43 Best American Restaurants in Santa Monica

“Nos atendieron muy bien y la comida es fantástica!!“

“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.“

“Father's Office is a must-visit for any burger lover. Their signature blue cheese burger is a juicy, flavorful masterpiece that will leave you craving more.
The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, perfect for catching up with friends or enjoying a solo meal. Be prepared to wait, as this place is always packed, but it's definitely worth it!

■THE OFFICE BURGER・$21.00
Caramelized Onion, Bacon, Gruyére, Maytag Blue, Arugula. You can choose the doneness of your beef patty to suit your preference.

■“BASKET” OF FRITES・$8.00
with Garlic Parsley Aïoli.

■“BASKET” OF SWEET POTATO FRITES・$9.00
with Roasted Garlic & Cabrales Blue Cheese Aïoli.

Many consider THE OFFICE BURGER to be one of the best burgers in Los Angeles, and it's a must-try for anyone visiting Father's Office!“

“Absolutely incredibly well put together menu, fantastic customer service, and very welcoming and inviting ambiance. A treasure of a restaurant, a must to visit in Los Angeles if you are a fan of fine dining.

I got the Salmon Salad, which was scrumptious, fresh, and healthy. A tremendous amount of care was put into the creation of the dish. It was a treat to be able to eat here at Lunetta.“

“Had one of the best meals I’ve had in years. I live in NY and this beats any of my places there in service and unique and amazingly flavorful food. My friend also had a severe dairy and gluten allergy and they were so helpful in accommodating her. This is hospitality at its finest.“

“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!“

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

“My favorite happy hour in the area but dinner is expensive and just okay. They’ve started doing cool happy hour specials that’s different each day of the week, ie oyster Wednesday, martini pitcher Thursday, fish and chips Friday. Michaels is a regular spot I go to with my friends and I bring all of my out of town friends here“

“Best nik naks & steak strips ever!“

“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!“

“After many visits over the years, this was the best ever! The oxtail dumplings are to die for, as was the peach & tomato salad. Duck breast was as good as any- perfectly cooked. I only order crostata’s when in LA as nobody else can make them this good. Maybe wasn’t quite as great as their old sister restaurant, Santa Monica Yacht Club, but was close. Also have to mention the service, we remembered our waiter from years ago as he was also outstanding.“

“Really like the back patio at Library Alehouse. It’s unexpected from the front. The restaurant is dog friendly and it’s comfortable on the patio and gives some chance for space between the tables with dogs. Food and drinks have been great. They have a kids menu for families.“

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

“Great place and a fun place to be“

“We had the pleasure of spending our first dinner at Maui here, and it was amazing. We were celebrating our honeymoon and the service was outstanding, everyone made sure we were having the best experience we could. It is also worth saying that this place just reopened after being the HQ for the red cross after the awful wildfires they suffered a year ago, so if you come to Maui please pass by and ask for Ford! You won't regret it!“

“Attentive staff, delicious food, and chill vibes“

“good customer service. the ambiance is cool. friendly staff. the food is superb♡“

“M&D Margo's kitchen was very nice. We sat outside on their patio on a perfect day. The wait staff was very attentive and quick, the food was good and the ambiance even better. I got the chicken and waffles and it was amazing. The omelets looked very well done and tasty. They prices were a bit steep, but it's as you would expect for a restaurant right on the strip of Montana Street in Santa Monica.“

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

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

“Went here for brunch and it was good, nothing too high end, very casual. The servers were so kind and I asked for whipped cream and they were happy to provide it with a lil spoon. They have a pool table and other games upstairs but you need cash. What I really liked here tho was the decor. Very retro car theme and I really liked their ceiling liscence plate decor as a liscence plate enthusiasts. I'd recommend to check it out if around the area! But more for the experience than the food“

“It's a cool pub in the middle city neighborhood. There's a long bar and many high tables. The background music was not overly loud. We could comfortably converse with each other. Top notch service. The young man was fast, warm and devoted. All the dishes we had were delicious. Short Rib Poutine and Mussels&Shrimp are my favorites.“

“Let's start off with breakfast can easily get $40 to $50 a person. But, this is not your everyday diner. I was very pleased with the taste, presentation, and atmosphere. I felt like the service was a little slow for high-end place, but it may have been a one-time thing. When I go here again? Yes.“

“Fantastic pasta, fish, appetizers. The best octopus I've had in LA. Run don't walk to try this place if you haven't already.

