Most of my reviews usually are on extreme opposite side of the poles when it comes to star ratings. And that's because I really do my research. Why would I waste my time and money on s#it places to eat. Well luckily I found this great place for brunch. From the ambiance to the food presentation and friendly staff - this place is a well deserved 5 STARS. So satisfied after coming here that I will be returning for more. One of the best bloody mary's I've ever had. Really good on flavor. Delicious EggsBenedict. Friendly people. Try it.
(5)
Leah A.
Loved this place when Chef Dakota was creating her amazing and delicious food. Definitely pricey as it is located in Santa Monica right on Ocean Ave, but beautiful restaurant and a very swanky atmosphere. Loved coming here when I lived on San Vicente. Come here, but have someone else pay. :)
(5)
Halima M.
My whole family loves the food here. We are local to the area and so when ever we want to eat out on the weekend we end up here. Everything is fresh and yummy. Try the buffalo burger and the sticky toffee pudding. Yummy! In the day time you can see the ocean out the window and then walk to the promenade when you're done.
(5)
Jordan B.
Happy hour was awesome! The view was incredible and the food tasted really good. I couldn't see coming here for something formal or for after happy hour. $9 for a microbrew is not appealing to me. Oysters were very good and I really enjoyed the tacos.
(4)
Maureen O.
My Husband and I enjoyed a beautiful evening here in true 'Mad Men' fashion. The decor was awesome (authentic Art Deco) and so was the food. We had the salmon and the rib-eye The cool part is; I purchased a $25 gift coupon from restaurant.com for a few bucks, so it reduced our overall bill nicely. The menu was great, one of the best salads I've ever had- (poached pear), and the prices were really good for this side of town. Did I mention the full ocean view!!!!
(5)
Wayne C.
dined here on a sunday night. good food and service, albeit a bit slow. a tad pricey.
(4)
Riyad S.
This restaurant actually has really great food -- the Chilean Sea Bass, imho, is better than the Chilean Sea Bass at Water Grill a couple blocks down (and Water Grill is famous for its fish)! Also, my wife ordered the risotto and it's also very good and it was only $16! They also have really great service and probably even more staff than they need -- and they're all very kind.
(5)
R Z.
The food here was spectacular and the martinis were to die for. I'm still dreaming of having another tamitini and berry apropos. I had the lamb which was by far one of the best lambs I've had. My husband had the pork chops and he loved his. My mother-in-law had the salmon and we were all very impressed. Cannot wait to go back. Our server/bartender Troy was excellent. So glad we found this gem of a place :)
(5)
Soo H.
I came here bc I bought a brunch deal on travelzoo. Bottomless day drinking? Sign me up! They offer several options for their bottomless drinks - they have mimosas made with oj and watermelon juice, bloody marys, and arnold palmer schwarzeneggers, which are basically arnold palmers with whiskey and a hint of mint. My friend got the oj mimosa and I got the APS. Their mimosas here are good and strong (but I found the watermelon one a little too sweet), and the APS was very tasty (albeit not that strong for a whiskey drink... which is probably well advised given that you do drink it during the daytime!) The travelzoo deal included a baked good, an entree, and a coffee drink. Seeing as how we were both enjoying our bottomless drinks so much, though, we did not get coffee drinks. I got a banana muffin and my friend had a croissant. The croissant was warm and flaky and the banana muffin was dense and moist. Tasty! The entrees, however, were a bit disappointing. My friend got the chicken and fried egg sandwich, which was a bit greasy overall. I got the steak and eggs (the eggs come as a Spanish style tortilla) and the tortilla was pretty dry and tasteless. The steak was fine - I asked for medium rare and it came out more medium but it wasn't as bad as other reviews suggested (I was a bit wary of ordering it for that reason). Another really odd thing about this place is the bathrooms. The women's bathroom is located outside of the dining room, which is fine, but I don't think they regularly maintain them. There are 3 stalls and two were practically out of toilet paper. The third had full rolls of toilet paper - but do you know WHY? Because it has GIANT WINDOWS right next to the toilet that are completely open to the street. WTF? This place is kind of funny. I may return for the bottomless drinks in the future but I'd probably skip the entrees.
(3)
Bonnie C.
Non-traditional lunch at Shangri-La courtesy of some gift certificates that we had: The appetizers were the big hit : Sofrito flatbread Broccolini Lobster Louie was a typical (1pc) lobster salad, and the Korean BBQ Beef Sliders were also good
(4)
Dcherise007 ..
Chef Kareem!!!! My man and I went to this place with another couple for my birthday...Location and presentation are everything and this place has both. Located on Ocean right across the street from the beach, we went at night but I'm sure the view during the day is amazing... It was an honor to eat at the Chefs table and the 5 course meal was AWESOME!!! Talk about taste buds on 10!!! Words cannot express the experience. If you are ever able to sit at the Chefs table you will understand and your tummy will thank you.
(5)
Lia K.
Heard a lot about their new celebrity chef and his new menu decided to try this place. Excellent food and five star service. This is my new favorite place will be going there regularly.
(5)
Sudo N.
(This is only a review of breakfast. My dinner here was much better, and I will review it separately.) I got breakfast here because I was staying in the hotel, but I regretted it. I ordered the black forest ham omelet, which was okay but nothing special. It comes with spicy potato hash, which I had been looking forward to, but the hash was so underdone i could not eat it; the potatoes were still crunchy. I do not like the coffee here, which is sour and watery. Breakfast cost $15.33. I would have done better at Jinky's.
(2)
Sherlyn S.
Great place to watch the sunset. Came here after going to the Bungalow at 8pm and the line was already ridiculous. They told us we had to wait 15 min to go to the rooftop -- fine... it's better than a 30 min wait. There's a bar downstairs with a loungey old school feel to it with a view of the ocean. The host came to look for us 5 min later (PERFECT!) in the bar as soon as they weren't at capacity. They let you bring your drinks up to the roof too. Wasn't hear for happy hour this time but have been to their happy hour before and it's fantabulous.
(3)
Patrick B.
Went for brunch. The mimosas were good. I loved that they were unlimited. Too bad they force you to stick with one kind. The food was pretty good. They had some really unique breakfast options that I really liked. Service was good, although sometimes they were slow at drink refills.
(4)
Janki P.
Came here after buying a deal online: $60 for one side, two entrees, two drinks and a dessert. Looked like a fancy/classy place so thought it'd be nice to get all dressed up and give it a try. The Dining Room is on the first floor of the Shangri-La hotel (which is walking distance to the Santa Monica pier) it's pretty cozy. Here's the summary of the meal: Drinks: I got a glass of Pinot Grigio (nice and dry as it should be but nothing exciting). My friend got whatever the server recommended, can't recall the name but am posting a picture. It was delicious and you couldn't even taste the alcohol, the best part was when he added something it smoked up (pretty cool). Side: We got the Dates, it's simply stuffed with roasted grapes and smoked almond pesto. Was a little to sweet and didn't go well with my wine. Entre: As a vegetarian I only had one option, the Pesto Pizza. It was cold, soggy and bland. Skip it. My friend got the Sea Bass and seemed to enjoy it. Dessert: A plate of fresh cookies. For some reason since I thought the place appeared fancier then other places that the cookies would be unique. Nope, it was your basic home cooked cookies. Should have went with something else. Outside from the romantic ambiance, friendly and attentive staff and beautiful location there's not much else to go for. The best part of my meal was the AMAZING WATER! I drank 5 glasses and could not get enough. When I asked the server what kind it was, he didn't know and said they specially order some mineral water. I wouldn't come here for a meal but would def come back to try out their various drinks and enjoy the environment, oh yeah and get a cup of water to go!
(3)
Kevin R.
I've had a Restaurant.com coupon for this place hidden under a bunch of papers on my cluttered desk for a while now. I think I bought the thing in October of 2010. Wow. Thank god for long expiration dates. I remember I bought the coupon solely because of the Dining Room's location. There's nothing better than a nice dinner on Ocean Avenue during sunset. I came here with a friend for a casual dinner after some shopping on the Promenade. We were seated right by a window the second the sun started setting. Not bad if I do say so myself. We sipped our drinks and relaxed before we even looked at the menu. After the sun was down I skimmed the menu and my eyes immediately landed on the mac and cheese. Done deal. There's my appetizer. The serving was absolutely enormous in a huge oval bowl. The top was covered in crunchy bread crumbs while the inside was melted, cheesy, gooey, awesomeness. For my entree I went with the chicken pot pie (red wine braised chicken, puffed pastry, and vegetables). The top pastry was nice and fluffy with a small crunch. The vegetables were steamed but weren't mushy. The chicken was really dry though. I actually had to drink water in order to finish each bite. Again, this dish was huge. It was an entire pot pie about the size of a regular dinner plate. There was so much that I could only finish about half of it. The food here is tasty, with huge servings and not outrageously expensive. Most places with a great view charge you for the view and the food lacks in quality. The Dining Room offers a relaxed setting in a dimly lit restaurant (that looks more like a high-end lounge), quality food at a decent price. I didn't see how much the valet was here (or if they even have one), but most lots in the area are $5 flat rate after 6pm. After just a short walk you'll be right at the entrance to the Shangri-La. A walk on the beach on a warm summer night is the perfect ending, too.
(3)
Andrea M.
Had the 2 for 1 brunch with watermelon mimosas!!! What a deal and the food! Oh my!!! chilaquiles were outstanding, I will def return. Service was TOO SLOW, but rest assured my table got our money worth. Check their roof top bar in the summer, VERY NICE
(4)
Neil H.
Went here about a month ago after an absence of several months, and was sorry to see they've dummied down the bar menu. Used to be quite inventive and unusual, now it's your basic chips and dips that are available everywhere.
(2)
Peggy L.
New chef Kareem has totally transformed this dining experience. We had a fabulous meal tonight, every single dish was outstanding. Any negative reviews prior to October 2014 should be totally disregarded because everything (food wise) is different now. The place still has a wonderful location and vibe but now the food equals it. A must go to place.
(5)
Todd H.
We had dinner Christmas day and the food was outstanding. The shrimp cocktail was amazing and the apple salad had a burst of flavor with every bite. I had the prime rib which was flavorful and cooked perfectly. My girlfriend had the Sea Bass which was also delicious. The chocolate cake and apple tart for dessert was the perfect ending to a great meal. For drinks I got the moscow mule which was one of the best I've ever had. My girlfriends drink was amazing and highly recommend the Shanghai Seduction...sweet like a juice.
(5)
Roger B.
The dining room is classy and quiet. The rooftop bar has a fantastic view but it's far from quiet - loud and crowded. But, you've got to see the view. It's amazing!
(3)
Sun H.
I love this place. the gorgeous view, happy hour and five star service. With a restaurant.com coupon, I had a great service ever. Reserving the seat by phone yesterday, my daughter and i visited here tonight. We were very welcomed, and the staff remembered us and our seats were the just waterfront view. We ordered two glasses of house wine. Originally it was $9pg but the staff came up and kindly explained it was 630pm, Happy Hour. Because we never expected and that sound was great. We ordered three glasses of wine and ravioli. The ravioli came along with corn. The corn was very chewy and delicious. We saved a great deal of money with coupon and happy hour. Additional, i am very thankful to the staffs for the happening that i fell down on the floor a few second. That moment, from the manager to the waiters really concerned me and took care of me. Sorry about that, and following your advices, i won't drink wine anymore :)
(5)
Josh B.
If you have any respect for yourself, your taste buds, your wallet, or your guests, NEVER come here. Worst service and most obnoxious staff. Removing my finger nails with bamboo shoots would have been more enjoyable.
Second visit as solid as first. Definitely recommend. Undiscovered/underutilized gem of SM brunch options.
(4)
Suzie U.
A brunch, lunch, and dinner must. I should first get this out of the way and mention what gorgeous scenery you'll enjoy. But now to the important part: food. BRUNCH: the menu is just how it should be. It is selective and plays to the food's strengths, not "size matters". I personally have had the Shirred Eggs, Chilaquiles, Eggs Benedict, and Chicken and the Egg Sandwich. The first three were amazing. The flavors were so strong, fresh, and even playful and unique at times. The sandwich was still really well balanced with flavors and textures, I just wasn't as mind blowing as the other three. I imagine the other menu items are of similar caliber to the sandwich, if not even maybe as good as the Chilaquiles and Shirred Eggs. And of course, the drinks (incl. bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary's) are a wonderful compliment to the food, view, and extended brunch chat. DINNER: I can honestly say that I haven't had a single thing that I haven't liked here. I will also say that just getting a ton of Small Plates and Flatbreads to share is a better idea than ordering individually. The burgers and steak are excellently prepared, but the strength of this chef and restaurant is in the creative use of always fresh, seasonal ingredients, so it would be a shame to miss out by only trying one dish. The menu regularly changes, so it isn't in their interest for me to point out specific dishes, but I don't even know if I would for fear of limiting the person's dining experience that may be reading this review. Get it all. If your group/stomach isn't big enough for that, then keep coming again and again and again. LUNCH: many items (and ideas and principles) are the same as the dinner review and menu NOTE: Suite 700 is also more than worth the trip up even if you are full. There's an elevator to take your overwhelmed stomach up there. ENJOY!!
(5)
Joanne L.
