How they don’t have a star yet is a mystery. Big miss from the tire folks. But I’m excited for how Chef Dave will keep stepping up his game to get it next year.
Also a low key star: the wine pairing is incredible and if you don’t or aren’t drinking, the NA pairing is on a level jn a class of its own.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kelly Byrne
There is no signage for the restaurant, so it can be difficult to find for folks unfamiliar with the area. While the food was certainly refined, it was unaccompanied by theme or story, which one might generally expect as a piece of the experience for a tasting. It was more of a 'this is what the food is' and less 'this is why we have chosen to explore this preparation.' Most other restaurants lean toward the latter to welcome patrons into the process and sell the experience. The wine pairing selections neither augmented nor diminished the tasting. If one of your party has an allergy and dietary restriction, be sure to ask your server since there were several follow up questions and misunderstandings despite prior communication. Whoever chose the music for the space has great taste, and overall it was an expensive meal that did not quite deliver on expectations.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Tareas 231
Honestly the service is amazing, but the food is mid at best. However, if you want to go for the experience you should, but if you are going thinking you are going to eat a few meat dishes, you are not. We had the tasting menu and a lot of it was leaves.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Joseph Fink
Service was incredible. Friendly and thoughtful. Every single person we interacted with knew we both had birthdays that week and wished us happy birthday.
I knew it was someone who had worked at Alinea, but the tasting menu is not theatrical focused, instead more about local and fresh food. Lots of cold dishes, and stuff that played with the usual order of the meal. Starters that were sweet, desserts that were savory. Everything was very well made.
The non-alcoholic pairing was a real highlight. Really interesting and unexpected beverages, all explained to us by the people who had made them.
It seems to me they are aiming for at least two stars, and I certainly hope it happens for them
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
P W
One of the best tasting menu I've been fortunate enough to try in the US. There are unique and interesting combinations of ingredients and flavors (coffee and caviar? yes please 😬). There is special attention paid to textures which I always appreciate. It's not predictable like other tasting menu, each dish arrives and there's always a fun and yummy surprise.
The staff are attentive, friendly, and don't take themselves too seriously. It made for a relaxed experience -a warm hug if you will. It was awesome for dishes to be presented by the chefs directly, we got a chance to ask more about the ingredients and cooking techniques. You can sense a genuine sense of pride from them.
Also have to give a special shout out for the non-alcoholic beverage pairing. There was a lot of thought put into each drink and they complemented rach dish really well. No phoning it in here :)
All in all, I've had two amazing meals here already and can't wait for the next visit when I'm back in LA.
Thank you again Team Seline!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jordan Wood
Review of the 8-course tasting menu.
Food was amazing. Atmosphere resonated the elevated experience. Service was on top of it. As soon as I was finished with a dish it was cleared and fresh cutlery brought out.
Every dish was fantastic. Zero misses. Unique highlights included:
Spring herbs, sweetbreads, buttermilk: I could have just had that buttermilk sauce and used it as a dip with the sweetbreads. It was so good.
Frozen Mustard & Passionfruit: I didn’t know you could do this with a leaf. The mustard leaf is frozen but it was coated in passion fruit. The leaf cracks in your mouth and you get a burst of passion fruit. Almost like a passionfruit popsicle. All I can say is wow.
Celery root: the venison and savory granola mixture blended together so well.
Black truffle milkshake: never would have thought about using truffle in a milkshake - risky since truffle can be so overpowering - but it wasn’t! You get that hint of truffle in the front then the sweetness of the vanilla milkshake in the back. Perfection.
I could go on and on about each dish, but you’re better off making a resy and trying them all yourself! You won’t be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gustavo Pena
My dinner at Seline in Santa Monica was truly unforgettable. From the moment we walked in, the exceptional customer service set the tone for a fantastic evening. Our servers and chefs were attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure we had an outstanding experience.
