Fia Restaurant

"When you enter Fia from the street, the first thing you’ll see is the patio. It’s gigantic. This incredible outdoor space in Santa Monica is cozy and romantic, filled with wooden furniture, aggressive string lighting, and enough pine trees to make you feel like you’re on the Mendocino coast. The Italian-ish food is just OK (we prefer what's being served inside, at their sister restaurant Fia Steak), but the burrata, raw bar, and pasta get the job done. Crowd-pleasing and easy on the eyes, Fia is on our shortlist for high-stakes dates and life celebrations." - brant cox, arden shore, sylvio martins, cathy park

"Fia in Santa Monica has one of the best patios on the Westside, making it a no-brainer for brunch. The California/Italian spot does an all-inclusive brunch menu for $64, which comes with a basket of pastries, an entree of your choice, and bottomless mimosas or margaritas. Deal: Bottomless mimosas, margaritas, or rose as part of an all-inclusive brunch menu for $67." - brant cox, nikko duren

"Fia is like a secret garden. Michael Greco, who I've known forever, conceived it based on the Amalfi Coast. So it feels like the California and Italian coastlines blended into one. It's mostly known for the brunch menu in their lush, "secret" garden. It's whimsical, it's sexy, and again, very Instagrammable. And because it was founded by this hospitality trailblazer, their attention to service is second to none. That's what I really like about it. I love it. They also have an amazing margarita. Their margarita, you know, definitely, definitely competes with with The Bungalow's." - brennan carley

"Fia’s only been open for a few months, but thanks to its calming, tree-filled patio and very good coastal Italian menu, it’s fast becoming one of our favorite outdoor spots in Santa Monica. The private dining situation is equally good, with a variety of spaces available - from a chef’s table to lounge and patio options, even a full restaurant rental. Capacity: 500" - Sylvio Martins, Kat Hong

"They took over the old Wilshire spot in Santa Monica last year, and remain one of the city’s best-kept secrets, thanks in no small part to their fantastic, tree-filled back patio. Now’s your chance to see it for yourself. While the Coastal Mediterranean menu’s not the most inventive (plenty of burrata, handmade pastas, and a raw bar), Fia makes the kind of crowd-pleasing food that absolutely anyone will enjoy. And, again, the patio …" - brett keating