If you want go to a restaurant with a fun decor, lively atmosphere and AMAZING FOOD, this is your place..The owner, Ron, and the rest of the staff are great. Make a reservation, it gets busy, but you can also eat at the bar. Splurge and get the 1 lb Lobster tail, its the best. Thanx Ron
(5)
Scott S.
Emily's friendly! Wonderful bartender recommended shrimp cocktail, calamari , & the filet Mignon chili at happy hour prices! These recommendations were all very good values!They were the perfect complement to my five dollars Margherita! Great little happy hr 5-7 pm. She also told us this is the first restaurant in Santa Monica starting in 1934. Charming is the interior of this gem. blowfish lanterns Christmas lights, fishing and boating memorabilia on the walls together with all the nautical apparatus gathered here since 1934 is a one-of-a-kind decor in a one-of-a-kind town. A real joy to be here!
(4)
Kitaka M.
The Galley has a nice location because there is a parking lot in the back that you pay for at a kiosk. My Favs: The Calamari appetizer and vegetable plate. I've had calamari at several places and this is the first place that I have actually enjoyed it. I liked it so much that I am planning on bringing my boyfriend just so I can say "See, someone can make good calamari." Next time I go, I will take pictures. I get so excited about the food that I forget to take pictures. If you want a romantic atmosphere, this is a great place. Be sure to ask for the romantic booth of love. It has the owner's father's marriage proposal that was written long before I was born and it is beautiful. Who couldn't say Yes to that proposal? Speaking of the owner, he is so down to earth and charming. Captain Ron! He takes it personal that everyone enjoys the experience. He makes you feel comfortable and homey. The food is a just right portion and the outdoor patio is nice and cozy. There are Christmas light all around the inside that gives off a festive appeal. Whenever I go here, I don't want to leave. After a few drinks, I am off singing a sea shanty. On my next visit, I will try the steak along with the calamari. Overall it is a great place to hang out for drinks and appetizers!
(4)
Brian D.
While the ambiance is a nice throwback to a different era, and maybe it's a good place for happy hour, I will never return to The Galley. I went there for a steak dinner with my son. I had the New York Steak, he had the rib eye. We both ordered medium rare. Ugh. My steak was delivered with a charcoal topping, which overwhelmed any flavor the steak might have had. And my son's rib eye was much more rare than medium rare. Moreover, the place was not busy, less than one-quarter full, so it's not like the cook was under pressure. I am generally not a complainer. I grew up in a very large family eating in a food line. I'm not a food snob. I ate about one-quarter of the steak before I could not take another bite. When I asked the waitress for a new steak, cooked right, she asked the cook who reportedly said, essentially, that it would come back the same way. I told her to tell him to clean the grill. Worst steak ever. I should have asked them to take it back and off my bill, though I wonder if they would even do that. The waitress did not make an offer to do that, despite my obvious displeasure, Maybe there was a communication breakdown, Maybe the cook was having a bad day. I dunno. But given that my steak cost me $30, and $30 for my son, I would expect something better. The calamari was fine, but that's about it. Even the bread they served had a burnt bottom. At least I could rip the bottom off. If you go there to eat, just get a burger. Hard to mess that one up. I was compassionate enough to give it two stars (I initially gave it one star), only because of the ambiance,
(2)
Karin H.
You have to experience this super cool yet old school great Santa Monica haunt. Food is great. Drinks are great. Staff is great. Don't miss out. It's a must visit to get the vibe of Santa Monica
(5)
A J.
Food is relatively good. They have their good days and bad days. Usually the calamari is always good. I ordered the mushrooms and was very disappointed and I also ordered the clam chowder and was even more disappointed. I paid for the clam chowder and in all honestly it tastes really bad:( to the point I just let the entire bowl to be thrown away.
(3)
James H.
After years as a faithful customer, spending several nights a week at The Galley for dinner and drinks since 2012, I'm sorry to say that I won't be coming back again. Ever. For whatever reason (they didn't bother explaining) they've removed ALL of the beer from their restaurant/bar and now serve piss-water ONLY (Bud & Bud Light) though, they kept the Guinness -- who knows why...? The bartender claimed they still serve Pacifico so I ordered that. Whoops! Don't have it. But we have Blue Moon. So I ordered that. Oops! again...don't have that either. Of course, nowadays, there's no point in expecting ANYTHING from anyone...least of all from the dolts who decided to cease serving beer at the oldest bar in the city. One of the last great bars in Santa Monica, DEAD. Reduced to nothing but another pathetic run-of-the-mill toilet anxious to mimic all the losers, and desperate to emulate the worst aspects of every other cloned eatery in this G-d forsaken town.., Why bother being disappointed? The Galley certainly doesn't give a sh*t. Not about their image and certainly not about the desires or enjoyment of their long-time customers...another fine establishment reduced to a joke. But nobody's laughing.
(1)
Svetlana S.
This was a Valentine'S Day, we made a reservation 1 week in advance, but we still had to wait for 35 minutes in the bar before we got a table. The bar girl did not return a change from the last order. We will leave tip any way, even more, but why do you decide for a customer? The food...hmmm... I read some reviews on Yelp regarding Galley's crab cakes and that people may kill for them. I'm very surprised, I do not know what people ate before. This is a strange mix of vegetables (carrots, etc.) with some seafood meat (?). I'm not sure what is this, but there is definitely no smell or taste of crab meat. My husband ordered chicken (big pieces) with pasta and tomato souse, very strange combination, but eatable. We were hungry any way. Cocktails are ok.
(2)
Flavia A.
The ultimate dive bar. Actually, I don't even want to call it a dive. It's a really nice dive. There's sawdust on the floor, regular customers everywhere, sailor's memorabilia stuck to the wall, old bottles stacked up behind the bar, and "okay" food. But the atmosphere is just so fun. With millions of colorful xmas lights strung up from every corner and rafter of the bar, the place sparkles with personality. I was surprised the first time I stepped foot in The Galley - it's a wonderful little Santa Monica gem.
(4)
Cliff W.
This is the dive bar in Santa Monica you were looking for. I came by here after a few margaritas at another spot to meet up with some folks. Upon walking in and sitting at the bar I instantly had a few random single serving friends, some of which told me more than once how this bar was the oldest in the area. The bartenders were friendly and keep the drinks flowing. The atmosphere is almost anti-LA, and I'd bring up this place in any conversation about Los Angeles where people try to say the usual stereotypes and generalizations. Next time I'm in Santa Monica looking for a spot to kick a few back and catch up with friends this spot is definitely a contender.
(5)
Lyn C.
I actually really like The Galley. It's like a tacky Hooters when you walk in, but we had our meal outside on the patio and it was very nice. Our waitress was so nice and helpful, and all the food was fantastic. Dinner: Calamari- can't go wrong. Clams- 4 lbs on the menu, but we shared a smaller order of 2 lbs. I definitely think we could have handled 4 lbs Rib eye- delish with a side of garlic mashed potatoes Seafood diablo- I didn't actually get this. Just writing it down so I remember to get it next time because it sounded good lol I definitely plan on coming back. It was a great dinner!
(4)
Sarah K.
Boyfriend took me here for a romantic date and it was spot on. Super cute decoration, I love all the Christmas lights. Very easy parking situation (which is a huge blessing in Santa Monica) as the public parking is right behind the restaurant. Service was OK, - docking a star because they give you very small water glasses - when I asked for a pitcher of water (I drink a LOT of water), they said they would bring larger glasses, which never appeared. I also had trouble getting my drink refilled. Got the rib eye - get the Gorgonzola topping, not peppercorn. I tried both and the Gorgonzola was way better. Great veggie side options.
(4)
Karol U.
A bit over priced but tasty and fun. Great vibe. I can't wait to go back. They even put little mermaids in my whiskey sours.
(4)
Nancy M.
My original thought was to give 1 star only - I relented once I thought about our wonderful waitperson. She knew the menu, had suggestions of what to order and was very quick to get orders to the table and refresh drinks. The food - I order the filet mignon - which could have been delicious - however it was swimming in a red wine sauce that was cold and tasted horrible. It was accompanied with spinach & scalloped potatoes. The entire plate of food was luke warm - not even hot. The speed at which my meal came from the kitchen - I presume it was someone else's plate of of food - thus the reason it was not hot. Parking - supposedly available behind The Galley was unavailable - so I had to go to another lot and "hike" in - on the way back to my car I was accosted by a nice homeless man who wanted to walk me back to my car. Would I return - no. I am sure their are many who will find this to be "old school" charm - no thanks!
(2)
Steve M.
Old school style near the beach. The Captain(Ron) who owns the place is a great host. The oldest restaurant in Santa Monica lives up to the the billing as a wonderful place to eat. I love the Filet and if they have the Chilean Sea Bass enjoy that too. One of our favorites for years now!
(5)
Skinny Coach u.
The best happy hour in the universe. Clam chowder, fish and chips, etc... all $5 plus any drink - including bloody mary's! The food on the regular menu is fantastic as well although much more expensive. There are great pretty colored lights all over and a great little patio. Very romantic. Happy hour all day Sunday and Monday!
(5)
Amy S.
This place is awesome! The decor is old-timey sea faring with sawdust on the floor and tacky plastic fish on the walls. The place is pretty intimate, but in a fun way - with booths in cozy corners and the dining area split into three. We were seated right away and our server Katie was there with waters and bread super quickly. The menu is nice and simple- mostly steak, fish, and chicken. We ordered calamari to start and it was very good. It came out with 3 different types of sauces as well to please everyone in the family. I ordered the petite filet mignon- medium rare with zucchini (veg of the day). The steak was cooked nicely and the sauce that it came with complimented the taste of the steak. The zucchini was nicely seasoned and the scalloped potatoes were good as well. The winner of the night was the shrimp scampi. Large pieces of shrimp sauteed in a perfectly flavored butter sauce... oh my! I'm salivating just thinking about it. The garlic mashed potatoes were also a huge winner. At the mention of dessert, Katie brought us a huge slice of brownie. It was moist and chocolate-y perfect to end the meal with. Food was excellent, ambiance is great, and our server Katie was super friendly!!! Will defo be back again soon.
(5)
Richard B.
Ever envision an acid trip under a thousand twinkling lights, this is your place. The food trumps the decor, all bamboo and blowfish. The filet is butter smooth. The onion rings perfectly fried.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
Had "galley salad," tacos, and chili. Salad and chili were great after a day of lazing about at the pool. Tacos didn't taste like much sorry to say. They have beer in bottles that did the trick. Inside the bar feels like your in a psychedelic galaxy of rainbow colored stars. There is a back patio too which is lovely. "Galley girls" and kitchen staff is so friendly. Feels like a laid back locals bar.
(5)
Jennifer S.
I fell in love as soon as I walked in The Galley. The dark ambiance and eclectic fisherman memorabilia was very dreamy. The bar is really inviting with the cool puffer fish lights. We had drinks and tacos at the bar and everyone was very friendly. We will be back soon.
(5)
Brad M.
You must embrace the kitsch! That is what this place is all about. A Santa Monica institution with tiki and nautical themes complete with old school Santa Monica alcoholics at the bar. Love it! We went for happy hour - while $5 bottled beer doesn't seem like much of a bargain, the food specials are a great deal. A big order of crispy fish and chips or a big plate of calamari with three dipping sauces is only $5. Staff is super friendly and I am so glad that not every place in Santa Monica has turned into techie hipster douche-fest. Let's keep the Galley around for another 80 years! Cheers!
(4)
Jon K.
I discovered this off-beat old-school joint back in '98 after I had been living in Santa Monica for just about a year. I happened to walk in off the street one day and found myself "in" on a local well-held secret hideaway. Everything on the menu is top notch, I always go surf and turf here... the sides are awesome and I love the house salad with "Famous Galley Dressing". The staff is friendly and the quality/preparation of the food has stayed consistent all these years - still my favorite spot on the west side. The seating space has expanded a couple times since I first started frequenting the place - they are drawing a crowd now - but it's actually still as cozy and quirky as ever.
(5)
Kenny S.
This is my second time coming here. I wanted a good place to take my girlfriend for dinner. I thought this was the perfect place to go since she is a big fan of seafood. They did not disappoint. I knew this place could be busy so I decided to book a reservation for 8pm. When we got there, there was a short 5 min wait before we were seated. Took us a bit to decide what we wanted but we settled on the Seafood Diablo Pasta and the Calamari Steak. The food came out pretty quickly. I was pretty delighted on how our meal tasted. We even shared a bowl of clam chowder soup. The service there is pretty good. Our waitress was very nice. I would come here again. There are pay-by spaces directly behind the restaurant but we opted to park on the street. Make sure you make a reservation if you are planning to have dinner as this place gets busy!
(4)
Steve L.
Get there early if you want a seat at the bar for the very popular happy hour. Otherwise, it's the back patio for you.
(3)
Michaelann B.
Good food, cute decor and fun atmosphere! Had the steak and it was delish! They made a special pasta dish for my husband! Just know it's not fancy!!
(4)
Terrence M.
Santa Monica's oldest bar is Cheers meets Sponge Bob Square Pants with a dash of Chart House for good measure. The dark interior is decorated with blowfish lamps, netting and roping, paddles, Christmas lights (year round!) and other things one naturally finds in the belly of a ship at sea. It's old school, slightly chintzy, yet somehow it works really well. What one doesn't find in the belly of ship at sea are the delicious options on the dinner menu at the Galley. Plenty of seafood available, but also lamb chops, all the steak standards, chicken and pasta. It's a food flotilla that can only be washed down with an equally healthy drink menu, which the Galley also delivers on. I went with the panko crusted Alaskan Halibut and steamed zucchini. I may have already been three sheets to the wind at that point (or close to it) but I do remember thinking it was one of the best meals I'd had in a while. Panko crusted = pretty awesome. The Galley is a cozy, dark, aquatic little gem of an ancient bar and it also happens to be one of my new favorites in Santa Monica.
(5)
David C.
Never review but felt the need to with this local popular spot. I love an old school scene with great history and vibe. The Galley has plenty of that. Where it fails is the overall lack of flavor in all appetizers and dishes we tried. The recipes are as old as the decor and in this case that's not a good thing.
(1)
OutandAbou T.
If you love an easy going dive bar/restaurant, this is your new home. The decor can only be described as seaside Christmas on crack. The minute you walk into this small hang out, you're treated to an explosion of Christmas lights. Not the all-white, elegance of a wedding reception- these are the multi-color lights of your middle-class youth. And there are way, way too many of them, which is a delight. Scattered among the lights are nautical-themed tchotchke such as blowfish, nets, etc. All are covered in a layer of dust. It didn't bother me because nothing fell on our table, so no harm, no foul, but someone really ought to clean that up. The food is pretty good for the price. Crabcakes taste homemade- real pieces of celery, etc. are still discernible and tasty, crab quantity is decent, unlike the filler-heavy frozen cakes you get for the same price elsewhere. The fish is seasoned well and smells fresh. Onion rings are enormous and plentiful. Sauteed spinach was good, and not swimming in butter, which I absolutely hate. The house wine is god awful, but what do you want? The Galley doesn't pretend to be anything more than a casual dive with decent food and a friendly staff. Overall, a good meal. I would come back.
(4)
Moe O.
This place used to be a favorite. I don't know if they have had some kind of management change in the last year but the food and service has definitely dropped off!
(1)
Dylan P.
The first time I was here the service was so horrifically rude to my party that we ended up leaving. Our server was sarcastic, snarky, and fairly unbearable. I told her we would not be back and she said ok and smiled. I really hope she doesn't work there anymore. I came back a second time as part of a birthday party (clearly not my choice) and the service was ok, but we just ordered drinks from the bar.
Galey is awesome! I especially love their 40oz steak with 4 sides and their awesome red wine sause. Fed 5 people in $130ish (tax tips included), everyone is satisfied. The waitress is also very friendly. Note that this place is a bit dark and noisy.
(5)
Dan A.
Tourist beware. The happy hour special only applies to certain seating in the restaurant. Our waitress didn't inform us until after the bill arrived that we were paying the higher price, which was almost double what we were expecting to pay looking at the menu. If the waitress had told us from the outset, we would have moved the 30 feet it would have taken to get the happy hour special. The food was old fashioned, which is fine for what it is and the portions were big. But it wasn't even close to worth the higher price tag for it.
(1)
Heather M.
Definitely a cute, quirky place. Service was very good, but it was only Tuesday. They have a full bar and a nice wine list... Only bottled beer tho. It started getting a bit loud in the bar area by 7:00 PM. The bread they bring out is really good. The chili was not that great... Actually I don't think the food had much flavoring at all. My filet was cooked to perfection, but tasted like... Nothing! Scalloped potatoes were really bland, even the peppercorn sauce wasn't "pepper-y" enough to help. I did not care for the spinach, flavorless! Add some salt!! For $200 for 4, I want a meal I can taste.
(2)
Ryan W.
Surf and turf was awesome. Everything was great. Angie at the bar is a total sweetheart. Great place to bring your girl have a great dinner and relax. The Galley is a 10 out of 10.
(5)
Karen L.
We had a nice dinner here last week. All steaks including petit filet and rib eye were render and juicy and reasonably priced. Sides dished could use a little more creativity, but scalloped potatoes were yummy! Mashed garlic potatoes were good, but all veggies could have been a bit more fresh. Bread was not very fresh either, The quality of the meat truly saved the day. Service is excellent and friendly. Captain Ron just needs to spice up the menu a bit!
(4)
Lance N.