The menu was a masterclass in culinary innovation, with each dish expertly crafted to showcase the finest ingredients. Standouts included the truffle milkshake, a rich and decadent treat that perfectly balanced earthy truffle flavors with creamy sweetness. The bass was cooked to perfection, with a delicate flavor and silky texture that simply melted in our mouths.
One of the most unique and intriguing dishes was the caviar with hazelnut coffee gelato, a bold and unexpected combination that somehow worked beautifully. The subtle bitterness of the coffee perfectly complemented the salty, luxurious caviar, creating a truly unforgettable flavor experience.
The old-world wine pairing was top-notch, with each selection expertly chosen to complement and elevate the dishes. The sommelier's knowledge and passion for wine shone through in every recommendation, and each pairing added a new layer of complexity and enjoyment to the meal.
Overall, Seline is a must-visit destination for any food lover. With its outstanding dinner, top-notch customer service, creative menu offerings, and exceptional wine pairings, this Santa Monica restaurant is sure to impress even the most discerning palates
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caviar Coffee
Stefanie
All I can say is ‘wow’. Completely blown away at the level of flavor and texture they were able to pack into the dishes. Also at most fine dining restaurants you leave feeling a bit hungry because the bites are so small, but I left so full and satisfied, I’m blown away.
We did the wine pairing as well and each wine was so unique and delicious and worked perfectly to complete the dishes.
We had a vegetarian diet and a nut allergy at our table and they were so accommodating of both, creating unique versions of each dish to accommodate the specific person while the rest of us enjoyed the original dishes. Just make sure you message them/let them know ahead of time about any restrictions!
I would give Seline 10 stars if I could. The service was amazing. They were so friendly and welcoming and on top of all your needs.
When you go it’s a little tricky to find, the address on Google maps takes you to a T-Mobile but all you need to do is walk under the arches through the courtyard of the center of the building (last photo image in this review).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Meigy Tsai
I went down to LA from SF for a weekend friends get together that ended up being a bit of a foodie tour. We went to three tasting menu restaurants and Seline was the best one hands down. Aside from the food simply just being tasty & delicious, Seline's combination of ingredients to achieve that flavor was at times surprising and very creative. I also enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant which gave a more cozy feeling than the other ones we went too. Plus, the service was amazing - you can tell that the staff took pride in their work, and the way they presented the food + answered our questions had a warm & friendly vibe.
One of my friends got the non-alcoholic drinks pairing and the descriptions of the drinks + her obvious enjoyment of them had me wishing that I got it too. :P This is a restaurant that I would definitely go again when I'm in LA.
I was completely blown away by the wine pairing at this restaurant. All the wines were from the Old World, yet the concept was incredibly avant-garde. I could hardly imagine receiving such high-quality wine service for just a little over 200. The experience was unforgettable, and I can’t wait to add almost every bottle to my little cellar.
The chef has largely mastered vegetarian cuisine, bringing out the flavors to their fullest potential, though this style might be better suited for a more casual setting. The chef kindly reminded me that this is Southern California, where people embrace a plant-forward menu—despite the fact that I’ve lived in both SoCal and NorCal for four years. If I return, I’d opt for fewer courses to enhance my sense of satisfaction; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate the nearly perfect wine pairing. The most interesting parts were the obvious parts of the squab and less obvious parts of the squab. I believe Chef David could extend his masterful handling of protein to more touches.
The restaurant’s ambiance is captivating, and the service is impeccable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jason H
Some truly amazing dishes and taste profiles going on at Seline in Santa Monica. I have to admit, I was skeptical about the menu that served Chocolate infused Squab liver and menthol desserts but the experience was amazing. Every course was hand-crafted to perfection with service that I haven't experienced since my las meal at Providence. I can go on about Seline but I took a few pictures that would do it better justice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Sesame
Mac Jensen
4.45/5
Photos of some highlights for us.
Loved the truffle squash.
