Putting the oft-overlooked Santa Monica back on the map, Cassia is a bright and breezy establishment inside the historic Telephone Building with Italian Calacatta white-marble-topped tables, bird-cage light fixtures and just enough potted plants. Husband-and-wife teams Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan and Bryant and Kim Ng combine to craft Vietnamese cuisine sprinkled with Californian charm. All their creations are worth sampling, but definitely taste the kaya toast or anything off the highly palatable seafood list.

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Credit: Jakob Layman