28 Best American Restaurants in Santa Monica

“Overall the food just wasn't very good. The bruschetta was just plain bad. Mushy. The peas were prepared like edamame and did not taste like fresh peas at all. The corn dish was good but not great. My husband likes almost any Brussel sprouts but barely ate these. He had some ribs which he liked and I had some spaghetti which I thought was good but not great. My drink was okay and he liked his beer. Disappointing.“

“A pleasant pitstop while traversing the beach. The food is great, staff very polite and friendly. Would post a Pic but this isn't that type of place. Very chill, put your phone away and enjoy the beach, volleyball courts and smiling passers.“

“Great place and a fun place to be“

“Stopped in after an errand on an early weekday evening. Forgotten how much I enjoy being there. Above all, a wonderful, welcoming staff. Sat in the bar area at a table, the gentleman bartender is just so outgoing & friendly, wait staff is great too. A nice happy hour menu, but ordered off the regular menu with a glass of great wine.

Only callout to management. You have a great vibe with awesome staff. Upgrade your menu for customers who want more for dinner, than what everyone else on Main St serves: burgers, tacos, fried options. Your food quality & presentation is great, just don’t be content with “bar food”. You are sandwiched between multiple bars, sushi & Mexican food and nowhere on the street is there a nice, casual mid priced venue. You can do better on the menu & also add some more premium wines by the glass. The neighborhood will appreciate it.“

“Best nik naks & steak strips ever!“

“Absolutely delicious and fresh food! We stayed at Viceroy so every morning breakfast was at Sugar Palm. Nice ambience, indoor and outdoor seating, bar seating as well. Staff were welcoming and very friendly, they make sure your experience is great. Kids loved the food too!“

“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!“

“Great food and even better service.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

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

“Best coffee cafe in Santa Monica 😁“

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

“Loved the happy vegan bowl.“

“This place was awesome, super local clientele. The food was nice, server was really busy but did a decent job, the restaurant was pretty slammed when we got there. We ordered the salmon and the chicken plate. Both were great, we also ordered the Cesar which was really good. Would recommend for sure, would go back.“

“Good vibes and good drinks“

“I keep going back to this place, and usually try something new. Every single dish is delicious. This place is owned and run by people who love to eat fresh, nutritious, delicious food. And it shows. 100% recommend“

“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.“

“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!“

“A few years ago, my mom brought me to this restaurant as a special treat. It was my first birthday since my dad's sudden and difficult passing. My mom was fragile, and after collapsing on the way to the facilities, was helped up by a member of the waitstaff. My mom told them she was trying very hard to give me a special day, but it was our first time out without my dad, and she felt like she was failing me.

The restaurant owner, Lynn von Kersting, heard about this and introduced herself to my mom. She made up a special table for us, sat with us, introduced us to her husband, arranged special drinks, and brought two copies of her coffee table book for us to take home as presents. She told my mom she was a most elegant lady, which meant a lot to my mom, as she was struggling at the time.

My mom and I were surprised and very touched that Ms. von Kersting took the time to help us. The conversation with her was the first time either of us had felt like normal people since losing my dad.

It goes without saying that the experience was beyond anything we ever could have expected. We will always remember the visit.“

“the service is phenomenal lovely atmosphere, very clean, cleanliness is the next thing to Godliness. the staff is friendly, the waitresses are really nice just all around lovely place the view is off the chain thank you penthouse for a lovely breakfast and God bless yours truly Michael and Jeannie.“

“Delicious food and drinks“

“Very good breakfast to start the day! The buffet looked so-so, so we opted to order fresh. My 2 egg breakfast came with hash browns & chicken sausage, which was a good value for $16. My daughter's "volcano" French toast looked disappointingly small & not overflowing with berries. We had to ask for the almonds which it's supposed to come with. It tasted good, but not a good value for $22. Coffee was good & strong & they obliged my request for a to-go coffee. Overall, a nice breakfast, but expensive unless you have $18pp hotel credit.“

“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“

“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.“

“Had an incredible experience this evening at BOA. Mr. Ousley seated our party in the best seats! My server Mark was outstanding and his service was spot on. Clay and his whole team were On Point. The whole vibe and atmosphere was just perfect. I think I just had the best steak of my life right here in Santa Monica.“