Bon iver blasts in the bathroom 👍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Sesame
Jacob Willett
I've never seen a menu that flowed so well from one dish to the next. You can tell that ingredients were used across multiple courses. It's very mushroom heavy, so I hope you like all fungi. Atmosphere is very spa-like. Simple designs, earth tones and low candle light. It's a bit on the pricey side compared to other experiences. We may have paid more for NYE and it looked like the same menu as a normal night. No Champagne. Didn't do the wine pairings, already spent over $1k in total for two with 3 glasses of wine. You do get caviar and truffle, and the other ingredients are top notch. Then the pigeon comes out. Squab is a young domesticated pigeon. Sure it's good, but it just didn't fit with the meal. You can get a full pressed duck at the other restaurant (Pasjoli) and I think this concept was carried over; using the the juices of the Squab in the next dish. Finally the transition to sweeter dishes was perfection. The Squab liver truffle with mushroom dust, the hazelnut cream and caviar, and the dish with crumbled black sesame I will remember forever. Service was perfection. You begin and end with tea. Our final refreshing mint tea was too sweet. Parking in the garage underneath the building was easy and costs $12.
Dietary restrictions: Provide in advance
Kid-friendliness: Please no kids
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Sesame
K. B.
I've attached my dish-by-dish rating. We (party of 6) had an incredible meal but we had one 'Negative Nancy' who really didn't like the Squab, which I think influenced the other 5 people and created a somewhat negative lull during the meal. Objectively, I think it was 'too much' of a 'potentionally divisive' dish with basically 5-6 elements of squab, even if it was done 'properly'. I would probably take the single leg and combine it with the skin/hazelnut and heart/strawberry for a single dish and you'd have a nearly perfect tasting menu. Otherwise, it was an amazing experience and great addition to the Westside, which has an underwhelming food scene. The service was a little Schwa-like at times, which I'm not sure if was intentional or not. Other than a bit longer wait in between a couple of the dishes, sitting for a bit too long with no wine, etc., the service was overall very solid. At 100 reviews, with no changes, I think they'll settle at around 4.5. With the above changes, they'll shift to 4.6-4.7. In summary, this is arguably one of the best meals in LA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burnt Onion, Black Sesame, Caviar Coffee
How they don’t have a star yet is a mystery. Big miss from the tire folks. But I’m excited for how Chef Dave will keep stepping up his game to get it next year.
Also a low key star: the wine pairing is incredible and if you don’t or aren’t drinking, the NA pairing is on a level jn a class of its own.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There is no signage for the restaurant, so it can be difficult to find for folks unfamiliar with the area. While the food was certainly refined, it was unaccompanied by theme or story, which one might generally expect as a piece of the experience for a tasting. It was more of a 'this is what the food is' and less 'this is why we have chosen to explore this preparation.' Most other restaurants lean toward the latter to welcome patrons into the process and sell the experience. The wine pairing selections neither augmented nor diminished the tasting. If one of your party has an allergy and dietary restriction, be sure to ask your server since there were several follow up questions and misunderstandings despite prior communication. Whoever chose the music for the space has great taste, and overall it was an expensive meal that did not quite deliver on expectations.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Honestly the service is amazing, but the food is mid at best. However, if you want to go for the experience you should, but if you are going thinking you are going to eat a few meat dishes, you are not. We had the tasting menu and a lot of it was leaves.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Service was incredible. Friendly and thoughtful. Every single person we interacted with knew we both had birthdays that week and wished us happy birthday.
I knew it was someone who had worked at Alinea, but the tasting menu is not theatrical focused, instead more about local and fresh food. Lots of cold dishes, and stuff that played with the usual order of the meal. Starters that were sweet, desserts that were savory. Everything was very well made.
The non-alcoholic pairing was a real highlight. Really interesting and unexpected beverages, all explained to us by the people who had made them.
It seems to me they are aiming for at least two stars, and I certainly hope it happens for them
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
One of the best tasting menu I've been fortunate enough to try in the US. There are unique and interesting combinations of ingredients and flavors (coffee and caviar? yes please 😬). There is special attention paid to textures which I always appreciate. It's not predictable like other tasting menu, each dish arrives and there's always a fun and yummy surprise.