I just had the best meal I've ever eaten in Santa Monica... and this was my first time ever eating here. I've been really frustrated with all the garbage fufu shishi restaurants here in Santa Monica that seem to think truffles & french fries go together and that cows are sacred and most won't serve any kind of steak... I've been dying to find any place to get a steak, of the rare places that do most only offer a lame flatiron nibble. THE GALLEY is what happens when you mash a diverbar with an oldschool lounge style restaurant of the 30s that fell in love with Christmas eve and decided to never give up the xmas lights. The ambiance reminded me a bit of the acid trip scenes from "Fear And Loathing Las Vegas" when the lizards come out... it's very dark but cheerfully glowy with all the seeming randomly-strung xmas tree lights throughout the establishment. The smell is a bit fishy as most people were chowing down on seafood but I really wanted steak and boy was I rewarded! My booth was very comfortable and the server was fast with my drink and I gave the garlic bread and a ribeye steak medium-rare a try. #ProTip ORDER MARINARA WITH THEIR GARLIC BREAD, it's needed and will enhance the bread. They also served sourdough bread w/ butter, recommend avoiding it if you're going to do the garlic bread. Bread did arrive first and I immediately realized my mistake of not ordering the marinara and they were quick to provide me a perfect portion for the bread. My ribeye steak was perfectly cooked medium-rare and i could've eaten it without anything else. I did add some pepper and A1 and the end result was a party in my mouth that every other Santa Monica eatery has failed to provide. My drink was refilled promptly and I was so full I could not handle the dessert. If you are looking for steak in Santa Monica YOU MUST EAT HERE. They have all the standard cuts of steak and their kitchen knows howto properly make it!
(5)
Niki G.
The steak is top notch and the Filet Chili is DIVINE! I love this place. Also opt for the Onion Rings over the Fries... They're perfect :) everyone here is also incredibly nice.
(5)
Cory S.
Cheap booze. Hostess was a giant angry womanbeast. We were invited to not come back because they have terrible electricity. Why two stars - dope hot dog.
(2)
Jon S.
Burger Week Bonus - So Fri, went here for dinner! After a week of lunch burgers, I had the great idea to cap burger week with a steakhouse burger...why not!?! After all some of the best burgers can be found at steakhouses. This is another LA staple kind of place. It's been around forever & has a great urban legend type story of "Captain" Ron who was a regular here & loved the salad dressing. He kept asking a long time waitress Millie for the recipe. She would not give it up then one night he was in with a group of friends. He offered Millie a large tip to tell him the recipe. She glared at him and yelled "if you want to know so badly, why don't you but the @#!* place!" So years latter to Millie's shock, he finally did! It's a great atmosphere with the crowded walls, Christmas lights everywhere & nautical theme...my kind of place. I love the boat steering wheel mirror in the tiny bathroom & plastic mermaids for the drinks! What I don't love is the food. I think it's another case of nostalgia clouding the memory of the quality of food. That or at my 6th burger, I'm just over it! I would put it at the bottom for the week. I also mistakenly took a soup over the famous salad and regretted it!
(2)
Mike C.
Flash forward to Santa Monica in late 2014. Sick of the transformations my home city has taken. Overrun by techie yuppies, tourists with too much money, skyrocketing home prices where a run down shack runs 1.5 mil, congestion as bad as hollywood if not worse, and overpriced, trendy, small portioned pos restuarants. Now I appreciate the galley more than ever. Here you can still get a stiff drink for under $10 and a huge and savory steak for under $30. Sure the ambiance isn't that great, but we live in a time where everything else in santa monica is going to be double the price, and half the portion. Thank you Galley for being a historic santa monica landmark where one can get a hearty meat and potato meal that won't break the bank. Even as beef prices have risen w/drought (I've noticed every other steakhouse raising price), they have kept the same prices since at least 2009!
(5)
Sukhraj B.
This place has a pretty crazy bar scene. I came here with a date and after a few drinks we were pretty much gone and the bartender just kept them coming. If you're looking for a great bar scene, definitely check this place out. I love that the bartenders are friendly, don't bother checking IDs, and will pour a mean stiff drink. There's a lot to see and take in just at the bar - people hooking up, making out, or just plain getting wasted. It's a fun time especially if you've already had a few drinks. We hung out for a while and then made our way back to the car. Luckily, they have a lot directly behind the restaurant and parking isn't that much. If you're looking to just hang out and have a few drinks, this place isn't bad. They also have a restaurant area as well but I've only been to the bar.
(3)
Sarah C.
I LOVE the Galley! A huge staple of Santa Monica. I was 1st introduced to the Galley by my Grandparents- it was their favorite date night spot. Thinking it was a little 'hokey' I fell in love instantly with the old Skool feel plus I'm a sucker for Mermaids. I highly recommend stopping in for a great steak or awesome seafood. Not to mention their staff is very friendly & helpful. Come in for a drink & stay for the food!
(5)
Michael K.
Easily one of my favorite bars in LA. I've never ordered food here, so I can't comment on this. The setting is great and it's a very fun and comfortable place to meet you friends. The drinks aren't cheap (about $12) and they're okay in terms of quality, but the atmosphere cannot be beat. If I want a laidback night of getting comfortably boozed with no B.S., then this is my top choice.
(5)
James P.
Dizzy waitresses...no oysters..no fish tacos...not a good start
(2)
Olivia L.
went here for a quick drink date night with hubby. for once i ordered a drink and i could taste the alchohol. I am not an alcoholic but when I pay $7-10 for a drink I want to know there's alcohol in it. we had some appetiziers. crab cakes were good but only 2. caesar salad was enough to share. tacos were good too. very nice atmosphere with x-mas light decoration and made to look like the inside of a ship. was thinking how much my kids would love it. was fun.
(4)
Stephen M.
We actually quite enjoyed our time at The Galley. The food was great and everything, but our server Candace kinda took a turn for the worse. After finishing our meal and paying, she complained twice about her tip to us...her customers. She followed us outside to get a signed copy we forgot to hand her, and she complained that we were very frustrating and the tip was too low. It was a 19% tip after waiting close to thirty minutes for our entrees after the first course. I don't think the tip was that insane that she should follow us around complaining. I'm no serving expert but I believe that behavior is frowned upon? A pretty funny ending to a great night.
(2)
Brittney J.
My boyfriend and I came here for Happy Hour. The bar was full and we waited at the front for someone to finally tell us that the back patio was open and also does happy hour. So off we go to find the back patio as no one directed us. Then we waited 25 minutes to have the waiter tell us she's also serving the 'mermaid room' so she is very busy and sorry. I don't really know how that applied to us but we were understanding and ordered drinks and food right away. A man from the kitchen came out and gave us our table settings and the waiter came by again let us know there was only 1 bartender for the whole restaurant and she was very backed up. We left after the appetizers and one drink each headed over to catch the last hour the basement bar happy hour which is around the corner and properly staffed. All in all the food was mediocre at best and the service was disappointing. Will probably not be back here unless they can get more people on staff.
(2)
Danielle H.
I used to live down the block from the galley so have been here more than I can count! They have great food and beer specials during HAPPY HOUR, which goes all night some days during the week - perfect! Always sit at the bar, the lady bartender is the best. Christmas lights make me happy. Crab cakes are the best (on happy hour menu). I can't believe I never tried the steak or sat in the dining area but I probably never will because I love the bar and happy hour deals.
(5)
Anna T.
Awesome place,very east coast whaling restaurant,ambiance was very relaxed,dark and cozy,juke box playing and I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection.
(4)
Justin G.
Cool place. Great people.
(4)
Emily C.
I like this place. It's tacky, but I kind of like that about it. Food is yummy and usually the service is good except last time. My friend asked if they have any holiday drinks and the waitress suggested she go to the grocery store and buy it herself! haha!
(4)
Suki H.
Great restaurant. So old school with surprisingly delicious food...steaks, seafood, chili, all wonderful. The service is first rate and the bartenders are pros...fast, great mixes and no diva attitude like so many of the Main Street bartenders. The patio is chill and no wonder this restaurant has been a staple of Santa Monica.
(5)
Aubrey G.
Rock solid, long-time "institution," neighborhood steak and seafood house in the heart of the Santa Monica Strip, a couple of blocks from the beach on Main Street. The grub is consistently good. I've eaten here a couple of times a year for more years than I remember and I've never had a bad steak or a bad meal here. My regimen is that I meet my buddies early in the bar. The lacquered wood beach-style bar is fun to sit at. Consistently good pours on the drinks. (We're call cocktail drinkers, so the happy hour stuff people are mentioning here don't apply to us). After throwing a few cocktails down, we head to a table and dine. As an anecdotal example, only, last night I had a NY Steak, house dinner salad to start with their signature house dressing (I'll describe it as combination taste of Thousand Island and Ranch, but it's VERY good), baked potato and sauteed spinach. The salad is and has always been a hearty bowl of romaine, tomatoes and dressing, all chopped and tossed. The steak's flavor was outstanding....served perfectly medium rare, as ordered, and very tender. Sauteed spinach was freshly prepared; not overcooked, with a hint of garlic. The baked potato was perfectly cooked. Clientele here always seems to be fun loving locals who like to drink and eat a good meal in an unpretentious atmosphere. If you're looking for upscale ambiance, this is NOT your place.
(4)
Anne W.
Meh. A really very mediocre experience at the Galley. The place looks like Christmas inside and the outdoor area is really blegh... they do have heat lamps so it doesn't get chilly but it does get hot sitting underneath them. That being said... we went there for happy hour and I wasn't honestly impressed. Drinks aren't really that cheap. $4.50 for a beer and goes to $6 for a house wine. Meh. And only select bar menu items that are at a discount. The choices aren't really that great... we picked the best you could get which wasn't even that good. We went with the crab cakes, calamari, burger, mushrooms, and fish and chips. None of them were really that good.. but we were hungry, so we ate it. The service was terrible and that is really what does it for me. Waitress rarely came around... didn't clear any plates.. the bus boy spilled hot oil on me from one of the dishes and onto my clothes. Didn't offer to do anything more than offer a napkin. I probably would never go again. Go to Enterprise Fish Co down the street.. it's bigger, better, and just more worth your money than this spot.
(1)
Jennifer M.
I apparently had too high of an expectation for the Galley...We had a party of 4 in celebration of my husband's bday. FOOD & DRINK(S): Three gentleman ordered steaks and I got the shrimp scampi. 2 of the 3 guys were quite unsatisfied with their orders and 1 said he thought it tasted great. My shrimp was OK, but I wouldn't say it was worth the price. One of the unsatisfied is a manager at a steak house and was really pretty pissed about his meal. Their wine list was just OK and the champagne we ordered was meh. The drinks, however, were very tasty and strong. Score! AMBIANCE: The decor is tacky yet fun, so I wouldn't return for romantic night that is for sure. Its more of a group ambiance... but probably for a kid's birthday not for individuals in their 30's or older. SERVICE: Our server was very nice, pleasant, and friendly. The problem was more the wait time for everything... It was pretty busy on a Friday night and well, that held things up and might not have been quite worth it. Bottom Line: If I was to return, it would be maybe a good drink (those were strong) and some seafood, but I'd have lowered my expectations and so maybe I'd enjoy it better.
(3)
J A.
This is a place to come for a drink, not a meal. The food is really terrible, but the atmosphere at the bar is fun and lively. Our party had a variety of dishes, from burgers to pasta to crab cakes, but not one of us enjoyed the food.
(2)
Xasperniak B.
Good steak, the best onion rings EVER, ANYWHERE. Quirky atmosphere, with a patio, heat lamps. Bar area and tables in the 'locals dining area', or to the far right upon entering are the best spots inside (farther from service area, entry, and bathrooms). This place shouldn't be overlooked, but only do patio for romantic or intimate outings. Again best onion rings ever. BurgerFI is horrible in comparison.
At The Galley (again) it's a perfect evening to spend on their lovely patio. We're lucky to have Nancy (our favorite waitress) serving us dropping Yiddish bombs and making us laugh.
(5)
Taylor W.
Five stars. The only negative, and I will get it out of the way in advance: I wish the Galley was open on Saturday for happy hour!!!! That being said, the Galley is a Santa Monica/Venice institution. Yes, the inside looks a bit kitsch in that it is decorated with nautical themed items complete with year 'round christmas lights. Decor aside, the food is outstanding. A few of my favorite things: 1. Filet minion chili. Hands down, my favorite thing. Well seasoned, juicy and hearty, add onions and a touch of cheese and you are good to go. Seriously impressive for a "seafood joint." 2. Crab cakes- full of crab and fresh veggies, the crab cakes definitely don't disappoint. The dipping sauce, a mix of thousand island/tomato basil, is a perfect side. 3. Fish and chips- the breading is beautifully crispy and flakes right off as does the fish. The steak fries are equally delicious. Served with tarter sauce, lemon and vinegar you really can't go wrong. 4. MAI TAI. Sounds crazy, but do it. LIFE-CHANGING. Just sayin', order one. I'll stop here for the sake of brevity. My advice? Go try the rest of the menu yourself! Make sure to read the salad dressing story and say "Hey!" to Captain Ron while you are there.
Ambiance: *Super chill place with multi colored Christmas everywhere. *Older crowd. *Great service. Food: *Taco Tuesdays are great here. $3 Fish, Chicken, and Steak tacos. They were all really good for the deal!
(3)
Christine Y.
Yeah for Wednesday nights! All night long happy hour here! Good choice JR! The man with the ketchup on his shoulders. The inside and and outside decor of this place is definitely very apt to the name, the Galley. Some places like names that have nothing to do with their restaurant, others go crazy with the entire theme. You'll definitely find the latter here. Had a wonderful time sitting at the bar with a drink in hand and plenty of food at 50% off. Pretty good bar food that I would definitely come back for. I liked the bartender too, she really worked hard at keeping our drinks going and making sure we had food to eat if we wanted it. The bar menu has select items that are 50% off during happy hour. I recall seeing a hamburger, ahi tuna sandwich, chicken sandwich, onion rings, caesar salad, house salad, fish and chips, dungeness crab cakes, shrimp cocktail....there were more but I can't remember them all! Yeah I love it when happy hour comes with half price food. ONION RINGS Delicious! Perfect onion rings to start happy hour with. They are extremely crispy and just a bit greasy. They were piping hot when they came out, but were still nice and crunchy when cooled off a bit. DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES Now there's two types of crab cakes in this world, packed with crab meat, or packed with bread crumbs. These, while albeit a bit small about 2 inches in diameter were all crab meat. It came with a side of thinly julienned vegetable strips as a slaw and some mayo sauce. Yummy, but don't get this if you only order one dish. FISH AND CHIPS Haha I think they put an entire bunch of parsley onto my dish. Isn't it supposed to be just a little bit for a decorative touch? Not a garden of parsley. Yum, they used the same crispy batter for the fish which made it nice and crunch and not really greasy. The fish inside was light and fresh and flaked apart with a fork. They totally forgot to give me tartar sauce which I didn't even think of til halfway through when i looked over and saw my friend had two of them. Maybe they gave him my tartar sauce and gave me his parsley. The fries were thick cut and crispy enough, but not the best fries ever. The fish was pretty good though. Great place for happy hour! It wasn't extremely crowded even though our group kept growing through the night. Some of us would have to stand for a little bit, but then we would eventually find seats. Definitely will be back.
Came here by accident. My BF wanted to try this one French restaurant and I forgot to check their business hours, and the time we went - they were closed. We passed by The Galley and decided to just have dinner at the place instead. We walked in and got seated right way. We ordered: -18 oz. T-Bone Steak [Medium] : It was perfectly cooked. It was nice and tender and flavorful. It came with 2 sides, my BF chose mashed potatoes and fries. -their special that day "Sauteed Salmon": It was mother freakingly DELISH! It's sauteed in white wine and lemon capers. The reason I give it a 3 instead of a 4 or even a perfect 5 star is because of their lack in service. Their service was really slow, they didn't refill my water till I was done with my meal and their cup of water was really small. They also took forever to give us our tab. I give it 3 stars just for the food. Our food were GREAT, and the portions were more than what I imagined. This place also happens to be one of the oldest restaurants in Santa Monica, which is good to know. Long history = must be that great of a place to stay around for such a long time. =) I recommend this place, just don't expect to have an average service, because you won't get it here...don't look at the menu and walk out because it's pricey, we almost did - but I'm glad we stayed, it was worth it. You're paying for the portions and the deliciousness. This place was perfect for the BF and I since he's a steak lover and I love salmon =)
(3)
Lauren P.
I love this place. I haven't eaten here for dinner, but I have spent quite a few nights at the bar. It's divey in an endearing way, with all of the Christmas lights and tacky nautical gear. The bartenders are on top of it, and the crowd is always eclectic. I don't know if it's worth going out of your way for, but it's definitely my favorite bar on Main St.
(5)
Julie S.
I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this place. Tacky Christmas lights, fake boat, walking distance - my kind of place! Unfortunately, the food was not good. At all. We started with the calamari which was soggy. I got the spinach and mushroom ravioli which was bland, mostly spinach and kind of watery, as if it was made out of frozen spinach and not properly drained. The steak was apparently also not that great. This was the first time in a long time that I've been somewhere where both people thought the food was sub-par. Our waitress was sweet and the service was good. I'd maybe come here again for happy hour, but not for the food.
(2)
Diana S.
Thumbs down. Stopped in here during a round of Pub Golf for a friend's birthday, and this place was mediocre at best. The bartender and staff in general were friendly, but when we moved to a table outside where we'd have more room to gather as a group, we were unimpressed with our waitress and a couple annoying "policies" this place apparently has. First we discover that if you order bottled beer, they won't give you a pint glass to pour it in, since these are apparently so scarce they reserve them for Guinness. Okay... that's a little strange, but not a huge deal. But next we are warned, *before we're even ready to order shots*, that the bartender won't make different shots for each person, so if we're planning to order shots we should settle on one for the group (we had about 8-10 people at our table, not a ridiculous crowd). Now our group is pretty laid back, and wasn't planning to place a complicated order of shots anyway, so it seemed a little ridiculous for her to mention this in advance. But if we HAD wanted different things, it would have been pretty annoying, considering it's not like we were getting a discount for ordering the same thing. Seems like the Galley should have trouble making money with a policy like that. Oh, and I should mention, the place wasn't even busy, so it's not like the bartender would have been struggling to keep up or anything. We got to this place when it opened (around 5), so for the first 30-60 minutes, our group made up at least 50% of the business they were getting that evening.
