We ordered a veggie box and a charcuterie/cheese box from Ester’s for an outdoor picnic, and what we got was shocking: two tiny, sad boxes that looked nothing like the generous online photos, for an astounding total of $120 after tax and tip.
The $32 “veggie box” was mostly cucumbers and tomatoes, served with butter, instead of the green goddess and sauce rouille in the description and photos. The $56 meat/cheese box was sparse and poorly packed. It felt like eating sad scraps, not a special picnic—especially for this price.
If you want to overpay for disappointment and ruin your picnic dreams, go for it. Otherwise, learn from our mistake and skip Ester’s for picnic or takeaway.
We could have gotten something both much nicer and more substantial for under $50 by just picking up from a grocery store like Bristol Farms. What a bummer.
Jeff Kim
Hosted a welcome drinks for my wedding here and it was the best decision we’ve ever made. The service was exceptional and the food choices we made impressed our guests. The guests were raving about the meatballs and grilled cheese. Wine is also top tier and paired well with the oysters we had. I would highly recommend this location to host events.
Adam “A” Adam
If I could give 100 stars I would… Ester’s Wine Bar is an absolute gem—easily one of the most incredible spots in town. The ambiance is effortlessly chic, the wine selection is top-tier, and every dish that comes out of the kitchen is downright divine. But what truly sets Ester’s apart is the people: the servers are warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about what they do, making every visit feel like a special occasion. And the owner? A class act—deeply involved, endlessly welcoming, and clearly committed to building community through hospitality. Do yourself a favor and support this phenomenal local treasure—you’ll be hooked from your first sip.
Anita B
Went to Ester's Wine Shop & Bar with a group of women. Perfect spot! The charcuterie board was divine, and the staff gave great wine recs. A few of us even bought bottles to take home or gift. Easy & inexpensive public parking next door. Highly recommend!
Karli Melder
SO good I forgot to take pictures of everything I ate lmao!
What an exquisite place to dine. I happen to know one of the chefs, and wanted to check out where they worked! It’s hard to know where to begin.
The logo is adorable and the ambiance alone is worth going for. It has a casual yet elegant feel, without being elitist or exclusionary. The staff is SO friendly, too. I frankly didn’t know what a lot of the menu was, and the way it was explained was kind and compassionate :]
Another interesting thing to note: in addition to being into wine, they are REALLY into cheeses here. The owner is passionate about sustainability, too! Apparently a lot of cheese isn’t even vegetarian: they still use the stomach lining of a calf to process it, which I didn’t know. But Esters has a wonderful selection of true vegetarian cheese that was sustainably made and sourced. Everything on the menu was!
Honestly I had a LOT of different items and I recommend them all. The almonds, the focaccia, all the different cheeses that came with a small charcuterie board! I had the gnocchi which was just exquisite. I didn’t know gnocchi could be so light and fluffy! I usually make my own, but I make it very dense.
I’ve also never had better oysters in my entire life. NO grit, not even slightly. DELICIOUS.
The flavor profiles were phenomenal. The fruit and jams paired with the cheeses ruled; the entire gnocchi from the sauce and spices to the pasta itself was exquisite; the servers also had PHENOMENAL wine pairing recommendations.
If you like a fun and casual (yet exquisite) dining experience that focuses on ethical and sustainable dishes, you will be right at home at Esters. I know I’ll definitely be back :]
Miss Magnolia
You can go to take a walk on the beach and then come to the Happy hour! is cool
Neesh Shah
It was pretty packed on a Saturday night but we were still seated very quickly, for a drink before a dinner elsewhere. Honestly though, we both wished we had just stayed because we had such a great time. They have a deep wine list and are ready to make a great recommendation. They know a lot about the wines and we ended up trying 4 whites with a few we'd never even heard of.
They also had a food menu that I'm still thinking about. The focaccia was really good and the cheeses were a perfect pairing.
Next time we're in Santa Monica, we'll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patrick Cornally
My wife and I did a great tasting here with a winemaker who was in town from the Willamette Valley and had a great experience
Stopped in for a glass of wine prior to my dinner reservation across the hall at Cassia’s and had an incredible pre-dinner drink. Super attentive staff, great playlist, and watching the staff prepare food was very entertaining. the grilled cheese, salads, and charcuterie boards all were made with such love and thoughtfulness. would definitely recommend this place and would be back next time i’m in Santa Monica.
I recently hosted a happy hour for 20 people at Esters Wine Bar, and I couldn't be more pleased with the experience. The staff was incredibly accommodating and communicative throughout the entire process. The food and wine were absolutely delicious, making the event a memorable one for everyone who attended. Highly recommend Esters Wine Bar for any gathering or special occasion! Thank you to Tug (owner) and Daniel (GM)!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Stacie Rathbone
This place is great but they have all these extra charges they add on to their already expensive food like a health insurance charge and that just doesn’t work for me maybe just pay your employees more
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Violetta Hargitay
Esters is consistently good. Food and beverages are always great. They also have a generous Happy Hour schedule. And love the convenient Santa Monica location. Parking is usually easy if you come on the early side.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
david silverman
The food was really good but the menu is very limited. 3 out of 4 of is got grilled cheese. The other person got oysters, which everyone days were phenomenal. It was all delicious. They charged for a little plate of raw carrots with hummus. We expected the carrots to be prepared in some fashion.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
silvano moro
I eated crusty grilled cheese with a bottle of Chardonnay. Good ??