I came here for a girls' brunch and was sorely disappointed. What seemed like a great deal for brunch for 4 on LivingSocial ended up being not-so-great of a deal... PRO: * AMBIANCE -View was gorgeous, nothing to complain about here! CONS: * FOOD - Conquistador's steak and eggs NOT worth $26! Basically an omelette made with egg beaters in the carton, and cooked to different consistencies; mine was over done and rubbery - so much so that I had to return it, and I almost never return food. Steak was noticeably of poor quality and hard to chew - Presentation was "eh" - Bottomless mimosas were strong, but I would not pay $21 for it a la carte * SERVICE - Waiter did check up on us a couple of times, but when we had an issue with the food or had to get the check, he was nowhere to be found. There were others who graciously assisted us, however In retrospect, we all agreed that dining at Shangri-La fell far below our expectations. For a hotel of this calibre and the high brunch prices, we wanted to love it but left not even liking it. Bottomless mimosas made this a fun girls' brunch but the consensus was none of us would return, very disappointed in the food quality. Coffee, however, was very good! Parking - available at one of SM's public lots, within walking distance. Free for the first 1.5 hours and an additional $1 per increment (half hour or hour, etc.)
(2)
TC S.
Mediocre and disappointing. Lobster Louie salad had way too much spice. Cornish hen was dry. Oysters Rockefeller not cooked enough. Waiter good intentioned but had the current terrible habit of saying "no problem" in response to any request and had to be asked to put the bottle of wine in a paper bag when we were taking it home. "No problem!" Menu has gone downhill and the dining room is mostly empty as a result.
(2)
Christina P.
It was surprisingly difficult to find a place near me in Santa Monica that offered decently priced bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys and took reservations for a Sunday brunch. I wanted to do something relaxed for my birthday this year and some day drinking with friends sounded ideal, but I didn't want everyone waiting for a table for hours at some of the more popular bottomless brunch places. Shangri-la happily took our reservation for 16 people and we arrived at 11 on Sunday the place was pretty much empty so it felt like we had this fancy space all to ourselves! The interior is really classy and lovely, with lots of dark wood and cool retro swivel dining chairs that made us feel like evil geniuses hanging out in our lair. Our waitress, Ashley, took amazing care of us from beginning to end, making sure our glasses were indeed bottomless and even having my birthday cake cut for me (I never got to find out whether or not they charge a cutting fee, but hopefully we didn't as we donated half of the cake to the kitchen to eat!) The bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys are $17, which isn't cheap but I can tell you firsthand that it's truly bottomless and if your liver can take it, you'll get your money's worth. I was a bit sad to find out that you can't switch halfway from a mimosa to a Bloody Mary, but I suppose you could sneakily trade glasses with a dining partner if you really wanted both. I really enjoyed my mimosa and liked the juice they used, which tasted really fresh. I'm not going to lie - the food's really pricey. It was tasty, to be sure, but be prepared to pay $16 for a bacon avocado burger (excellently prepared with some amazing fries) and the same for a pretty standard breakfast burrito with no sides. I found it really tasty but on a normal non-special occasion, I would balk a bit at the prices for sure. But with the combination of their bottomless drinks, reservations, amazing service, and pretty decor, I felt it was worth it - and I hope my friends did too. Everyone expressed pleasant surprise at this place... I guess the hotel's kind of nondescript from the outside but once you're in, whether it's the restaurant, pool, or rooftop bar, it's all really beautiful and fun. I highly recommend it for a special occasion brunch in your life!
(4)
Johanna S.
Terrible service. I had a reservation for dinner and when I get there they made me wait at the bar for a table 45 minutes. They didn't apologize and said they had a wedding party and were busy. I left very upset and they didn't seem to care to have an unhappy customer. Worst customer service I have seen.
(1)
Alexandra S.
My friends and I had an amazing brunch here. The food was amazing (the chilaquiles are the best, while my friend's breakfast burrito was the size of her face) and the never ending drinks are amazing. My group had the mimosas and the Arnold Palmer Schwarzenegger's, which were both strong and delicious. Our server was Steven and he was amazing; attentive, accommodating, and a wonderful conversationalist. I've been to many bottomless brunches in different cities and I've never had a waiter who was as attentive, even knowing that we had paid for the never ending drinks. Definitely recommend!! Request to sit in Steven's section for sure.
(5)
Vanna V.
I had dinner reservations with my friend on Saturday. The dining area and bar have a great atmosphere and it overlooks Ocean Ave. We arrived at 9pm and it was quiet and welcoming. We started with the Duck Confit Pizza. The pizza dough was fluffy on the inside with a crispy crust. The duck meat, puree dates and pickled red onions made a great combination. My friend ordered the salmon dish with rice and asparagus and I had the Portuguese Mussels with sweet potato fries for entrees. Both meals were delicious! My mussels dish had Spanish chorizo and onions in a light broth. We also tried the mac and cheese dish. It had baked bread crumbs lightly sprinkled on top. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. They even changed our dollars so we can pay the meter outside. :) The one that that I do not like about the restaurant is the parking. It's street parking or valet at the hotel. But I guess that's how it is in Santa Monica. They also have a great late night happy hour and a rooftop bar!
(4)
Stephanie P.
BOTTOMLESS Mimosas/ Bloody Mary's on Sundays from 11-5pm. I ordered the Bloody Mary and it was excellent. Just the right amount of spice and alcohol. I'm docking 2 stars because I couldn't switch my drink order midway through from the Bloody Mary to the Mimosa. Bummer. I wanted to try both. It's a good deal for only $17.00. Also, check out the pool at Shangri La. It looks like it could be hoppin on the weekends.
(3)
Christine B.
Was there sat night 9:30pm. The full bar is nice and mellow, so is the small, dark restaurant; but starting ~10pm there exists a waitlist for people to go up to the rooftop bar, so all of them who are waiting end up coming in here and ruin the quiet, classy atmosphere. There are additional menu items (food and drink) available for $7 after 9:30pm not shown on their online pdf menu. Steak Frites, $26 - the beef was a tough and difficult to cut, w/ unchewable edge portions. I asked for well done but have had plenty of steaks that had no hint of pink and were still relatively tender. The parmesan garlic fries were horribly over-salted and almost inedible, and had no hint of garlic flavor. Short Rib Sliders, $7 - 2 good-sized, tender sliders; the horseradish sauce ruined it for me but it was my fault i missed that on the menu. Maple Bacon & Jalapeno Grilled Cheese sandwich, $7 - disappointing since it was not spicy in the least bit; cheese was bland and low quality - mediocre; an extremely oily sandwich. The hotel has valet parking for $6 w/ restaurant validation. + : very nice ambiance, a quieter place to have a drink and chat (*before 10p on Fri & Sat); in the daytime you'd have a view of the ocean at the street level. - : mediocre food at best; despite the scarcity of patrons, the food took over 25 min. to arrive.
(2)
Stephanie C.
I want to start off by saying service was wonderful, attentive but not an overbearing staff. The Food- For the price we paid was NOT worth it. I'd have to say the best thing that came with our meal was the ranch served with the chicken, not a good look. I had the steak Med Rare w/ bone marrow butter and homemade steak sauce. bland. Steak really had no flavor and not really even a great flavor of the actual steak coming through. Same with the mac and cheese and chicken that we got, everything just fell flat. All in all athough sweet service staff, but its not worth the let down. If you do go, Suite 700 is on the roof, a lounge type area with some of the food from downstairs. If you don't at least have the view from the roof dont waste your time downstairs.
(2)
Jordan B.
My girlfriend and I were both disappointed by this restaurant. Here's why: MENU: Different than what was shown on Restaurant.com menu. Different enough that I wouldn't have chosen to eat there. Instead of dinner house style like I had seen online, it was more like a pub style restaurant. It also didn't cater very well to gluten and dairy-free, which is a big deal if your menu that you advertise through sites (even if it's a third party that you should still monitor) has a lot of gluten-free and dairy-free options already. And if you have a "dinner menu" at what is supposed to be a nicer hotel restaurant don't put a hamburger, fish and chips, and fried chicken as 3 of your 6 options and 90% of your menu options come with a side of fries. You're billing yourself as a dinner house? Then build your menu like a dinner house. FOOD: Uninspiring. It seemed like the taste was designed to come from the variety of main ingredients, not how you cook or prepare them. My beef and chicken were very bland, my main dish was a soggy mess, and the dinner bread was barely warm and the kind of bagged dinner rolls you'd expect anywhere else. My girlfriend had a salad that didn't even have all the ingredients. No warning from the waiter, just was missing stuff. Was pretty much a plate of lettuce. I will say this, the condiments were good. And we looked at dishes that other people had ordered that were an upwards of $30, and they were skimpy. Also, there were maybe 7 or 8 large fries in each our "sides" with the entrees (cheap), and our calamari dish had maybe 6 or 7 reasonably sized pieces (cheap). PRICE: I wouldn't have minded the uninspiring food if it wasn't also overpriced. And nothing about meal was inspiring or worth the heftier (than expected) price tag. And aside from the burger which was a good size (filling because it's a burger), the portions on everything else in the meal were lackluster. It isn't the most expensive meal by far, but it certainly is the lousiest for the money I've had in a while. Thanks God we got our good online deal on it. SERVICE: I wouldn't have been as annoyed at the service if there wasn't an automatic 18% gratuity. While I am normally a good tipper, I feel like getting an auto-grat on a 2-top means you can slack off on your service quality, or food/beverage knowledge, or just giving a crap about the experience of your patrons, and still get the same result in your pocket. Our waiter was not at all committed to learning his food. He told us what people order a lot of, but didn't have any real food or drink knowledge for the menu. He didn't come back often to check on us or make sure we felt comfortable with our selections, even though the restaurant was hardly full at all. Not to mention, he was very awkward and slightly rude about us making our selections and also when it came time to turn in our Restaurant.com flyer (he just grabbed it out my hands as I was still reading it, chiming "I'll take that!!!") And I didn't appreciate drinking what was clearly tap water being poured from a warm pitcher. But the bus boy was nice and kept our table clean for the most part. So that was nice. VIEW: For an Ocean Blvd restaurant that had really nice pictures online, I expected more. They stuck us near the hotel entrance where it was noisy and had a lot of foot traffic (I made the reservation in advance and asked for a nice spot for us to celebrate a nice, quiet, romantic birthday), and the view looked nothing like what we saw online. We had window shades partially blocking a beautiful view of a bunch of trees and cars in front of the ocean view. I have no idea how they made it look so nice online. OVERALL: I think this place is just poorly managed. They run it like they run overpriced room service where the quality is not worth the money you pay. Service is crappy because it doesn't have to be good (auto-grat) and the ambiance is way overhyped. We won't be coming back.
(1)
Tana D.
Came here for a boozy brunch! The bottomless mimosas were excellent! Only disappointing this about this was that you cannot enjoy them in the outdoor courtyard... you must enjoy them inside the actual dining room. Lucky for me, the view of the ocean in the dining room made up for it. They were also $31 each... I'll let you judge the value on that one. The Mac and Cheese is sooo good! Must try! We also tried the Mushroom Burger, Crab Cake Sliders, Fries and Greens. Everything was delicious - no complaints. Except for that the burger could have been on a better bun. Okay, so maybe one complaint, but a small one at best. The place was surprisingly slow for a holiday weekend... tons of open tables. Overall, would return when I am in town!
(4)
lottie t.
We came here with a restaurant.com coupon, and I didn't have the print out. I thought I could just show them the code, and that would suffice, but apparently, they absolutely needed the print out. Ricardo was super nice about it, and let me email my coupon to him, and he printed it out. In addition, when you walk into The Dining Room, it seems like a restaurant that would be pretentious, but my friend and I came here after yoga, and everyone was still super friendly. We had both ordered the Maine Lobster Roll (to die for) and a side of tots. The green sauce with the tots was spicy and yummy. I definitely loved this place and would totally go back. Great service and food.
(4)
Jennifer S. P.
A bit pricey, but you have to go there knowing this. I went here with my boyfriend during the week for dinner a few weeks ago. We had a great coupon from this restaurant website that allowed us to spend more than $35 and get $25 off the bill, so we were able to try a bunch of different dishes and not feel like we were getting ripped off. Also, everything is organic and the waitress said that many of the veggies in the salad and other dishes came straight from the Farmer's Market down the street which I appreciated a lot. We tried the egg truffle small dish which was like an amazing type of french toast...SOOOOOO great. Then we tried to ravioli dish which was another delicious surprise. It was by far one of the best pasta/ravioli dishes I think I have ever had. The inside was a squash-ish veggie mixture that was topped with a nutty sweet sauce on the raviolis. We also nibbled on the black pepper truffle dish, and one more dish that I can't remember. All the seafood dishes sounded amazing, but my boyfriend and I can't each shellfish so we were a bit limited to a few dishes, but that was fine because they were all great. We paired our meals with a glass of Chardonney and a Cabernet Savignon that we tried to mix and taste with each. I recommend if you are up for a nice date night and spending a little more than usual for dinner because it was really out of the ordinary as far as the types of dishes and sauces that we regularly have.
(4)
Kimberly H.
Streaming sunlight, clear blue skies dotted with whisps of cloud here and there. Admiring the view from inside the Dining Room of Shangri-La, you'd think that you were being served a private lunch in a California - retro chic club tucked away from the touristy Santa Monica Pier and overcrowded Third Street promenade. Touting amazing views of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean during the summer, very few diners remember the Dining Room at Shangri-La during the day-time. Serving as the hotel's restaurant, it really could sit in a league of its own as the food is fit for an independent dining location. Until the buzz catches on, I'm glad that I can park and be seated instantly. On the table for review: +bruschetta (3 crostinis) - sweet tomatoes, perfectly toasted bread, micro greens and such crunch and saltiness from diced olives. A must order! Simple ingredients, but amazingly prepared - Short rib sliders (2 sandwiches) - very tender short ribs, but tasteless + Marinated olives - A melange of olives, presented in their brine were beautifully presented with some slices of Parmesan and slices of crusty bread. I liked the variety +/- Roasted Cod with tomato puree and sauteed zucchini - thin portion, haphazard messy, presentation, but perfectly crispy skin. The zucchini saute also had a seeded vegetable that tasted like a caper zucchini hybrid. Sour, but was a pleasant surprise that perfectly complimented the fish and pumped up the vegetable medley +/- Sauteed Spinach and shitake mushrooms - presented in a tiny le creuset dutch oven - very cute! However, the spinach was overly oily and if not for the baby shitake mushrooms, tasteless + side of chile lime popcorn - unique option offered to accompany their sandwich selection. Regardless of my choice of entree and as a popped corn fanatic, I was compelled to order this, and SO GLAD that I did. Dotted with fine lime zest and dusted with chili powder, this popcorn takes your taste buds by storm! A little heat, a kick of citrus and that oh-so-satisfying crunch. Easily my favorite part of the meal. Downgrade from four stars to three? Indeed. Service was lacking personality, which made my previous visit so memorable. The menu had changed and was varied across the table. Most menu items were not available for lunch, making ordering very awkward. The portion of the bruschetta had decreased from four pieces to three (but the price had not budged) - what gives Shangri-La? Coming back for more? I'm compelled by their $15 prix-fixe menu, especially on Wednesday and Saturday when they offer their Farmer's Market plate. They also offer $10 bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary's...so perhaps again for dinner, brunch, or late night drinks - but people are staying away for lunch for good reason: limited food options and empty service.
