28 Best American Restaurants in Santa Monica

“Easily my wife and I favorite restaurant. We come here about 2-4 times a year anytime we have an excuse to celebrate something. Literally everything in the menu is top notch and won't disappoint. Owner is very kind and present, staff offers amazing service, and the restaurant strikes a perfect balance of high end without feeling snooty.“

“Great place and a fun place to be“

“Very great convenient location, definitely not a place you pop in for a quick meal.. plan to spend a couple of hours if not the whole day here if you go. Seems our waiter was a little busy with larger groups and forgot about us. But he was very friendly and luckily we had no where to hurry off to. Burger was okay, chicken was dry. I appreciated the scenery and vibes though.“

“I've been several times now, and it is still my favorite restaurant when I visit family in Santa Monica. I've tried many restaurants in SM, from inexpensive to expensive. For me, Library has the best combination of unique atmosphere, friendly and efficient service, lively but casual vibe, excellent food, and good value. I love the Cowboy Burger, but everything we've tried is good. And good beer too.“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“Best coffee cafe in Santa Monica 😁“

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

“Loved the happy vegan bowl.“

“Good vibes and good drinks“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“