(2)
Kellie W.
SOOOO GOOD brought my family here for some beers and burgers. I ordered a turkey burger with onion rings. Best turkey burger I've ever had!
(5)
Aidan M.
They have a New happy hour menu & it's very reasonable. Had NY steak & fries for $9,50 and it was cooked to perfection. Tasted awesome too. Cosy intimate decor with a tiki hut over the bar. The bar lady is excellent at her job. Makes a solid apple martini.
(4)
Brian U.
The outside of this place suggests something dark, dirty, and disgusting await inside. The kind of place where you feel OCD because you want to keep washing your hands because everything is disgusting. It's not like that. In fact, it's quite the opposite even though the place is so old. It opened 1934 which makes it older than Formosa and makes Chez Jay which opened in 1959 look like a youngster. I didn't try the food, but the space is mostly a restaurant with a number of booths and the kitchen didn't smell bad. As a bar, it's has some nice dive bar characteristics. The red lights in the Yelp photos are no photographic trick. It's really that red. The room is lit like a colored Christmas light factory had an explosion. The drinking choices were limited, but the drinkers were young and laid-back.
(3)
Aryf H.
A Santa Monica institution. Almost like a slice of Margaritaville (old-school, beach/sea-faring theme). They have some decent grub specials (half price at happy hour) at the bar, as well as drink specials. Waitresses and bartenders are friendly and 'know their shit'. Food (steaks, etc.) is quite good here, too. This place is a nice, quieter alternative to the louder places down the street. Relaxing patio, metered parking......
(4)
Christina M.
Great ambiance, good service, good drinks, ok food, but MOST of all FANTASTIC buisness ethics! There was an issue with my bill, that I won't go into much detail about, but it was resolved without any issues and without me complaining! So for that, they get a 5 Star!
(5)
Katie C.
Very cool decor and yummy seafood and steak. Fried calamari is real squid and they give you three sauces- cilantro dipping sauce is awesome! Crab cakes & the petite filet mignon were delish!
(4)
Carmen D.
What a cute place! Very nautical and cozy. Fantastic ambiance, excellent service, and awesome drinks. The patio in the back yard is just as nice as the indoor area. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. Call for a reservation if your more than a party of 4 during busy hours. I will definitely come back!!!
(4)
Matt H.
The Galley is hilarious. The interior is done up like a Red Lobster on steroids...and yet somehow it manages to work. It's like a place for tourists that only locals go to. Also, the clam chowder is good, and the steak salad is great. If you're a local and you have out of town guests, this would be a great place to take them. Like if your small-town midwestern parents came to LA? Take them to The Galley.
(4)
Austin B.
We have been here several times now, and every time has been very good. Service has always been good. Their house dressing is top notch. If you like outdoor dining, which I do, they have a really nice heated patio. Parking is meter only, and there is a lot behind the restaurant, the only good thing about that is it takes credit cards, but its santa monica, and they have to pay the meter maids somehow.... I will be back for sure.
(5)
Sokey L.
Christmas lights galore! I've been here a few times for happy hour and it's A-OK in my books. Not the best happy hour on the westside, but also not the worst. It lacks an energy that I usually look for at a happy hour spot. They have a great patio area, but unfortunately, happy hour is at the bar only. I've had the fish taco, which as solid. The fried calamari was pretty decent too.
(3)
Daniel H.
Ok, So its been a while since ive been out and actually wrote about it. I was looking for a cool restaurant to take my family too on a cool sunday evening in Santa Monica. Unfortunately, they're aren't as many options as one might think. We were looking for a restaurant that was moderately priced, and had an diverse menu, that led us here to the Galley. This is more of hip type of place, not really for family. Pretty decent service and the food was ok as well. Not really the best place for families though and also really pricey for the selections. If you can catch the happy hour specials you will be in the game. I would definitely come back and chill on the outdoor patio but wouldn't take anyone younger than 10. All an all, a solid 3 stars is fitting. :) Happy eating.
(3)
Joyce M.
Very cute restaurant. My friends and I came here for Happy hour and the bar was packed. We had to squeeze and wiggle to get enough seating for 4 people. The food is decently priced but not very good (maybe except the fish n chips). Happy Hour is 50% off but it really is worth how it tastes. They only serve bottled beer (@ $4.50 each). I MIGHT go back again for HH only... but not for anything else.
(3)
Dan L.
I made a reservation for 7pm on a Tuesday night. Happy hour is from 5-7 and I knew it was going to be noisy. We were seated in an area with a big part so it was even louder than I expected. We were seated right away and the hostess offer to get our drinks. We knew what we wanted to order and the bread was delicious while we waited for a waitress. It was very busy so we waited about 10-15 minutes before our waitress showed up. She was very pleasant and took our order and brought are drink soon after. The meal was a little slow in coming but it was very good. If you read the menu you will notice that most entrees come with a starch and a vegetable. We choice steak fries, onion rings, and asparagus to accompany our fillet and jumbo porterhouse. The menu goes on about order various seasonings or marinades for you steak. In addition, they provide salt, pepper, A1 and Lea & Perrins and other condiments at the table. The meat was cooked to perfection and the sides were also very good. The waitress did check on us a couple of times to make sure everything was good. About the decor, do not expect Chri ruth's., the Galley has been around since 1937 and it looks it. It is a very friendly, festive, and comfortable environment with crhistmas lights and other paraphernalia all over the wood paneling. Good service, good food, a fun and a little funky place for Lunch or Dinner. .
(4)
Mel W.
as others have mentioned, it's a totally tacky, throwback place. but you gotta kinda love it for that, you know? i've been here a few times, never eaten-i wouldn't think to eat at a place like this. but each time the service has been fantastic and the female bartenders are way cool. it's just a cool place to chill. you somewhat feel as though your'e in another timezone. or planet, or that it's kind of a secret hideaway.
(3)
Laura Z.
This place looks as if The Pirates of the Caribbean retired from doing their Disneyland gig and opened a restaurant. They got together with my ex-roommate who LOVED Christmas lights all year round I had Christmas on July, for three years straight thanks to her. It's dark It has saw dust on the floor Old,cool pictures hanging everywhere I'm a sucker for crab cakes, they are good here. I've been here for taco tuesday too a few times, not bad at all. Except you can only get the tacos if you sit at the bar, the stools are uncomfortable and they are so close together you are elbowing the person next to you constantly even when you don't mean to. I was put on a high chair when I was a child If did something wrong, for time out these bar stools are just that for adults they punish your for wanting tacos, with lack of lumbar support and my little legs were dangling too a painful remainder I'm height challenged I would go for taco Tuesday every week if I could sit in a non-time out chair I don't know about the salads, sometimes I get a good one, sometimes it's just lettuce I guess it depends who is making it If you are on a date try sitting toward the right as you enter, it's quieter there most of the time. This past time I went there a couple decided NOT to hire a babysitter and brought their 4-5 year old son, who proceeded to lose his S hit every 5 minutes. The mother would pick him up and take him outside for a talk not before our ear drums were damaged by his loud screams WTF are you thinking bringing kids here?? Seriously Nobody had a good time. I hope to God, when I have kids, I don't turn into one of these inconsiderate couples who decide they are going to ruin the night out for EVERYBODY in the restaurant. Maybe by then I'll be like ....It's PAY BACK time! Here is my bratty kid you suckers spending money to eat in a quiet restaurant!!! YOU Try to chew you dinner NOW while my kid bugs the crap out of you with all kinds of noise and misbehaving!! Just kidding!......but NOT really.... I guess when you have kids you lose compassion for others around you, because you have to endure that yourself ALL DAY LONG?? We would had left for the patio but the weather didn't permit If you go to the room on the left, that's noisier. The service is good Priced accordingly, main street Santa Monica
(3)
David G.
Kind of a tacky place with decent food. Really expensive considering the decor but the quality of the food was pretty good.
(3)
Maria P.
I went here with a friend for dinner and had a tasty steak and enjoyed the boaters' atmosphere. It was kind of like margaritaville boat style on main street. Tiny booths and tables underneath festive Christmas lights. Our server was a cute college age girl and wasn't too annoying. I chose the filet mignon with sauteed mushrooms and spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. After housing half the bread I had room to take half of the food home. My friend ordered the blackened salmon which was quite tasty. Overall it's a great place for a moderately priced meal in a comfortable setting. I would go back!
(4)
Laura H.
I have been going to The Galley for years. I can't believe this is the first review I've written. I could have already checked in nearly a hundred times (no lie). My four stars are not for the food. It's just OK. The sauce for the calamari is truly to die for, though. The only things I think are worth getting is the calamari and the salmon or rack of lamb. The steaks are not good. The shrimp cocktail is wonderful but too expensive for four shrimp, or maybe it was three? Anyway, I go back all the time because they are so damn friendly and laid back, the drinks are made right, and the ambiance is really cool. There are twinkling lights and sea paraphernalia EVERYWHERE. Upon first visit, and maybe my second, I might have gotten a bit of anxiety, but now it's just energizing and happy. The back patio is lovely. I've taken every family member here, and back when they were open early on Sundays, me and my roomie came for brunch here every week. Keep doing what you're doing, Galley Girls. It's working!
(4)
Lani K.
I ordered a clam dish and the clams had so much sand that I ended up not ending any of the seafood. And for the price there are much better places in Santa Monica with much fresher seafood prepared well. Go elsewhere!
(2)
Adam D.
i ate here today for 1st time ....and i had to write a review....the food was amazing, service was good but the food was amazing....i had the australian lamb chops with spinach and onion rings....very very good...will be back next week 4 sure.
(5)
Melissa M.
We've been coming here for a few years now and love the food! The portions are generous and reasonably priced, but we always seem to get seated by large, loud groups that make conversation at our table all but impossible! The service is good, the wine list okay, still a good pick for family dinners cuz hey, at the end of the day, I rarely have anything to say to them anyway! The Plank is great for sharing with my kid and the fish selections are always good.
(3)
Dennis S.
We go here with a group of 8-10 guys every few months. This can be a server's nightmare in some places. Not here. The crew is quick with the drinks as each one of us arrives at different times. The appetizers and main courses have always been excellent. It is worth my drive from Thousand Oaks to hook up with my friends and enjoy good foo, drinks and service!
(4)
Raina M.
One of my favorite places to go in Santa Monica! If you're looking for a quality, large portioned, Americana dinner take a table. If you want to get the Cheers-y vibe and an awesome happy hour, go to the bar. All the BEAUTIFUL servers and bartender are very friendly and knowledgeable! The entrees are huge, and the happy hour menu gives you a good blend of smaller options. Stiff drinks with little mermaids holding your garnish, this is an adorable nautical dinner or drink any night. Although, it does get packed late night on weekends with a younger, rowdy, crowd. Try the filet salad and mushroom appetizer (I get them as a side, so delicious!)
(5)
Joan S.
This is the oldest restaurant in SaMo! Est. 1934. It was originally on the Pier, I believe, but moved to the current location many decades ago. So it gets a couple of stars for that alone. Tradition is important. There's an interesting story about how the current long-time owner of The Galley came to acquire the place: It was his fave hangout. He especially loved the house salad dressing, and kept asking for the recipe. One day a waitress, who had been working there for 30 years, told him if he wanted that salad dressing secret formula so bad, he should just buy the place! Captain Ron felt kinda bad about that, embarrassed, and actually stopped going to his favorite haunt. Then one day he noticed The Galley in disrepair and had a calling......to buy the place. That was 19 years ago. Captain Ron was on the premises last Sunday afternoon when I stopped in, after the SaMo farmer's market. My first impression on my first visit: the interior had old-time charm, like Chez Jay. However, the odor of sawdust on the floor kinda reminded me of the pony ride at the farmer's market. But I got past that pretty quickly, as I admired the surroundings. It was rather dark inside though, tough to see anything much. I wanted a light lunch. I should mention here that Sunday is the only day of the week The Galley is open for lunch, at 1pm. All the other days they open at 5, for dinner. The Sunday menu has a Kosher hot dog that looked interesting, for 6 bucks, including fries that I would not have eaten. And they offer a burger for 8 bucks. I ended up with filet mignon chili, see photos. $7, good deal. But my watery iced tea cost $3.50, go figure. So first they brought me a nice hunk of homemade sourdough bread, see pic. Delish. Then the chili, which had no beans or veggies. It was simply filet in sauce. It came with sides of cheese & onion. All was well, except the chili was barely luke warm, not hot enough to even melt the cheese. I should have sent it back, but I rarely send anything back in a restaurant. I ate most of it, but was disappointed. So now I've experienced The Galley and am not likely to return any time soon. Service was excellent, I should mention. Spectacular, in fact. That, plus the landmark status of the place is the reason for the 3 stars. Not the food.
(3)
Tod F.
New ordering system sucks....waited forever for order and showed up Wong!!!...2.50 for a small drink=stupid.....prices too high now...done with this dump....been. coming here for 20+ years....no more!
(1)
Leah R.
The decor is hideous, but I don' t have a problem with that. I had lamb chops with broccoli. I was happy with the lamb, cooked as I ordered, nice big pieces, a bit of char, tender tasty and juicy. They served real horseradish, not some gross creamy sauce. The broccoli was a tad undercooked and not seasoned at all. I felt the food was a little overpriced. I had no problems with the service - our girl kept my water glass full.
(3)
Yolanda O.
Ok!!! where shall I start with this HORRIBLE, TACKY place you call a business! A girlfriend of mines highly recommend we come here. And from the time we walked into this piece of SHIT I had a BAD VIBE! The HELP takes us to our table and were sitting there for about 20 minutes before anyone come to take our order for drinks. ( by the way that's the only thing that was good). So we start off with the NASTY crab cakes with that DISGUSTING SAUCE!!! After they bring out this CRAP were just sitting there waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting waiting, waiting waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting waiting, waiting!!! Seriously we waited a good hour! I'm seeing everyone but us being served. About 3/4 different waitress walking by us just looking. NO ONE asked did we need more drinks were we ready to take our order. Did we want our check NOTHING!! Until I finally asked " Excuse me is somebody going to take our order? This waitress proceeds to say " OMG!!! you don't have to attack me!!! You've got to be kidding me are you serious!!! About 10/15 more minutes another waitress comes and takes my MAN'S order because by this time I REFUSE to eat at this RACIST ASS place! I called the next day and just so happens the waitress that took our order answers the phone and comes up with every excuse in the book. By this time I'm just asking for the owners number. CAPTAIN RON! I called him up and he assured me that he will take care of the matter and asked that we come back and give them another try just call before when your ready to come back. So I call him and this CLOWN just offers us appetizers and dessert. Oh!! and a WHACK AzzzZ bottle of wine. THANK YOU, but NO THANK YOU! Remind you that I didn't eat and the bill still around 130 bucks!!! For a BULLSHIT 40 steak and some plain NASTY white rice!! But what you can do is out in front put a sign that says. NO COLORED ALLOWED!! Because that's just how we were treated!!! and FINALLY to the FAT waitress with the BLONDE hair. You ATTACKED yourself by looking STUPID when that comment fell out your mouth.
(1)
Patty P.
I love the food at this place, BUT the biggest problem I have is their bar. There is only ONE Bartender for the whole place and we have waited up to 20 minutes or more to get a drink order in standing by the bar. She is very nice, BUT for a Saturday night the management needs to be aware that they need TWO Bartenders. Another issue is the reservation process. We make reservations but we have to wait around 30 to 50 minutes to actually get seated. It would not be so bad if we had a drink on our hand while we waited. Otherwise I would give it a 5 star.
(3)
Luby H.
Ventured here on a valentines date with a LONG wait, should have figured. Me and my boyfriend hung out at the bar for a while where the bartender carded me and said "WOW. Deceiving" The drinks were strong but not too enjoyable flavor wise. The food was pretty decent though, and the service was great. My favorite part was how the history/bio of the restaurant was posted in the stalls on the bathroom and on the menu, so at least during the wait you can learn about how the owner came about the idea.
(3)
Francisco D.
Although Galley is expensive for what it is, I used to love the Galley, neat spot, (good happy hour), pretty neat spot but one bad night made me and all my friends run away from this place. My entire office used to be frequent customers but on the night of March 27th, something happened and I will never go back nor recommend anyone go to the Galley. It was late at night and the kitchen was already closed. My group of four was sitting out on the back patio having a late dinner. There were no other customers on the patio when we left and the gate was locked. I left my laptop unattended for 5-10 minutes and when I came back the table was cleared and the laptop was swiped. Clearly, it was my stupidity for leaving the computer. I do not know if it was or was not the staff, I give them the benefit of the doubt but the real problem comes with how the staff responded to (not) helping me file the police report. I called the Santa Monica police and asked them to meet me at the Galley to file a police report. The police showed up within a few minutes. The staff was very unhelpful with the police. The police asked the manager for her ID and she was not able to produce it. She started yawning in the cops face, showing complete lack of interest in helping one of her clients file a proper report. I get that people are tired and want to go home. The police began to ask for details and phone numbers of other workers who were there between the time the laptop was stolen and the time the police had arrived. They were giving fragments of information and just not being informative, like most business owners should be during a police report. The police was there roughly 15 minutes trying to gather information. It gets worse. As the police was leaving, one of the workers came out and said "one of the women you were with, with a tattoo on her face/neck, was with another woman and I saw them near the bathroom stuffing something into their bag." This was a complete falsehood, one employee's wife was with us and she doesn't have a face or neck tattoo. This was all very suspect, stories kept on switching and the police ended up searching one of the employees cars for the missing laptop. I have no interest in going to this place ever again. If they can't treat their clients with respect in filing something so valuable, God knows how much care goes into running other parts of their business when they are tired and just want to go home. Buyer Beware!