The staff are attentive, friendly, and don't take themselves too seriously. It made for a relaxed experience -a warm hug if you will. It was awesome for dishes to be presented by the chefs directly, we got a chance to ask more about the ingredients and cooking techniques. You can sense a genuine sense of pride from them.
Also have to give a special shout out for the non-alcoholic beverage pairing. There was a lot of thought put into each drink and they complemented rach dish really well. No phoning it in here :)
All in all, I've had two amazing meals here already and can't wait for the next visit when I'm back in LA.
Thank you again Team Seline!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Review of the 8-course tasting menu.
Food was amazing. Atmosphere resonated the elevated experience. Service was on top of it. As soon as I was finished with a dish it was cleared and fresh cutlery brought out.
Every dish was fantastic. Zero misses. Unique highlights included:
Spring herbs, sweetbreads, buttermilk: I could have just had that buttermilk sauce and used it as a dip with the sweetbreads. It was so good.
Frozen Mustard & Passionfruit: I didn’t know you could do this with a leaf. The mustard leaf is frozen but it was coated in passion fruit. The leaf cracks in your mouth and you get a burst of passion fruit. Almost like a passionfruit popsicle. All I can say is wow.
Celery root: the venison and savory granola mixture blended together so well.
Black truffle milkshake: never would have thought about using truffle in a milkshake - risky since truffle can be so overpowering - but it wasn’t! You get that hint of truffle in the front then the sweetness of the vanilla milkshake in the back. Perfection.
I could go on and on about each dish, but you’re better off making a resy and trying them all yourself! You won’t be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My dinner at Seline in Santa Monica was truly unforgettable. From the moment we walked in, the exceptional customer service set the tone for a fantastic evening. Our servers and chefs were attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure we had an outstanding experience.
The menu was a masterclass in culinary innovation, with each dish expertly crafted to showcase the finest ingredients. Standouts included the truffle milkshake, a rich and decadent treat that perfectly balanced earthy truffle flavors with creamy sweetness. The bass was cooked to perfection, with a delicate flavor and silky texture that simply melted in our mouths.
One of the most unique and intriguing dishes was the caviar with hazelnut coffee gelato, a bold and unexpected combination that somehow worked beautifully. The subtle bitterness of the coffee perfectly complemented the salty, luxurious caviar, creating a truly unforgettable flavor experience.
The old-world wine pairing was top-notch, with each selection expertly chosen to complement and elevate the dishes. The sommelier's knowledge and passion for wine shone through in every recommendation, and each pairing added a new layer of complexity and enjoyment to the meal.
Overall, Seline is a must-visit destination for any food lover. With its outstanding dinner, top-notch customer service, creative menu offerings, and exceptional wine pairings, this Santa Monica restaurant is sure to impress even the most discerning palates
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caviar Coffee
All I can say is ‘wow’. Completely blown away at the level of flavor and texture they were able to pack into the dishes. Also at most fine dining restaurants you leave feeling a bit hungry because the bites are so small, but I left so full and satisfied, I’m blown away.
We did the wine pairing as well and each wine was so unique and delicious and worked perfectly to complete the dishes.
We had a vegetarian diet and a nut allergy at our table and they were so accommodating of both, creating unique versions of each dish to accommodate the specific person while the rest of us enjoyed the original dishes. Just make sure you message them/let them know ahead of time about any restrictions!
I would give Seline 10 stars if I could. The service was amazing. They were so friendly and welcoming and on top of all your needs.
When you go it’s a little tricky to find, the address on Google maps takes you to a T-Mobile but all you need to do is walk under the arches through the courtyard of the center of the building (last photo image in this review).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I went down to LA from SF for a weekend friends get together that ended up being a bit of a foodie tour. We went to three tasting menu restaurants and Seline was the best one hands down. Aside from the food simply just being tasty & delicious, Seline's combination of ingredients to achieve that flavor was at times surprising and very creative. I also enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant which gave a more cozy feeling than the other ones we went too. Plus, the service was amazing - you can tell that the staff took pride in their work, and the way they presented the food + answered our questions had a warm & friendly vibe.
