Not allowed to work on your laptop . . . at a cafe. The mussels and toast was delicious but presentation had left the chat. The oolong tea was great, I think. Hard to taste the subtle notes over the dish soap taste in the “mug.”
I came in with a laptop case, planning to grab a coffee and write for a bit, but was immediately told “just so you know, you can’t work on your laptop here.” It threw me off because the place markets itself as a café, but it clearly doesn’t operate like one.
I don’t mind a “no laptops” policy if that’s the vibe, but the way it was communicated felt more like exclusion than hospitality. There are plenty of ways to set boundaries while still making guests feel welcome. Instead, it felt like I was being told I didn’t belong before I even had a chance to order.
From what I could tell, Esme seems to be trying to split identities—café by day, full restaurant by night—but the lines are blurry. If you’re looking for a true café where you can read, write, or work, this isn’t the place.
Hospitality isn’t just about food; it’s about how guests are made to feel. In this case, the mismatch between the branding and the reality left me disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
naheaan islam
I hate giving low reviews but the matcha here was really disappointing💔 we couldn't finish it which sucks considering the price of matcha nowadays.
Also, there was a fly in the pastry box and overall a lack of cleanliness in the cafe. The place was cute and in a good location though!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Lisa Anderson
I stopped in to get a coffee to go and they wouldn’t serve me one. They don’t do coffee to go, which, in looking at their photos of coffee and pastries, I truly wasn’t expecting that. It’s pretty laughable that every single restaurant around them had a line out the door tonight, albeit for the Tropical Staycation event, and they had two people sitting down and eating during peak dinner rush hours, and they couldn’t try to serve me and my SO a coffee. Not to mention straight up ignoring me when I was clearly trying to get someone’s attention.
Service: 1
Andy Cheng
If you’re reading this, here’s the short version: this is easily one of the best restaurants in Culver City, and you need to try it now!
It’s a small spot in downtown Culver City that you could walk past without noticing. I’m glad I didn’t. There are a couple of tables outside, but most of the seating is indoors. The space is modern, clean, and relaxing.
We ordered three dishes, all recommended by our waiter. The mussel toast is a must. Every bite is savory and packed with seafood flavor. For mains, we had the short rib and rainbow trout. The short rib was perfection. Cooked over fire and served with crispy potato strings. It’s something you get at high-end steakhouse but at half the price. The rainbow trout looked beautiful and tasted fresh, though the citrus was a bit stronger than I prefer.
For dessert, we couldn’t resist the churro and ice cream sandwich. The ice cream (another must try), sourced from a Persian maker, was rich with rose, honey, and pistachio. The presentation was just as impressive. The churros were decent, though I wished they were crispier and the dipping sauce was thicker.
Overall, I’d give this place a solid five stars. The food is close to Michelin quality without the Michelin prices. Go and you won’t be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rey A
Phenomenal food. Lowkey place, minimalist and classy design, and the food is insanely flavorful. These chefs know that food is an art form, a way of expression and it showed. We came for lunch, ordered Shakshuka, Lamb Sandwich on Barbari - never had barbari like that, it was out of this world, and the chicken sandwich had an incredibly refreshing citrus flavor. I cannot wait to be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Liu
Cute little cafe a bit hidden across from the Culver steps that serves up some tasty Mediterranean dishes. Small menu but everything tastes homemade and made from scratch. Nice place for an intimate brunch, lunch or dinner.
By the way, they are an excellent coffee shop also! They make a variety of craft coffee and espresso drinks that are delicious. Also recommend you come during low traffic hours, when the space becomes a nice, quiet coffee place - great for reading, light work or catching up with a friend. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Haruna Fujita
Another hidden gem in Culver City! We shared the grilled vegetables, and the sauce was so tasty that I wish they would sell it. I would’ve loved to bring home a few jars of that sauce! For my entree, I had the grilled bass, and the whole dish was perfection; the olives, the heirloom tomatoes, and the sourdough croutons all complemented the crispy, delicious fish. My husband loved his lamb dish as well. We will most certainly be back!
(The only minor thing is that the outdoor tables are slatted, and some sauce slipped through and got on my shoes. I will sit inside next time 🙂)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christopher Roman
Relaxed place for coffee, lunch, and dinner all in one. The interior is pretty spartan but each dish we had was intricately constructed and delicious. Not crowded at all on the weeknight we visited!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ayushee Bandi
It is a hidden gem! I absolutely love the vibe here. It’s pretty casual but the moment you sit down, look at the menu, and eat. You are in a different world altogether ! The falafel plate was actually to die for. I read a bunch of reviews and decided to try this exaggerated falafel plate and to my surprise it was damn good. The rainbow trout was amazing as well. You’ll feel a burst of flavors when you eat every bite of the food here. Now we are trying the grilled octopus. Fingers crossed.!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elsie Gutierrez
esme was such a delightful experience. you enter and order in the front (love this it’s easier). we ordered the egg sando, cesar salad, grilled chicken sandwich and fries. the cesar salad was the star! everything was delicious, the fries were a little salty but we enjoyed it anyway. i would definitely come here again! the staff was nice as well.
One of my favorite restaurants ever. The meat was seasoned so expertly and was so tender. Mussel toast was INCREDIBLE. Their sourdough was out of this world. Staff was knowledgeable and guided us in trying many interesting wines. This place was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dave Friedlander
In from out of town and discovered this gem. I recommend the striped bass or beef cheeks. Everything exquisitely prepared.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Negar Siadatnejad
I love Esme! Such wonderful ambiance, excellent service, and beautiful food. Thank you for bringing such a lovely small business to the community <3
ian stearns
Excellent food, wine, and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Falafel Plate
Andy Chow
Chill little spot, I come here for lunch all the time since I work nearby. Once for dinner. You can tell the chef pays so much attention to his craft. The food is excellent and very consistent. Lamb sausage sandwich is one of my favs.