(3)
Yuki H.
Chef Dakota Weiss is an amazing chef. She was on Top Chef Texas recently and now cooking for the W hotel off of Hollywood. She was daring and took her food seriously. Decor was without a doubt superb especially if it was designed by Marc Smith (The Edison, Golden Gopher, Seven Grand) I usually let her choose what to make cause my stomach trusted her. Lol. I don't know who the cook is now but definitely a place to visit if you are staying in Santa Monica.
(3)
Kelly J.
It's a nice place to have drinks. Big & cozy chairs are very inviting to stay awhile and sip a martini. I was nonplussed by the food and wouldn't plan on eating here again, but if I find myself in the area, I would come here again for cocktail. The bartender was a cool girl, but I found the other servers I encountered to be a bit, uppity, shall we say? I'm not a big fan of uppity...
(3)
Nancy M.
I spent an enjoyable afternoon catching up with a girlfriend here over a bottle of red and a cheese plate. Staff did not try and push us out the door and the view was spectacular. As we had already had lunch I perused the menu and the items were mouth watering however I had no room! Another time.......
(4)
Bj D.
Had a great time at the Dining room. Michael the manager went out of his way to get us a table on a very full evening. The table bread was amazing and so were the entrees. We had the ravioli and the halibut both were amazing. It can get pricey and the portions were smaller than I would have liked (only thing keeping this from a 5star review) Its a great spot for a romantic dinner and then a few drinks upstairs at Suite 700. Looking forward to taking in a sunset and a cocktail from the stunning view at Suite 700.
(4)
Puja S.
Went for dinner friday night. I ordered the vegetarian dishes, starting with risotto frittes for appetizers and for the main course had the pumpkin ravioli. My meat eating husband ordered the steak with fritters. we both hated it all. As we set down we got bread and butter. the butter was cold, so hard to spread. the bread was a bit stale. the pasta was just ok, the risotto fritters were a waste of fat food and the steak wasn't great either. We hoped at least the french fries that came along with the steak would be decent. but had some weird sour seasoning. all in all everything was bad, even the sauces that came along with the dishes were bad. Sorry for the harsh review but we wont be going back! the prices were ok- with an avg dish being 18$ and steak at 24$. good location, looking at the water.
(2)
Heather M.
So I've been here probably like 15-20 times since 2005 The service is always top notch everyone here is so damn friendly For instance our waitress today was Jessica and she was so nice and knew the menu very well an was awesome Everything they have here is really great.. But the best value is their prix fixe lunch which varies but it full of excellent choices Will be stopping by again in the future, it's views are amazing !!!
(5)
Casey D.
My wife and I ate there Saturday night and had their Dine LA menu. Everything was well thought out, flavors were spot on and presented very well. I would recommend the dining room to anyone.
(4)
Dave F.
I was looking for a new place to have lunch and remembered seeing a small sign on the boardwalk along Ocean advertising an $18 Executive Lunch at the newly re-opened Shangri-La Hotel. Plus, at the Taste of Santa Monica their Octopus Ceviche and Pumpkin Soup were real winners and the Executive Chef was very personable. Decision made! First of all their were a lot of choices from a burger to salads to fresh char. They are participating in the Dine LA program which offered 3 courses for $22. Plus, their the Executive lunch which allows you to choose 2 selections from appetizers, entres and deserts. My objective was to eat a reasonable, and light, lunch-size portion versus trying the other options. Therefore, I had the Lobster Cobb Salad which was truly awesome. The salad is a reasonable lunch-sized portion of lobster served on a bed of Avocado and really awesome heirloom tomatoes from the SaMo Farmer's Market, plus lettuce and cabbage. This was an excellent salad. We met the manager who was absolutely wonderful, and shared culinary secrets. It sounds like her breakfast and brunch are also winners, as well as their dinner. I will be back as this is several blocks away! The ambiance is great and our server was great. We didn't have dessert, but did try their cappuccino which was wonderful. After lunch, I took a tour of the poolside bar and can see dining outside would be a great pleasure. This hotel will give the Viceroy and many of the other boutique hotels in Santa Monica a serious run for their money. The re-design is really nice, eliminating the old parking lot and adding a beautiful pool deck. Their service is wonderful, and this is the type of place I would stay as a business or pleasure traveler.
(4)
Tricia L.
The food is just alright. Go for the view, the service and the crowd. Very classy and sassy.
(4)
Mark R.
Great atmosphere BUT and I swear this is true. It seems to me that this place does a student exchange program letting people who have no right to be servers - serve food in exchange for staying at the connecting hotel. I dont know if that is true but it sure feels like it as I watch the sloppy dress, indifference, dirty dreadlocks ( emphasis on DREAD), lack of professionalism, and lack of grooming rule in a place that is so awesomely located that its a mortal business sin what they are doing to screw it all up. It's like a classic Michelangelo marble statue that was PAINTED. Place could so easily be a 4-5 star. I wonder who owns it. OWNERS: Write to me if you want to create fans.
(1)
Christine F.
I've been here for breakfast a few times and dinner once. Suffice to say that this place is tragically awful. That's an average rating. The breakfast is beyond inexcusably bad and the dinner is meh. I'll start with dinner since that's most Yelpers' inquiry: Starter-shrimp cocktail. Took AGES to come out even though there were only 2 other tables and many servers. The shrimp tasted dry and defrosted, although they were sizeable, and the sauce was ketchup based! As in Heinz, possibly spiked with the usual shrimp cocktail sauce. Yikes. I ordered fish with vegetables and my friend had a steak. I think a strip. The fish was greasy and so were all of the vegetables. Like diner food but on nicer plates with smaller portions. The steak was fatty and not good quality. We really, really tried because the ambience and location are great. But they just don't make it. Breakfast I've had a few times by the pool. I am not kidding-the wait is almost an hour, after one waits 20-30 minutes for the ONE server to come around. Not that many people are there. After the hour, halfway through which your coffee MAY arrive, you'll get your greasy egg sandwich. McDonald's and Burger King are WAY better than this. Three of my friends ordered theirs with cheese, and they brought a plate of COLD cheese slices and charged us 4$ each slice!! Cold. Not melted. Not on the sandwich. On a plate. There are some good menu items, which I"d recommend instead of anything cooked, such as fruit. Honestly the worst breakfast I've ever been served, ever. Go to Jack in the Box instead. Tragic!
(1)
Sara L.
Had a great meal there tonight, a great surprise! Highly recommend the spinach/ mushrooms, flatbread with truffles and the dates/ goat cheese.
(5)
JacQue S.
Love the view from the restaurant. Came here to have breakfast and was really surprise how attentive the staff is. GREAT service from the moment you walk in. Food was good too.I will definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Haley H.
I'd rather give a 3.5 The food isn't amazing, but it's good. Weekend bottomless Mimosas/Bloody Mary's for $15 are a good deal for Santa Monica. Atmosphere is great and seating works for a couple or a group (there were 6 of us for Easter Brunch). And of course, its on Ocean Avenue and has beach/ocean views. I'll definitely go back on a weekend for liquid brunch and then head out to the pool for some sun after. Overall though, this property is great and has a lot to offer with their dining room, pool and rooftop lounge.
(3)
Christophe G.
I am incredibly underwhelmed by this place! We went there yesterday for lunch, a welcome stop after a 15 miles bike ride from DTLA, and were not expecting very much from the get-go: the "dining room" is quite average, with furniture that undoubtedly must look better at night that it does during the day, and everything looking rather cheap. The food was barely decent, definitely overpriced. The $14 mushroom burger is far, far below the standards so many places in LA have accustomed us to, the fries were too greasy, some undercooked while others were almost burnt, and my bottled Newcastle was not cold enough. But the most amusing of all is how messy the service was: in the 45 minutes we were sitting there, the waiters messed up orders 3 times for people around us. Twice at the same table, for the same person! haha. People who sat after us got their food way before, while a table of 6 waited a solid 15 minutes to get their order in... when the restaurant was almost empty. The crowd there is random is not exactly glamour, and we overall felt out of place and not craving to come back, ever. But hey, it was Christmas day, and everything else was closed! Next time, we WILL wait the hour-wait time at Shutters for some real food.
(2)
sharon j.
This is one of my favorite restaurant in 2010!! I love EVERYTHING about dining room! I definitely recommend reservations for dinner on weekends as this place gets crowded. The decor & atmosphere is classic American, very relaxed and a beautiful ocean view to enjoy the sunset. Their service is excellent, definitely 5 star. And the food is AMAZING! For appetizers we had shrimp cocktail w/ spicy vodka sauce. We also ordered the oysters which were really fresh. For main course we had the steak and fries, and the roasted jidori chicken. They don't have that many selections on the main course, so next time I prefer to order more small plates. We also shared a side of mac n cheese. For dessert, we had the usual brownie and ice cream.
(5)
Maty S.
I planned a Valentine's Dinner for my bf and have read some great reviews about this place so I decided to book it. They had a special menu that day at $75/person for 5 course meal each - drinks not included. Although a little pricey, I thought it was reasonable for a 5 course meal at a nice Santa Monica location. We arrived early and were one of the first seated for dinner. The place is very small, maybe 15 tables and a bar. It was cozy and the atmosphere was romantic with candles and soft music. However, I was dissapointed as soon as we sat down to see there were only 3 small sections to the menu and we were instructed to choose 5 dishes each - not the 5 course meal I expected. To make matters worse, they put the price per person right on the menu! Not classy at all.We decided to make the best of it, afterall it was V-day and we were there to enjoy ourselves. Our waiter took our order and the dishes started coming out. We ordered an arugula salad each, butternut squash soup each, oysters, potato pancake, calamari, steak carpachio each, and a single desert. We were happy with the salad, but when the soup came out is had clams in it. We asked our waiter what this dish was and he said those were our oysters. We took his word for it although it totally looked like clam chowder...then of course our oysters came out next. The calamari was terrible, the potato pancake was greasy and mushy. During the meal we lost our waiter. We later found out he was also the bartender so soon after taking our order he left to the bar and never came back. After they took our uneaten calalmari and potato pancake, the server brought out the desert. We asked what happened to the steak carpachio and the server (not our waiter) told us we were already served the carpachio. We told him we have not and he insisted that we have been served all our dishes. We asked to speak to our waiter and we told him about our poor experience with the service, the food, and the mishaps along the way. He owned up to misrepresenting the soup and said he'd look into the steak. The only reason I gave this place 2 stars is because the manager, John, came out and saved the day. He was apologetic, explained that it was the first year they did this menu and after hearing all the negative things that happened he asked us if we still wanted to have the steaks. Becuase of the bad food up to that point we were not interested in trying more. He totally understood and as a result he comped our entire bill. Honestly, even $75 (half the price we were going to pay) for all food we received would have been too much! Because of the manager's initiative, we plan to give this place one more try and come back on a weekend for brunch. We heard this place has great bottomless mimosas.
(2)
Dancerholic W.
We've been here both for dinner and for lunch before. The service is always outstanding at this restaurant. the prices are very reasonable. We particularly loved the short rib sliders and the flat bread with tomatoes, (although, as i told the staff, we've had flat bread there before that was so bad, that we returned it). My son ordered the hamburger but he was not thrilled with it. So some items are "hit and miss". We think the inconsistency may be caused by the chef who is on staff that day.
(4)
Cheyne N.
Been here many times to meet friends for lunch, great spot. I always order the oysters to start and finish it of with the hamburger. I love caramelized onions on anything and the fries are super tasty. The servers are always super friendly and good looking BTW. They do change their menu around often, which keeps thigns fresh but they do leave their most popular dishes on there as well. This spot is really nice to take your lady friend or client you're trying to win over ; ) Definitely going to be back soon.
(5)
Allen N.
This place is a nice quiet restaurant right along the Santa Monica Beach. The ambience is super chill. I had the Lobster Roll sandwich which was packed with real lobster, the gf had the Ahi Bahn mi which was also loaded with fresh Ahi tuna and both were served on a toasted baguette. As for starters we had the empanadas which were to die for! They were packed with duck confit, potatoe, cheese, and a slice of truffle served with a veal demi glace which was rich and packed with flavor.
(5)
Joe C.
Went here today for the Mother's Day brunch, and can honestly say that it was a much below-average experience, foodwise. The omelet station was staffed by a young man who truly did not have a clue how to make an omelet (seemingly a basic requirement!). After watching him struggle through the people in front of me, spilling omelet contents all over the place while trying to get a partially folded omelet on their plate, I went simple (cheese and bacon only), and he still struggled with that! The rest of the selections ranged from the mundane (pancakes and french toast, the former cold and the latter ok) to the not so good (a tiny bit of fruit on a large plate that was near-empty the whole time I was there. Three salads, none of which were particularly well-done. Over-cooked chocolate chip cookies and brownies with minimal taste topped off the "feast." Look, I'm really not picky, but when I am paying $75 per person for a brunch (which I knew I would be beforehand), I expected the food, the ambiance, or SOMETHING to be really, really spectacular, and I was sorely disappointed. I would NOT recommend this to anyone, and I will personally not return.
