It's hard to give Le Petit Chez Mimi 5-stars when I give Pasjoli 5-stars. But if you want simple but good French cuisine, in a simple, home-like and charming atmosphere, then this place is for you. Whereas Pasjoli is on busy Main Street in Santa Monica, Le Petit Chez Mimi is located at the storefront of a business park, at the T-intersection of Yale and Colorado. I pass by all the time either on the way to work, or running errands, but this place always looked closed: Only open for dinners Tues-Sun, and brunch on Sundays.Therefore I made an effort to finally try this cute little place with my family. The restaurant, the food and the service is very reminiscent of eating at a local cafe in Paris. You know, you walk around, look around and finally pick a place for dinner, any place, because so many of the restaurants in Paris are good. This is how I felt of my first experience at Le Petit Chez Mimi.Many who dined tonight (Friday night) seemed to be regulars and locals. The service staff dressed casually (blue jeans) and the service was good. Whereas Pasjoli, the wait staff are uniformed and professionally trained - what you expect from a Michelin recognized establishment. With Le Petit Chez Mimi, its simply good food, not particularly IG worthy in its presentation.Surprisingly, the prices were higher than I expected. I guess I was expecting a simpler, quaint French cafe to be more reasonably priced. But I guess this is to be expected for French cuisine.Now for my food review:-Escargot. Not bad. I've had better. I felt it needed salt and more of that greenish garlicky sauce (pesto-like.) Please excuse my lack of knowledge of the correct ingredients.-Onion Soup. Excellent! One of the best French Onion soups in town. The portion size was perfect. Sometimes, the portions are so big, you dont have room for the remaining courses, but theirs was perfect. Nice gooey cheese!-Entrées: the 3 of us had 2 different steaks and one pork chop entrée. Again, all were tasty and the steaks were perfectly cooked, but the pork chop was overcooked. This place isn't Michelin-worthy because of the simple presentation (not much presentation at all.)-Dessert: The Tarte Tatin was excellent. It was like warm apple pie with fresh cold whip creme. It was perfectly spiced, slightly tart, and not overly sweet. Someone posted on Yelp! that this was an "award winning" dessert. Hmm, it maybe?Parking: Plenty of parking. No valet service. Self park at the business park adjacent to the restaurant. Very convenient.Wheelchair accessibility: The manager (owner Mimi?) has mobility requirements (wheelchair) so the place is fully accessible.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup
Martin B.
Wonderful warm cozy French. We just finished watching "The Taste of Things" with Juliette Binoche and a warm gourmet French meal was perfect.
Dave W.
Food very well presented! Tasty, well balanced. Carrot soup had lovely garlicky flavor. Calves Liver with lemon sauce and caramelized onions with carrots and mashed potatoes was delicious. Service was very attentive. I was told all the specials of the day. Beautiful ambiance well lit, but not over so. Acoustics make having a conversation pleasant. Nice Christmas lights and garland strewn about for the holiday. Amanda my server was very gracious. Wonderful experience overall!
Jackie Nach
Delicious. The best calf liver I’ve ever had! Endive salad perfect. Strawberry shortcake phenomenal. Apple tart too. Quiet and calm atmosphere. Delightful ambience. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Red Snapper, Calf's Liver, Clam Chowder, Duck with Honey, French Onion Soup, Caesar Salad, Chilled Cucumber Soup
Megan D.
What a gem! Have been for both brunch and dinner multiple times and always very happy! A truly traditional French Bistro.
Robert Levine
Two stars - just for the kind service (zero stars for the food). We ordered the leek and potato soup, tomato soup, snapper, and mustard chicken; all of it completely mediocre. Each dish was shockingly bland, under seasoned, overwhelmingly unspecial. My husband and I love to frequent Santa Monica’s local fine dining establishments to support local businesses, but this is truly beyond saving. He accurately compared it to retirement home food - correctly cooked with no flavor. At the price, I was massively disappointed and will not be returning. If you have this kind of money for quality French food, I would instead recommend you hop over to Pasjoli for a true culinary experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Jason L.
What a lovely dining experience. The outdoor patio area looks like from an event or wedding scene. The service was great. At times some dishes took a while to arrive but we actually liked that as it was nice to be able to drink, nibble and catch up with friends. Prices are reasonable for this quality and dining out these days. The food some I liked and some were good but not for me. Awesome local spot. Love that something like this exists.
Katie D.
Great food! Love coming here for brunch on the weekends! Very friendly staff also. Would recommend
Daniel Keatinge
Thoughtfully prepared bistro fare with very attentive staff and accessible parking at night and on Sunday for brunch. Charming setting with outside patio and homey indoor rooms.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lemon Tart, Gigot D
Maureen M.
