After 15 years in the heart of Century City, you can't blame a guy for wanting a little beach time.

Not to worry, he brought all the wine—Jean-Francois Meteigner's La Cachette Bistro soft-opens Saturday in Santa Monica.

You know the original La Cachette well—it's the acclaimed, and authentic, French legend you'd bring someone to celebrate a special occasion. Probably someone...with some gray hair. But its replacement is a lighter, brighter, California-ier version several miles west that'll still accommodate your refined foodie grandma, but also your sun-kissed date. You can't quite see the beach, but you can smell it wafting up in the breeze.

The inside's split into a formal dining room on the left and a large bar area on the right, but you'll probably want to stick to the glassed-in patio in the front. You can start with a Manhattan Sake (it's sake, vermouth and whiskey), and she'll have a Rhubarb Bellini. Then comes classics like Coq au Vin, modern options like an Organic Burger With Fig Chutney, and Buffalo Short Ribs With Coffee Rub.

And afterward, the sand's just a few steps away.

You hear she likes long walks.