(1)
Poppy C.
This is an excellent place to bring your naive extended family from the Midwest to for dinner. I don't think they salt anything so your uncle can add flavor as desired. I also don't think they pay really careful attention to what you order so you might get a pleasant surprise! You might also get an unpleasant surprise like half your food never arriving. You know what's great about this place too is that you probably will never get food poisoning because they make sure to fully cook everything, meat is grey, veggies practically incinerated. Also good for your aunt with the bad teeth that can't chew well. Your little cousins will be happy with all the fried breaded starters and your alcoholic cousin has a fine choice of standard drinks. There are Xmas lights and dead puffer fish and weird old pictures everywhere, very entertaining for your ADD addled nieces and nephews. Bring a lot of money bc it's like red lobster pricing here.
(3)
Alyona Y.
I loved all the lights inside! Cool decor, free nuts. A fun, lovely vibe there. Service was good.
(4)
Gerard H.
Went here with my wife and son for his birthday on a Saturday night. Had reservations for 7:30,and were told we would have to wait for 20 mins. We ordered drinks at the bar, and noticed there was only one bartender for the bar and restaurant.On a crowded Sat. Night? Get Real!We were seated and ordered. My son had the ribeye and my wife and I ordered the 30 oz. sirloin for two. I had the filet chile as an appetizer, which had a heavy soy taste. When they brought our entrees, I was kind of stunned by the tiny size of the sirloin and asked the server why the little steaks? She said that's what you ordered, and I told her we ordered the sirloin for 2 which is 30 oz. and is the only sirloin for 2 on the menu. She brought me the menu and asked me where it is. I showed her, and she said she would bring me another portion of the tiny steak she had brought to the table.i said I didn't want that. She got all haughty and said well,what do you want. I said I want what I ordered. She grabbed the two plates in front of my wife and I and disappeared.By the time our steaks were ready,my son was almost finished .We were never offered anything while we waited(appetizer,drinks,comp dessert), but we didn't expect them because we never heard an I'm Sorry from this poorly trained waitress.I had been here once before and was very dissatisfied,but tried it again on my son's suggestion.he said his ribeye was tasteless,the same as I found their christmas light decor to be.I won't be back.
(1)
Jesse H.
This place would be good for a burger and a beer. Unfortunately, I paid 32 bucks for a steak that was burnt and full of no flavor. Additionally, 2 of my buddies experienced the same problem with their steaks. I'm not going to give them a 1 star because our server and bartenders were very nice. However, based on the quality of my meal, go their for veggies, burgers or beers. Don't go there for steaks...
(2)
Anne O.
I like to call this place "the first date" restaurant.. Although I've never been on a first date here.. I have seen quite a few going down while at the bar alone, waiting for a table.. The Galley has an old world charm, with old ship memorabilia, complete with the round nautical windows, mermaids, and those cool little Christmas lights, indicative of a dive bar, if you ask me. It has great dinner lighting, not bad for a intimate dinner with a cool date, but not too dark to see your food.. The food is delicious, and the staff is very friendly, and happy creating a nice family atmosphere.. not too stiff and "fine-diney". There is a patio out back that is even nicer to chill.. it has more artistic pieces of flare outdoors, great conversation pieces, and the location of course leaves the evening open to a good variety of after dinner choices, as it's centrally located near cafes and ice cream digs. I would definitely recommend it for a first date. Not too expensive, pleasant, and plenty of icebreakers all around. you can go any night of the week and have a great time, just make reservations close to the end of the week, or during valentine's.
(4)
Mandy M.
So I have been here twice but I always forget to leave a review! First time I came here with my roommate and a friend, we had the crab cakes and they were delicious! We also shared the calamari which we loved too! Usually I find that ordering calamari can be a hit or miss when trying it at different restaurants, but this time it was a hit- pwwh! As if these appetizers weren't enough, I also had to order the Clam Chowder- yum! Roommate and I shared The Galley Plank Special which actually came with FOUR sides, imagine that. And the plank was 30oz so had plenty of left overs! It was super tender and juicy, kind of a "melt in your mouth" experience. Friend had the Caesar salad and she said she loved it, but I never tried it since I was too focused on my meat, ha. Second time I came here I had the garlic bread, Linguine with clams and the chocolate cake- and I was one very happy (and full) girl! I've never tried any of their drinks but rumors says they are great and apparently they have a great wine and beer selection too- next time! So I've covered the food, because that's the most important part for me. But I also have to mention that the service was great, from the very friendly and fast and efficient busboys, to the super sweet and skilled waitresses and the personal touch and funny humor from Captain Ron- who actually stopped by our table both times we came! We sat on the outside patio both times! Super cozy with heating lamps, christmas lights and the boys enjoyed watching the game from the tv screen that they have out there! Oh, the second time we went there we were a big group, 18 or something and The Galley had no problem with accommodating us! Thank you guys!!
(5)
Andy L.
This place was a delight for the both of us. Brought back old feelings of being back in the Gulf area and she said it has the feel of The Bay Area. Definitely a neighborhood gem. Will be coming back for more. Btw, we had the Calamari Steak, different, but good, and the crab cakes. Also a different take on the dish, but it was fun and delicious. Clams came out nice, chewy as expected and a unique set up for the broth and butter. Our server, Zinger was on point the entire time as well.
(5)
Meat Me in the Middle ..
I love The Galley located on Main Street in Santa Monica. It may look like an abandoned ship from the outside, but it is definitely a yacht when it comes to quality and taste of the food and drinks. The menu offers everything from seafood to steaks to soups, salads and everything in between. Try their famous salad with the Galley "secret recipe" house dressing - taste like Thousand Island dressing with a hint of tang and something you can't quite place your taste buds on. Other favorites include: crab cakes, lobster tacos, clam chowder, pasta dishes and more.
(4)
Krista K.
Chicken sandwhich was juicy, steak fries were hot n tasty. Caesar salad was fresh and the dressing was nice I really enjoyed the hot loaf of bread we got before the meal. Half price during happy hour was definitely a plus. Its half off a bunch of meals and house wines are $4. Calamari Appetizer was good, they give you tentacles and squid minis. Breading not too heavy. Green onion aoli or something to eat it with was good. We ate at the patio out back. I recommend that if the inside is too much for you. The patio was nice, but our server didn't check on us as much as I feel she should have. She was polite and attentive though. Place definitely has character.
(4)
Marion P.
I came here for their happy hour. While I LOVE the decor (Christmas lights all over the inside, shells, anchors etc.), I really didn't like the service. My husband and I were seated at the bar (beware, their happy hour fills up so seating is limited and usually requires the whole "scouting"/nervous standing thing). We ordered a few drinks and an appetizer of fries and onion rings, regular bar food. Everything tasted pretty standard. Anyway, the whole time we could over hear the bartender complaining to the waitresses about particular customers etc. I get that it must suck working in a bar this busy, but keep that talk resigned to the break room. I mean, I came here to enjoy it, not feel guilty for technically employing you. Anyway, the entire time it was impossible to get her attention. This meant that, when we finally received our food, sans ketchup, we had to wait at least fifteen minutes to get her attention and finally get some ketchup. I mean, fries with no sauce? Preposterous. The only thing that ever makes me consider returning is that awesome decor!
(2)
Ron B.
Just good, tasty food and a fun, nonpretentious atmosphere. Don't bother coming here if you're too full of yourself, but if you're a fan of relaxed, oldschool restaurants with friendly people, large portions, and great staff, then definitely check it out. We just did a large-group dinner here with a special menu request (cooking up a venison steak that we brought ourself) and they were totally accommodating and made the occasion even more special with some extra touches.
(5)
James C.
I live nearby and thought that this would be a fun, quirky place to go for a beer and a bite. When you walk in it definitely is quirky. Dim lights, stuffed blowfish hanging everywhere, nautical ropes on the walls, sawdust on the floor, etc. We were after a random, fun experience so this looked perfect. Upon closer inspection, the blowfish hanging over every table were so disgustingly dusty, I don't think they had ever been cleaned. I made the mistake of looking deeper and it didn't look like most things around/on the table had been cleaned in a long time. Everything had a grimy feel to it. The food was very average and VERY overpriced. Bland steak and potatoes. $20 salad that came out of a bag. When I eat out I want to have something that I can't cook at home. This was a big disappointment.
(2)
Sam H.
Just ordered apps and drinks, food was average but not spectacular. The interior of this place is horrible. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas meets Long John Silvers.
(2)
Avishek C.
Um... Where to start? The decor is meh. Very red inside. Also, the tables were a bit small. 3 of us guys went and sitting at a 4 person table was tight. But you know what? That might be cause we are all fat as hell. So, no negative points on space. But all that doesn't really matter. What mattered is that the food was not good. I ordered a $30 steak and got a $12 steak. It seemed that the steak was frozen for a while. I mean, if you're going to do that, that's fine. Just charge $12-$15. Not $30. Very bland steak as well. All this was explained when i went to the bathroom. Above the latrine there was a framed story from the owner. And in this story he tells us that the best thing about this place is the salad dressing... Great! At least I know now not to go there anymore.
(2)
Lisa B.
I found out while sitting in the loo during a recent visit to The Galley that it is the oldest restaurant in Santa Monica. Ah...no wonder I smelled mothballs. The Galley seems like it should be a theme restaurant next to the tall ship in Disney's Adventureland. After ten minutes, it's pretty hard to comprehend that Santa Monica is right outside the door. Eery darkness is completed with helm chandeleers, tiki lounge kitsch and thousands of little colored lights strung about. The barmaid delivered a pretty good top shelf marg. The staff, in general are quite friendly and seem pretty happy. I thought the service was pretty good. The garlic bread and mushroom appetizers came highly recommended. I found the garlic bread to be a-okay. The mushrooms possessed the consistency of canned and warmed with butter and garlic. I was pretty disappointed in the steak salad I ordered (I know, I deserve it for ordering a steak salad). The steak itself was cooked well and pretty tasty, however there were maybe five small pieces of steak swimming in two bags of tasteless spinach. I hear the steaks are good. The rest of my party seemed pretty satisfied with their meals. The prices are reasonable and the experience wouldn't keep me from going back. Nuff said.
(3)
Gemma L.
A++ for atmosphere. I went here with 3 girlfriends late one night and I felt like we were in a magic sailors fairy land with twinkle lights everywhere and vintage pictures everywhere. Just awesome. My burger was really good, but not magnificent. Definitely a fan and definitely would go back!
(4)
Marion Z.
Are you a fan of a sponge that lives in a pineapple under the sea? Have you always wanted to enjoy a Crabby Patty at the Krusty Krab, but found that you were larger than a lobster and can't breathe seawater? The Galley is the solution for all of us with legs instead of fins. Its really cute and fun. There is a patio but eating in feels as cool as can be. There is a neat story about how it came to be owned in the ladies room and it just has a fun happy vibe which I very much appreciate. I'm happy gobbling things up here under blowfish that have been blown up and illuminated with christmas lights, even if they make me feel sad for the blowfish- they still look cool as all get out. A great place to take your favorite pirate.
(4)
Craig M.
Mediocre at best. I came for happy hour and sat at bar. Ordered shrimp cocktail, allegedly half off $15. I got 3 pieces of shrimp not super large not tiny, in cocktail sauce. That's right, the "deal" was 3 shrimp for $7.50. Really you charge $15 for that regularly? I wouldve thrown a chair. Clearly it's half the food at half the price. Not nice
(1)
Allison K.
This is a fun restaurant - the ambiance is definitely memorable... and being one of the oldest restaurants in this very new city gives it extra credence. Food is fine... but not good. Passable. A little pricey. It's a good time but not the kind of place I'd want to go on a regular basis.
(3)
Greg D.
I'll admit when you walk in here the decor is pretty tacky. It's very dark and they have Christmas lights strung up throughout. Along with the lights they have fish/fisherman themed decorations everywhere. If you can see beyond all this, you'll find some of the best steaks around. This is a family favorite, especially "guys night," when I come here with my Dad and my Grandpa. There is a bar scene but we always come here for the steaks. The Steamed East Coast Clams are really good too! They also got a good collection of wines, especially their cabs, although I'm a sucker for their Coppola "Diamond" Merlot.
(4)
Jaelynn D.
Never been here before until last night. The decor is awesome. it's like the setting of a Spongebob Squarepants episode with Christmas lights everywhere. The place is packed, but the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The bartenders served me stiff bloody marys, Their shrimp cocktail is HUGE and since we went there on 1934 night, the steaks were 85 cents and the salads were a dime. We also ordered clams (which were regularly priced). Man they were good. Came with butter and some sort of warm clam broth and was hot and really good. The steak was cooked perfectly. The service was fun and attentive, even with the fact that there's people EVERYWHERE. Great place
(5)
Andy S.
Old school divey bar with great food and service...
(4)
Maxwell P.
Captain Ron you need to be cooler to your wait staff, i know you can be a ass-neck. Remember you are not what makes this place rock, you are the stuffy owner who thinks he is so cool cause he owns the Caesar dressing, get over yourself. As for the service, amazing. Go here for the wonderful ladies
(5)
Elizabeth Y.
My friend and I wanted to go somewhere on Main since I live a block away. We were going to go to the typical Urthe Cafe for a light dinner or M Street Kitchen, but decided to branch out of the usual and try The Galley because it sounded/looked interesting. I've walked and driven by it more than a million times and always wondered. So, in we went! The fact that they have happy hour all night if you sit at the bar was a turn on for us. We just wanted a light dinner, nothing pricey, nothing too heavy. You have to order at least one drink so we ordered their house Chardonnay which was really delicious. We ordered the Raw Veggie Plate with their "Galley Dressing" and blue cheese -- one of the best veggie plates! Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, carrots! We also ordered Fresh Mushrooms (in chive/butter/garlic type sauce), & Fried Calamari (with 3 sauces -- all SO good). For bar food, it definitely was worth it! And it was 1/2 off which helps the deliciousness of it all. I felt like it was Christmas time with all the lights inside but still had a beachy relaxed tiki theme goin' on. My family is coming into town next week and I'll definitely be back soon :) Thanks Caption!
(4)
Brenton C.
A solid, homey restaurant. I went with my dad during orientation and it was awesome. The restaurant has a lot of history and the clam chowder was just the same as it is on the east coast. They definitely know their seafood here and the service was fantastic.
(4)
A G.
Go early or expect to wait.... The place has been there for years. The atmosphere is cool - lot's of wood, fishing nets and twinkling Christmas lights all year round! They have a patio in the back (with twinkling lights too) and heaters in case it gets abit chilly (you are in Santa Monica after all). The other half and I like steamed clams and you know what? It's actually hard to find some good steamers in LA (so if you know other places, please let me know) - anyway this place has them and we usually split an order of the steamers (4 pounds with broth and butter for $30) and get salads. Not to make anyone sad, but do you remember the Black Whale on Washington Blvd? It's been gone for years, but they had the best steamers, salad and prime rib.........boo hoo!! I MISS THAT PLACE!! Back to the Galley - we also like liguini with clams, so this place hits the spot. The fried calamari appetizer is yummy along with the sauteed mushrooms. The have happy hour every day of the week from 5-6:30 and most items on the bar menu are 50% off. I actually haven't tried their steaks yet or their filet mignon chili yet - it's on the list - but I keep getting stuck on the clams and linguine :-)
(4)
Ed T.
-1 star for having to pay for parking and almost getting stung by a bee as I fed the box. +1 for the friendly greeting as we walked in, as we sat at the bar and as the bartenders switched shifts. +2 for TRULY making a drink the RIGHT way; vodka tonic is m
(5)
leahnora r.
This joint opens at 5pm and at 4:30pm there was already a gathering of hungry animals waiting outside with foaming mouths. I can't believe I lived down the street from this place and never went. I finally couldn't resist the beckoning call of the happy hour colored with x-mas lights in maritime themed decor. We sat at the bar and I gave the bartendress a break for not serving us for 15 minuts b/c there were so many people who poured in when they opened the doors. She did acknoweledge us and bring us some mixed nuts while we waited. The vibe inside was oooozing with comfortable cozy but lively at the same time. I sat next to an old bird (70+) who was having dinner by herself gearing up fr a big night dancing with some boys. Also met some nice folks on my other side who were huge fans of the place and easy on the eyes ;) The drinks were fair priced for happy hour and all the app's are half off. I wouldn't mind docking my boat in this harbor more often....
(5)
Agent F.
I lovve this place! the filet mignon chili is the bomb! Never had a disappointing meal and always have a great dining and social experience here. A gem on Main Street...
(4)
Naomi F.
Excellent. Split a lobster with my dad - it came with two sides, and we ordered a house salad. Everything was A+. I also had a rum and coke which was well made. Service was great. Ambiance was too cool. Feels like the inside of a drunken ship with christmas lights and seaweed and stuff hanging from the ceiling - massive booths. unpretentious. a Kid would have tons of fun at this place.
(5)
Joey B.
I won't be back here. We spent about 50 bucks with tip for 2 house salads and an order of crabcake appetizers and 1 beer and 1 bottom-shelf mixed drink. Had the salads been good, or anything like that, this would have made sense, but this place is such a cheap ripoff, I left upset about having spent the money on nothing. The salads were small bowls of iceberg lettuce, essentially. They should have cost 2 bucks each. It was pointless to buy them - even worse, the menu says it's going to be "mixed greens". HA. The crabcakes were dry and didn't have a good flavor. Unfortunately we didn't finish them. The drinks were fine and the waitress was sweet. The atmosphere was good for late night eating. In my opinion the menu is WILDLY overpriced, it's almost a joke. I was extremely surprised to walk into that atmosphere and see a menu with white tablecloth pricing. And the food DID NOT match up to those prices in the least bit, from what little we experienced.
