"If all you know about French food is that it's buttery and expensive, then you already know something true about Pasjoli. But this Santa Monica restaurant stands out from other indulgent places in town because it encapsulates the Classic French Restaurant thing without feeling tired. Choose from two different tasting menus ($95 and $125), each with polished dishes like caviar-topped canapes and spongy brioche toast with chicken liver mousse in the middle. For something more casual, head to the walk-in bar with an a la carte menu of duck wings, French onion soup, and a marrow butter-topped burger." - brant cox, sylvio martins, arden shore, cathy park