Bar Monette (CLOSED)

Steps away from the Third Street Promenade, Bar Monette primarily functions as an upscale wine bar, but the artfully presented cicchetti, delicious wood-fired pizzas and fleet of housemade sauces make this tiny, emerald green space a worthwhile destination for a light Italian-ish dinner on the Westside. Chef Sean MacDonald, who’s already found success in his native Toronto, skillfully weaves well-trod gourmet ingredients like A5 Wagyu beef and Santa Barbara sea urchin into elegant starters that complement the long list of mostly natural wines. The individually-sized pies, while pricier than average, are a cut above the middle-of-the-road pizzas at nearby Elephante and come with a puffy, ultra-thick crust, ideal for dipping into a side of jalapeño tonnato or burnt romesco.