One of my friends got the non-alcoholic drinks pairing and the descriptions of the drinks + her obvious enjoyment of them had me wishing that I got it too. :P This is a restaurant that I would definitely go again when I'm in LA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The people there were very nice
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Perfect
Restaurantji Recommends
I was completely blown away by the wine pairing at this restaurant. All the wines were from the Old World, yet the concept was incredibly avant-garde. I could hardly imagine receiving such high-quality wine service for just a little over 200. The experience was unforgettable, and I can’t wait to add almost every bottle to my little cellar.
The chef has largely mastered vegetarian cuisine, bringing out the flavors to their fullest potential, though this style might be better suited for a more casual setting. The chef kindly reminded me that this is Southern California, where people embrace a plant-forward menu—despite the fact that I’ve lived in both SoCal and NorCal for four years. If I return, I’d opt for fewer courses to enhance my sense of satisfaction; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate the nearly perfect wine pairing. The most interesting parts were the obvious parts of the squab and less obvious parts of the squab. I believe Chef David could extend his masterful handling of protein to more touches.
The restaurant’s ambiance is captivating, and the service is impeccable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Some truly amazing dishes and taste profiles going on at Seline in Santa Monica. I have to admit, I was skeptical about the menu that served Chocolate infused Squab liver and menthol desserts but the experience was amazing. Every course was hand-crafted to perfection with service that I haven't experienced since my las meal at Providence. I can go on about Seline but I took a few pictures that would do it better justice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Sesame
4.45/5
Photos of some highlights for us.
Loved the truffle squash.
Bon iver blasts in the bathroom 👍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Sesame
I've never seen a menu that flowed so well from one dish to the next. You can tell that ingredients were used across multiple courses. It's very mushroom heavy, so I hope you like all fungi. Atmosphere is very spa-like. Simple designs, earth tones and low candle light. It's a bit on the pricey side compared to other experiences. We may have paid more for NYE and it looked like the same menu as a normal night. No Champagne. Didn't do the wine pairings, already spent over $1k in total for two with 3 glasses of wine. You do get caviar and truffle, and the other ingredients are top notch. Then the pigeon comes out. Squab is a young domesticated pigeon. Sure it's good, but it just didn't fit with the meal. You can get a full pressed duck at the other restaurant (Pasjoli) and I think this concept was carried over; using the the juices of the Squab in the next dish. Finally the transition to sweeter dishes was perfection. The Squab liver truffle with mushroom dust, the hazelnut cream and caviar, and the dish with crumbled black sesame I will remember forever. Service was perfection. You begin and end with tea. Our final refreshing mint tea was too sweet. Parking in the garage underneath the building was easy and costs $12.
Dietary restrictions: Provide in advance
Kid-friendliness: Please no kids
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Sesame
I've attached my dish-by-dish rating. We (party of 6) had an incredible meal but we had one 'Negative Nancy' who really didn't like the Squab, which I think influenced the other 5 people and created a somewhat negative lull during the meal. Objectively, I think it was 'too much' of a 'potentionally divisive' dish with basically 5-6 elements of squab, even if it was done 'properly'. I would probably take the single leg and combine it with the skin/hazelnut and heart/strawberry for a single dish and you'd have a nearly perfect tasting menu. Otherwise, it was an amazing experience and great addition to the Westside, which has an underwhelming food scene. The service was a little Schwa-like at times, which I'm not sure if was intentional or not. Other than a bit longer wait in between a couple of the dishes, sitting for a bit too long with no wine, etc., the service was overall very solid. At 100 reviews, with no changes, I think they'll settle at around 4.5. With the above changes, they'll shift to 4.6-4.7. In summary, this is arguably one of the best meals in LA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burnt Onion, Black Sesame, Caviar Coffee
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