Wow. Aestus just opened in Santa Monica for dates that involve lots of wine and wood-fired beef.

You’re looking at your next post-beach-stroll date spot. (Here. Look. It’s a beauty.) An intimate mid-century charmer with a lengthy brass bar and an open kitchen framed in marble.

That bar will give you brandy Alexanders. When you order them.

That kitchen has a Patina/Royce alum in it. He’ll get you... European-California-ish type things. Maybe a wood-fired, grass-fed flat iron with sunchokes, or grilled octopus salad with clementines. The menu’s always changing.

Clementines wait for no one.