(2)
Amber P.
Lobster tacos - The lobster meat itself was delicious. Everything else about the dish was disappointing. The side rice was soaking wet. The makeshift taco shells fell apart instantly. Steak sandwich - The cut of steak was definitely not work the price. I call it cowboy steak...as in...should have been served on a tin plate next to canned beans. Service - Hostess and waitstaff were pleasant. Only one of the two beverages ordered arrived before the meal.
(2)
Sally R.
This was our first stop of a big pub crawl, but we ended up getting several rounds of drinks and some food. Overall, I think we were treated really rudely for the amount of business we brought into the place right as they were opening. We asked our waitress for pint glasses to pour our bottled beer into, and she seemed really put off. She gave us these tiny water glasses instead. When we asked again and explained it was part of our pub crawl game, she told us the place didn't have enough pint glasses for the 15 of us. Really? She also made a scene when she brought us the check. Anyways, we ended up going to 7-8 other bars and restaurants that night, and we all agreed The Galley was where we were treated the rudest. This seems so counter intuitive considered how much we had drank towards the end of the night when the waitress had every right to hate us (by that time we had grown to 20+). Anyways, I probably won't go out of my way to head back... not when we were treated SO well by the people at Brick and Mortar right across the street!
(2)
Cindy Y.
The food was good. The wine selection was crappy and the vodka selection was not very good. We asked for fresh oranges and in the state of California was not available. really! Why can't we get fresh fruit here.? The entries were alright we would not come again or recommend to our friends.
(3)
Matthew D.
The Galley is my type of place. Casual, not trendy and therefore, not full of LA stereotypes - a perfect spot for locals and LA natives. I arrived before my friends last night so I found a spot at the bar and settled in for about ten minutes - just enough time to make a few observations. The cocktails are large and mixed well (not too stiff but you get a fair share of booze), the staff is friendly and the decor has this nautical/Christmas thing going on that I really like. Once seated, we started with shrimp cocktails and an order of fried calamari. The shrimp cocktail was standard but the calamari was above-average. Tender, nicely breaded and accompanied by a cilantro-scallion sauce that was very tasty. Next up was the dinner salad with their "famous" house dressing. While the dressing was good (sort of like Thousand Island without the sweet pickles), the salad itself was rather plain - iceberg lettuce, two slices of cucumber and two cherry tomatoes (hold for me). For my entree I had the linguini with clams, which came with a cream-based sauce. The clams were the star of the dish - big, tender steamers - while the linguini and sauce were pretty good, too. Overall, a good dish. The service was prompt and friendly. Prices are standard, maybe a few dollars high on some items, but in line for the quality of food and locale. I think the people complaining about the prices wouldn't blink an eye if the decor was more up-to-date. I like that they have kept the old-school nautical theme - I think it keeps the trendy jerk-offs away.
(4)
Pam T.
Eureka! We have found our pre-McCabes dining spot. Very funky and cozy with a great vibe, nice service and an interesting menu. So far, we've only had two dishes, and both were good. Yay!
(4)
Shelley G.
Food: good. Salad dressing really is yummy, but I had an extraordinarily bad experience with service. My friend and I had 7:15 ressies on a saturday, but we weren't seated until 8:30. The poor hostess was really sweet, but she was filling in for someone and clearly overwhelmed. And she hadn't checked Open Table since 5:00 (which is how we booked our table). The place was PACKED. Captain Ron, the owner, comped us a round of drinks and shrimp cocktail when i flagged him down to fill him in on the service, which was appreciated. The shrimp cocktail was really yum- jumbo shrimp with an extra spicy cocktail sauce. Sinus clearer!! While the food was good (I had steamed clams), I'm not in a hurry to head back. I realize this was an extreme experience, but definitely double-check if you book with Open Table. I would just skip this place on weekends all together.
(3)
rob c.
I will keep it to the facts: We had a reservation for a week through open table.com We waited for 50 minutes to be seated. Shrimp Cocktail so chewy it had to be returned. Food arrived, terrible but we got through it. Service was terrible between out 2 waitresses and poor non English speaking kitchen short order cook delivering food. The bill was wrong. The manager "not working" on Saturday night. I emailed in to their website to complain. Week later no response... Summation: Ripped off for 100 $ for the 2 of us and a damper on the evening. Don't eat here.
(1)
Coco A.
Where I come from, this would be called a "supper club" and for a supper club, it's pretty nice. The holiday lights really light the place up in a sort of "I'm tired of them after 45 minutes" sort of way, and the food was good. Probably a good memorable place to take your parents when they're visiting.
(3)
Michelle D.
Took a little long for the food to come out, but the steak was great!! There's a lot of christmas light-ey decoration on the inside that was a little much for me, so if you don't want that sit outside.
(4)
Brendon D.
Walk the plank, suckaz. This place is pretty cool in a world of "let's see how high-end we can make coffee shops, dry cleaners and water bottles". This place is no frills and has character. Character means a lot to Brendon "Rip It!" D. (always looking to speak about myself in the 3rd person) They have tasty nuts at the bar. The cocktails are strong and fit the environment. This place definitely feels like a boat or a coastal restaurant from the 70s. You don't have to get dressed-up here. Roll in casually and get down on their great seafood menu. It's all tasty. Don't half step. If you're looking for flash, head to another of the many tourist-centric joints in the immediate area.
(3)
Jon N.
The decorations and lighting are a little odd and I could see how they wouldn't appeal to everyone. I personally really liked it. The food was EXCELLENT and we had a really nice evening here.
(4)
Maya B.
My husband and his friend had hamburgers there last night, and now they both have food poisoning.
(1)
The J's H.
Happy Hour Review! From the outside naval theme to the Christmas light-lit inner deck (yes, those are lit-up blow-fish!), we dug the Galley's dark, cozy vibe and the yummy-in-my-tummy food menu. By the time we got here, we'd grazed on chips & salsa, a quesadilla, and coconut curry dumplings (at other Main Street happy hours) but were still hungry for dinner. Luckily, quite a few of the Galley's food items were half-off - including the fried calamari, pasta marinara, ahi tuna sandwich, and more. I'm a sucker for a vegetable plate (quite filling, yet not too terrible in nutrition - even with the dipping sauce) and so enjoyed their non-happy-hour priced veggie platter (still only $5.50) along with the Gourmet Onion Rings ($3.25 on special). I'll be honest, I was driving that night, so enjoyed dinner with a Diet Coke w/ grenadine, a bar-treat favorite. So we liked the menu, but the ambience was just as cool - there were plenty of interesting folks here in the limited bar seating and all the Christmas lights reminded me of a restaurant we used to go to when I was a kid in Omaha, Mr. C's. Happy memories doth a good review make! We didn't have a chance to hang on the patio, but happy hour was available at both the bar and patio. If I were a Santa Monican, I think the Galley could be one of my favorite grab-a-bite while being entertained by an old sailors' tales kind of place.
(5)
Gary T.
Really, really good food! NY steak, perfect! The Filet Mignon chili awesome! Interesting vibe, not pretentious, just good food and drinks (well poured cocktails) and an old school layout that allows you to carry on a conversation. I'll try outside patio area next time (and there will be a next time!) Plenty of metered parking in city lot adjacent to restaurant.
(5)
Amy U.
I came with friends late at night to grab some drinks at The Galley. I believe it was either a Fri or Sat night, either way the place was packed! I really enjoyed the layout and design of the restaurant. It was unique and funky with its pirates of the carribean theme and twinkling Christmas lights. Service was decent as well, but I was really disappointed in the food. I am an avid seafood lover so when I ordered the Clam Chowder I expected to be wowed since this was one of the restaurants speciality.. unfortunately.. I was not wowed. The Clam Chowder came out cold and tasted tangy as if it was past its expiration date. It seemed like whatever secret ingredient they thought would add pizazz to the dish made it well.. gross. Either way I am torn about going back.. but if I do, you can best believe I will not be ordering the Clam Chowder.
(3)
Shirley K.
Service: 3 stars Value: 2.5 stars Decor: 3.5 stars This seems like a popular date place. However, I think that your date would have a better experience at a themed decorated restaurant at Cha Cha Cha (in Silverlake). Also, the food at Cha Cha Cha tastes better and the price is a bit more reasonable. The $13 hamburger was very disappointing...The buns are like the generic brand buns you see at grocery stores and the patty is thinner than the $6 burger from Carl's Jrs. The $25 Chilean Seabass comes with your choice of 2 sides and this was a satisfying dish. However, this is not on their menu so I don't think I would return to this restaurant for anything else on their menu. Parking: There is a meter parking lot behind the restaurant.
(2)
Tyler P.
We stumbled in here by accident, and I've been kicking myself since for not finding this place earlier. Where to start.... it's just... a zoo. I was half expecting the entire time for the doors to burst open with the entrance of an old salty dog captain, dragging his 1,000 pound Marlin catch, matched by cheers from the bar, packed with rowdy regulars downing their whiskey. A place, finally, where men can be men. Food's also excellent, and the service is great.
(5)
Carm S.
The cocktail napkins at this restaurant say "The restaurant with a heart". It couldnt be closer to the truth! They don't make em like this anymore! My girl and I spotted this place across the street from the Ben & Jerry's and knew we had to come back to try it. So last night we walked in and instantly fell in love! The lighting is super red and dim, there are xmas lights everywhere and nautical kitsch up the arse. We got a cozy booth to the side, in fact all the booths looked cozy. We started with a bloody mary and vodka tonic, clam chowda's, and split a full size ceasar salad. I loved that they separated the salad in our own bowls for us and offered real anchovies. The chowder was home made, perfect consistency and creamy! We ended the meal with an order of fish n chips. Best I have tried so far! Fish pieces were thick and not too much batter on them and the fries were big and tasty as well! Service was super friendly and attentive. Also noticed the patio lounge outside was a great place to just chill and have a drink. Overall, I will definitely be returning, loved the old school vibe of the place and the staff really made us feel welcome. **Parking tip: there is a metered lot in the back of the restaurant 75 cents per hour**
(5)
Vince D.
With the kitchy tropical decor and pufferfish lights it walks and talks like a Tiki bar, but it ain't a Tiki bar. And by that I mean they don't specialize in tropical drinks. I found that out when I tried to order a Zombie and they were confused, then said they didn't have the ingredients. So I ordered a Mai Tai, which everyone makes, and found it to be just okay. Once I understood that it was just a regular bar that makes drinks like Cosmos and the like, it was all good and I adjusted my expectations accordingly. The bar aside, my dinner was amazing: the Spicy Seafood Diablo really took me by surprise by how good it was. I'll for sure be getting that one again. Overall, the place is a fun visual feast, so if you're into nautical themed seafood restaurants and happen to be in Santa Monica, check out The Galley.
(4)
Jin Y.
I honestly don't get all the rave reviews about this place. Sure it's old, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't get with the times. We wanted to go to a nice romantic steakhouse and somehow The Galley was rated really well so we found ourselves here. We called to make reservations and they told us that even with reservations, we'd most likely have to wait when we got there. We were fine with that. We got there and the pirate-like shipwrecked restaurant that looked like a set for "The Vagina Monologues" was pretty much empty. The hostess went away and came back (why, I don't know...it was mostly empty) and seated us next to these fat old people wearing shorts who you'd see eating at Denny's at lunch. There were no hot people there (not like that's a marker for excellence, but anyway, if you care, there were no hot people eating there). We immediately felt overdressed and out of place. So... for those of you who want a more casual dressed environment for a "steakhouse", here you go. Signs of a bad steakhouse: -A bottle of ketchup and steak sauce on the table (a good steakhouse doesn't have/need these). -paper napkins with half naked woman drawn on it. -sticky plastic menu -overwhelming prices in contrast to where we were - a red-tinted denny's if it were a pirate ship. At this point we thought.. the steaks are either really really good that people would overlook these cues and still come and rave about it, or the steaks are really bad and the night will just suck. Well, our night sucked. The steaks were mediocre at best. The only redeeming factor was that the server was great. Perhaps I have to come back and try some of their non steak items that people are raving about. But as a steakhouse? I don't think so.
(2)
Candace K.
This spot was definitely interesting! Great option for a casual dinner out especially if you're into "loud" decor and people watching! The food was less than stellar but the portions were generous, the butter soft, and the service forgettable.. but in a good way. The waitress was decently attentive, didn't mess up the order and seemed happy to answer our questions. All things you expect from a a person in this job.. but hey.. this is LA and I've learned quickly that you should expect to not necessarily get that! Giving this place 3 stars for the entertaining ambiance, the HUGE shrimp in the cocktail app and the nummy carrot cake!
(3)
Lindsay H.
Cute and old-timey. I had hoped for steamed artichokes, as the outdoor menu had them. But it turns out the Galley stopped serving them ages ago. I had homemade spinach and mushroom ravioli in spicy tomato--not too heavy and just delicious. Impressive wine and beer list and super old jukebox round out this Main street eatery.
(4)
Cecilie R.
Its like having dinner inside sponge bob square pants' underwater pineapple! Whether you think that is a plus or minus is your choice. The food on the other hand is decidedly not great. Its not bad, but considering the millions of places you could go in Santa Monica to get fish and other eats, it seems silly to waste your time at The Galley.
(2)
Matthew I.
Every year I come here with my lovely girlfriend for Valentines day. See you tonight!
(5)
Gia P.
Some friends of mine and I went to Santa Monica Pier last weekend to get out of the house and spend a day out with friends. When it started to get chilly, one of my friends looked up restaurants in Santa Monica on yelp. So off we were to The Galley. The decor is questionable but I suppose it's fun. Christmas lights are everywhere in the dining room. We opted to sit out in the patio which in hindsight might have been a bad idea since we were seated right by the sewage drain and none of the heaters worked. The service was nice enough but if you have to ask your table to be wiped down before your meal, I don't think you really deserve a tip. The fish & chips were excellent. Well, at least the fish was--right amount of batter, cooked just right, succulent and delicious. Squeeze some lemon, with a bit of malt-vinegar & tartar sauce to set it off. The chips were a bit too well done and bland. The filet mignon chili was okay. Kinda tasted like canned chili with bits of steak thrown in (the steak was good, though) served with a side of cheese & onions. A couple of my friends got the lobster tacos and said those were tasty. The pasta was on the watery side and kinda bland. My other friend didn't enjoy his ahi tuna sandwich either. Come to think of it...most of their items needed some salt in order for flavor. He said he couldn't even taste the tuna, so he had to douse it in sauce in order to make it tasty. Not the best place for happy hour unless you have a fat wallet--no beers on tap and the beers are still $5 for HH. After the meal I went to the restroom to wash my hands and I found a table tab with $101 left in the tray on the sink. Tsk tsk. Best deal for HH was probably the $5 fish & chips. Lobster tacos and filet mignon chili aren't on the HH menu. Could've used some more fish on the fish & chips plate but can't complain when it's half-off at $5
(3)
JulieBean M.
I'm definitely a fan. From the silly nautical interior to the delicious food - this place rocks. The SO and I sat at the bar and had a drink while we waited for our table - the decorations sparked lots of fun conversation and the drinks were nice and stiff. You can tell it's the kind of place people have been coming to for years; I like that. I had the calamari steak lightly breaded in panko crumbs, pan fried with lemon caper sauce (so good) on the side. It came with my choice of two sides - I went with the asparagus and broccoli. I really appreciated that the veggies were obviously prepared fresh - so often they come out looking previously frozen. SO had the wild Atlantic salmon with the chive sauce. We both really liked our food, our waitress was sweet as pie, and the total bill was very reasonable - about $55 before tip. Hope to come back soon!
(4)
Sean P.
The Galley at first glance can give you mixed feelings. Depending on what you see first you may be dissuaded from entering or even driving to this place. I'm here to possibly change your mind since I was in your shoes a few days ago. To set your nerves at rest I can vouch that all the food we tried (about 6 meals worth in our party) was excellent. So if it's not the food what could be wrong with the menu? The menu seems overpriced and you're probably right to be scared. To compensate the groaning of your wallet you could order the "steak for two"(4 sides as well) meal for $40. Considering how much food you get it's actually a pretty good deal when comparing to other mid range restaurants. The galley burger at $13 is also a cheap way out while the rest of your party pays double for their meal. It tastes great too. If you're worried about the ambiance of the place, trust me you'll get used to it after a while. It reminded me of an upscale hooters with all the Christmas lights strewn around the wood paneled bar and restaurant. No need to dress up for this Main street Santa Monica restaurant. I would have given this place five stars but for some reason the menu prices were just out of my range of what I feel comfortable paying for large meals. They also have a semi-patio in the back of the restaurant if you would rather eat outside. Also, try and find street parking so you don't always have to run back and put quarters in the 2 hour public lot behind the restaurant. If I was looking for a nice relaxed night out for friends I would definitely revisit the Galley. It's just my type of nice...yet not so nice night out.
(4)
Natalie B.
I came here tonight for my boyfriend's birthday with his family. He kept saying it was his favorite restaurant but after tonight I'm not quite sure why... I ordered the linguine with clams and a dinner salad with their famous dressing. The salad was AMAZING. Definitely the best of everything I tried. The linguine was said to be in a white wine cream sauce but I would describe it more as linguine slathered in heavy cream with some parsley and about 10 clams. The clams were great but my stomach and taste buds could not handle the "sauce". My boyfriend ordered the surf and turf (most expensive item on the menu, but it is his birthday after all!). I thought the lobster tail was amazing and his filet was too well done for me but I still thought it was great. The peppercorn sauce was also tasty. Not sure if it was worth the $58 though... The service was good. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive. Overall it was decent. I would come back for the salad and maybe try something else, staying completely away from the pasta dishes.
(3)
Will L.
