Fig - Review - Santa Monica - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Fig is a cute, foliage-rich spot inside the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica with a mix of plants hanging from the ceiling and slightly chaotic energy radiating from the pool area. The best time to go is during their daily happy hour from 5-6pm, when everything on the menu is half off. Unfortunately, everyone else knows this as well, which means you'll have to deal with a crowd of retirees trying to politely eat pasta and vacationing kids cannonballing into the deep end in exchange for your discounted cucumber margarita. The food is the usual healthy-ish hotel fare done a touch better than you’d expect, and decorated with enough herbs and flowers to qualify as a bridal shower centerpiece. Food Rundown Peaches & Burrata An uncomplicated dish that lets the produce show off: the peaches and tomatoes are dripping with juice, while the creamy burrata smooths things over. Exactly what you want in 85-degree pool weather. photo credit: Cathy Park Sweet Potato Falafel These are less like falafel and more like soft sweet potato hush puppies. That’s not a complaint, but the muhammara sauce topped with a neon-pink sumac foam is the most interesting happening here. photo credit: Cathy Park Gnudi On the plus side, these pillowy little chunks are mixed with nearly every seasonal vegetable in California. Unfortunately, the light beurre blanc sauce they’re tossed in is extremely plain, and in desperate need of salt or acid. photo credit: Cathy Park Roasted Sea Scallops Nicely seared, plump scallops bobbing in a coconutty sauce that we shamelessly scraped from the plate clean with our fingers. photo credit: Cathy Park Apple Galette This flaky, dessert has the ideal ice cream-to-pastry ratio, with just enough melty cream that will seep into every crevice. A pleasant way to end a sun-dazed meal. photo credit: Cathy Park" - Cathy Park