Bastide
photo: Alen Lin
Opened by the partners from nearby Via Veneto, in the Santa Monica space that was long home to the Governator's Schatzi on Main, Hidden Restaurant, an indoor-outdoor, midpriced Eclectic, really is hidden in an office-and-shopping complex; it boasts a small army of chefs (each versed in a different cuisine: Italian, Mexican, Vietnamese, Japanese and Spanish) and new decor intended to match the food, with elements from each country integrated into the look (3110 Main St.; 310-399-4800).
After a remodel that made it prettier than ever with a simple color scheme of blues, blacks and whites, Bastide has now welcomed Walter Manzke (ex Patina) who is preparing dishes that are Eclectic in the extreme; diners choose between two tasting menus: four courses for $80 or seven courses for $100 (8475 Melrose Pl.; 323-651-5950).