Taking New American cuisine to uncharted territories, this sparkling eatery bursts with originality.

The Scene
Located on a quiet corner in Santa Monica, Josie draws a distinguished crowd. The look is pure elegance--starched white tablecloths and luxurious banquettes--with smooth service to match.

The Food
Chef-owner Josie Le Balch is known for pushing the boundaries of New American cuisine--and she doesn't disappoint at her latest post, toying with Mediterranean as well as American flavors. Start with a butternut squash soup that's shot through with a curry scented walnut oil, or wild mushrooms in a rich cream sauce layered in puff pastry. Cod is served tagine style--mellow fish set off by intensely flavored preserved lemon and piquant carrot mustard. Ribbons of parpadella pasta are cloaked in a roast rabbit stew and scattered with a quartet of delicate sweetbreads.