Diner Antonette
American restaurant · Santa Monica ·
Sleek bistro with booths & bar serving American classics & craft cocktails
Sleek bistro with booths & bar serving American classics & craft cocktails
"We hate the word “tasty." It’s annoying and boring and undescriptive. It’s in that same annoying vein as when an acquaintance from high school posts a sh*tty picture on Facebook of ghost-white fettuccine alfredo alongside a liter of Arizona iced tea with the caption “YUMMY!” We doubt it, Kelly. We really doubt it. Facebook aside though, we can confidently tell you including the word “tasty” in any title is not just annoying, it's also pretty ballsy. Particularly when it’s not exactly the case. Ingo’s Tasty Diner, while having a pretty happening vibe inside, does not exactly live up to its “tasty” name. While we appreciate what the folks at Ingo’s are going for - a trendy atmosphere with good cocktails and hyped up greasy diner classics - the food is ultimately disappointing. Everything should be a bit more stripped-down and simple than what-do-young-people-like-to-eat-right-now. We don’t need lobster on our BLT. We want our fries to be hot and greasy. And we certainly don’t need yogurt sauce on our broccoli. Don’t get us wrong, none of it is outrageously terrible. But it’s certainly not the reason you go to Ingo’s. You go to Ingo’s because the vibe is fine, and you really want a few drinks with friends and some food to munch on while you talk. Bizarre detail alert: It closes at 10pm on weekends, which we're pretty sure is earlier than P.F. Chang's down the street. The early closing time is a requirement of Ingo's liquor license, but it's still an unfortunate logistical problem for a place that strongly pushes its cocktail menu. Because that’s why you come to Ingo’s - the cocktails. And a big bar with an unstuffy scene where you won’t be inundated by shrieking post-grads on the prowl. So let go off the whole “tasty” thing. It's weird and unnecessary. And Ingo’s Cocktails & Vibes sounds far more interesting. Food Rundown Deviled Ranch Eggs Pretty basic. However, we might have enjoyed these more had we known the massive letdown on the horizon in the form of spicy char-grilled broccoli. Spicy Char-Grilled Broccoli This was served cold and it weirded us out. We even inquired as to whether or not it was supposed to be cold. It was. When eating charred broccoli, we prefer for it be hot. And good. Kennebec Fries Much like the char-grilled broccoli, these were cold and soggy. But not intentionally. Blue Ribbon Cheeseburger We’d recommend ordering this if you’re coming in for a cocktail and also need sustenance. It’s probably your safest bet on the menu. Salted Chocolate Cookie These are provided on your way out. Try not to think about the fact that every hand west of the 405 has reached into that cookie bowl, and just enjoy it." - Amanda Williamson
"Five years after Ingo’s Tasty Diner closed, the same restaurant group has returned to the space with a new name. Diner Antonette pulls a few hits from Ingo’s menu like the crispy brussels sprouts and mezze spreads, along with dishes like Bombay fried chicken and pasta with crab and lobster. The space still has the look of a classic diner with big leather booths, and there’s an adjacent gift shop selling wine and books." - cathy park
"The charming Santa Monica space occupies the former Ingo’s Tasty Diner and feels like a kind of Musso & Frank west, except it’s booming bebop jazz played on a hi-fi system rather than silence. The food is contemporary: "Chef Jordan Lynn takes delicate, even slices of melon with salty prosciutto, mache, and almond oil, which would feel appropriate in Italy right about now, except that he sprinkles on chile flakes for a Tajin-esque punch." The balanced assemblage makes for an appetizer that doesn’t fill you up before the mains; follow it with the crispy fried chicken with rowdy greens, whose "crust [is] tinted with turmeric and juicy to the bone," described as a stunning shareable entree. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest" - Eater Staff
"Named after owner Bob Lynn’s late mother, this venue opened June 18 in the former Ingo’s Tasty Diner along Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica and includes an adjacent retail wine shop, gift boutique, and a spacious hidden back patio. Operated by Lynn—who runs seven restaurants in Los Angeles and the Phoenix area, including the Misfit—the reopening is a tribute to classic American bistros. Culinary director Jordan Lynn focuses on seasonal prime ingredients, with dishes like poached baby artichokes, peaches with homemade ricotta and sorrel pesto, and pan-roasted Scottish salmon with braised Tuscan kale." - Mona Holmes
"Five years after Ingo’s Tasty Diner closed, the same restaurant group has returned to the space with a new name. Diner Antonette pulls a few hits from Ingo’s menu like the crispy brussels sprouts and mezze spreads, along with dishes like Bombay fried chicken and pasta with crab and lobster. The space still has the look of a classic diner with big leather booths, and there’s an adjacent gift shop selling wine and books. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Cathy Park
