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, and for Dinner from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm; 1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue; Pasadena, CA 91105; 626.441.3136; www.TheRaymond.com
Gerry Furth-Sides 
Barbara Hansen 
Chef-owner Alain Cohen 
Roberta Deen 
Jose Martinez 
Nivedita Basu 