I was driving out to Santa Monica on a rainy, blustery night. Rain in Los Angeles makes rain in Seattle look like drizzle. When it comes down in L.A., it's like the sky is trying to give the hills a nice douche and rid the coast of the stain upon the earth I lovingly used to call home. Los Angeles. A great place to be from. And from L.A., I am. Unfortunately, it's been a while since I'd been over to my bro's house, and I got myself lost. Heading up Main instead of Ocean (whoops!), I passed this place. Steak? Seafood? STEAK? MEEEAAAAT!? I hadn't had any red meat in a while. Or steak! Wait... what did that mean... hmm.. Anyway, I called my bro, got my sis-in-law, and asked her if that place was any good. I could hear the drool dripping. Ok, maybe that was the rain on the roof of the car. But the sentiment was the same. We decided to walk down there, since it was only a few blocks, and what's a little rain, right? I chuckled at my bro and sis-in-law and their umbrella, typically Seattle. "Aww what's-a-matter, afwaid of a wittle wet?" Yeah, five minutes later I'm shivering under the umbrella with them, soaked to the bone. Got to the Galley, stopped at the bar, ordered some drinks. I immediately got into a conversation with a local gal who looked lonely, and I guess thought I did too. Actually, I thought she was the hostess, she was very knowledgeable of the specials. Turns out she had just finished dinner. Ah. Silly me. The inside of the Galley is fun. Random sailing and beach gear hanging all over the place. See some of the pics other folks have uploaded... thousand words... and I'm wordy enough as it is. I had the bass special. Of course I did. I play bass! That means I gotta eat it to. BE YOUR INSTRUMENT! EAT YOUR INSTRUMENT! SH*T YOUR INSTRUMENT! Etc. It tasted like lobster. Seriously. It was awesome. My older bro had the steak, and it was pretty good, though I only had a bite. Yeah yeah, my conscious got the better of me last minute. I could hear my arteries screaming in fright. I also had the famous salad, and the dressing definitely was good. We drank whiskey sours, my older bro's fave drink, and they were yummy. He recently joined a scotch drinking club, so we tasted a couple different kinds that they had. The treat? My sis-in-law recognized the owner, she's sold hats to him from her shop down the street. He totally recognized us and not only did he buy us a round, he bought us dessert. That... Rocked! Here's to hat fans!
(5)
Mel S.
Yes, I am a Galley fan. I've been coming here for close to 10 years and it's one of my favorite steak places. It is not, as my grandmother would say, "tricked-up food". Everything is prepared very simply and very well. Steaks are always done to spec, fish is tender and moist, and that's about it. It does feel a bit overpriced, considering the kooky decor and the lack of refinement in the presentation, but the food is consistently tasty and I always leave feeling satisfied. The atmosphere also lends itself to both group dining as well as couples (the patio is great if you want a calmer atmosphere). This is my little black dress of restaurants. P.S. Reservations are always a good idea, even if you make it only an hour in advance. When I called last Saturday at 7 to make a reservation for 8, they said things were looking pretty calm. But by the time we got there, there was a 15 minute wait. We were seated right away, though, thanks to that 7pm call.
(4)
Eric B.
Sucks. Never again. Overpriced, and food's nothing special. Enterprise Seafood Co. right around the corner is better in ever respect.
(1)
Melissa T.
The day I met the classiest women in Santa Monica: Last night, my friends and I attempted to grab drinks at The Galley while making our way to a few bars on Main street. While we waited for (literally) 10 minutes for the bartender to come help us, I noticed that she was having an extremely hard time handling herself. Honestly, my experience in the restaurant industry is immense, so I figured that she was just having a really hard day and didn't think anything of it. She took our orders from our friend as we went to the restroom, but we returned with still no drinks at our bar spot. I then noticed she was the only bartender on staff (I realize this means she's helping the rest of the restaurant as well and trust me, I get it), but why would you only have one scheduled for a Saturday night? More than 5 minutes later, a blonde waitress asked us if she could help us. Replying that we thought we were already in the process of being helped, she insisted on taking our order, so we reordered the 4 shots and one beer. While we were waiting, she apologized for the wait and explained the bartender was by herself. Since we knew the order was actually being recognized this time around, we watched the bartender as she made a few drinks in front of ours. This is when my friends and I realized the issue the whole time. She was...wasted. It's not like she was just rushing because it was busy, she was blatantly missing whatever she was pouring in, fumbling with glasses, filling wine all the way to the top to where it almost overflowed, and she couldn't put alcohol bottles back in their designated place without it almost spilling. At one point, a bus boy was behind the bar and he took a second to look at the bartender funny, as if his expression was asking if she was drunk and ok to be working. Once our drinks were made, they sat there long enough for another random waitress to taste test them, as if she was "confirming" they weren't hers. I'm sorry, but how many people order 4 shots that are bright green? Yeahhhh, we can see you trying our drinks. Needless to say, by the time the blonde waitress brought our shots, we were over the place and I thought she should know we didn't want anything from them. She rudely insisted that the bartender was not drunk, but was simply "tired" since she had been working since 2 pm. Given that it was 10 pm then, I didn't see how that mattered at all, as it sounded like she had a good shift compared to my 14-hour work days. While discussing the issue, the bartender came over and said, "You think i'm drunk?!" in the best sloshy, hot-mess-of-a-drunk-voice possible....NOT even able to make eye contact with me. I mean, seriously? The bartender proceeded to walk away, not even apologizing for making us wait 25 minutes for 5 drinks or the fact that a random waitress taste-tested our shots. As we were walking out, the best part came from the blonde waitress, who substituted a "sorry" or a "goodbye" with "that's really shitty of you." ....classy. All I want to know was if I was being Punk'd...
(1)
Heather R.
Love the colored strings of lights all over this old, "Argh, Matey" joint. You half expect Spongebob Squarepants to wait on you, which goes perfectly with the old-school swabbing-the-decks atmos. Or maybe Gilligan. Anyway, last night was my 3rd trip to the Galley, and probably the 1st time I've REALLY liked it. The calamari appetizer is very yummy - not greasy, and the calamari is thick, but not rubbery. The cocktail sauce is delicious and tangy. The tartar sauce is good, too, but the stand out sauce is the cilantro-scallion sauce. I'll take a VAT, please. Thanks. They also had a special filet mignon crostini appetizer last night with some kind of pesto/garlic/orgasmic sauce. If it's offered when you go - GET IT. I had pan-fried halibut, sauteed spinach and a baked potato. The halibut was good, as was the tater, but the spinach was EXCELLENT! Not creamy or buttery - very fresh with subtle garlic flavor. So good. My husband's mahi-mahi special was also delicious - he gave me a taste and I immediately wished that was what I had ordered. Our waitress was a delight - she was friendly and funny and got everything right. Our bill was just over $600 for a party of 10 with plenty of booze. Not cheap, but not a bank-breaker. The food is very good and a great place to spend a very fun evening with friends. Don't expect anything earth-shattering and you'll have a fantastic time.
(4)
Nicole O.
This revue is for drinks/snacks only. I love it. Great charm, silly decor and really friendly workers. They also have a late happy hour which is awesome, although prices aren't super cheap, they are good for the area. I also ordered Calamari with my group (which I am normally not a huge fan of). It was great, not too over-fried and the sauces were goods- the presentation on all of the food (looking at others) is very old school, but who cares if it is yummy!
(4)
Michelle M.
The Galley is a family favorite. Love the old time charm, year round Christmas lights. Steamed clams, yes! Plank for two, perfect! Always yummy, always good service.
(4)
Lawrence P.
Good food, great service and Emily is an outstanding Bartender! I've been going to The Gally since the early sixties and it's one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)
M K.
I have only been here for happy hour a couple of times, but I really like the place. The decor is beautiful and the service is fabulous. I ended up having a meal here the first time I went...delicious. The happy hour food portions are great! It's like ordering from the regular menu (big plus point). Sunday evenings are perfect as there is extended happy hour (I think) and you can order drinks such as Mai Tais for a great price. Definitely plan on going back here soon again!
(5)
alex p.
The Galley is a fantastic old school restaurant! Great steak, seafood and service! Thanks Capt. Ron for the great times! We will keep coming back and having wonderful meal! Great salad dressing...
(5)
Al M.
This place has a dive-y ambiance with fine dining prices! Their entrees START at $20 and go up to $60. If you go to the Galley - be prepared to spend some cash. We had a party of 10 people and our bill was almost $500! For $50 a person - the food better be pretty good. Nope. Everything we had was average and uninspired. I don't really understand the hoopla about this place, but I guess people in Santa Monica like paying steep prices for mediocre seafood. The entire restaurant is covered with cheesy nautical decor and Christmas lights. We went on a Friday night and it was packed. The decibel level was ridiculous! It was so loud just from people talking. The acoustics are horrible and we had to almost yell across the table to be heard. I ordered the Organic Half Chicken with mushrooms and a balsamic sauce. Chicken was good, but was missing flavor. I ordered sauteed spinach as my side dish which came out almost cold and tasted like any frozen spinach that I cook up at home. I also ordered a vodka and soda which was $10! Ugh. Two people at our table got the hamburgers and they were completely unimpressed. One person got a salad with enormous jumbo shrimp in it and he barely touched it. Our server was nice, but took FOREVER to get our check. Needless to say, by the end of our meal - we were over the Galley and our 2 hour parking meters were about to expire. Parking is not the easiest in this area. Normally, I agree with other Yelpers, but The Galley gets thumbs down from me.
(2)
Jason R.
Went on WED night for their all night Happy hour at the bar. It was crowded. Sat on the back patio. Had a few beers and the penne marinara. Waitstaff is amazing and eventually sauntered inside for a half price wrap up cocktail at the bar. Love the nautical atmosphere here. Keep it coming Galley.
(4)
Declan D.
I had the NY strip, with garlic mash potatoes and spinach....delicious! The interior decor and lighting is pretty cool. You feel like you are on an old fishing boat.
(4)
Andrew H.
This restaurant has been around since 1934. The interior is real cozy, with colored lights, and wooden booths, and a nice bar. They specialize in comfort food, and they have very good steaks and burgers. The night I went for dinner, there were young and old people, but what seemed to characterize everyone was a friendly, convivial and casual air. Nobody seemed to be pretentious or dressed to impress. It was old Santa Monica, with the worn in jeans and the women in long, straight hair. Our waitress was especially friendly and professional. Extremely courteous and fun. The only minus I would say are the relatively high prices for wine. One glass might cost anywhere from $6.50-11.00.
(4)
Jen E.
A definite "meh." Went there recently for a friend's birthday dinner. Besides the interesting history lesson I received (Santa Monica's oldest restaurant, etc., etc.) from my friend and the back of the menu, I'd have to say the experience was pretty lackluster. I mean, it's a bad sign if the highlights of our meals were the calamari starter with 3 dipping sauces (I did love their tartar sauce) and the garlic mashed potatoes that I ordered as my side to my butter-drenched overly-salted shrimp scampi entree. And my boyfriend, who unfortunately is allergic to shellfish, resorted to "Captain Ron's Favorite Land Food" pasta, then agreed Lean Cuisines have more flavor and thicker sauce. Everything was overpriced for what overall was pretty mediocre. Dare I say, I recall better dining experiences at Red Lobster? But it's a fun atmosphere - the type that makes you crave a mai tai. I had my first in years, and must say it was tasty. Oh wait, so there were three highlights of my experience...
(2)
Anuski L.
Very disappointed... I've been to the Galley a couple times, I like their filet mignon steaks, food there is not bad it is their customer service that has been an absolute disappointment. My friends laptop was stolen at The Galley the last time we went and we were the last clients there. Now with that said still to this day we do not know who did it, but the way the staff behaved and how unprofessional and unhelpful they were is enough for me to STAY AWAY. Maybe we are the irresponsible dummies and maybe we are forgetful but I can honestly say that I have left my wallet and blackberry at places like Urth Cafe fully unattended and guess what they were still there when I called the place with even all my money still in my wallet. The staff that was left that evening was unable to produce detailed identification, even the police seemed frustrated when asking questions because after having been there questioning and questioning one of the guys from the kitchen decided to come up with a "new twist to the story" and suddenly saying he had seen 2 girls trying to put "something" in their bag... and by the way the physical description of the characters in this sudden twist did not even look like anyone in our group. Anyway, enough is enough. The Galley crew this particular night could not have been more unhelpful, I know I will not be going back to this establishment and I will not be recommending it to anyone.
(1)
J D.
Not bad - pretty good. Nice patio.
(2)
Jessica X.
This place was a cute find and a little hole-in-the-wall-ish. The Christmas lights everywhere are a nice trippy touch, and the alcohol selection is not bad. We stumbled across this place and were very happy after a few drinks. Our bartender looked oddly similar to the Delta girl on the video that plays before the flights-very pretty, that's a compliment! Just a random look-a-like!
(4)
Neely M.
My mom and I met up for dinner on Tuesday night on Main Street and had planned to go to the shee shee cafe. She liked the west hollywood one, I had never been, blah blah blah. Se we looked at the menu and decided this just wasn't our scene that night. We wandered down Main street on a hunt for seafood and I spotted The Galley across the way. I had read some ok reviews on here, knew they had fish and knew it was a landmark so we decided to venture in. I love the feel of this place. It is dark and the walls are covered in nets and and lights and it feels like you are inside the hull of some old ass pirate ship. I expected peg legs and eye patches but, instead, got incredibly friendly waitstaff and some pretty decent food. I had the salmon with mashed potatoes and broccoli. My mom had the halibut with green beans and broccoli. I like that they serve all the fish with sauces on the side but my salmon was pretty steeped in butter to begin with. They were totally open to special orders - my mom is a bit like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally ("I want the fish but only in olive oil with lemon on the side and double veggies instead of a starch and no wheat products...") and the waitress was forever patient. She offered up a grilled calamari steak instead of the pan fried - no problem. She was attentive but non intrusive and so nice. The downside? I don't understand how expensive everything is. This place doesn't feel high end. I understand they are a surf and turf spot but seeing the $40 average steak on the menu just threw me off. This place would be great if it was a neighborhood spot - not a high price once in a while place. I would venture down here quite often, i think, but they kinda break the bank. I would love a $15 entree from here - many choices of said entree, as a matter of fact - but I am really only allowed a burger or salad if I choose that. I would be here a lot more if that wasn't the case. All in all, this place is atmosphere. Don't go here and expect romance. Expect pirate fantasies and old salty dogs. But do expect to pay a lot for your dinner that will be made however you like it but will be kinda doused in butter and so-so if you just go with what they offer.
(3)
Scott E.
HUGE rib-eye! Loved this place since I was a child. Been there since main street was a dirt road.
(5)
Neil V.
Novelty. It's a fun atmosphere - it's a lot like the inside of a boat + tables. Granted, i went on halloween...but my waitress was dressed as a pirate. With novelty, of course, comes a price. And since pirates are usually missing legs and eyes and crap like that, they turn around and charge YOU an arm and a leg for their food. I had the steak, which was no better than a $5 steak at ralphs. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't marinated anything special either. Dinner and drinks for two was $150 and i was still hungry and sober.
(3)
Kyle S.
Definitely one of the best steakhouses in Santa Monica. The porterhouse is great, the atmosphere is nice and there's always great service.
(5)
Kelsey G.
So I'm supposed to meet up with one of my friends for dinner and drinks last night, and he's in a meeting that's running late...real late...like 2 1/2 hours late! He finally gets out at around 9:15-30, calls ahead to the Galley, and "Sure, no problem, we'll keep the kitchen open for you guys." On a Tuesday night! Fantastic service! We sat at the bar, and rapped all night with Christine, the bartender, who rocks! I had the recommended Captain's Salad, which was pretty good. Nice and light for the late night eats. Couple of Dirty Martinis makes everything better. All in all, cool spot, with a great historic vibe, (Matt tells me its the oldest bar in Santa Monica). Looking forward to hitting up the Galley again!
(4)
Sean C.
After years of living blocks away, finally ventured into the Xmas light festooned room. Arrived around 730 Friday, waited about 30 minutes at the bar. $ 6 dos equis. Got sat in the heated back patio. Nice enough. Got some sourdough (not warm) on the table. Ordered the grilled salmon with mashed potato, broccoli and lemon caper sauce. Very tasty. M'lady had a house salad and the garlic bread. Garlic bread was good.
(3)
Hali M.
Happy hour is fun and a great deal, but, the catch is that you must sit at the bar and its a pretty small bar. Less than 20 seats available. The food is always great though. I recommend any fish, the clam chowder or me and my boyfriend's personal favorite, clams linguine. The decor is made of christmas lights. If you're looking for elegance, go to Ocean Ave Seafood. If you're looking for fun and some bomb SM Seafood, try The Galley!
(4)
J M.
I won't be going here again. As another poster said...not bad, but just OK...but with all the other options for dining in and around the are....why go here? I ordered a pasta meal....no flavor and very little chicken and veggies.....basically just pasta and sauce. Also, we had a party of 5. Four meals were brought to the table by the server and the waitress. My meal was the one missing. I assumed they would be coming back with it and the server just couldn't carry five meals. Ten minutes later I still don't have my meal and our waitress is nowhere to be found. We finally have to ask another waitress to get our waitress. You think when she had served the first meals she would have looked around our table and then asked if we need anything else like they do in most restaurants. Turns out, my meal somehow did not make it onto her order (or some excuse like that). So I had to wait another 15 minutes for them to make my dish while the rest of my group ate.
(2)
Brent A.
Christmas lights in Sept? Yes please. This place is great! Not sure why I haven't been here sooner. Quick drinks in a fun atmosphere.
(3)
Vitus H.
Great ambiente! Loved the xmas lighting. only had some starters, they were good but kinda pricey. 6 bucks for a bud light is rather outrageous i think
(3)
steve b.