(1)
Margarita K.
We came for the 3rd time last week, and our experience was awful. We brought friends with us because we raved about how the the restaurant was. We were so embarassed by what we experienced. We were not allowed to sit in a booth because we were only 4 people (the booth is for 5), and the restaurant was completely empty? After waiting for 45 minutes, 2 of our main courses came out cold. We had to send them back, when they came back they were both overcooked. Our waitress suggested to the manager that they should comp at least one of the dishes, but she refused. We were given a free desset instead. Our friends were extemely angry, and said they would never go there again. I will definately think about it.
(2)
Alexia B.
I took my boyfriend and friends here for his birthday and we had a great time. The prices are reasonable for a nice place close to the water. The drinks were tasty and the food was good as well. Try the Cucumber Gimlet and the Lamb Shank.
(4)
Cme M.
We went to the Dining Room on a weekday evening, so it was pretty quiet. Which wasn't so bad until we received our meals we ordered. We decided to give this place a shot and try several things. First of all, the oysters were terrible at $3 each, we got tiny little peas of an oyster, the tomato basil bisque soup tasted like marinara sauce out of jar, my boyfriend ordered the fried chicken, because who could mess up fried chicken? Well, The Dining Room can. After taking 1 bite and spitting it out, he had to ask for something different. I ordered the lamb which was pretty tender but aside the disgusting side plates and instant mashed potatoes and gravy from a can..the meal was unbearable. The servers were nice and did the best they could to serve overpriced, flavorless, unattractively plated food.
(1)
Shelagh M.
Lovely dining room with great ocean views, but don't order the "steak" sandwich. Made the mistake of doing that at lunch, expecting actual slices of steak for $15, and instead got little chunks of meat swimming in some kind of sauce that made it impossible to eat the sandwich without knife and fork. I've had better at fast food joints with the word "Philly" in the name. Oh, and no draft beer, although your waiter will be happy to suggest an $18 glass of wine.
(1)
Christina S.
Stopped by the Shangri-La Hotel in Santa Monica today for a light lunch and a cocktail. My girlfriend and I sat in the spacious dinning area overlooking beautiful Ocean Avenue. Had it been the weekend, you would have found us lounging poolside (the music is always fantastic). Today I was craving a fresh salad. It might be difficult deciding but I'd highly recommend the Lobster Cobb! Mixed greens tossed with a blue cheese vinaigrette, a hint of bacon, and ripe avocado with bits of yummy lobster. My mojito was great (if you aren't feeling like rum, go vodka)! The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. And as with the rest of the hotel, the service was outstanding!
(5)
Meat Me in the Middle ..
I have been to the Shangri-La many times for drinks outside by their pool, and occasionally have made it upstairs to their mixology lounge - but last night was the first time I ate in their dining room. It was small, probably around 20 tables, darker lighting and music played in the background. It overlooked the bluffs, which would be ideal for watching the sunset. I went with some friends and we looked over the wine menu quickly and (of course, like most of us on a budget) chose one of the cheaper bottles of red, around $30. Next, we scanned over the menu for some eats, some of us were starving and some of us just wanted a few little dishes, this was perfect for the latter. The menu has changed a bit. They no longer serve full entrees, but instead choose to serve tapas-style dishes - which seems to be the norm these days for places in Santa Monica. We decided on a mushroom flatbread, two grilled bruschettas, dates stuffed with cheese, wedge salad with blue cheese, and this French bread type dish that had an egg on it. All were really good, and pretty large in size, definitely enough for four people. The bill with the wine and food came out to around $90, which isn't so bad when you think about the prices for plates in Santa Monica. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that the dining room accepted the KCRW member benefits card, which took our price down like $15 bucks - good deal. We also lucked out by being in the presence of someone's birthday. The gentlemen of that party bought everyone a glass of this champagne cocktail with berries on top, and a slice of their cake. So an intimate dining room setting definitely worked out for us in the end. We left full, a little tipsy and definitely happy.
(3)
Henry L.
Went here last night with 2 other friends. Overall a very good meal, but VERY slow service...3 courses took 3 hours! But we had nowhere to be, so it was okay. The manager warned us ahead of time that would be the case because they only have one server currently, but are going to be hiring a second one soon, so the service time will definitely decrease in the near future. The food was very good. For appetizers 2 of us had the Grilled Fig and Chorizo salad special, which my friend loved so much his plate was literally so clean it looked unused, and the Grilled Artichoke, which I believe my other friend enjoyed too, but I didn't try, so can't comment. For entrees we all got steaks. My 2 friends getting the dry aged NY, which was excellent, and I got the American Kobe Sirloin special which was also very good, but we decided the NY was better. The onion rings there are OUTSTANDING as well! I've never had such good onion rings. For dessert between us we had Blood Orange sorbet (VERY fresh), fresh baked cookie assortment, and the Peanut Butter Mousse. They were all very good. The mousse was extremely rich, so the size they serve is enormous and would easily satisfy up to 3, maybe 4 people because you just can't eat that much of it (and I love peanut butter too). Overall, quite a good restaurant and once they hire that second server, I could definitely see myself eating there again. Also, it easily has one of the best views of the ocean at sunset in Santa Monica, so if you're looking for a nice romantic dinner view, forget the Lobster and come here instead! Also, corkage is $25 per BOTTLE.
I had an amazing mushroom burger that I cannot get out of my mind. Do yourself a favor and have one of these big, juicy burgers. I gotta get back to Cali.
(5)
Elpis E.
#NAME?
(4)
Jane S.
My friends and i came here on Tue night. We tried the $15 3 courses meal special...that night's special was sloppy joe, braised chicken leg, and mixed berry turnover. sloppy joe--The last time I had sloppy joe was back in grade school...and what I had that night was definitely not the sloppy joe i had in grade school. yummy yummy. : ) the seasoning was prefect.. braised chicken leg--first of all, I rarely like the american way of making chicken because 99% of the times, it would be either too dry or tasteless. BUT, wow....that braised chicken leg was orgasmic. It was super tender, juicy, and tasty. I wish i had 2 orders of it.... mixed berry turnover--it is not your traditional turnover....but yet, it was great! It wasn't super sweet--just the way i like it : ) Over all, i love the food and the over all experience. I would defiantly come over and over and over again. and recommend it to all my friends..
(5)
Callie B.
I just got home from one of the most disappointing meals of my entire life. We decided to eat at The Dining Room after getting $25 gift card for $2 from Restaurant.com . We'd never heard of the place but the description sounded good. We made out reservation and told them over the phone that one of the diners (me) had a wheat allergy. When we got there we were greeted by a waitress who seemed to alternate between bored, dismissive and downright disdainful. I don't know if my gluten allergy pissed her off or if she just hates her job but she certainly didn't make any effort to make our meal more enjoyable. We started by splitting a grilled artichoke. It seemed to have been soaked in oil before grilling, it was soggy and wet and ice cold in the middle. The oily liquid kept oozing down my arm, my napkin was soaked by the time I finished my half of the artichoke. Also, instead of serving the aoli on the side, one half of the artichoke was plopped on top of it rendering it insanely messy and almost impossible to eat with your hands. I ordered the Loup de Mer for my entree, a white wine poached bass filet served with butter poached lettuce, grapefruit segments and roasted cipolllini onions. It sounded delicious and was obviously gluten-free so I thought I was in good shape. I was wrong. This was the most bland, frightfully under-seasoned thing I have ever attempted to eat. I take it back, it wasn't under-seasoned, it was UN-seasoned. It tasted like frozen fish that had been boiled in water then served next to old, mealy grapefruit. Don't even get me started on the poached lettuce. I have had blistered lettuce before and it was divine but this was like the slimy sludge that you might find at the bottom of a bag of lettuce left in the veggie drawer for about 6 months. It was just plain nasty. I took three bites of my dish and could not continue. The waitress walked by a few times and never questioned why I wasn't eating my fish. Finally, a busser took it away. My boyfriend had a fish and pasta dish that was mediocre at best. The pasta was cooked well but he too complained that his fish was not seasoned at all. I held back my tears as the waitress dropped off our bill. Even WITH the $25 discount, our meal was $73.00, including an automatic 18% gratuity (The waitress should really savor that because it were up to me, she would have gotten maybe a 10% tip.) On our way out the maitre'd asked how everything was an I briefly told her about my unhappiness with my dish. She apologized and said she hoped we'd come again. Not a chance. I will NEVER go back there and I hope I can spare some of you the feeling I have right now. I feel used, angry and mystified. Why make shitty food? For $25 a plate, you can afford some salt and pepper. DON'T GO HERE!
(1)
Trish G.
Had breakfast here on Memorial weekend. Food and service were both outstanding. Cannot beat the view looking directly at the ocean as you dine.
(5)
joan m.
After reading a good review in LA Times went there for breakfast. We got there at 8am and were their first customers. The flowers on the table were dead and when I pointed this out the waitress just said 'yes they are' it went downhill from there. Tardy service plus hash browns were inedible again waitress said 'sorry they are all burned,it will take another 20 mins for fresh ones'. China didnt go with decor and was more like garage sale left . I sent email to the hotel Manager, and to LA Times.The hotel never did respond to my email...... Our rule in future is if the flowers are dead on the table it bodes ill for the rest of the experience!
(1)
gerald s.
Went for lunch with a friend. My friend asked for iced tea. Waitress responded that there was no iced tea. "Why? we asked. Answer: The bartender makes the iced tea and he doesn't come on duty until 4 p.m., so no iced tea for lunch!!!! Unbelievable for a classy restaurant! Apparently no one in the kitchen can boil water, make tea and pour it over some ice! After we got over laughing at the ridiculousness of this, we enjoyed the lovely view. Service was slow and almost surly. Food was mediocre. Go again? NEVER!
(2)
Bryan R.
My family came here Sunday morning, about a dozen of us. The table was prepared in advance, and comfortable, and they conveniently had an ADA elevator to help get grandma up to the dining level, which was a pleasant surprise. However. All the egg dishes came out cold. The eggs benedict hollendaise sauce was just sauce, there was no spice or flavor to it. The burgers set were set in front of the wrong peope (she who ordered hers well got it rare, and vice versa). The bottom buns of the burgers were so soft/wet when they arrived at the table, w couldn't pick them up. They forgot one of the dishes, scrambled eggs for one of the kids, which after we pointed it out arrived later, but runny, as if they hurried it off the fire. Side dishes of bacon were not delivered... until the end of the meal. We had to ask for coffee refills (it was not a crowded morning), and they arrived infrequently (same with water). Would not go back, would not recommend.
(2)
Dan C.
The only thing good about this spot is the location being right across from the beach but the view from the restaurant is far from exciting. The service is slow, the food is way over priced and just average. There is nothing remarkable about this place
(1)
Emily S.
Yummmmmmmy that is all I have to say. The Hamachi app is AMAZING! Kudos to Mark, the Chef and the rest of their team!
(5)
Kevin M.
Gave this place a second chance after a dissapointing first run of frozen oysters and cold flat breads. Went before it was busy for a quick dinner before sunset. Drinks were prompt and delicious, then we ordered and never saw our waitress again. The seared scallops were overdone and tough and the tuna tartare was decent, but the service was garbage, even though 80% of the restaurant was empty. The food runner dropped off the entrees, and we weren't checked on for the rest of the meal. No water refills, no entree check , and most importantly no cocktail check. After sitting in front of empty glasses and plates of half eaten food, I finally had to ask the hostess to find her. She was gone and a new person dropped off the bill. The icing on the cake was that after suffering through this shitty experience, we wanted to go enjoy a cocktail on the roof, but since we sat at our table for 20 minutes doing nothing, we just missed the capacity limit at 6:45pm and were asked to wait. Just a perfect ending to a bush league dining experience. Shangri-la has so much potential, but never ceases to dissappoint.
(1)
Jodi C.
My girlfriend hosted her birthday dinner here this month (January) for 12 girls in their outside cabana area. While the events coordinator and server (only one server for 12 people mind you) was as sweet as could be they failed miserably to provide a fun, let alone pleasant dining experience. First of all we were FREEZING the entire night as we waited in our dresses for a propane tank to fuel a space heater that never existed. Apparently the hotel ran out of propane in the middle of winter whilst planning an OUTDOOR birthday party. Instead of knowing this and suggesting we move indoors in the beginning of the evening, they let us continue with our frigid evening by consuming luke warm soup and practically cold french fries among other unsatisfactory items. Very, very disappointed with my first experience at Shangri-La. I would have given this only one star if it hadn't been for the fantastic cocktails made by a creative mixologist of a bartender.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
C N.
Most of my reviews usually are on extreme opposite side of the poles when it comes to star ratings. And that's because I really do my research. Why would I waste my time and money on s#it places to eat. Well luckily I found this great place for brunch. From the ambiance to the food presentation and friendly staff - this place is a well deserved 5 STARS. So satisfied after coming here that I will be returning for more. One of the best bloody mary's I've ever had. Really good on flavor. Delicious EggsBenedict. Friendly people. Try it.
(5)Leah A.
Loved this place when Chef Dakota was creating her amazing and delicious food. Definitely pricey as it is located in Santa Monica right on Ocean Ave, but beautiful restaurant and a very swanky atmosphere. Loved coming here when I lived on San Vicente. Come here, but have someone else pay. :)
(5)Halima M.
My whole family loves the food here. We are local to the area and so when ever we want to eat out on the weekend we end up here. Everything is fresh and yummy. Try the buffalo burger and the sticky toffee pudding. Yummy! In the day time you can see the ocean out the window and then walk to the promenade when you're done.