Not allowed to work on your laptop . . . at a cafe. The mussels and toast was delicious but presentation had left the chat. The oolong tea was great, I think. Hard to taste the subtle notes over the dish soap taste in the “mug.”
I came in with a laptop case, planning to grab a coffee and write for a bit, but was immediately told “just so you know, you can’t work on your laptop here.” It threw me off because the place markets itself as a café, but it clearly doesn’t operate like one.
I don’t mind a “no laptops” policy if that’s the vibe, but the way it was communicated felt more like exclusion than hospitality. There are plenty of ways to set boundaries while still making guests feel welcome. Instead, it felt like I was being told I didn’t belong before I even had a chance to order.
From what I could tell, Esme seems to be trying to split identities—café by day, full restaurant by night—but the lines are blurry. If you’re looking for a true café where you can read, write, or work, this isn’t the place.
Hospitality isn’t just about food; it’s about how guests are made to feel. In this case, the mismatch between the branding and the reality left me disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
I hate giving low reviews but the matcha here was really disappointing💔 we couldn't finish it which sucks considering the price of matcha nowadays.
Also, there was a fly in the pastry box and overall a lack of cleanliness in the cafe. The place was cute and in a good location though!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
I stopped in to get a coffee to go and they wouldn’t serve me one. They don’t do coffee to go, which, in looking at their photos of coffee and pastries, I truly wasn’t expecting that. It’s pretty laughable that every single restaurant around them had a line out the door tonight, albeit for the Tropical Staycation event, and they had two people sitting down and eating during peak dinner rush hours, and they couldn’t try to serve me and my SO a coffee. Not to mention straight up ignoring me when I was clearly trying to get someone’s attention.
Service: 1
If you’re reading this, here’s the short version: this is easily one of the best restaurants in Culver City, and you need to try it now!
It’s a small spot in downtown Culver City that you could walk past without noticing. I’m glad I didn’t. There are a couple of tables outside, but most of the seating is indoors. The space is modern, clean, and relaxing.
We ordered three dishes, all recommended by our waiter. The mussel toast is a must. Every bite is savory and packed with seafood flavor. For mains, we had the short rib and rainbow trout. The short rib was perfection. Cooked over fire and served with crispy potato strings. It’s something you get at high-end steakhouse but at half the price. The rainbow trout looked beautiful and tasted fresh, though the citrus was a bit stronger than I prefer.
For dessert, we couldn’t resist the churro and ice cream sandwich. The ice cream (another must try), sourced from a Persian maker, was rich with rose, honey, and pistachio. The presentation was just as impressive. The churros were decent, though I wished they were crispier and the dipping sauce was thicker.
Overall, I’d give this place a solid five stars. The food is close to Michelin quality without the Michelin prices. Go and you won’t be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phenomenal food. Lowkey place, minimalist and classy design, and the food is insanely flavorful. These chefs know that food is an art form, a way of expression and it showed. We came for lunch, ordered Shakshuka, Lamb Sandwich on Barbari - never had barbari like that, it was out of this world, and the chicken sandwich had an incredibly refreshing citrus flavor. I cannot wait to be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cute little cafe a bit hidden across from the Culver steps that serves up some tasty Mediterranean dishes. Small menu but everything tastes homemade and made from scratch. Nice place for an intimate brunch, lunch or dinner.
By the way, they are an excellent coffee shop also! They make a variety of craft coffee and espresso drinks that are delicious. Also recommend you come during low traffic hours, when the space becomes a nice, quiet coffee place - great for reading, light work or catching up with a friend. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Another hidden gem in Culver City! We shared the grilled vegetables, and the sauce was so tasty that I wish they would sell it. I would’ve loved to bring home a few jars of that sauce! For my entree, I had the grilled bass, and the whole dish was perfection; the olives, the heirloom tomatoes, and the sourdough croutons all complemented the crispy, delicious fish. My husband loved his lamb dish as well. We will most certainly be back!
(The only minor thing is that the outdoor tables are slatted, and some sauce slipped through and got on my shoes. I will sit inside next time 🙂)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Relaxed place for coffee, lunch, and dinner all in one. The interior is pretty spartan but each dish we had was intricately constructed and delicious. Not crowded at all on the weeknight we visited!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
It is a hidden gem! I absolutely love the vibe here. It’s pretty casual but the moment you sit down, look at the menu, and eat. You are in a different world altogether ! The falafel plate was actually to die for. I read a bunch of reviews and decided to try this exaggerated falafel plate and to my surprise it was damn good. The rainbow trout was amazing as well. You’ll feel a burst of flavors when you eat every bite of the food here. Now we are trying the grilled octopus. Fingers crossed.!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
esme was such a delightful experience. you enter and order in the front (love this it’s easier). we ordered the egg sando, cesar salad, grilled chicken sandwich and fries. the cesar salad was the star! everything was delicious, the fries were a little salty but we enjoyed it anyway. i would definitely come here again! the staff was nice as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
One of my favorite restaurants ever. The meat was seasoned so expertly and was so tender. Mussel toast was INCREDIBLE. Their sourdough was out of this world. Staff was knowledgeable and guided us in trying many interesting wines. This place was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
In from out of town and discovered this gem. I recommend the striped bass or beef cheeks. Everything exquisitely prepared.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love Esme! Such wonderful ambiance, excellent service, and beautiful food. Thank you for bringing such a lovely small business to the community <3
Excellent food, wine, and service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Falafel Plate
Chill little spot, I come here for lunch all the time since I work nearby. Once for dinner. You can tell the chef pays so much attention to his craft. The food is excellent and very consistent. Lamb sausage sandwich is one of my favs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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