50 Best American Restaurants in Santa Monica

“The food was very good. I dined solo and had chicken liver mousse, the yellowtail crudo, the peach and tomato burrata salad, and the crab cake. The mousse was rich and interestingly paired with pickled blackberries and honeycomb. The crudo was delicious with the refreshing citrus. The salad too felt very fresh and like I was holding on to late summer. The crab cake was good, the sauce had a nice balance of spice and sweetness, it was very salty which is not unexpected with crab. The service was kind and attentive. I was very pleased with my experience and would return again if I'm back in Santa Monica.“

“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'm visiting from Japan, and a local recommended this place to us. It was perfect for our family with kids, especially with the beach so close by. The restrooms were also very clean. We really enjoyed our visit and would love to come back again!“

“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 place and a fun place to be“

“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!“

“Absolutely loved my experience at Lunetta! The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the service was friendly and attentive. Everything came together perfectly for a wonderful dining experience. Definitely a 5-star spot in Santa Monica—I’d happily come back again!“

“Loved this place, glad we could stop by here for some lovely food and drinks…. We were a bigger group of 8 and they do have sitting in the back for big groups but guess 8 was the upper limit…
I tried BEYOND BURGER and it was good, not great but liked it overall. My friends tried protein plate, fish and taco etc and everyone loved the food
I also had tequila based cocktail which was nice
The server was very kind and the vibe of the place was good
Overall would surely recommend visiting them if you are in the area“

“Came here on a Saturday night to have some food and drinks with friends. They don't make reservations, instead, they put your name on the list so you still have to wait for a table. We only had to wait 20-25 minutes for a table on a busy Saturday night. The service was great, as it didn't take too long for the waitress to notice us and get our drinks order. Ingo's Tasty Diner is Great place to meet up with friends. Quiet without getting silent and the food is amazing. The drinks menu was extensive. Portions were good and I didn't feel like going into a food coma after leaving. Try their Brussel sprouts, it's delicious! Get ready to spend some $$$, as this place is pretty pricey but worth the price in my opinion. There is no parking, expect the metered parking on Wilshire.“

“Great food and even better service.“

“The experience was amazing at Sugar Palm. The server, Alfred, was so sweet and gave us great recommendations! The steak frites were to die for but if you like more of a lighter meal, definitely try the seared ahi tuna. It was so fresh and the sauce was incredible. Their pineapple margarita was also VERY delicious! You won’t go wrong with anything on the menu.“

“Delicious food and drinks“

“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!“

“Best coffee cafe in Santa Monica 😁“

“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.“

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

“Loved the happy vegan bowl.“

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

“Try the short rib poutine if you're craving comfort food! Plenty of gravy and meat. Everything was good, portions good, service excellent, kitchen was fast but it wasn't super busy Sunday afternoon. They also do a great hamburger!“

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

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

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

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

“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.“

“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!“

“Nice place 😋😎 fast service 👌“

“Had a wonderful brunch at Fig Restaurant! The setting overlooking the pool was beautiful and relaxing. We ordered the Fig Cobb Salad and Eggs & Steak, and both were delicious. The service was friendly and attentive as well. Make sure to ask for their steak sauce, it’s amazing! Definitely a great spot for a special brunch.“

“Good vibes and good drinks“

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

“The best aperitive in LA, with Salvo at 12-12 a wonderful location. Thanks a lot“

“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.“

“Fabulous hyper-farm-to-table food by a creative chef, on Main St in Santa Monica. I’ve tried the Gazpacho, the many Danish Rye toasts with what is fresh that day: eggs, salmon roe, avocado or ....? They also have baristas that make all type of drinks. My fab place to indulge healthy and fresh“

“Food & service was over the top amazing !“

“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!“

“great food and huge servings.“

“I had such a fabulous lunch yesterday at Ivy on the Shore. I reside in West Hollywood and have been to that Ivy many times, but this was my first visit to the Santa Monica location, and I don't know what took so long. Carlos and as such a personable and attentive server and really enhanced the experience. The cold seafood tower was delicious and the sangria the best (and prettiest) I think I've ever had.“

“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.“

“Excellent food and service“

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

“Great Bbq! Great service!“

“This was my first time trying the Father’s Office, and honestly the food was pretty good. The only thing I didn’t like was, you cannot modify anything on the menu, even if it’s for a food allergy. However overall the place was decent.“

“A touring band was cancelled as they were loading in because the opening band was sick? They had also sold tickets. Why book bands who have people coming to your venue if you cancel them as they are loading in?“

“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.“

“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 stopped by this bar for a drink and a bit of people-watching. It’s in a fantastic location right on the pier. I can’t speak for the food, but if you’re looking to grab a drink, soak up the sun, and enjoy the lively atmosphere, this spot hits the mark.“

“Was packed with people. Bustling and noisy. Our busboy was not good. Threw our glasses of water at us! Very bizarre. Table got wet. Our waitress on the other hand, was wonderful. Super nice and had so many people in the restaurant to deal with. We liked her a lot. The food was plentiful and good. Not inexpensive. But enough to take home for the next day.“

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

“Est. Clean. Very organized. Food was hot and delicious. Pop rock shake was amazing. Nephew gave it a 10/10.“

“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!“

“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.“