(5)Jordan B.
Happy hour was awesome! The view was incredible and the food tasted really good. I couldn't see coming here for something formal or for after happy hour. $9 for a microbrew is not appealing to me. Oysters were very good and I really enjoyed the tacos.
(4)Maureen O.
My Husband and I enjoyed a beautiful evening here in true 'Mad Men' fashion. The decor was awesome (authentic Art Deco) and so was the food. We had the salmon and the rib-eye The cool part is; I purchased a $25 gift coupon from restaurant.com for a few bucks, so it reduced our overall bill nicely. The menu was great, one of the best salads I've ever had- (poached pear), and the prices were really good for this side of town. Did I mention the full ocean view!!!!
(5)Wayne C.
dined here on a sunday night. good food and service, albeit a bit slow. a tad pricey.
(4)Riyad S.
This restaurant actually has really great food -- the Chilean Sea Bass, imho, is better than the Chilean Sea Bass at Water Grill a couple blocks down (and Water Grill is famous for its fish)! Also, my wife ordered the risotto and it's also very good and it was only $16! They also have really great service and probably even more staff than they need -- and they're all very kind.
(5)R Z.
The food here was spectacular and the martinis were to die for. I'm still dreaming of having another tamitini and berry apropos. I had the lamb which was by far one of the best lambs I've had. My husband had the pork chops and he loved his. My mother-in-law had the salmon and we were all very impressed. Cannot wait to go back. Our server/bartender Troy was excellent. So glad we found this gem of a place :)
(5)Soo H.
I came here bc I bought a brunch deal on travelzoo. Bottomless day drinking? Sign me up! They offer several options for their bottomless drinks - they have mimosas made with oj and watermelon juice, bloody marys, and arnold palmer schwarzeneggers, which are basically arnold palmers with whiskey and a hint of mint. My friend got the oj mimosa and I got the APS. Their mimosas here are good and strong (but I found the watermelon one a little too sweet), and the APS was very tasty (albeit not that strong for a whiskey drink... which is probably well advised given that you do drink it during the daytime!) The travelzoo deal included a baked good, an entree, and a coffee drink. Seeing as how we were both enjoying our bottomless drinks so much, though, we did not get coffee drinks. I got a banana muffin and my friend had a croissant. The croissant was warm and flaky and the banana muffin was dense and moist. Tasty! The entrees, however, were a bit disappointing. My friend got the chicken and fried egg sandwich, which was a bit greasy overall. I got the steak and eggs (the eggs come as a Spanish style tortilla) and the tortilla was pretty dry and tasteless. The steak was fine - I asked for medium rare and it came out more medium but it wasn't as bad as other reviews suggested (I was a bit wary of ordering it for that reason). Another really odd thing about this place is the bathrooms. The women's bathroom is located outside of the dining room, which is fine, but I don't think they regularly maintain them. There are 3 stalls and two were practically out of toilet paper. The third had full rolls of toilet paper - but do you know WHY? Because it has GIANT WINDOWS right next to the toilet that are completely open to the street. WTF? This place is kind of funny. I may return for the bottomless drinks in the future but I'd probably skip the entrees.
(3)Bonnie C.
Non-traditional lunch at Shangri-La courtesy of some gift certificates that we had: The appetizers were the big hit : Sofrito flatbread Broccolini Lobster Louie was a typical (1pc) lobster salad, and the Korean BBQ Beef Sliders were also good
(4)Dcherise007 ..
Chef Kareem!!!! My man and I went to this place with another couple for my birthday...Location and presentation are everything and this place has both. Located on Ocean right across the street from the beach, we went at night but I'm sure the view during the day is amazing... It was an honor to eat at the Chefs table and the 5 course meal was AWESOME!!! Talk about taste buds on 10!!! Words cannot express the experience. If you are ever able to sit at the Chefs table you will understand and your tummy will thank you.
(5)Lia K.
Heard a lot about their new celebrity chef and his new menu decided to try this place. Excellent food and five star service. This is my new favorite place will be going there regularly.
(5)Sudo N.
(This is only a review of breakfast. My dinner here was much better, and I will review it separately.) I got breakfast here because I was staying in the hotel, but I regretted it. I ordered the black forest ham omelet, which was okay but nothing special. It comes with spicy potato hash, which I had been looking forward to, but the hash was so underdone i could not eat it; the potatoes were still crunchy. I do not like the coffee here, which is sour and watery. Breakfast cost $15.33. I would have done better at Jinky's.
(2)Sherlyn S.
Great place to watch the sunset. Came here after going to the Bungalow at 8pm and the line was already ridiculous. They told us we had to wait 15 min to go to the rooftop -- fine... it's better than a 30 min wait. There's a bar downstairs with a loungey old school feel to it with a view of the ocean. The host came to look for us 5 min later (PERFECT!) in the bar as soon as they weren't at capacity. They let you bring your drinks up to the roof too. Wasn't hear for happy hour this time but have been to their happy hour before and it's fantabulous.
(3)Patrick B.
Went for brunch. The mimosas were good. I loved that they were unlimited. Too bad they force you to stick with one kind. The food was pretty good. They had some really unique breakfast options that I really liked. Service was good, although sometimes they were slow at drink refills.
(4)Janki P.
Came here after buying a deal online: $60 for one side, two entrees, two drinks and a dessert. Looked like a fancy/classy place so thought it'd be nice to get all dressed up and give it a try. The Dining Room is on the first floor of the Shangri-La hotel (which is walking distance to the Santa Monica pier) it's pretty cozy. Here's the summary of the meal: Drinks: I got a glass of Pinot Grigio (nice and dry as it should be but nothing exciting). My friend got whatever the server recommended, can't recall the name but am posting a picture. It was delicious and you couldn't even taste the alcohol, the best part was when he added something it smoked up (pretty cool). Side: We got the Dates, it's simply stuffed with roasted grapes and smoked almond pesto. Was a little to sweet and didn't go well with my wine. Entre: As a vegetarian I only had one option, the Pesto Pizza. It was cold, soggy and bland. Skip it. My friend got the Sea Bass and seemed to enjoy it. Dessert: A plate of fresh cookies. For some reason since I thought the place appeared fancier then other places that the cookies would be unique. Nope, it was your basic home cooked cookies. Should have went with something else. Outside from the romantic ambiance, friendly and attentive staff and beautiful location there's not much else to go for. The best part of my meal was the AMAZING WATER! I drank 5 glasses and could not get enough. When I asked the server what kind it was, he didn't know and said they specially order some mineral water. I wouldn't come here for a meal but would def come back to try out their various drinks and enjoy the environment, oh yeah and get a cup of water to go!
(3)Kevin R.
I've had a Restaurant.com coupon for this place hidden under a bunch of papers on my cluttered desk for a while now. I think I bought the thing in October of 2010. Wow. Thank god for long expiration dates. I remember I bought the coupon solely because of the Dining Room's location. There's nothing better than a nice dinner on Ocean Avenue during sunset. I came here with a friend for a casual dinner after some shopping on the Promenade. We were seated right by a window the second the sun started setting. Not bad if I do say so myself. We sipped our drinks and relaxed before we even looked at the menu. After the sun was down I skimmed the menu and my eyes immediately landed on the mac and cheese. Done deal. There's my appetizer. The serving was absolutely enormous in a huge oval bowl. The top was covered in crunchy bread crumbs while the inside was melted, cheesy, gooey, awesomeness. For my entree I went with the chicken pot pie (red wine braised chicken, puffed pastry, and vegetables). The top pastry was nice and fluffy with a small crunch. The vegetables were steamed but weren't mushy. The chicken was really dry though. I actually had to drink water in order to finish each bite. Again, this dish was huge. It was an entire pot pie about the size of a regular dinner plate. There was so much that I could only finish about half of it. The food here is tasty, with huge servings and not outrageously expensive. Most places with a great view charge you for the view and the food lacks in quality. The Dining Room offers a relaxed setting in a dimly lit restaurant (that looks more like a high-end lounge), quality food at a decent price. I didn't see how much the valet was here (or if they even have one), but most lots in the area are $5 flat rate after 6pm. After just a short walk you'll be right at the entrance to the Shangri-La. A walk on the beach on a warm summer night is the perfect ending, too.
(3)Andrea M.
Had the 2 for 1 brunch with watermelon mimosas!!! What a deal and the food! Oh my!!! chilaquiles were outstanding, I will def return. Service was TOO SLOW, but rest assured my table got our money worth. Check their roof top bar in the summer, VERY NICE
(4)Neil H.
Went here about a month ago after an absence of several months, and was sorry to see they've dummied down the bar menu. Used to be quite inventive and unusual, now it's your basic chips and dips that are available everywhere.
(2)Peggy L.
New chef Kareem has totally transformed this dining experience. We had a fabulous meal tonight, every single dish was outstanding. Any negative reviews prior to October 2014 should be totally disregarded because everything (food wise) is different now. The place still has a wonderful location and vibe but now the food equals it. A must go to place.
(5)Todd H.
We had dinner Christmas day and the food was outstanding. The shrimp cocktail was amazing and the apple salad had a burst of flavor with every bite. I had the prime rib which was flavorful and cooked perfectly. My girlfriend had the Sea Bass which was also delicious. The chocolate cake and apple tart for dessert was the perfect ending to a great meal. For drinks I got the moscow mule which was one of the best I've ever had. My girlfriends drink was amazing and highly recommend the Shanghai Seduction...sweet like a juice.
(5)Roger B.
The dining room is classy and quiet. The rooftop bar has a fantastic view but it's far from quiet - loud and crowded. But, you've got to see the view. It's amazing!
(3)Sun H.
I love this place. the gorgeous view, happy hour and five star service. With a restaurant.com coupon, I had a great service ever. Reserving the seat by phone yesterday, my daughter and i visited here tonight. We were very welcomed, and the staff remembered us and our seats were the just waterfront view. We ordered two glasses of house wine. Originally it was $9pg but the staff came up and kindly explained it was 630pm, Happy Hour. Because we never expected and that sound was great. We ordered three glasses of wine and ravioli. The ravioli came along with corn. The corn was very chewy and delicious. We saved a great deal of money with coupon and happy hour. Additional, i am very thankful to the staffs for the happening that i fell down on the floor a few second. That moment, from the manager to the waiters really concerned me and took care of me. Sorry about that, and following your advices, i won't drink wine anymore :)
(5)Josh B.
If you have any respect for yourself, your taste buds, your wallet, or your guests, NEVER come here. Worst service and most obnoxious staff. Removing my finger nails with bamboo shoots would have been more enjoyable.
(1)Christina B.
Since this is the Shangri-La, I was expecting a lot. I've been here a few times for lunch. I like it because it has an awesome view of the ocean and it's quiet. Service is usually really good and they make fresh lemonade that tastes kinda soda-ee but fresh at the same time. It's fantastic. The fries are one of my favorite items to get here. The rest of the food--not that impressed. I had their beet salad (too much salt), Korean burger (I would say it's Korean influenced but in that overly seasoned but not quite right American version), fresh fruit (not ripe), tuna crudités (meh), and lobster roll (pretty good). So why the four stars? The view, quietness, French fries, lemonade, and service bumps it up. Surprisingly not too expensive ($20 an entree?). Plus they let me have lunch outside by the pool:)
(4)Dan B.
Second visit as solid as first. Definitely recommend. Undiscovered/underutilized gem of SM brunch options.
(4)Suzie U.
A brunch, lunch, and dinner must. I should first get this out of the way and mention what gorgeous scenery you'll enjoy. But now to the important part: food. BRUNCH: the menu is just how it should be. It is selective and plays to the food's strengths, not "size matters". I personally have had the Shirred Eggs, Chilaquiles, Eggs Benedict, and Chicken and the Egg Sandwich. The first three were amazing. The flavors were so strong, fresh, and even playful and unique at times. The sandwich was still really well balanced with flavors and textures, I just wasn't as mind blowing as the other three. I imagine the other menu items are of similar caliber to the sandwich, if not even maybe as good as the Chilaquiles and Shirred Eggs. And of course, the drinks (incl. bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary's) are a wonderful compliment to the food, view, and extended brunch chat. DINNER: I can honestly say that I haven't had a single thing that I haven't liked here. I will also say that just getting a ton of Small Plates and Flatbreads to share is a better idea than ordering individually. The burgers and steak are excellently prepared, but the strength of this chef and restaurant is in the creative use of always fresh, seasonal ingredients, so it would be a shame to miss out by only trying one dish. The menu regularly changes, so it isn't in their interest for me to point out specific dishes, but I don't even know if I would for fear of limiting the person's dining experience that may be reading this review. Get it all. If your group/stomach isn't big enough for that, then keep coming again and again and again. LUNCH: many items (and ideas and principles) are the same as the dinner review and menu NOTE: Suite 700 is also more than worth the trip up even if you are full. There's an elevator to take your overwhelmed stomach up there. ENJOY!!
(5)Joanne L.
I came here for a girls' brunch and was sorely disappointed. What seemed like a great deal for brunch for 4 on LivingSocial ended up being not-so-great of a deal... PRO: * AMBIANCE -View was gorgeous, nothing to complain about here! CONS: * FOOD - Conquistador's steak and eggs NOT worth $26! Basically an omelette made with egg beaters in the carton, and cooked to different consistencies; mine was over done and rubbery - so much so that I had to return it, and I almost never return food. Steak was noticeably of poor quality and hard to chew - Presentation was "eh" - Bottomless mimosas were strong, but I would not pay $21 for it a la carte * SERVICE - Waiter did check up on us a couple of times, but when we had an issue with the food or had to get the check, he was nowhere to be found. There were others who graciously assisted us, however In retrospect, we all agreed that dining at Shangri-La fell far below our expectations. For a hotel of this calibre and the high brunch prices, we wanted to love it but left not even liking it. Bottomless mimosas made this a fun girls' brunch but the consensus was none of us would return, very disappointed in the food quality. Coffee, however, was very good! Parking - available at one of SM's public lots, within walking distance. Free for the first 1.5 hours and an additional $1 per increment (half hour or hour, etc.)