Went for Sunday brunch (10am to 2:30pm) for the first time. The place is cute, we sat outdoor on the patio. It was a nice day and glad it is covered (shaded) with some kind of turf on the ground. So it's comfortable. Dog friendly on in the patio area. And their were like 4 dogs there with their owners at different tables. I did not get a chance to go inside but I will next time. I ordered a mimosa around $15 bucks and the quiche Lorraine around $16.50. Came out as a slice with a mixed green salad. Small portion but just enough for a bite to eat lunch. My guest had the house salad with requested olive oil as dressing but it seemed lack luster. He is vegan so not too many options there for him. I plan on going back to try something else and I hope the portions will be bigger and satisfying for dinner. The staff was nice and attentive. Bonus is that w they have parking next to it so that's always a plus when you don't have to pay for parking or drive all around looking to park. The area is nice, quieter on the weekend. Mostly office buildings and some older Santa Monica one level style homes off the street. Going towards Colorado avenue by the Santa Monica College Stewart street campus and the STARZ office building. Nicely shaded by trees so it feels welcoming. Like a neighborhood little spot for a meet up.
Fabulous go to for authentic dependable french fare..........we love it!! From the professional and welcoming staff to the wonderful Mimi who awaits each patron with her smile........it is an experience that more establishments should learn from!!
Roland Palmquist
The food is amazing. I recommend you try the pork chop. I met the owner and she is really cool and interesting. The venue is charming. We have eaten here several times. It is one of our favorite restaurants. The waiters have always been right on with their recommendations.Parking: It is a shared parking lot right next to the dining area. Very convenient and quiet. All the other businesses are closed when they are serving after 5PMWheelchair accessibility: You can stop in the parking lot about 8-25 feet from your table and roll to your table on a paved surface. They have covered out door dining surrounded by shrubs separating it from the parking lot. The owner uses a wheelchair.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad
Michael Ong
Lovely restaurant, particularly the outdoor patio. Outstanding French food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Belinda Teitel
Consistently excellent food and service; a lovely bistro feeling that is warm, casual and familial.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Au Poivre, Moules Marini
Michael Miguel Bernal
We have been to dinner multiple times and every time we visit Mimi's we have a beautiful elegant time. Wonderful food and service. We love it ..... !!!
It's hard to give Le Petit Chez Mimi 5-stars when I give Pasjoli 5-stars. But if you want simple but good French cuisine, in a simple, home-like and charming atmosphere, then this place is for you. Whereas Pasjoli is on busy Main Street in Santa Monica, Le Petit Chez Mimi is located at the storefront of a business park, at the T-intersection of Yale and Colorado. I pass by all the time either on the way to work, or running errands, but this place always looked closed: Only open for dinners Tues-Sun, and brunch on Sundays.Therefore I made an effort to finally try this cute little place with my family. The restaurant, the food and the service is very reminiscent of eating at a local cafe in Paris. You know, you walk around, look around and finally pick a place for dinner, any place, because so many of the restaurants in Paris are good. This is how I felt of my first experience at Le Petit Chez Mimi.Many who dined tonight (Friday night) seemed to be regulars and locals. The service staff dressed casually (blue jeans) and the service was good. Whereas Pasjoli, the wait staff are uniformed and professionally trained - what you expect from a Michelin recognized establishment. With Le Petit Chez Mimi, its simply good food, not particularly IG worthy in its presentation.Surprisingly, the prices were higher than I expected. I guess I was expecting a simpler, quaint French cafe to be more reasonably priced. But I guess this is to be expected for French cuisine.Now for my food review:-Escargot. Not bad. I've had better. I felt it needed salt and more of that greenish garlicky sauce (pesto-like.) Please excuse my lack of knowledge of the correct ingredients.-Onion Soup. Excellent! One of the best French Onion soups in town. The portion size was perfect. Sometimes, the portions are so big, you dont have room for the remaining courses, but theirs was perfect. Nice gooey cheese!-Entrées: the 3 of us had 2 different steaks and one pork chop entrée. Again, all were tasty and the steaks were perfectly cooked, but the pork chop was overcooked. This place isn't Michelin-worthy because of the simple presentation (not much presentation at all.)-Dessert: The Tarte Tatin was excellent. It was like warm apple pie with fresh cold whip creme. It was perfectly spiced, slightly tart, and not overly sweet. Someone posted on Yelp! that this was an "award winning" dessert. Hmm, it maybe?Parking: Plenty of parking. No valet service. Self park at the business park adjacent to the restaurant. Very convenient.Wheelchair accessibility: The manager (owner Mimi?) has mobility requirements (wheelchair) so the place is fully accessible.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup
Wonderful warm cozy French. We just finished watching "The Taste of Things" with Juliette Binoche and a warm gourmet French meal was perfect.