Captain Ron has such a fabulous formula. Hire cute girls to serve your grizzle. The last three meals I have eaten at this landmark progressively got worse. I forgive a bad steak every now and then. But now seems to be the case with THe Galley. The RIb eye is better at Ralph's supermarket. The Galley served a disgrace for the price point of $33 dollars. I would pay good money for good steak. They are robbing people of a good meal. I do have a solution ROn just buy better meat. I also have a solution to all the wonderful customers who have been loyal to ROn and his Galley. GO to Huston's on Wilshire for dinner then go to Ron's for drinks afterwards. The steak at Huston's is the best in Santa MOnica. Nuff' said.
(2)
Thom G.
Maybe my expectations were set too high, but the Galley isn't a "nice" restaurant--it's kitch, and it borders on dive. Even so, there were a few things that I SHOULD have expected: --Help with the stroller. We have kids. The hostess didn't know what to do with the stroller. We ended up folding it away. --An apology for spilled water. The water server spilled a glass all over us. No apology. --Napkins. There were no napkins at the table. When we ask one of the busboys to bring us some, he threw them at each of us. --Good food. Overall, the food was good. (The T-bone was good. The ahi was not.) --A good server. She was! But the rest of the wait staff seemed more interested in getting on with their own thing.
(2)
lala d.
I took my boyfriend to eat here for his birthday last year. Such a great experience. We both loved our meal. After having taste their lamb, we both haven't found any restaurants that can compare. Yes its that good:) a bit expensive but worth it. The service was great. Our waitress were friendly and wasn't annoying us every 5 min. I forgot what drink I had but I remember it being so strong. I tried to drink it anyways and couldn't handle it. When our waitresse asked me how everything was going, I told her the drink was pretty strong, she took my half drank drink back into the bar and got me a new one free of charge:) again, great food. Great service. I would definitely come back here again.
(5)
Patrick M.
What a cool dive-y type place! I went with a couple of friends to the Galley last night and it was great. We sat at the bar and chatted up the staff and patrons as we got saucy with the alcohol. It was a great time. Their happy hour was going strong and so we decided to order the calamari (pretty good), the shrimp cocktail (yum) and the fish and chips (awesome). All the food was half price during happy hour so we got out of there without breaking the bank. I will be back. It was a fun scene and the ambiance was awesome! BTW, if you want a great date place, this is it. I guarantee action if your take your S.O. here...
(4)
Sheena D.
As a Main Street local, my boyfriend and I have only visited The Galley's bar as a waiting place for a cold beer until a table opens up at Manchego. The inside is lit with Christmas lights and kitschy beach memorabilia. Definitely an older crowd with a regulars feel to it. We finally decided to have dinner and started with the clam chowder which was tasty with garlic croutons. We ordered the 1/2 lb cheeseburger and the halibut special. For $14 my bf was disappointed in the burger. It was not seasoned and tasted like a frozen hamburger patty. Steak fries eased the pain. I took our friendly server's advice and got the special, pan fried halibut over risotto. For $23 it was just okay. I don't mind paying the price for good food, but unfortunately the food was overpriced. I really wanted to like this place, and come back again to try their steak specialities, but if you can't do a burger right... I'd be nervous about a steak. Looks like we won't leave the bar next time.
(2)
Anna B.
I really enjoyed my evening at The Galley. I had no idea what I was in for. I drove by on the way to pick up some friends for dinner. We had no idea where we were gonna go. I thought, why not. The atmosphere is fun. As others have mentioned, it's like a pirate ship sorta vomited inside a restaurant, but in a good way. And the food was delicious. I had lamb chops and they were cooked to perfection. Others at my table had steaks and they were equally pleased. Drinks were generous and tasty and service was great. BTW... had a pseudo-celeb sighting there. Scott Wolf: Party o' Five. Not typically a celeb sighting sorta girl, but we were there with friends from Ireland and she was so excited to see a celeb, it was sorta infectious. He looks exactly the same btw.
(4)
Dane S.
i had one of the worst dinners ever last night at the Galley. I am pretty sure that i am sick today because of their clams.
(1)
Matt L.
A true classic! Est in 1934, The Galley is full of charm. The atmosphere, from the lights to the super-friendly staff make it a "must" experience. Dress casual & get ready for a nice evening. The food is solid & music mostly nostalgic. Trust me, check it out.
(4)
john M.
Red Lobster meets the north pole. If Santa quit the sled game and decided to venture by ship, he would probably frequent the Galley. I'm not sure what was up with the pirate theme adorned with a million Christmas lights but that's what was going on within the walls of the Galley. I have to admit, it made for an interesting experience but I wouldn't say it screams fine dining, or whispers it for that matter. The service was good, the food was decent, overall it was a pretty forgetful experience other than the decor and my company.
(2)
iki i.
This is a really cute fun place to eat. The decor is very sweet and cosy. The food isn't special but it's tasty and served with a smile. A big bonus for this place is the friendly service and the good value. Like I said, the food isn't haute cuisine but it's not trash either. It's quite good. Great date night on a budget!
(4)
Alejandra I.
I love the Galley. I love having cocktails there & the mermaids they put in my drinks. I've had fish, steak, pasta, exquisite desserts there... they have a back patio... I go there all the time & have never been disappointed. The only thing I could possibly complain about is some of the waitresses, but other than that.... perfect. I love it.
(4)
David R.
I really enjoy eating at The Galley. Their generious portions are great when you need that hardy meal!
(4)
Ty P.
All of the steaks are great. The sides are solid. The waitresses are the main attraction, second only to the salad dressing. A bit expensive but if you want to hang on Main Street and get the feel of an "Old School" Santa Monica spot, then The Galley is the place.
(4)
JoAnn K.
The Galley is known to be one of the oldest restaurants in Santa Monica and in my opinion one of the yummiest! It has a lot of character, as soon as you walk in gets dark and red. Lots of Christmas lights everywhere and hot server chicks ready to take your order. There's also this interesting sign up on one of the walls that states "A Wise Monkey Never Monkeys With Another Monkey's Monkey..." can't remember the rest but there are fun facts framed on the walls which are fun to read. Oh, basically this is one of my favorite restaurants because of their ROSEMARY CHICKEN dish!!! It's the best I've ever had...a must try!
(5)
Laura F.
I like this place. It is very chill, fun, kinda kitschy. I brought my dad here and he loved it. Full bar, strong drinks, and solid but not exceptional seafood and steaks. The thing holding this place down is the prices. They are ridiculous for what you are getting. You can go somewhere like Billingsleys and get the same food for about half the price. This place is great and is fun for the neighborhood, but go there for drinks, not a full meal, unless someone else is paying!
(3)
Nicole H.
Holy Christmas Lights Batman! I had read the reviews on Yelp but really they did not do the decor justice. I've never seen so many lights inside a building in my entire life. And I'm from Missouri. There are a lots of lights out there around holiday time. Something I miss actually. Sorry got sidetracked. Temporary blindness aside, the rest of the decor and ambiance is very comforting at the same time unique. Once my friends and I were seated I fell in love with the place and kept my fingers crossed the food would be as good if not better than mentioned. Oh hello Seafood Heaven! We started with the Calamari appetizer. Surprisingly I've discovered this is actually a very easy appetizer to screw up. It's typically either too burnt or undercooked. The Galley got it done so perfectly I could have eaten the whole thing myself. My friend ordered the Surf n' Turf and his mom ordered the Trout. Although I can't offer their individual opinions, both seemed pretty content. Although the steak in the Surf n' Turf was a little overcooked. I guess everyone has a different idea of what medium rare is. Now I ordered one of the best dishes I can honestly say I've ever had. It was a special that night. Panko crusted Halibut with Basil Risotto in a Red Pepper Cream Sauce. I am salivating just thinking about it. I can only hope they bring it back again as a full-time part of the menu. The Halibut and Risotto were cooked perfectly but I have to say the star of this dish was the Red Pepper Cream Sauce. I could have drank it straight off my plate and almost did....which is probably why the waitress was nice enough to bring me a second bowl. I am giving four stars instead of five for two reasons: the undercooked steak and the service was just a tiny bit slow even though it wasn't busy when we first got there. Certainly not enough to keep me away. Thank you to my friends for introducing me to this place. I will most certainly be returning and hope to try every dish they offer. Unless they put the Halibut special on the menu permanently. Then I'll just need to buy a personalized bib to catch the Red Pepper sauce.
(4)
Nero M.
Nuts to the galley.
(1)
Lauren C.
I'm going to use this as a chance to rant about the extremely stupid hostess at this restaurant. Sorry if this comes off as rude and mean (I'm really not that mean) but man, was I annoyed. I came here with friends on a Sat night around 6:30 and the place was definitely busy. We walked in and like any normal person, asked the hostess how long it would take for us to be seated. She said 15 minutes. We waited 20. Then, we went back in to ask her on the status of our table and she said it would be another 20 minutes. WHAT!! I pointed out that she had told us 15 minutes 20 minutes ago. How could it be another 20 minutes. She gave me a horrible excuse about reservations. I said.. you knew about the reservations beforehand. She gave me a very stupid confused look and didn't seem to understand. Argh.. So, we wait 5 mins more and then my sister goes in to ask if she can leave her cell number and get called when our table is ready. The hostess says, "It'll be another 40 mins until your table is ready. We just seated all of the tables and they have yet to order." Again.. WHAT!! Is math taught that poorly in schools these days? Needless to say, we left and walked to another restaurant. But.. within 10 mins, they had called us to say our table was ready. Being set on going to this place, we ended up turning around and walking in. Nevertheless, I was extremely confused. Now on to the food. Despite the fact that the hostess was possibly the most incompetent one I have yet to encounter, the food is decent. Not something that's going to blow your mind away but decent. In my opinion, the food matches the kitschy interior of the restaurant. We sat outside in this nice patio area in the back. I had the top sirloin which was a bit tough. My sister had the clams which were quite yummy and my friend had the crab cakes. Overall, not a bad experience as long as you ignore the hostess.
(3)
David C.
A bust on all fronts tonight. I have been coming to the Galley for over 25 years and tonight was a distinct and total departure from the normal experience The host had clearly lost control of the house and we were seated nearly 45 minutes after our reservation time, and only after we became insistent. When asked after 35 minutes, she had totally forgotten about us. We were seated only when another sever took charge and took us to a table. The table experience was not much better, although our server was trying her best. My steak was delivered overcooked. I don't like eating my dinner well after everyone had finished. The make up to all of this was a free desert: a brownie that can best be described as not calorie worthy.... I don't think I will be back for a long while, if at all.
(1)
Edward J.
Day 08 hwy1 bicycle tour: Biked really far, 68m!!!!! From Ventura. And it was the rose bowl night, argh, crazy car drivers almost ran over me in santa monica. What I want is to eat at the Real Food Daily vegan restaurant. But my friend wanted seafood, FINE, let's go here 'cause its the only place that is not too busy. So this is a total tourist spot! Feels like I'm in the world of Spongebob. Antiques and marine equipments everywhere. So how is the food? Kind of good but definitely way over priced. I got the seafood pasta, it was something like $30. I don't remember, very expensive. Though filling. My friend went nuts and got the $58 lobster tail. I was like.... what if it tasted bad? Turns out it was pretty good. But $58!? I still think we should've gone to Real Food Daily.
(3)
Rich P.
The oldest restaurant and bar in Santa Monica doesn't disappoint! One of the best things about it isn't just the fabulous sea food (ahi tuna salad is delicious), it's the very friendly and chatty waitresses (who are also very easy on the eyes!)
(5)
Kristin K.
This place cracks me up. My other half and I were hungry for a steak. The Galley isn't exactly a steakhouse but the prices were pretty decent. We sat out on the patio, which reminded me of some random patio in the backyard of a college friend's house (so, not the nicest). The plastic chairs really set the mood. Seems like a dive to me. The food was pretty good but I'm sure Happy Hour is fun.
(4)
Tammy P.
Ah, where to begin...The Galley is darkly lit for good reason and with purpose. I roll up to the bar for a libation and an appi. I sit down next to what later becomes a cast of eccentric oddballs at the West End of the bar, who's combined age was roughly around 250 years old, which is exactly how old the decor is! Decor and lecherous company aside, I order a glass of wine and browse the oversized menu. The prices were decent so I went ahead and ordered the filet mignon chili and the filet mignon salad. (Don't judge me I was craving beef.) Before I had a chance to take my second sip of wine, a trough of chili was placed before me! I was surprised at the quality of meat, each bite confirmed it was the best chili I have had outside of the great state of Texas. The waitress returned with a huge portion of salad, which included about 6 additional ounces of meat. The dressing was light vinaigrette and complemented the heaviness of meat with the tender greens.
(3)
Samantha M.
Liked this place. Loved the decor, the extensive (but pricey) menu, loved the story about the owner's obsession with the salad dressing... they make a mean midori sour too! Loved the outside patio with heat lamps... though we were kicked out after awhile because we were sitting at a table where there was a reservation... the waitress was very nice about it, though! Just went in for a happy hour, but would love to try the food next time, as my friend said it was quite delicious! Patrons and staff were very friendly and talkative! Fun place, will definitely go back when in Santa Monica again!
(4)
Ryan H.
Ahoy!! This place is down to earth, cool, and comfortable. From the moment you enter your inside voice will give it a hoot... Embracing a staunch festive nautical theme, the decor is kitschy good! This ship is most enjoyed weighing anchor at the bar or with a slew of swashbuckling friends in the patio. The Staff or Mermaids as I like to consider them are typically pleasant than not. I do have some mixed feelings regarding the food though. The dishes can be a hit or miss here, so I tend to choose other places for steak and seafood. Nonetheless, I have enjoyed the Spinach and Mushroom Ravioli dish and the Filet Mignon (Medium Rare) Spinach Salad with Avocado... Hmm Good!!! I more specifically recommend this place for Happy Hour!! My favorites include the Ahi Tuna Sandwich, the Kosher Hot Dog served with Filet Mignon Chili, and an ICE cold adult beverage.
(4)
C K.
It's different & funky with a somewhat interesting decor. It was crowded & filled with young, boisterous people - some already having imbibed quite a few. The food was decent & was a different place to go in Santa Monica. If you're up for seafood, a semi-long wait on a Sat night & just a casual evening, this isn't a bad place to go.
(3)
anthony s.
after being in the hospital for 22 days in Japan, A steak at the Galley made me feel at home, talk about excellent comfort food. and a feeling of being missed by the galley girls. Love it, Anthony
(5)
Michael G.
The Decor is what sold me on this place, it gets a little dim on Saturday nights, which is a good thing. The bar is very well stocked and the drinks are properly made. Service is actually very good as well and the prices, should you choose to eat, (which you should) are very reasonable. More of a place to take somebody to on a first date or a pre-party cocktail than a main even location, not really a big singles following here gang. I recommend it, go for the great food, awesome service, good pricing and stiff cocktails. Just mosey your way down to the Circle Bar if you need to find a friend for the evening!
(4)
Steve D.
I may be biased in that I have been a customer (infrequent) for years. I avoid it on weekends as it is crowded . During the week it is a welcome break from many of the loud places. Great place for steaks and some good drinks. Tables are spaced far enough apart to provide some bit of privacy. My recollection is that their corkage charge was reasonable. The bar is very comfortable for a solo dinner. You'll usually find some interesting folks hanging out at the bar, long time locals to new media moguls and an occasional industrial debutante.
(4)
Ned M.
If you are a fan of the Simpsons, you like big steaks and big seafood, you are going to love this place. It is like a real live version of the Frying Dutchman minus the healthcode violations. It is dimly lit, has cargo nets, fake starfish and Christmas lights on the wall (maybe because it was late November). The service is good. The menu is a sort of crowd pleaser that has the usual fish and chops. The only person that would be unhappy is the vegan. Also, if you enjoy restaurants with a story on the menu like the legend of the secret salad dressing, then this is going to be the sort of place you will enjoy. The three star rating is by no means a knock on the place. I think three is very respectable. What brings this down a little bit is that it is not the sort of restaurant you go to regularly. The food is well made, the portions are big, but aside from it's quirky character, it is just average. I recommend checking this place out when you are hanging out with your buddies and are starving, but it is not the sort of place you would go to impress or please a gourmet.
(3)
S A.
ok ok ok ok ok this place doesnt serve GREAT food, and its a little bit on the pricey side of things. HOWEVER, you do get to dine under a net. Also, I took off a star for the absence of ye ol' eye patch. No?
(4)
Janet T.
I went here last Friday night for dinner with bf and loved it. Walked in it was a nice atmosphere its decor reminded me of an nostalgic past of a boater/sailor/fisherman theme with Christmas lights. They had an old jukebox at the front entrance too bad it was broken I haven't seen those since I was a child. Anyways, our waitress/hostess was great although she admitted she couldn't pronounce the name of the sauce that filet mignon but it was with mushroom & red wine sauce as she described it. I had that, the bf had the ribeye w/huge shrimp entree. Bf dish was huge, the shrimps were so huge I couldn't believe that shrimps could be so huge. I had a couple of his shrimps and they were delish too me it tasted like lobster lol. I love the food I had the special filet mignon with some mushroom/wine sauce with potatoes & beans. The service was fast, kudos to the bus boy /server were fast and on it serving & taking away our empty dishes & filling our drinks those guys were attentive. Dessert was also delish had the black cake Definately will come here again.
(4)
Michael M.
I went to the Galley with my wife and parents and it's a mixed bag. I got the crab cakes which were good(run of the mill), but my wife got the ahi tuna which was cooked correctly, but served cold. My parents were very happy with their dishes, especially the chilean bass. Most of the fish dishes are above 20 bucks, so although the fish was good, it's not a bargain. The ambiance is great, running along the lines of an old seafood restaurant. It's defintiely worth going to The Galley, but I won't be a regular.
(3)
A S.
