We will be in Santa Monica for four nights in mid-August (Friday to Tuesday) and would like suggestions for really good restaurants. My husband and I have travelled quite a lot and enjoy excellent cuisine and are willing to pay for great food/wonderful service. We hate tourist traps and because we have a baby... we seldom get date nights out so we want these four nights to be special. Would love any suggestions. Thanks.

Jiraffe is really special...I've had one of my all time favorite meals there. Between the delicious food and the atmosphere (dress up as much as you want, or go casually, you will feel comfortable either way...), its a hard restaurant to beat.

My husband and I and another couple spent 4 nights in Santa Monica 2 years ago. The restaurants we really loved were:

Chinois on Main (Wolfgang Puck)
Valentino (Italian)
One Pico (in the Shutters Hotel -very elegant/romantic)
Border Grill (upscale Mexican)

We also had drinks at the Ivy one night ... which was very quaint and romantic.

Melisse on Wilshire is superb; Giraffe is great; also enjoy Joe's and Lilly's on Abbot Kinney in Venice (okay, it's close by!).

Thanks everyone. We will certainly try Melisse, Jiraffe and Valentino. Will let you know how it went.

Consider the restaurant (not the cafe) at the Getty Center. The most spectacular view in L.A.!!!

It sounds like you're getting great advice from locals, but as a tourist I LOVED The Lobster (on the pier). Fun atmosphere and fabulous lobster. Definitely not cheap but, hey, it's vacation!

Ocean Avenue Seafood is the best seafood place in Santa Monica, hands down (I work up the street). Joe's Restaurant down in Venice is one of the best California Cuisine joints you'll find in the country. Chinois on Main is a Wolfgang Puck eatery, but it's considered one of the best in his empire.