Places to Eat Near the Santa Monica Pier

If you're going to spend some time at the Santa Monica Pier you'll eventually get a little hungry and want something to eat. There are a few places to eat on the pier, but there are also some better options that surround the pier. Stroll on down the street and you'll end up right in downtown Santa Monica on the Third Street Promenade.

The Third Street Promenade is home to some amazing eats. You can get everything from American to Indian and Italian all within walking distance of one another. A great place to get some Italian is Buca Di Beppo. It's located at 1442 2nd Street, Santa Monica 90401. They offer everything from pizza to lasagna and the portions are very large. This restaurant isn't in the budget range, but it's worth the extra money. Dinner for two can easily run up to $40 or more. The atmosphere is like dining in an old Italian kitchen. If it's your first time to Buca then they hostess will give you a tour of the restaurant. The staff is really friendly and it's a nice change from the downtown environment. Check out www.bucadibeppo.com for more information.

If you want a quaint French place to eat then check out Le Pain Quotidien and try eating at one of their many communal tables. They offer tea, salad, open-faced sandwiches and it feels like you're eating at home. Don't feel like eating with strangers? They also have individual tables if you prefer. The prices are a little on the expensive side, but the atmosphere is so warm and inviting it makes you want to take a nap after you eat. Salads are around $13 and tea is $3.Visit www.painquotidien.com to see what other yummy things they offer. Visit them at 316 Santa Monica Blvd. or call 310-393-6800 to contact them.