Food very well presented! Tasty, well balanced. Carrot soup had lovely garlicky flavor. Calves Liver with lemon sauce and caramelized onions with carrots and mashed potatoes was delicious. Service was very attentive. I was told all the specials of the day. Beautiful ambiance well lit, but not over so. Acoustics make having a conversation pleasant. Nice Christmas lights and garland strewn about for the holiday. Amanda my server was very gracious. Wonderful experience overall!
Delicious. The best calf liver I’ve ever had! Endive salad perfect. Strawberry shortcake phenomenal. Apple tart too. Quiet and calm atmosphere. Delightful ambience. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Red Snapper, Calf's Liver, Clam Chowder, Duck with Honey, French Onion Soup, Caesar Salad, Chilled Cucumber Soup
What a gem! Have been for both brunch and dinner multiple times and always very happy! A truly traditional French Bistro.
Two stars - just for the kind service (zero stars for the food). We ordered the leek and potato soup, tomato soup, snapper, and mustard chicken; all of it completely mediocre. Each dish was shockingly bland, under seasoned, overwhelmingly unspecial. My husband and I love to frequent Santa Monica’s local fine dining establishments to support local businesses, but this is truly beyond saving. He accurately compared it to retirement home food - correctly cooked with no flavor. At the price, I was massively disappointed and will not be returning. If you have this kind of money for quality French food, I would instead recommend you hop over to Pasjoli for a true culinary experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
What a lovely dining experience. The outdoor patio area looks like from an event or wedding scene. The service was great. At times some dishes took a while to arrive but we actually liked that as it was nice to be able to drink, nibble and catch up with friends. Prices are reasonable for this quality and dining out these days. The food some I liked and some were good but not for me. Awesome local spot. Love that something like this exists.
Great food! Love coming here for brunch on the weekends! Very friendly staff also. Would recommend
Thoughtfully prepared bistro fare with very attentive staff and accessible parking at night and on Sunday for brunch. Charming setting with outside patio and homey indoor rooms.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lemon Tart, Gigot D
Went for Sunday brunch (10am to 2:30pm) for the first time. The place is cute, we sat outdoor on the patio. It was a nice day and glad it is covered (shaded) with some kind of turf on the ground. So it's comfortable. Dog friendly on in the patio area. And their were like 4 dogs there with their owners at different tables. I did not get a chance to go inside but I will next time. I ordered a mimosa around $15 bucks and the quiche Lorraine around $16.50. Came out as a slice with a mixed green salad. Small portion but just enough for a bite to eat lunch. My guest had the house salad with requested olive oil as dressing but it seemed lack luster. He is vegan so not too many options there for him. I plan on going back to try something else and I hope the portions will be bigger and satisfying for dinner. The staff was nice and attentive. Bonus is that w they have parking next to it so that's always a plus when you don't have to pay for parking or drive all around looking to park. The area is nice, quieter on the weekend. Mostly office buildings and some older Santa Monica one level style homes off the street. Going towards Colorado avenue by the Santa Monica College Stewart street campus and the STARZ office building. Nicely shaded by trees so it feels welcoming. Like a neighborhood little spot for a meet up.
Restaurantji Recommends
Fabulous go to for authentic dependable french fare..........we love it!! From the professional and welcoming staff to the wonderful Mimi who awaits each patron with her smile........it is an experience that more establishments should learn from!!
The food is amazing. I recommend you try the pork chop. I met the owner and she is really cool and interesting. The venue is charming. We have eaten here several times. It is one of our favorite restaurants. The waiters have always been right on with their recommendations.Parking: It is a shared parking lot right next to the dining area. Very convenient and quiet. All the other businesses are closed when they are serving after 5PMWheelchair accessibility: You can stop in the parking lot about 8-25 feet from your table and roll to your table on a paved surface. They have covered out door dining surrounded by shrubs separating it from the parking lot. The owner uses a wheelchair.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad
Lovely restaurant, particularly the outdoor patio. Outstanding French food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Consistently excellent food and service; a lovely bistro feeling that is warm, casual and familial.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Au Poivre, Moules Marini
We have been to dinner multiple times and every time we visit Mimi's we have a beautiful elegant time. Wonderful food and service. We love it ..... !!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5