50 Best American Restaurants in Santa Monica

“Food is always excellent here. Taste amazing, high quality ingredients, beautiful presentation. One thing about this experience is that when the staff was closing up.. I don't know if they turned off the AC or closed the doors but it got really HOT. And it kind of made me feel like they did it on purpose so that people can leave. I declined dessert, which is my fave, only because it was so friggin hot. But otherwise, dinner was great.“

“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“

“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“

“I love this place overall the food is decent, the place is nice overall love it. our server was amazing (Brian?) but the hostess wasnt the nicest and another lady leading us to the table had a horrible attitude as well that I almost left. but thanks to our server and the food for making it up !!“

“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!“

“Went here for Easter brunch and was surprised I hadn’t heard of this place before. The food was great! I ordered the steak and eggs and while my steak wasn’t a perfect medium rare, the flavor and portion size made up for that immensely. The cocktails were delightful as well! Pricing was as expected for the area and quality. We were seated outside in a makeshift patio in the parking lot, but it was well done and the service was quick and attentive. Next time I would probably try to eat inside or in the smaller patio by the entrance, where the vibes and decor are beautifully done. There is ample free parking in the back as well. I will be back!“

“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“

“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.“

“Great food and even better service.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“The food, the atmosphere, and especially the service made this a memorable visit.
If it wasn't for Isaac, I probably wouldn't have felt confident ordering the aguachile. He assured me it was worth trying, and he wasn't exaggerating, it was everything I could have asked for. (With more shrimp than agua & chile combined) As someone who loves lime, this dish exceeded all of my expectations.
I came in alone on a Sunday evening just looking to satisfy my appetite, but I left feeling like I had experienced much more than a great meal. Isaac made me feel at home, even bringing extra spices so my Hispanic side would be fully satisfied.
My Spanish (and even my English 😅) isn't always the best, but Isaac is perfectly bilingual and made sure he understood exactly what I was looking for.
Thank you to the Brixton management for building such a welcoming team. These days, it's about more than just good food. People want to feel comfortable and cared for as if they're enjoying Mom's cooking with Dad's warm presence. That's exactly how this experience felt.... I'll definitely be back for more! 🍽“

“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 !!!“

“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.“

“Best coffee cafe in Santa Monica 😁“

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

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

“Loved the happy vegan bowl.“

“Nice place 😋😎 fast service 👌“

“It was fabulous. We had a lovely table overlooking the beautiful courtyard and pool. Our server, Kitty, was wonderful in every way. We started with a margarita pizza for the table, which was hot and delicious.Then I had the meatballs as an appetizer and they were SO GOOD! I had the pasta pomodoro, and it was delicious. You could tell the noodles were fresh and made in-house. My husband had the scallops and gave them a 10/10. Out friends had the burrata, short ribs and salmon, and had zero complaints. They both were very well pleased. We had the Apple galette and the pineapple cake and both were decadent and worth the calories. All in all, a wonderful evening!“

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

“Good vibes and good drinks“

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

“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.“

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

“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“

“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!“

“Food & service was over the top amazing !“

“great food and huge servings.“

“What an exceptional experience; food was amazing, ambiance phenomenal and the staff were attentive. Being greeted with sincerity and warmth set the tone for the entire evening. So blessed to have a great company coupled with delicious food. Will more definitely come back!“

“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.“

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

“Excellent food and service“

“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.“

“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.“

“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?“

“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.“

“Fantastic meal! As good or better than the old days.“

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

“I love it here because it’s old fashion great table service because management excels in traffic patterns with cross trained wait staff and bidders. No server leaves the kitchen empty handed and the vibe is to make their customers happy with continuous even flow table service. Disney please take note! I am not of of millennial restaurants where stand at a cash register and pay the tip upfront then assigned a number & number holder then fend & elbow for a table. This is old school service upgraded with innovative traffic management to expedite cuisines & cocktails. I love the intimacy of the raised railroad car booths where I can actually hear my guest’s conversation and speak to wait staff at eye level. And the bathrooms are so modern and spotless! The observation window to see the cooking staff hard at work is as much fun as a cooking show! Chocolate chip cookies are warm but melt in your mouth! Gavin Glynn Productions FOX Walt Disney International“

“I was waiting for about 6 minutes before another customer came in and was immediately seated. Then another customer came in and was also seated. I then walked to the front and the couple behind me was seated. Finally a waiter sat me b3cause the host was totally blind to a single diner.

The sandwiches are great. I'm not a huge fan of fatty meats so I know what not to order (brisket x pastrami club) next time but it tasted very good.

The atmosphere is like an empty Dennys with not enough waiters or servers but a small lunch rush. I just wanted to eat and get out of there as soon as possible.“

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

“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.“