38 Best American Restaurants in Santa Monica

“The food is both eclectic and delicious. The location is both artsy and industrial with warm and inviting staff. I highly recommend this place for a date, business, family, or anything because it’s fabulous.“

“I finally tried this burger spot, and while it wasn’t the best burger on earth or even in all of LA, it was still damn good. Pricey? A bit. Worth it? Yeah, I’d say so. The patty was tender and juicy, and the mix of cheeses with those tangy balsamic onions and peppery arugula hit just right. And here’s the kicker: this was my first burger ever without ketchup… and I didn’t even miss it. That says a lot.“

“Love that Michael’s has a new front patio bar. Great food and drinks. A classic!“

“This place came highly recommended from my lady friends who do luncheons regularly. I was blown away by the rock shrimp sandwich, had to control myself not ordering it again for round 2! I hope it stays on regular menu not just DineLA. There are 7 others things on the menu I want to try, well balanced flavors that hits the spot. Lovely atmosphere will definitely come back again and again.“

“The Fig Restaurant is located in the Fairmont Hotel. The service was excellent, the food outstanding. The overall atmosphere was lovely. My photo is of the beautiful fig tree that stands at the hotel entrance. That alone is worth a visit for some :) We’ll be happy to come back.“

“The chef's restaurant is upscale but cozy, with only 5 tables, all across from the open air kitchen. The chef and waiter collaborate to serve you each dish, telling you the ingredients that go into each dish... like little stories. Such a special experience!“

“absolutely delicious burgers and sauce. the customer service and people working there where really nice and great people“

“Delicious food and drinks“

“Service,drinks.food,ambiance.staff,etc.“

“Best nik naks & steak strips ever!“

“Library Ale House is a really cool spot with a cozy, relaxed vibe that lives up to its name—it almost feels like you’re hanging out in a library that just happens to serve great beer. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for catching up with friends or winding down after a day out.

The staff was super friendly and attentive, and they’ve got a solid selection of craft beers on tap, including some local gems. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area and looking for a chill place with character and quality drinks.“

“I don't heap praise without good reason. Tar & Roses was amazing literally on every level. The food, ambiance, service, attention to detail, and value were all excellent. Every plate was delicious, the staff were so welcoming, informative, and perfect in their timing of service, and it was a beautiful and relaxed space to have a special dinner. I even received a lovely follow up text from the general manager the next day thanking us for joining them. They are doing everything right and deserve your patronage, and you deserve to have a wonderful restaurant experience. Thank you!“

“Sat down in an outdoor patio for a quick glass of wine and bruschetta Saturday afternoon. Pleasant and helpful wait staff, relaxing environment, definitely recommend!“

“Stopped by for dinner to check out the place. We are having an event there in a few weeks. AWESOME EXPERIENCE. Food was wonderful, service was perfect, management went out of their way to be gracious and welcoming. Can't wait to return in a few weeks.“

“Love the Truffle Caesar Salad and the Spicy Salami pizza 🍕“

“Great place and a fun place to be“

“The cold platter was fantastic! Love the atmosphere. Love the decor. Great experience!“

“Great food! Beautiful view. We will definitely be back.“

“Good vibes and good drinks“

“Great food and the owners were incredibly kind. One of our favorite things about vacation 2023. The Greene's from Idaho love you.“

“I enjoyed my stay at the Viceroy and especially enjoyed their offerings at the Sugar Palm. Great service! We dined at the bar on a beautiful outdoor day in Santa Monica. Super chill vibe, poolside, and thankful for the yummy recommendations by our server. I wish I got her name but she recommended the tacos and they were delightful. The poke bowl was so colorful and beautiful and the avocado toast was tasty and plentiful. Would eat here again when I'm in town.“

“A cute little gem stuffed at the edge of Santa Monica, I've been in there a few times. The staff are friendly positive. The food is amazingly portioned. The drinks are solid, but what makes this really? One of the best little food joints is the fact that the staff and Joe are absolutely phenomenal. It is a great community location with sensational flavors. Amazing personalities and just good food.“

“Best steak and service . Say hi to Hillary she is the best !!!“

“10/10 Recommend. When I’m in the area, I always gravitate to this spot. I love everything on the menu.“