Overpriced, Utterly Disappointing Picnic
We ordered a veggie box and a charcuterie/cheese box from Ester’s for an outdoor picnic, and what we got was shocking: two tiny, sad boxes that looked nothing like the generous online photos, for an astounding total of $120 after tax and tip.
The $32 “veggie box” was mostly cucumbers and tomatoes, served with butter, instead of the green goddess and sauce rouille in the description and photos. The $56 meat/cheese box was sparse and poorly packed. It felt like eating sad scraps, not a special picnic—especially for this price.
If you want to overpay for disappointment and ruin your picnic dreams, go for it. Otherwise, learn from our mistake and skip Ester’s for picnic or takeaway.
We could have gotten something both much nicer and more substantial for under $50 by just picking up from a grocery store like Bristol Farms. What a bummer.
Hosted a welcome drinks for my wedding here and it was the best decision we’ve ever made. The service was exceptional and the food choices we made impressed our guests. The guests were raving about the meatballs and grilled cheese. Wine is also top tier and paired well with the oysters we had. I would highly recommend this location to host events.
If I could give 100 stars I would… Ester’s Wine Bar is an absolute gem—easily one of the most incredible spots in town. The ambiance is effortlessly chic, the wine selection is top-tier, and every dish that comes out of the kitchen is downright divine. But what truly sets Ester’s apart is the people: the servers are warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about what they do, making every visit feel like a special occasion. And the owner? A class act—deeply involved, endlessly welcoming, and clearly committed to building community through hospitality. Do yourself a favor and support this phenomenal local treasure—you’ll be hooked from your first sip.
Went to Ester's Wine Shop & Bar with a group of women. Perfect spot! The charcuterie board was divine, and the staff gave great wine recs. A few of us even bought bottles to take home or gift. Easy & inexpensive public parking next door. Highly recommend!
SO good I forgot to take pictures of everything I ate lmao!
What an exquisite place to dine. I happen to know one of the chefs, and wanted to check out where they worked! It’s hard to know where to begin.
The logo is adorable and the ambiance alone is worth going for. It has a casual yet elegant feel, without being elitist or exclusionary. The staff is SO friendly, too. I frankly didn’t know what a lot of the menu was, and the way it was explained was kind and compassionate :]
Another interesting thing to note: in addition to being into wine, they are REALLY into cheeses here. The owner is passionate about sustainability, too! Apparently a lot of cheese isn’t even vegetarian: they still use the stomach lining of a calf to process it, which I didn’t know. But Esters has a wonderful selection of true vegetarian cheese that was sustainably made and sourced. Everything on the menu was!
Honestly I had a LOT of different items and I recommend them all. The almonds, the focaccia, all the different cheeses that came with a small charcuterie board! I had the gnocchi which was just exquisite. I didn’t know gnocchi could be so light and fluffy! I usually make my own, but I make it very dense.
I’ve also never had better oysters in my entire life. NO grit, not even slightly. DELICIOUS.
The flavor profiles were phenomenal. The fruit and jams paired with the cheeses ruled; the entire gnocchi from the sauce and spices to the pasta itself was exquisite; the servers also had PHENOMENAL wine pairing recommendations.
If you like a fun and casual (yet exquisite) dining experience that focuses on ethical and sustainable dishes, you will be right at home at Esters. I know I’ll definitely be back :]
You can go to take a walk on the beach and then come to the Happy hour! is cool
It was pretty packed on a Saturday night but we were still seated very quickly, for a drink before a dinner elsewhere. Honestly though, we both wished we had just stayed because we had such a great time. They have a deep wine list and are ready to make a great recommendation. They know a lot about the wines and we ended up trying 4 whites with a few we'd never even heard of.
They also had a food menu that I'm still thinking about. The focaccia was really good and the cheeses were a perfect pairing.
Next time we're in Santa Monica, we'll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I did a great tasting here with a winemaker who was in town from the Willamette Valley and had a great experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Wine Shop
Stopped in for a glass of wine prior to my dinner reservation across the hall at Cassia’s and had an incredible pre-dinner drink. Super attentive staff, great playlist, and watching the staff prepare food was very entertaining. the grilled cheese, salads, and charcuterie boards all were made with such love and thoughtfulness. would definitely recommend this place and would be back next time i’m in Santa Monica.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Wine Shop
We ate amazingly ?, the service is completely AMAZING thank you for this amazing dinner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I recently hosted a happy hour for 20 people at Esters Wine Bar, and I couldn't be more pleased with the experience. The staff was incredibly accommodating and communicative throughout the entire process. The food and wine were absolutely delicious, making the event a memorable one for everyone who attended. Highly recommend Esters Wine Bar for any gathering or special occasion! Thank you to Tug (owner) and Daniel (GM)!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This place is great but they have all these extra charges they add on to their already expensive food like a health insurance charge and that just doesn’t work for me maybe just pay your employees more
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Esters is consistently good. Food and beverages are always great. They also have a generous Happy Hour schedule. And love the convenient Santa Monica location. Parking is usually easy if you come on the early side.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was really good but the menu is very limited. 3 out of 4 of is got grilled cheese. The other person got oysters, which everyone days were phenomenal. It was all delicious. They charged for a little plate of raw carrots with hummus. We expected the carrots to be prepared in some fashion.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
I eated crusty grilled cheese with a bottle of Chardonnay. Good ??
Loading...