(2)TC S.
Mediocre and disappointing. Lobster Louie salad had way too much spice. Cornish hen was dry. Oysters Rockefeller not cooked enough. Waiter good intentioned but had the current terrible habit of saying "no problem" in response to any request and had to be asked to put the bottle of wine in a paper bag when we were taking it home. "No problem!" Menu has gone downhill and the dining room is mostly empty as a result.
(2)Christina P.
It was surprisingly difficult to find a place near me in Santa Monica that offered decently priced bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys and took reservations for a Sunday brunch. I wanted to do something relaxed for my birthday this year and some day drinking with friends sounded ideal, but I didn't want everyone waiting for a table for hours at some of the more popular bottomless brunch places. Shangri-la happily took our reservation for 16 people and we arrived at 11 on Sunday the place was pretty much empty so it felt like we had this fancy space all to ourselves! The interior is really classy and lovely, with lots of dark wood and cool retro swivel dining chairs that made us feel like evil geniuses hanging out in our lair. Our waitress, Ashley, took amazing care of us from beginning to end, making sure our glasses were indeed bottomless and even having my birthday cake cut for me (I never got to find out whether or not they charge a cutting fee, but hopefully we didn't as we donated half of the cake to the kitchen to eat!) The bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys are $17, which isn't cheap but I can tell you firsthand that it's truly bottomless and if your liver can take it, you'll get your money's worth. I was a bit sad to find out that you can't switch halfway from a mimosa to a Bloody Mary, but I suppose you could sneakily trade glasses with a dining partner if you really wanted both. I really enjoyed my mimosa and liked the juice they used, which tasted really fresh. I'm not going to lie - the food's really pricey. It was tasty, to be sure, but be prepared to pay $16 for a bacon avocado burger (excellently prepared with some amazing fries) and the same for a pretty standard breakfast burrito with no sides. I found it really tasty but on a normal non-special occasion, I would balk a bit at the prices for sure. But with the combination of their bottomless drinks, reservations, amazing service, and pretty decor, I felt it was worth it - and I hope my friends did too. Everyone expressed pleasant surprise at this place... I guess the hotel's kind of nondescript from the outside but once you're in, whether it's the restaurant, pool, or rooftop bar, it's all really beautiful and fun. I highly recommend it for a special occasion brunch in your life!
(4)Johanna S.
Terrible service. I had a reservation for dinner and when I get there they made me wait at the bar for a table 45 minutes. They didn't apologize and said they had a wedding party and were busy. I left very upset and they didn't seem to care to have an unhappy customer. Worst customer service I have seen.
(1)Alexandra S.
My friends and I had an amazing brunch here. The food was amazing (the chilaquiles are the best, while my friend's breakfast burrito was the size of her face) and the never ending drinks are amazing. My group had the mimosas and the Arnold Palmer Schwarzenegger's, which were both strong and delicious. Our server was Steven and he was amazing; attentive, accommodating, and a wonderful conversationalist. I've been to many bottomless brunches in different cities and I've never had a waiter who was as attentive, even knowing that we had paid for the never ending drinks. Definitely recommend!! Request to sit in Steven's section for sure.
(5)Vanna V.
I had dinner reservations with my friend on Saturday. The dining area and bar have a great atmosphere and it overlooks Ocean Ave. We arrived at 9pm and it was quiet and welcoming. We started with the Duck Confit Pizza. The pizza dough was fluffy on the inside with a crispy crust. The duck meat, puree dates and pickled red onions made a great combination. My friend ordered the salmon dish with rice and asparagus and I had the Portuguese Mussels with sweet potato fries for entrees. Both meals were delicious! My mussels dish had Spanish chorizo and onions in a light broth. We also tried the mac and cheese dish. It had baked bread crumbs lightly sprinkled on top. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. They even changed our dollars so we can pay the meter outside. :) The one that that I do not like about the restaurant is the parking. It's street parking or valet at the hotel. But I guess that's how it is in Santa Monica. They also have a great late night happy hour and a rooftop bar!
(4)Stephanie P.
BOTTOMLESS Mimosas/ Bloody Mary's on Sundays from 11-5pm. I ordered the Bloody Mary and it was excellent. Just the right amount of spice and alcohol. I'm docking 2 stars because I couldn't switch my drink order midway through from the Bloody Mary to the Mimosa. Bummer. I wanted to try both. It's a good deal for only $17.00. Also, check out the pool at Shangri La. It looks like it could be hoppin on the weekends.
(3)Christine B.
Was there sat night 9:30pm. The full bar is nice and mellow, so is the small, dark restaurant; but starting ~10pm there exists a waitlist for people to go up to the rooftop bar, so all of them who are waiting end up coming in here and ruin the quiet, classy atmosphere. There are additional menu items (food and drink) available for $7 after 9:30pm not shown on their online pdf menu. Steak Frites, $26 - the beef was a tough and difficult to cut, w/ unchewable edge portions. I asked for well done but have had plenty of steaks that had no hint of pink and were still relatively tender. The parmesan garlic fries were horribly over-salted and almost inedible, and had no hint of garlic flavor. Short Rib Sliders, $7 - 2 good-sized, tender sliders; the horseradish sauce ruined it for me but it was my fault i missed that on the menu. Maple Bacon & Jalapeno Grilled Cheese sandwich, $7 - disappointing since it was not spicy in the least bit; cheese was bland and low quality - mediocre; an extremely oily sandwich. The hotel has valet parking for $6 w/ restaurant validation. + : very nice ambiance, a quieter place to have a drink and chat (*before 10p on Fri & Sat); in the daytime you'd have a view of the ocean at the street level. - : mediocre food at best; despite the scarcity of patrons, the food took over 25 min. to arrive.
(2)Stephanie C.
I want to start off by saying service was wonderful, attentive but not an overbearing staff. The Food- For the price we paid was NOT worth it. I'd have to say the best thing that came with our meal was the ranch served with the chicken, not a good look. I had the steak Med Rare w/ bone marrow butter and homemade steak sauce. bland. Steak really had no flavor and not really even a great flavor of the actual steak coming through. Same with the mac and cheese and chicken that we got, everything just fell flat. All in all athough sweet service staff, but its not worth the let down. If you do go, Suite 700 is on the roof, a lounge type area with some of the food from downstairs. If you don't at least have the view from the roof dont waste your time downstairs.
(2)Jordan B.
My girlfriend and I were both disappointed by this restaurant. Here's why: MENU: Different than what was shown on Restaurant.com menu. Different enough that I wouldn't have chosen to eat there. Instead of dinner house style like I had seen online, it was more like a pub style restaurant. It also didn't cater very well to gluten and dairy-free, which is a big deal if your menu that you advertise through sites (even if it's a third party that you should still monitor) has a lot of gluten-free and dairy-free options already. And if you have a "dinner menu" at what is supposed to be a nicer hotel restaurant don't put a hamburger, fish and chips, and fried chicken as 3 of your 6 options and 90% of your menu options come with a side of fries. You're billing yourself as a dinner house? Then build your menu like a dinner house. FOOD: Uninspiring. It seemed like the taste was designed to come from the variety of main ingredients, not how you cook or prepare them. My beef and chicken were very bland, my main dish was a soggy mess, and the dinner bread was barely warm and the kind of bagged dinner rolls you'd expect anywhere else. My girlfriend had a salad that didn't even have all the ingredients. No warning from the waiter, just was missing stuff. Was pretty much a plate of lettuce. I will say this, the condiments were good. And we looked at dishes that other people had ordered that were an upwards of $30, and they were skimpy. Also, there were maybe 7 or 8 large fries in each our "sides" with the entrees (cheap), and our calamari dish had maybe 6 or 7 reasonably sized pieces (cheap). PRICE: I wouldn't have minded the uninspiring food if it wasn't also overpriced. And nothing about meal was inspiring or worth the heftier (than expected) price tag. And aside from the burger which was a good size (filling because it's a burger), the portions on everything else in the meal were lackluster. It isn't the most expensive meal by far, but it certainly is the lousiest for the money I've had in a while. Thanks God we got our good online deal on it. SERVICE: I wouldn't have been as annoyed at the service if there wasn't an automatic 18% gratuity. While I am normally a good tipper, I feel like getting an auto-grat on a 2-top means you can slack off on your service quality, or food/beverage knowledge, or just giving a crap about the experience of your patrons, and still get the same result in your pocket. Our waiter was not at all committed to learning his food. He told us what people order a lot of, but didn't have any real food or drink knowledge for the menu. He didn't come back often to check on us or make sure we felt comfortable with our selections, even though the restaurant was hardly full at all. Not to mention, he was very awkward and slightly rude about us making our selections and also when it came time to turn in our Restaurant.com flyer (he just grabbed it out my hands as I was still reading it, chiming "I'll take that!!!") And I didn't appreciate drinking what was clearly tap water being poured from a warm pitcher. But the bus boy was nice and kept our table clean for the most part. So that was nice. VIEW: For an Ocean Blvd restaurant that had really nice pictures online, I expected more. They stuck us near the hotel entrance where it was noisy and had a lot of foot traffic (I made the reservation in advance and asked for a nice spot for us to celebrate a nice, quiet, romantic birthday), and the view looked nothing like what we saw online. We had window shades partially blocking a beautiful view of a bunch of trees and cars in front of the ocean view. I have no idea how they made it look so nice online. OVERALL: I think this place is just poorly managed. They run it like they run overpriced room service where the quality is not worth the money you pay. Service is crappy because it doesn't have to be good (auto-grat) and the ambiance is way overhyped. We won't be coming back.
(1)Tana D.
Came here for a boozy brunch! The bottomless mimosas were excellent! Only disappointing this about this was that you cannot enjoy them in the outdoor courtyard... you must enjoy them inside the actual dining room. Lucky for me, the view of the ocean in the dining room made up for it. They were also $31 each... I'll let you judge the value on that one. The Mac and Cheese is sooo good! Must try! We also tried the Mushroom Burger, Crab Cake Sliders, Fries and Greens. Everything was delicious - no complaints. Except for that the burger could have been on a better bun. Okay, so maybe one complaint, but a small one at best. The place was surprisingly slow for a holiday weekend... tons of open tables. Overall, would return when I am in town!
(4)lottie t.
We came here with a restaurant.com coupon, and I didn't have the print out. I thought I could just show them the code, and that would suffice, but apparently, they absolutely needed the print out. Ricardo was super nice about it, and let me email my coupon to him, and he printed it out. In addition, when you walk into The Dining Room, it seems like a restaurant that would be pretentious, but my friend and I came here after yoga, and everyone was still super friendly. We had both ordered the Maine Lobster Roll (to die for) and a side of tots. The green sauce with the tots was spicy and yummy. I definitely loved this place and would totally go back. Great service and food.
(4)Jennifer S. P.
A bit pricey, but you have to go there knowing this. I went here with my boyfriend during the week for dinner a few weeks ago. We had a great coupon from this restaurant website that allowed us to spend more than $35 and get $25 off the bill, so we were able to try a bunch of different dishes and not feel like we were getting ripped off. Also, everything is organic and the waitress said that many of the veggies in the salad and other dishes came straight from the Farmer's Market down the street which I appreciated a lot. We tried the egg truffle small dish which was like an amazing type of french toast...SOOOOOO great. Then we tried to ravioli dish which was another delicious surprise. It was by far one of the best pasta/ravioli dishes I think I have ever had. The inside was a squash-ish veggie mixture that was topped with a nutty sweet sauce on the raviolis. We also nibbled on the black pepper truffle dish, and one more dish that I can't remember. All the seafood dishes sounded amazing, but my boyfriend and I can't each shellfish so we were a bit limited to a few dishes, but that was fine because they were all great. We paired our meals with a glass of Chardonney and a Cabernet Savignon that we tried to mix and taste with each. I recommend if you are up for a nice date night and spending a little more than usual for dinner because it was really out of the ordinary as far as the types of dishes and sauces that we regularly have.
(4)Kimberly H.
Streaming sunlight, clear blue skies dotted with whisps of cloud here and there. Admiring the view from inside the Dining Room of Shangri-La, you'd think that you were being served a private lunch in a California - retro chic club tucked away from the touristy Santa Monica Pier and overcrowded Third Street promenade. Touting amazing views of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean during the summer, very few diners remember the Dining Room at Shangri-La during the day-time. Serving as the hotel's restaurant, it really could sit in a league of its own as the food is fit for an independent dining location. Until the buzz catches on, I'm glad that I can park and be seated instantly. On the table for review: +bruschetta (3 crostinis) - sweet tomatoes, perfectly toasted bread, micro greens and such crunch and saltiness from diced olives. A must order! Simple ingredients, but amazingly prepared - Short rib sliders (2 sandwiches) - very tender short ribs, but tasteless + Marinated olives - A melange of olives, presented in their brine were beautifully presented with some slices of Parmesan and slices of crusty bread. I liked the variety +/- Roasted Cod with tomato puree and sauteed zucchini - thin portion, haphazard messy, presentation, but perfectly crispy skin. The zucchini saute also had a seeded vegetable that tasted like a caper zucchini hybrid. Sour, but was a pleasant surprise that perfectly complimented the fish and pumped up the vegetable medley +/- Sauteed Spinach and shitake mushrooms - presented in a tiny le creuset dutch oven - very cute! However, the spinach was overly oily and if not for the baby shitake mushrooms, tasteless + side of chile lime popcorn - unique option offered to accompany their sandwich selection. Regardless of my choice of entree and as a popped corn fanatic, I was compelled to order this, and SO GLAD that I did. Dotted with fine lime zest and dusted with chili powder, this popcorn takes your taste buds by storm! A little heat, a kick of citrus and that oh-so-satisfying crunch. Easily my favorite part of the meal. Downgrade from four stars to three? Indeed. Service was lacking personality, which made my previous visit so memorable. The menu had changed and was varied across the table. Most menu items were not available for lunch, making ordering very awkward. The portion of the bruschetta had decreased from four pieces to three (but the price had not budged) - what gives Shangri-La? Coming back for more? I'm compelled by their $15 prix-fixe menu, especially on Wednesday and Saturday when they offer their Farmer's Market plate. They also offer $10 bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary's...so perhaps again for dinner, brunch, or late night drinks - but people are staying away for lunch for good reason: limited food options and empty service.