The walk to the patio past some dumpsters was less than stellar and that is my only criticism.“

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

“A fine home-like steak house and my black & blue 10oz filet melted in my mouth like it should, really fine cut. All at our table loved the mushrooms, spinach and fries plus shrimp cocktail and beers and wines. Sadly they were out of my lamb chops first choice but that will bring me back I guess-“

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

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

“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.“

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

“The quinoa salad was perfect, with herbs, citrus, and plenty of avocado. Carrot cake was like no other- dense, spicy, beautifully presented. Even the bread was superb, accompanied by an emerald olive oil. Service was with a smile, and the room was very energetic.“

“Neat little bar/grill. Stopped by after an event near the pier.

I had the Tahini Rice Bowl with falafel. The rice and veggies were cooked well with the tahini adding just a bit of an edge. The falafel was tasty. My companion had an avocado caesar with chicken. She remarked that the Caesar dressing was delicious without being overwhelming.“

“We finally had sun so we sat outside near the curb. Service was very good and those mini burgers were a hit. Served with just the right amount of fries to share with my mussels. Although not on the happy hour menu well worth it. I ordered rosê thinking it was on the HH list but it was not. Would have been a good idea for our server to mention that but again not a deal breaker. Really enjoyed our relaxed time. We're regulars at the golden bull and now they'll have to share time with Art's.“

“Great Bbq! Great service!“

“Great food and even better service.“

“Quaint atmosphere, decent pricing, attentive staff, and of course, great view. There are nearby parking options that are pay to park. Consider going early or be aware that you may have to park and walk just a little bit. also consider attire as outside the floor is sand so it’s a great option to have some thing you can take off so you can feel the sand between your toes.
BUT…People watching platform is on point.
Now for the food…I had the Huevos Rancheros, which unfortunately I do not have a picture of because I inhaled it. It came out hot delivered straight from the kitchen. it had a crunch, a kick and nice creamy sauce along with a whole lot of flavor. I did however capture a glimpse of my slightly watered-down Bloody Mary, which is not how it came, but was because I was not as attentive to it as the staff was of me. My waiter “Eric” did an excellent job attending to multiple tables with a smile on his face- Great attitude.
A variety of foods that would meet most pallets from breakfast to lunch and dinner. Great stop to take it all in. ??????
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“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 view from The Penthouse Restaurant is spectacular, especially when you get a window seat, which we did. We were celebrating a birthday and the staff couldn't have been nicer or more attentive! They brought a birthday card, a sparkler, and a lovely dessert to help us celebrate the occasion. We had the Calamari as an appetizer....very nicely prepared and not greasy, with a lovely dipping sauce. Since this was lunchtime, we each had the Nicoise Salad. It's beautifully presented, and really delicious. Also, super filling!!! All in all, it was a lovely experience and a great venue for a celebration.“

“Meeting a lifelong friend for lunch requires time with no rush, and that is what they gave to us today along with incredible service and food. So thankful they allowed the two of us an interrupted time to connect and enjoy our lunch, It could not have been more wonderful. The service staff is outstanding.“

“Loved the happy vegan bowl.“

“The lavender chai latte I ordered her was amazing. Tried it both hot and iced and neither disappointed. Both packed so much flavor, which is the way I like it. The blueberry muffin was on the drier side and not very sweet but good. The chocolate banana bread was so moist it was almost like fudge consistency wise, which I did not mind, but I know some people may not like. The donuts from here are not half bad either, the sweetness coming from the topping and not so much the dough itself. The service here was quick, to the point, but still friendly. This a type of place that depends heavily on one cleaning up the table after themselves. Most tables had some type of mess on them, even though there is what appeared to me as a designated area to put your dishes and trash. Overall, it's a nice place to stop for a quick snack and either sit to watch people walk by or go on your way with.“

“Loved Salt and Tart! Went here on my lunch and tried the tuna melt. It was great! it was my first tuna melt ever, but after reading the reviews it sounded like a great option. One of the employees (or owner/manager) mentioned my name and was very friendly. Service was excellent and I will definitely be back to try something else!“

“The Ktown bowl is a delicious mix of cucumbers, sprouts, scallions, kimchi, oyster mushrooms, and greens. The gogchujang sauce adds a perfect semi-sweet punch. Pick your protein. Indoor/outdoor seating. Outdoors was spacious and sunny. Calm, peaceful vibe meets white noise from Olympic street + LAX/SMO. Looking for a casual, affordable (business) lunch spot away from the Santa Monica scrum? You can't go wrong with this spot.“