Aug. 03--From the white-accented decor reminiscent of a contemporary beach house to the bevy of cool California wines, Summer House Santa Monica offers a taste of the West Coast in Lincoln Park. On the menu: an impressive range of beach-ready food, from California sushi rolls to ahi tuna tostadas to seafood entrees boasting almost every color of the rainbow.
When checking in for Saturday or Sunday brunch (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the must-try plate is also one of Summer House's most beautiful: the smoked salmon hash brown Benedict ($12.95). A delicate layer of perfectly pink smoked salmon, crowned by two firm poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and a dash of chives, sits atop a rectangular bed of hash browns. The crispy potatoes are a much better choice than the typical English muffin, which inevitably gets soggy; with this version, you're headed straight for a satisfying crunch at the end of each smoky, rich bite. 1954 N. Halsted St., 773-634-4100, www.summerhousesm.com.
Leah Pickett is a freelance writer.
