It's been over a year since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced their split, but they've continued to prove they both still care about one another and want to be a part of each other's lives, especially as co-parents.
They've taken vacations together with their children, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel, and gone out to eat many times as a family. However, on Thursday, they decided to take some time for just the two of them.
E! News has learned Ben and Jen got together for a friendly dinner and drinks at The Hungry Cat restaurant in Santa Monica without their kids. An eyewitness tells us the pair arrived together in the same car around 8:30 p.m. and left together at 10 p.m. after Ben paused for a cigarette outside.
Another insider tells us Ben and Jen enjoyed the "intimate" dinner as they typically do. We're told the pair come to the restaurant "often," usually making a reservation for around the same time for each visit. However, they still remain "just friends," a third source told us.
The 44-year-old actress looked chic in a window pane printed top and a skirt, while Ben, 44, opted for a blue shirt and khaki pants.
When they left the restaurant, our source says paparazzi swarmed them as they got into their car.
While this may seem odd to some, Jen and Ben have remained amicable over the last year, often gushing about their "new normal" and the special relationship they share as co-parents and friends.
In fact, in August, Jen told Today,"We are definitely a modern family."
She even discussed the family's trip to Europe earlier this year, which sparked speculation that she and Ben were rekindling their romance.
"Ben was working in London on Justice League and I felt like, 'Well, the kids should have that experience,'" she explained. "He and I are great friends and we just all went en masse. The kids and I had an amazing time, and he worked hard and got to join us for some. I want them to see everything's OK."
In the end, there's only one thing that matters: their children.
"Parenting is about...you can't buy parenting, no matter what," the actress said. "You have to actually get down on the floor and spend some time together."