(3)Yuki H.
Chef Dakota Weiss is an amazing chef. She was on Top Chef Texas recently and now cooking for the W hotel off of Hollywood. She was daring and took her food seriously. Decor was without a doubt superb especially if it was designed by Marc Smith (The Edison, Golden Gopher, Seven Grand) I usually let her choose what to make cause my stomach trusted her. Lol. I don't know who the cook is now but definitely a place to visit if you are staying in Santa Monica.
(3)Kelly J.
It's a nice place to have drinks. Big & cozy chairs are very inviting to stay awhile and sip a martini. I was nonplussed by the food and wouldn't plan on eating here again, but if I find myself in the area, I would come here again for cocktail. The bartender was a cool girl, but I found the other servers I encountered to be a bit, uppity, shall we say? I'm not a big fan of uppity...
(3)Nancy M.
I spent an enjoyable afternoon catching up with a girlfriend here over a bottle of red and a cheese plate. Staff did not try and push us out the door and the view was spectacular. As we had already had lunch I perused the menu and the items were mouth watering however I had no room! Another time.......
(4)Bj D.
Had a great time at the Dining room. Michael the manager went out of his way to get us a table on a very full evening. The table bread was amazing and so were the entrees. We had the ravioli and the halibut both were amazing. It can get pricey and the portions were smaller than I would have liked (only thing keeping this from a 5star review) Its a great spot for a romantic dinner and then a few drinks upstairs at Suite 700. Looking forward to taking in a sunset and a cocktail from the stunning view at Suite 700.
(4)Puja S.
Went for dinner friday night. I ordered the vegetarian dishes, starting with risotto frittes for appetizers and for the main course had the pumpkin ravioli. My meat eating husband ordered the steak with fritters. we both hated it all. As we set down we got bread and butter. the butter was cold, so hard to spread. the bread was a bit stale. the pasta was just ok, the risotto fritters were a waste of fat food and the steak wasn't great either. We hoped at least the french fries that came along with the steak would be decent. but had some weird sour seasoning. all in all everything was bad, even the sauces that came along with the dishes were bad. Sorry for the harsh review but we wont be going back! the prices were ok- with an avg dish being 18$ and steak at 24$. good location, looking at the water.
(2)Heather M.
So I've been here probably like 15-20 times since 2005 The service is always top notch everyone here is so damn friendly For instance our waitress today was Jessica and she was so nice and knew the menu very well an was awesome Everything they have here is really great.. But the best value is their prix fixe lunch which varies but it full of excellent choices Will be stopping by again in the future, it's views are amazing !!!
(5)Casey D.
My wife and I ate there Saturday night and had their Dine LA menu. Everything was well thought out, flavors were spot on and presented very well. I would recommend the dining room to anyone.
(4)Dave F.
I was looking for a new place to have lunch and remembered seeing a small sign on the boardwalk along Ocean advertising an $18 Executive Lunch at the newly re-opened Shangri-La Hotel. Plus, at the Taste of Santa Monica their Octopus Ceviche and Pumpkin Soup were real winners and the Executive Chef was very personable. Decision made! First of all their were a lot of choices from a burger to salads to fresh char. They are participating in the Dine LA program which offered 3 courses for $22. Plus, their the Executive lunch which allows you to choose 2 selections from appetizers, entres and deserts. My objective was to eat a reasonable, and light, lunch-size portion versus trying the other options. Therefore, I had the Lobster Cobb Salad which was truly awesome. The salad is a reasonable lunch-sized portion of lobster served on a bed of Avocado and really awesome heirloom tomatoes from the SaMo Farmer's Market, plus lettuce and cabbage. This was an excellent salad. We met the manager who was absolutely wonderful, and shared culinary secrets. It sounds like her breakfast and brunch are also winners, as well as their dinner. I will be back as this is several blocks away! The ambiance is great and our server was great. We didn't have dessert, but did try their cappuccino which was wonderful. After lunch, I took a tour of the poolside bar and can see dining outside would be a great pleasure. This hotel will give the Viceroy and many of the other boutique hotels in Santa Monica a serious run for their money. The re-design is really nice, eliminating the old parking lot and adding a beautiful pool deck. Their service is wonderful, and this is the type of place I would stay as a business or pleasure traveler.
(4)Tricia L.
The food is just alright. Go for the view, the service and the crowd. Very classy and sassy.
(4)Mark R.
Great atmosphere BUT and I swear this is true. It seems to me that this place does a student exchange program letting people who have no right to be servers - serve food in exchange for staying at the connecting hotel. I dont know if that is true but it sure feels like it as I watch the sloppy dress, indifference, dirty dreadlocks ( emphasis on DREAD), lack of professionalism, and lack of grooming rule in a place that is so awesomely located that its a mortal business sin what they are doing to screw it all up. It's like a classic Michelangelo marble statue that was PAINTED. Place could so easily be a 4-5 star. I wonder who owns it. OWNERS: Write to me if you want to create fans.
(1)Christine F.
I've been here for breakfast a few times and dinner once. Suffice to say that this place is tragically awful. That's an average rating. The breakfast is beyond inexcusably bad and the dinner is meh. I'll start with dinner since that's most Yelpers' inquiry: Starter-shrimp cocktail. Took AGES to come out even though there were only 2 other tables and many servers. The shrimp tasted dry and defrosted, although they were sizeable, and the sauce was ketchup based! As in Heinz, possibly spiked with the usual shrimp cocktail sauce. Yikes. I ordered fish with vegetables and my friend had a steak. I think a strip. The fish was greasy and so were all of the vegetables. Like diner food but on nicer plates with smaller portions. The steak was fatty and not good quality. We really, really tried because the ambience and location are great. But they just don't make it. Breakfast I've had a few times by the pool. I am not kidding-the wait is almost an hour, after one waits 20-30 minutes for the ONE server to come around. Not that many people are there. After the hour, halfway through which your coffee MAY arrive, you'll get your greasy egg sandwich. McDonald's and Burger King are WAY better than this. Three of my friends ordered theirs with cheese, and they brought a plate of COLD cheese slices and charged us 4$ each slice!! Cold. Not melted. Not on the sandwich. On a plate. There are some good menu items, which I"d recommend instead of anything cooked, such as fruit. Honestly the worst breakfast I've ever been served, ever. Go to Jack in the Box instead. Tragic!
(1)Sara L.
Had a great meal there tonight, a great surprise! Highly recommend the spinach/ mushrooms, flatbread with truffles and the dates/ goat cheese.
(5)JacQue S.
Love the view from the restaurant. Came here to have breakfast and was really surprise how attentive the staff is. GREAT service from the moment you walk in. Food was good too.I will definitely recommend this place.
(4)Haley H.
I'd rather give a 3.5 The food isn't amazing, but it's good. Weekend bottomless Mimosas/Bloody Mary's for $15 are a good deal for Santa Monica. Atmosphere is great and seating works for a couple or a group (there were 6 of us for Easter Brunch). And of course, its on Ocean Avenue and has beach/ocean views. I'll definitely go back on a weekend for liquid brunch and then head out to the pool for some sun after. Overall though, this property is great and has a lot to offer with their dining room, pool and rooftop lounge.
(3)Christophe G.
I am incredibly underwhelmed by this place! We went there yesterday for lunch, a welcome stop after a 15 miles bike ride from DTLA, and were not expecting very much from the get-go: the "dining room" is quite average, with furniture that undoubtedly must look better at night that it does during the day, and everything looking rather cheap. The food was barely decent, definitely overpriced. The $14 mushroom burger is far, far below the standards so many places in LA have accustomed us to, the fries were too greasy, some undercooked while others were almost burnt, and my bottled Newcastle was not cold enough. But the most amusing of all is how messy the service was: in the 45 minutes we were sitting there, the waiters messed up orders 3 times for people around us. Twice at the same table, for the same person! haha. People who sat after us got their food way before, while a table of 6 waited a solid 15 minutes to get their order in... when the restaurant was almost empty. The crowd there is random is not exactly glamour, and we overall felt out of place and not craving to come back, ever. But hey, it was Christmas day, and everything else was closed! Next time, we WILL wait the hour-wait time at Shutters for some real food.
(2)sharon j.
This is one of my favorite restaurant in 2010!! I love EVERYTHING about dining room! I definitely recommend reservations for dinner on weekends as this place gets crowded. The decor & atmosphere is classic American, very relaxed and a beautiful ocean view to enjoy the sunset. Their service is excellent, definitely 5 star. And the food is AMAZING! For appetizers we had shrimp cocktail w/ spicy vodka sauce. We also ordered the oysters which were really fresh. For main course we had the steak and fries, and the roasted jidori chicken. They don't have that many selections on the main course, so next time I prefer to order more small plates. We also shared a side of mac n cheese. For dessert, we had the usual brownie and ice cream.
(5)Maty S.
I planned a Valentine's Dinner for my bf and have read some great reviews about this place so I decided to book it. They had a special menu that day at $75/person for 5 course meal each - drinks not included. Although a little pricey, I thought it was reasonable for a 5 course meal at a nice Santa Monica location. We arrived early and were one of the first seated for dinner. The place is very small, maybe 15 tables and a bar. It was cozy and the atmosphere was romantic with candles and soft music. However, I was dissapointed as soon as we sat down to see there were only 3 small sections to the menu and we were instructed to choose 5 dishes each - not the 5 course meal I expected. To make matters worse, they put the price per person right on the menu! Not classy at all.We decided to make the best of it, afterall it was V-day and we were there to enjoy ourselves. Our waiter took our order and the dishes started coming out. We ordered an arugula salad each, butternut squash soup each, oysters, potato pancake, calamari, steak carpachio each, and a single desert. We were happy with the salad, but when the soup came out is had clams in it. We asked our waiter what this dish was and he said those were our oysters. We took his word for it although it totally looked like clam chowder...then of course our oysters came out next. The calamari was terrible, the potato pancake was greasy and mushy. During the meal we lost our waiter. We later found out he was also the bartender so soon after taking our order he left to the bar and never came back. After they took our uneaten calalmari and potato pancake, the server brought out the desert. We asked what happened to the steak carpachio and the server (not our waiter) told us we were already served the carpachio. We told him we have not and he insisted that we have been served all our dishes. We asked to speak to our waiter and we told him about our poor experience with the service, the food, and the mishaps along the way. He owned up to misrepresenting the soup and said he'd look into the steak. The only reason I gave this place 2 stars is because the manager, John, came out and saved the day. He was apologetic, explained that it was the first year they did this menu and after hearing all the negative things that happened he asked us if we still wanted to have the steaks. Becuase of the bad food up to that point we were not interested in trying more. He totally understood and as a result he comped our entire bill. Honestly, even $75 (half the price we were going to pay) for all food we received would have been too much! Because of the manager's initiative, we plan to give this place one more try and come back on a weekend for brunch. We heard this place has great bottomless mimosas.
(2)Dancerholic W.
We've been here both for dinner and for lunch before. The service is always outstanding at this restaurant. the prices are very reasonable. We particularly loved the short rib sliders and the flat bread with tomatoes, (although, as i told the staff, we've had flat bread there before that was so bad, that we returned it). My son ordered the hamburger but he was not thrilled with it. So some items are "hit and miss". We think the inconsistency may be caused by the chef who is on staff that day.
(4)Cheyne N.
Been here many times to meet friends for lunch, great spot. I always order the oysters to start and finish it of with the hamburger. I love caramelized onions on anything and the fries are super tasty. The servers are always super friendly and good looking BTW. They do change their menu around often, which keeps thigns fresh but they do leave their most popular dishes on there as well. This spot is really nice to take your lady friend or client you're trying to win over ; ) Definitely going to be back soon.
(5)Allen N.
This place is a nice quiet restaurant right along the Santa Monica Beach. The ambience is super chill. I had the Lobster Roll sandwich which was packed with real lobster, the gf had the Ahi Bahn mi which was also loaded with fresh Ahi tuna and both were served on a toasted baguette. As for starters we had the empanadas which were to die for! They were packed with duck confit, potatoe, cheese, and a slice of truffle served with a veal demi glace which was rich and packed with flavor.
(5)Joe C.
Went here today for the Mother's Day brunch, and can honestly say that it was a much below-average experience, foodwise. The omelet station was staffed by a young man who truly did not have a clue how to make an omelet (seemingly a basic requirement!). After watching him struggle through the people in front of me, spilling omelet contents all over the place while trying to get a partially folded omelet on their plate, I went simple (cheese and bacon only), and he still struggled with that! The rest of the selections ranged from the mundane (pancakes and french toast, the former cold and the latter ok) to the not so good (a tiny bit of fruit on a large plate that was near-empty the whole time I was there. Three salads, none of which were particularly well-done. Over-cooked chocolate chip cookies and brownies with minimal taste topped off the "feast." Look, I'm really not picky, but when I am paying $75 per person for a brunch (which I knew I would be beforehand), I expected the food, the ambiance, or SOMETHING to be really, really spectacular, and I was sorely disappointed. I would NOT recommend this to anyone, and I will personally not return.
