Massilia

This French/Italian/Spanish-ish restaurant with a big patio on Fourth Street in Santa Monica has a surprisingly laid-back crowd for being a block away from the Promenade. There’s plenty of space, so this is a good spot for a date with someone you’ve been with for a while, or a friend you need to catch up with. Order the greens salad, which is simple but perfectly crunchy, and you won’t go wrong with any of the housemade pastas, unless you forget to order the tagliatelle with morels. There’s a mostly-French wine list, and a full bar with a great selection of post-dinner drinks.