For an area teeming with restaurants, Tar & Roses, located just steps away from the popular Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, has made quite a name for itself with its Spanish-American inspired cuisine and farm-to-table plates. Only open for dinner, it’s not easy to snag a table at this LA hotspot, but if you do, it is well worth it. The chef, Andrew Kirschner, is a Santa Monica native and previously served as sous chef at Venice staple, Joe’s and Chadwick in Beverly Hills. The rustic and warm feel of the restaurant welcomes you in, the exciting wine list adds to the fun, and the food will have you coming back time and time again…
I love menus with small plates because they offer a wide range of options that can accommodate every type of diner, gluten free included! It also means you are able to order a lot more food guilt-free, and at a restaurant this good you’ll want to. My move is to make an entire meal just out of the extensive veggie portion of the menu. The Brussels sprouts with pancetta, chestnuts, and mustard and the red kuri squash with maple ricotta, radicchio, and sage are standout dishes and they are both gluten free. Tar & Roses offers plenty of delicious options for gluten free carnivores too. For daring diners, the duck breast with quinoa, chard, roasted grapes, and fennel creme fraiche is succulent and satisfying and the barramundi with shelling bean, mushroom ragout and chorizo vinaigrette is delicate and light. For a more traditional option, the dry aged rib eye with arugula and parmesan salad is the perfect, hearty dinner for two. The gluten free menu options don’t stop there and the staff is very accommodating to all allergies and restrictions, so if you see something on the menu that you like, the restaurant will do their best to make the dish suitable to your dietary preference. Other NOBREAD favorites: cauliflower with anchovy pesto, shellfish pot, charred gem lettuce, octopus skewers, and baby carrots.
With a wood-burning fire in the middle of the restaurant, you know Tar & Roses means business and they have definitely set the bar high for the Los Angeles restaurant scene. Although the food comes with a price tag, all of the dishes are innovative and absolutely delicious. See you again soon, Tar & Roses!