(1)Margarita K.
We came for the 3rd time last week, and our experience was awful. We brought friends with us because we raved about how the the restaurant was. We were so embarassed by what we experienced. We were not allowed to sit in a booth because we were only 4 people (the booth is for 5), and the restaurant was completely empty? After waiting for 45 minutes, 2 of our main courses came out cold. We had to send them back, when they came back they were both overcooked. Our waitress suggested to the manager that they should comp at least one of the dishes, but she refused. We were given a free desset instead. Our friends were extemely angry, and said they would never go there again. I will definately think about it.
(2)Alexia B.
I took my boyfriend and friends here for his birthday and we had a great time. The prices are reasonable for a nice place close to the water. The drinks were tasty and the food was good as well. Try the Cucumber Gimlet and the Lamb Shank.
(4)Cme M.
We went to the Dining Room on a weekday evening, so it was pretty quiet. Which wasn't so bad until we received our meals we ordered. We decided to give this place a shot and try several things. First of all, the oysters were terrible at $3 each, we got tiny little peas of an oyster, the tomato basil bisque soup tasted like marinara sauce out of jar, my boyfriend ordered the fried chicken, because who could mess up fried chicken? Well, The Dining Room can. After taking 1 bite and spitting it out, he had to ask for something different. I ordered the lamb which was pretty tender but aside the disgusting side plates and instant mashed potatoes and gravy from a can..the meal was unbearable. The servers were nice and did the best they could to serve overpriced, flavorless, unattractively plated food.
(1)Shelagh M.
Lovely dining room with great ocean views, but don't order the "steak" sandwich. Made the mistake of doing that at lunch, expecting actual slices of steak for $15, and instead got little chunks of meat swimming in some kind of sauce that made it impossible to eat the sandwich without knife and fork. I've had better at fast food joints with the word "Philly" in the name. Oh, and no draft beer, although your waiter will be happy to suggest an $18 glass of wine.
(1)Christina S.
Stopped by the Shangri-La Hotel in Santa Monica today for a light lunch and a cocktail. My girlfriend and I sat in the spacious dinning area overlooking beautiful Ocean Avenue. Had it been the weekend, you would have found us lounging poolside (the music is always fantastic). Today I was craving a fresh salad. It might be difficult deciding but I'd highly recommend the Lobster Cobb! Mixed greens tossed with a blue cheese vinaigrette, a hint of bacon, and ripe avocado with bits of yummy lobster. My mojito was great (if you aren't feeling like rum, go vodka)! The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. And as with the rest of the hotel, the service was outstanding!
(5)Meat Me in the Middle ..
I have been to the Shangri-La many times for drinks outside by their pool, and occasionally have made it upstairs to their mixology lounge - but last night was the first time I ate in their dining room. It was small, probably around 20 tables, darker lighting and music played in the background. It overlooked the bluffs, which would be ideal for watching the sunset. I went with some friends and we looked over the wine menu quickly and (of course, like most of us on a budget) chose one of the cheaper bottles of red, around $30. Next, we scanned over the menu for some eats, some of us were starving and some of us just wanted a few little dishes, this was perfect for the latter. The menu has changed a bit. They no longer serve full entrees, but instead choose to serve tapas-style dishes - which seems to be the norm these days for places in Santa Monica. We decided on a mushroom flatbread, two grilled bruschettas, dates stuffed with cheese, wedge salad with blue cheese, and this French bread type dish that had an egg on it. All were really good, and pretty large in size, definitely enough for four people. The bill with the wine and food came out to around $90, which isn't so bad when you think about the prices for plates in Santa Monica. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that the dining room accepted the KCRW member benefits card, which took our price down like $15 bucks - good deal. We also lucked out by being in the presence of someone's birthday. The gentlemen of that party bought everyone a glass of this champagne cocktail with berries on top, and a slice of their cake. So an intimate dining room setting definitely worked out for us in the end. We left full, a little tipsy and definitely happy.
(3)Henry L.
Went here last night with 2 other friends. Overall a very good meal, but VERY slow service...3 courses took 3 hours! But we had nowhere to be, so it was okay. The manager warned us ahead of time that would be the case because they only have one server currently, but are going to be hiring a second one soon, so the service time will definitely decrease in the near future. The food was very good. For appetizers 2 of us had the Grilled Fig and Chorizo salad special, which my friend loved so much his plate was literally so clean it looked unused, and the Grilled Artichoke, which I believe my other friend enjoyed too, but I didn't try, so can't comment. For entrees we all got steaks. My 2 friends getting the dry aged NY, which was excellent, and I got the American Kobe Sirloin special which was also very good, but we decided the NY was better. The onion rings there are OUTSTANDING as well! I've never had such good onion rings. For dessert between us we had Blood Orange sorbet (VERY fresh), fresh baked cookie assortment, and the Peanut Butter Mousse. They were all very good. The mousse was extremely rich, so the size they serve is enormous and would easily satisfy up to 3, maybe 4 people because you just can't eat that much of it (and I love peanut butter too). Overall, quite a good restaurant and once they hire that second server, I could definitely see myself eating there again. Also, it easily has one of the best views of the ocean at sunset in Santa Monica, so if you're looking for a nice romantic dinner view, forget the Lobster and come here instead! Also, corkage is $25 per BOTTLE.
(4)Josh S.
I had my engagement party here and it was awesome. Two weeks prior, we stopped in and met Ricky Vega (I remember his name because it's awesome). Ricky set us up with a few cabanas by the pool and remained in email contact with us, sorting out particulars and answering questions through the day of the party. At the actualy party, my fiancé and I arrived a little early and met Rocky and JP, our bartenders/servers. They were incredibly friendly and flexible with arranging drinks and food for our guests. They didn't mind that we roamed around and populated the bar (as well as the cabanas that were reserved for us). The kitchen ever brought out platters for us that weren't on the menu... a great sign of impromptu accommodation which so many other venues would have not only lacked, but frowned upon. All in all it was an oustanding party and we left extremely happy... we even went up to the rooftop bar afterwards. My Sister in New York called up the hotel and bought us a bottle of champagne... normally, I could imagine this being a difficult endeavor, seeing as how our party had ended and we were in an entirely different bar. However, Ricky hand delivered the bottle to us upstairs and poured it for us. I was immediately texted by my little sister, saying, "Ricky and I are besties now. Tell him to call me if he's ever in New York." Bottom line; from service to setting to food to drinks, I couldn't have asked for a more fantastic engagement party.
(5)sophia s.
I had an amazing mushroom burger that I cannot get out of my mind. Do yourself a favor and have one of these big, juicy burgers. I gotta get back to Cali.
(5)Elpis E.
#NAME?
(4)Jane S.
My friends and i came here on Tue night. We tried the $15 3 courses meal special...that night's special was sloppy joe, braised chicken leg, and mixed berry turnover. sloppy joe--The last time I had sloppy joe was back in grade school...and what I had that night was definitely not the sloppy joe i had in grade school. yummy yummy. : ) the seasoning was prefect.. braised chicken leg--first of all, I rarely like the american way of making chicken because 99% of the times, it would be either too dry or tasteless. BUT, wow....that braised chicken leg was orgasmic. It was super tender, juicy, and tasty. I wish i had 2 orders of it.... mixed berry turnover--it is not your traditional turnover....but yet, it was great! It wasn't super sweet--just the way i like it : ) Over all, i love the food and the over all experience. I would defiantly come over and over and over again. and recommend it to all my friends..
(5)Callie B.
I just got home from one of the most disappointing meals of my entire life. We decided to eat at The Dining Room after getting $25 gift card for $2 from Restaurant.com . We'd never heard of the place but the description sounded good. We made out reservation and told them over the phone that one of the diners (me) had a wheat allergy. When we got there we were greeted by a waitress who seemed to alternate between bored, dismissive and downright disdainful. I don't know if my gluten allergy pissed her off or if she just hates her job but she certainly didn't make any effort to make our meal more enjoyable. We started by splitting a grilled artichoke. It seemed to have been soaked in oil before grilling, it was soggy and wet and ice cold in the middle. The oily liquid kept oozing down my arm, my napkin was soaked by the time I finished my half of the artichoke. Also, instead of serving the aoli on the side, one half of the artichoke was plopped on top of it rendering it insanely messy and almost impossible to eat with your hands. I ordered the Loup de Mer for my entree, a white wine poached bass filet served with butter poached lettuce, grapefruit segments and roasted cipolllini onions. It sounded delicious and was obviously gluten-free so I thought I was in good shape. I was wrong. This was the most bland, frightfully under-seasoned thing I have ever attempted to eat. I take it back, it wasn't under-seasoned, it was UN-seasoned. It tasted like frozen fish that had been boiled in water then served next to old, mealy grapefruit. Don't even get me started on the poached lettuce. I have had blistered lettuce before and it was divine but this was like the slimy sludge that you might find at the bottom of a bag of lettuce left in the veggie drawer for about 6 months. It was just plain nasty. I took three bites of my dish and could not continue. The waitress walked by a few times and never questioned why I wasn't eating my fish. Finally, a busser took it away. My boyfriend had a fish and pasta dish that was mediocre at best. The pasta was cooked well but he too complained that his fish was not seasoned at all. I held back my tears as the waitress dropped off our bill. Even WITH the $25 discount, our meal was $73.00, including an automatic 18% gratuity (The waitress should really savor that because it were up to me, she would have gotten maybe a 10% tip.) On our way out the maitre'd asked how everything was an I briefly told her about my unhappiness with my dish. She apologized and said she hoped we'd come again. Not a chance. I will NEVER go back there and I hope I can spare some of you the feeling I have right now. I feel used, angry and mystified. Why make shitty food? For $25 a plate, you can afford some salt and pepper. DON'T GO HERE!
(1)Trish G.
Had breakfast here on Memorial weekend. Food and service were both outstanding. Cannot beat the view looking directly at the ocean as you dine.
(5)joan m.
After reading a good review in LA Times went there for breakfast. We got there at 8am and were their first customers. The flowers on the table were dead and when I pointed this out the waitress just said 'yes they are' it went downhill from there. Tardy service plus hash browns were inedible again waitress said 'sorry they are all burned,it will take another 20 mins for fresh ones'. China didnt go with decor and was more like garage sale left . I sent email to the hotel Manager, and to LA Times.The hotel never did respond to my email...... Our rule in future is if the flowers are dead on the table it bodes ill for the rest of the experience!
(1)gerald s.
Went for lunch with a friend. My friend asked for iced tea. Waitress responded that there was no iced tea. "Why? we asked. Answer: The bartender makes the iced tea and he doesn't come on duty until 4 p.m., so no iced tea for lunch!!!! Unbelievable for a classy restaurant! Apparently no one in the kitchen can boil water, make tea and pour it over some ice! After we got over laughing at the ridiculousness of this, we enjoyed the lovely view. Service was slow and almost surly. Food was mediocre. Go again? NEVER!
(2)Bryan R.
My family came here Sunday morning, about a dozen of us. The table was prepared in advance, and comfortable, and they conveniently had an ADA elevator to help get grandma up to the dining level, which was a pleasant surprise. However. All the egg dishes came out cold. The eggs benedict hollendaise sauce was just sauce, there was no spice or flavor to it. The burgers set were set in front of the wrong peope (she who ordered hers well got it rare, and vice versa). The bottom buns of the burgers were so soft/wet when they arrived at the table, w couldn't pick them up. They forgot one of the dishes, scrambled eggs for one of the kids, which after we pointed it out arrived later, but runny, as if they hurried it off the fire. Side dishes of bacon were not delivered... until the end of the meal. We had to ask for coffee refills (it was not a crowded morning), and they arrived infrequently (same with water). Would not go back, would not recommend.
(2)Dan C.
The only thing good about this spot is the location being right across from the beach but the view from the restaurant is far from exciting. The service is slow, the food is way over priced and just average. There is nothing remarkable about this place
(1)Emily S.
Yummmmmmmy that is all I have to say. The Hamachi app is AMAZING! Kudos to Mark, the Chef and the rest of their team!
(5)Kevin M.
Gave this place a second chance after a dissapointing first run of frozen oysters and cold flat breads. Went before it was busy for a quick dinner before sunset. Drinks were prompt and delicious, then we ordered and never saw our waitress again. The seared scallops were overdone and tough and the tuna tartare was decent, but the service was garbage, even though 80% of the restaurant was empty. The food runner dropped off the entrees, and we weren't checked on for the rest of the meal. No water refills, no entree check , and most importantly no cocktail check. After sitting in front of empty glasses and plates of half eaten food, I finally had to ask the hostess to find her. She was gone and a new person dropped off the bill. The icing on the cake was that after suffering through this shitty experience, we wanted to go enjoy a cocktail on the roof, but since we sat at our table for 20 minutes doing nothing, we just missed the capacity limit at 6:45pm and were asked to wait. Just a perfect ending to a bush league dining experience. Shangri-la has so much potential, but never ceases to dissappoint.
(1)Jodi C.
My girlfriend hosted her birthday dinner here this month (January) for 12 girls in their outside cabana area. While the events coordinator and server (only one server for 12 people mind you) was as sweet as could be they failed miserably to provide a fun, let alone pleasant dining experience. First of all we were FREEZING the entire night as we waited in our dresses for a propane tank to fuel a space heater that never existed. Apparently the hotel ran out of propane in the middle of winter whilst planning an OUTDOOR birthday party. Instead of knowing this and suggesting we move indoors in the beginning of the evening, they let us continue with our frigid evening by consuming luke warm soup and practically cold french fries among other unsatisfactory items. Very, very disappointed with my first experience at Shangri-La. I would have given this only one star if it hadn't been for the fantastic cocktails made by a creative mixologist of a bartender.
(2)