“They are by far the best steak I have ever had. We went there on a whim and they were booked but found a cute table for us by the fire. It was the most memorable meal with my husband. We are eternally grateful for the experience and service we received.“

“Fun ambiance, good drink selection and it's easy to meet nice people as they host lots of events here.“

“I'm a huge fan of cheese, and was looking for an opportunity to try some new ones. They had a very bold Parmesan that wasn't overly salty. The 10 year aged cheddar melted in my mouth. The coconut Gouda from Holland was a surprise hit with the table. But my personal favorite was the french triple cream. I'm going to have to see if I can find some when I fly home.“

“I will like to give a shout out to the chef. I think his name is Shawn or Sean. When we got to Santa Monica, we looked up restaurants to go have our 26 year anniversary dinner, we stayed at Hotel Delmar right across the street. We googled the restaurant menu, and decided what we were going to have. when we got there, and they brought out the menus, all what we decided to have was not on there. I was crushed. Because I had my mind set on the Halibut. I said it's ok I will just have the Ribeye, mind you I had a ribeye steak the night before. When the waiter came back, my wife asked if it's possible to get the Halibut and he said let me check with the chef. He came back later and said the chef said it's no problem. I was blown away. That was the best Halibut ( besides mine) that I have ever had. Thank you chef Shawn. From one chef to another, thank you. you made my night.“

“Thank you so much farmshop!!! Please know your kindness meant a lot to all of us after the palisades fire. We we're waiting in line to receive an escort back into the Pacific palisades following the fire! This line was at least 300 cars long. People had been waiting in it since early yesterday, desperately hoping to see if they still had a home following the mandatory evacuation. There was a lot of collective heartache going around, but also two gentleman from Farmshop, carrying baskets full of banana bread. They stopped by every car, giving each occupant a hearty slice of freshly baked banana bread. My family just inhaled this stuff! Taking a bite, all of us commented how much it tasted like the banana bread grandma use to make. I don't know if you were using the same recipe or you both baked that bread with love, but talk about soul food! It didn't just feed our bellies, it fed our hearts. A person doesn't easily forget the grace and goodness they're given when engulfed in grief, and Ill never forget the first time i took a bite of Farmshop's banana bread!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!“

“Really enjoyed the hamburger. Couldn't decide between the sweet potato fries and truffle fries, so we had both. Thumbs up. Great atmosphere and wait staff. It wasn't crowded when we were there but I imagine it gets pretty lively. I'll definitely come back.“

“Great Bbq! Great service!“

“Always an enjoyable experience. Quality food at reasonable prices and can't beat the view! They really should do something about more comfortable chairs on the outside sand tables. The chairs sink into the sand so much that you're at an uncomfortable level to the table unless you weigh anything under 100 pounds. “

“Great food and even better service.“

“Excellent food!! SO good and such great selections on the menu! Service was over the top! Wish there was one in the OC. We will be back!“

“Loved the happy vegan bowl.“

“Despite my pessimistic optimism that the future of the restaurant industry is a sinking ship, it is still floating. This place ATM has a 3.7 out of 5..? Free cold lemon water, high airy ceilings, outdoor seating, phenomenal music, and a women behind the counter recommending a delicious breakfast burrito… Definitely worth a second visit!! MRKT/Coastline Cafe - whatever name you want: thank you!“

“I like this place. Very good spot for a getting a lunch. There are lots of tables and everything looks very clean. I tried the beef burger with fries and I really enjoyed it. The beef patty was juicy although it was cooked well done. The vegetables were fresh and tasted good. I also like that you can order with self ordering kiosk. The food a little bit pricey, but there are not many good food options around there.

One thing I don’t like is that when you order burger, there is a description of it, like what ingredients are included, and the vegetables are listed there. And then, there are add-ons section and they ask what vegetables you want to add. And this is very confusing since you don’t know if these vegetables are already included (like in description) in burger or it would be the extra ones. We thought it already included and we didn’t add any add-ons and then we got just buns and beef patty, we had to ask for the vegetables separately to make the burger we want. I wish they will change this confusing thing.“

“Not once did we ever feel rushed. That is such a unique thing in California, much less Los Angeles. We really appreciated that aspect. It made everything else that much better since we were able to relax and enjoy our meal with out of town company. Can't wait to visit again! I'll go back just for this reason alone. Food was outstanding and service was excellent. Highly recommend.“