The return of Alain Giraud

At 7:30 this morning, Alain Giraud's new brasserie Anisette officially opened its doors. The former Bastide chef was right there, looking dapper in his chef's whites; in fact, he opened the doors himself ("Now is showtime," he said). The brasserie, in Santa Monica's Clocktower building, is drop-dead gorgeous: two stories, open staircase, tiled floors, wooden tables, mirrors and slowly spinning ceiling fans and a long bar of French hand-poured pewter. 

Upstairs there are more tables and an open kitchen, where you can see rows of hanging copper pots and the marble counters of the patisserie station. The breakfast menu (lunch and dinner begin next week) is classic French fare: Viennoiserie by pastry chef Mehdi Boudiab (formerly of Breadbar); crepes (pictured at right); omelets; a smoked salmon plate with Michel Blanchet salmon and brioche; eggs Benedict; Belgian waffles with dulce de leche and Nutella; and so on.

"You know, exactly four years ago I left Bastide," said Giraud, who noted that yesterday was his birthday. Well, happy birthday, chef. Welcome back.

Anisette Brasserie, 225 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica. (310) 395-3200. Breakfast, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday to Friday; brunch this weekend and lunch and dinner to follow next week.

-- Amy Scattergood

Photos by Amy Scattergood