I've been to this restaurant so many times over the years and now I've read several reviews as well. Interestingly, another woman had the same experience of the bartenders and waitresses gossiping about customers sitting at the bar, who were not acting out or behaving badly. They weren't even drinking. My friend and I also noticed them talking negatively about them. And the bartender was talking about them with another customer. It was the most unprofessional, ridiculous behavior I've ever seen from a bartender. And the owner obviously has no qualms about this behavior. I was blown away by how rude the bartender was to us as well. She could barely be bothered to be of service. And we ordered happy hour burgers which we had to send back twice because they were cooked wrong. The owner is really just an ass and expects that customers should tolerate him and his unprofessional employees, ridiculously high prices, and awful service. The decor is a great east-coast seafood place vibe. But so not worth it. It's a shame that restaurants like this don't get more honest feedback and change their attitude. If I could have given - stars I would have given 5. The owner is a shyster - how ever you spell that and the employees most of them are taking his cues in unprofessionalism.
(1)
Sonja S.
We loved this place! We had a very good meal for a great price. If you happen to be there when the owner is there, he is a riot. We loved the friendly staff. The bar area is lively, we sat in a more quiet booth with our son. We also loved the outdoor patio in nice weather. We love the service and low key atmosphere.
(4)
Michael T.
While my wife was shopping at Buffalo Express across the street, I wondered into The Galley for the first time yesterday to have a drink. As soon as I opened the door I was pleasantly surprised by the Christmas lights, decor and otherwise dark lighting. I LOVE places like this. Immediately I was greeted by the lovely and super-friendly bartender who welcomed me, showed me a free seat at the bar, and helped me with my order. Usually the first thing you have to do in places like this is fight for a seat and try to get the bartenders attention, so it was a really nice relief to have that kind of attention. Not "too" much by any means, but just the kind of acknowledgment and attention you want. I really loved the decor and character of the place, and I hope to go back there to eat some time. The prices for food appeared to be a bit more than I wanted them to be, but not enough that would write it off the list. Plus it has really great Happy Hour prices with a lot of the food half off! This is the type of place I'd love to come back to with a friend or two and sit, talk and enjoy the atmosphere. If all the bartenders and wait staff are as pleasant as my bartender (I forget her name... Samantha maybe???), than this place is doing something right. There are two things that prevented this from getting 5 stars. First off, there are no taps... this would be the perfect atmosphere for a nice drinking hole to sit back and have some microbrews. For me atmosphere is everything, which is what makes this place exciting... but unfortunately as a bar, what your serving (the product) is important too and it's tough to get super excited about drinking Guiness from a can. But maybe that's just me... But who knows... maybe if we try hard enough we can tell ourselves that it only adds to the random charm, haha. The other thing is that I would have put some more lively music in there. As a Composer by trade, I take notice of music, and this place needed something more than Frank Sinatra and the like all evening. It had the music of an Italian restaurant, and it would have been nice to sit back and here some more mixed, lively and eclectic material... maybe a David Bowie tune followed by some 80's and 90's rock... at least bring it up to the 60's and give us some Beatles and Floyd. Alrighty... if you're in Santa Monica and are in need of a drink and Atmosphere is your thing... you can't miss this place!
(4)
Waterside Of Hwy. I.
Consistently wonderful steaks. Yummy sides, albeit these are basic fare - and comfy booths but you have to be comfy with the idea that it is not a new sparkly establishment.
(4)
stephanie l.
I live about 3 blocks from this restaurant and dined here about 4 times. It is different from the other restaurants on Main Street to me. It is always very laid back and has a relaxed darker ambiance with colored christmas lights, a nautical theme, and friendly servers. I see a real mix of people in here...younger and older, both tourists and locals. I have tried a few dishes here, but am really a huge fan of the salads- especially the spinach and filet salad (I get balsamic vinaigrette instead of the dressing they serve with it) and the shrimp salad with pasta. Both are huge portions and consistently great quality ingredients. I also think the cocktails are pretty good at the Galley and the bartenders are funny and friendly. My one big gripe about this place is the bathroom is small and cramped (one person only)- sometimes there is a line or people knocking while you are in there. I have waited a little longer than normal for food when it is crowded, but nothing that upset me.
(4)
Jen B.
I have to give The Galley 5 stars because my husband has been eating and drinking there his entire adult life. He is something of a celebrity (Ron still calls him Elvis, even though he long ago parted with his greaser hair). Honestly, I would rate it 5 stars anyway. The Galley is a decent surf and turf place with a silly nautical theme and a great bar that knows how to make a stiff, well proportioned cocktail The waitresses are always attractive, yet the service is typically better than average to great. The atmosphere, silly as it is, lends itself to being comfortable rather than snooty. Its location keeps the place young to middle aged, rather than some comparably priced joints that seem to cater to the over 70 crown (Petrellies, The Buggy Whip, etc). In fact, in its price range, this is definitely the better in town. People who balk at the price either ordered the Rib Eye (which is not good), or they don;t eat at steak houses so they don;t know how much they cost. The steaks are juicy and flavorful, but don;t melt in the mouth as they do in a more expensive place. The Plank (for two), Fillet, New York, and Jumbo Porterhouse are all good. Avoid the Rib Eye. Its not what they specialize in and I found it disappointing. I often order the steamers, but I find them hit or miss. Of course, you need to consider season. Even when in season, sometimes they are too sandy of too rubbery or too clammy. Other times, they are really terrific. I love clams so much I order them and hope. If you are very picky, you may want to avoid. Unfortunately, the waitstaff always says they are great, so they are no help. The fish in generally is pretty good. Avoid the trout. Too trouty! Again, if you are super picky, you should stick with their catch of the day as it tends to be the best. Another popular dish is the shrimp or seafood diablo. Its good, but I don't often order pasta when I am out. When eating at The Galley, please keep in mind the price. It isn't cheap, but neither are its competitors and it is superior to them in every way. If you want to spend about 20-40% more money, there are definitely better spots (Dan Tanas, Maestro's, Morton's, Ruths Chris are all far superior, but waaay more expensive).
(5)
Nick H.
This place is great. The happy hour deals are constant and very good, and the Sunday waitress was very charming. My only complaint would be the stale Sinatra-style lounge music. While there's nothing wrong with Sinatra, I'm in my mid-twenties, and I'd like more relevant music. That's the only thing preventing a 5-star review, otherwise it's a great place.
(4)
Walter M.
I have been to the Galley at least 20 times with my father who loves the place and it's old-timey feel. The interior definitely has a funky-cozy 1960's feel. The food is first-rate and the portions huge (very American). They do not have a sophisticated beer & wine list -- but they do have a full bar. The prices are relatively high, a lot of entrees over $30. The wait staff can be great but if it's crowded (often the case) the service can be slow. A good choice to bring older folks, parents, people from out of town. The menu is not that large, but what's on it is very good. I give an A++ to their pricey shrimp cocktail.
(3)
Macelle A.
Kitschy..... Pirate ship gone wild.... The place boast to have been around for over 100 years / forever. Food: Nothing amazing nor memorable but not bad either. Overall conclusion: Fun place to go for a group celebration, squish into a cozy booth and enjoy the atmosphere.
(2)
David J.
We had seen this restaurant the last time we were in Santa Monica so decided to give it a try on March 30. We were spending the night in LA in order to catch an early morning flight out of LAX to Hawaii. The Galley seemed just the sort of restaurant to put us in the mood for Hawaii. The inside is really cool - dark with what seems like millions of colored Christmas lights. It sounds kitschy but it works. We got there at happy hour and ate on the quaint back patio - the only ones to do so. When we got to the restaurant at 5:00 (when it opened) we were the only ones there. By the time we walked back into the restaurant to leave it was close to full. The happy hour menu is good with plenty of yummy choices. There is no kids menu but plenty of things on the happy hour menu will satisfy the picky kids (our 8-year-old really liked her hot dog). The mai tais were very good, too. Our server was excellent - she took great care of us and even brought us a huge brownie as a complimentary dessert. I recommend The Galley and hope to come back again soon.
(4)
Cookie C.
the food was ok, a little pricey for what you get. but overall, good. not great. i was totally distracted by all the christmas lights - which i dont really associate with seafood. there are so many lights that my eyes were hurting!
(3)
Bruce F.
Whenever I have a friend in town, and I want to go someplace fun, The Galley is always my choice. The atmosphere is great - everyone seems like they're having a good time, the owner (Captain Ron) is always on the top of his game, the waitresses are very friendly and efficient, and the jukebox is always playing upbeat music from my era. And, of course, the food is excellent and plentiful. Don't forget to save room for dessert. Love that chocolate fudge cake.
(5)
Amy H.
Two words...HAPPY HOUR. This is the best deal around for fun food. Most of their appetizers are 50% off...filet mignon chili, caesar salad, crabcakes, awesome shrimp cocktail and fried shrimp. Damn...I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! They recently put their drinks on happy hour too. This is a fun place to chill. The decor is great too. If there was a bar on Gilligan's Island...this would be it! Also, Alexis is one of the best bartenders. It's always fun when she's there!
(4)
dana m.
This delicious eatery with it's whimsical maritime decor sparkling lights and tasty food is sure to make even the crabbiest diner smile with joy. My husband and family enjoyed the entire experience and would recommend this restaurant in it's entirety. I hope others will enjoy it as much as we did.
(5)
Mel H.
A fun, kitschy little bar: colored christmas lights, fisherman's paraphernalia as decor---including, yes, blowfish lanterns. Ya gotta like a place that has blowfish lanterns.
(4)
Kelli B.
Had a great dinner! Servers were prompt and the bus staff totally was on top of it. The food was awesome! I had Halibut w/ Risotto my boyfriend had the rib eye and we both enjoyed the fried calimari for starters. Crispy and delicious! the atmosphere is cozy. I can't wait to go again!
(4)
S G.
The perfect mai tai can be found at The Galley with a cool little plastic mermaid to adorn your glass. Collect your own Ariels of different colors. The dishes: The shrimp are like pillows of melted buttah and the linguine with clams is my favorite. If you order fish, try the basil and cream sauce. I love this place for special occasions or a weeknight dinner - the Galley is casual enough to walk in with jeans but cool enough for when you want to spruce up without feeling overdressed.
(5)
Evan J.
With a name like The Galley and decorations that make you feel like you're dining with Capt. Bligh, it might not seem obvious that this place serves a great steak. They are no friggin' joke, despite the kitsch. In a lot of ways, it feels like a casual neighborhood bar, but their food is top notch.
(4)
Lauren B.
The food is great, and the atmosphere is a lot of fun! I really liked my burger, and my friend loved his filet mignon.
(4)
Wayne C.
not a bad place, a bit over priced, but good food overall.
(3)
Cosmolicious L.
I love this place from the top of it's year round chistmas lights and dust covered puffer fish dangling from the ceiling, to the bottom of it's gianormaously tender filet covered in peppercorn sauce. It's a must visit when I'm down from San Francisco.
(5)
Stephen C.
So I'm adding the Galley to my go-to list of bars. Me and my friend were riding our bikes back from a November day at the beach. So we needed something to warm up with, and the obvious conclusion was a shot of whiskey. We happened to be riding past the Galley at that moment so we did a hard left across traffic and went in. In the past, I never really took the place seriously, cause it looks like the Sea Captain's restaurant from the Simpsons from the outside, but the whole beauty of the place is the kitsch. Its got blowfish and fishnets hanging from the ceiling and tons of WWII era posters on the wall. Christmas lights hanging everywhere. Cool atmosphere. We bellied up to the bar and the friendly bartender poured us the largest shots of whiskey I have ever imbibed. For five bucks too cause it was happy hour. Everyone there was friendly, even servers who weren't looking for a tip struck up conversation with me and my friend. The fact that they were also all attractive was a nice bonus. Although I didn't eat anything, so I can't comment on the food, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time at the Galley. Needless to say, I didn't need a jacket for the rest of my bike trip home.
(4)
Heidi B.
Wow, what a great time I had at the Galley! The decor of this landmark restaraunt and bar is amazing! There's a mermaid in a ship outside in the front and porthole windows...inside are year round Christmas lights and nautical fare everywhere!! This all contributes to warm and welcoming ambience. The hostess ushered us to a great booth in the mermaid room where an attentive (and adorable) waitress took are drink order and told us the specials. We decided on starting with a shrimp cocktail, a bucket of steamed clams and house salads to start!! OMG! I've heard the Galley salad dressing is legendary and delicious and it IS!!! So good. The shrimp cocktail was great as well...huge shrimp and a sauce with a kick, yum! The clams and broth were amazing as well!!! For our main course we ordered the seafood diablo pasta and a filet! Again, fresh, delicious, flavorful food....soooo good! We shared a chocolate mousse cheesecake for dessert with coffee. The perfect ending to a satisfying meal. I defintiely recommend the Galley for it's ambience, great food and a stiff cocktail!! I'm coming back!
(5)
Frances J.
Came here last night, a Sunday, to celebrate a graduation. We were a party of six, with a reservation. While the food was very good, the service left a lot to be desired. We had to repeatedly ask for bread so we could get for everyone. They delivered three cups of chowder, but said the bowl of chowder had to wait as they were making some fresh. Okay, but then they didn't bring the bowl until we asked what happened to it, after those eating cups of chowder had finished. Then there was a looooong wait for our food. Nobody checked back on us, we were sitting there with empty glasses. We had to ask for butter for our potatoes, and I had to specifically request that the server find out if anyone in our party wanted a second drink - and of course several people did. We also had to flag the server down and request dessert and coffee - nobody offered. I am a big fan of The Galley, but usually come in with one or two other people. Last night I saw a whole other side to the place that left me shaking my head.
(2)
Aleesa A.
I got food poisoning from the tuna steak sandwich - like violently throwing up sick - and when I called and nicely told the manager about it so others wouldn't get sick, all he offered was "come in sometime, ask for me and I'll do something for you." As if I'm going to go in and order another $100 meal and then have the "something" just be a cheap glass of wine. I was incredibly insulted by the lack of empathy for making me puke my brains out and not only ruin my night but my next day, too. I should have been offered a free meal or some definitive dollar value for my misery if I'd ever give them another chance after 13 years of being an occasional customer.
(1)
Eriko P.
We came here for Happy Hour on a Friday.... 5:20pm. The bar was almost full, but there is a small round table near the front door, which was perfect for us. I ordered Fish and Chips, and my husband, steak sandwich and a side of clam chowder soup. Everything was tasty for the Happy Hour price, $5.00 each. The interior is always decorated with those Xmas twinkle lights, no matter what. I always feel cozy upon entering this restaurant. Nothing fancy, but it is welcoming. We found ourselves being among the youngest crowd. Hahahaha! I think the average age at Happy Hour around the bar.... 70. Where else can one go for Happy Hour, feel comfortable and cozy, have a yummy meal for $5.00 and see local seniors also having a good time? I am glad Santa Monica has a place like The Galley. The food: It was good for the price. My fish and chips were not the best, but heck, for $5.00, I am not complaining, thus the 5 stars. One needs to take in the entire experience of The Galley. It's a restaurant that is a landmark here in town. It opened n 1934 and I believe it was a place where the movie stars would come and hang out after working in the studios. There are photos of them decorated all over the place, among the fish net and Xmas light decor. Kitchy, but it works. Granted, I am only writing my review for the Happy Hour, and the crowd was older, but I loved that there is a place for local seniors to hang out, have a good time and feel full. When I get older and am alone, I would like a place like The Galley. But today, I am young at heart and it warms my heart to see how friendly everyone is here. So, this is why I am giving this place 5 stars. I should add, the staff was very friendly, with a smile.
(5)
Patti L.
The food was Wonderful so was the service. Lots of food options I had the Rib eye and Lobster tail combination both were very large and very very good plus a salad. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive she kept coming over to make sure we were happy. We met Captain Ron really sweet he told us the story about his Mom and Dad we saw a Love Letter from his Dad to his Mom during WWII We sat in their booth. They have a nice busy bar. I would recommend reservations. Parking in back but it's paid meter. I will go back again.
(5)
Sasha K.
This place is great for happy hour. Crab cakes, ahi tuna sandwich, sliders, and margaritas are what we always order. Reasonably priced, good service (however a couple waitresses are a bit ditzy), and funky atmospehere. Crowded during happy hour but you can sit outside on the patio when the bar area is full. Regular menu is way overpriced, but it is an institution in this beach city.
(4)
Will A.
One of the best places on Main St to grab a drink and a bar food bite. Burger is awesome! Service is top notch and ambience is one of a kind. Real SAMO Classic
(4)
Kelly F.
They Galley is the best. Wrote in to Captain Ron 2 weeks before a friend's birthday happy hour to see if we could reserve the back patio on a Friday. Captain Ron rocks, and when we walked in at 7ish, it was all ready to go. Made it so easy. I rarely get food, although it always looks and smells great. THE DIRTY MARTINIS ARE THE BEST. SERIOUSLY. GET ONE. +1 FOR MERMAID OLIVE HOLDERS.
(5)
Michael G.
Came here the other night because I was craving seafood. Let me get one thing perfectly clear here - The service was good and the waitress knew the menu. One would think that a restaurant with a nautical themed name would have amazing seafood. The atmosphere inside was sure nautical. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi entree. This dish was far overpriced for what it was. It was $28. You may think this is reasonable, but alas, this had only 4 shrimp. There is a similar appetizer listed on the menu with 3 shrimp for $15. This would render each shrimp at $5. This isn't atrociously expensive, but overpriced indeed. That said, "what accounts for the other $8", if you're following my math, you may ask. This dish comes with 2 meager side dishes. Options include mashed potatoes, canned corn, sauteed spinach, etc. A 49-cent can of corn is nowhere near $4 in value. Lets talk about the food for a second. The Shrimp was alright. It was nothing special. In fact the sauce was unbalanced in flavor. The lemon/capers were too strong which overpowered the shrimp and butter. While the garlic mashed potatoes weren't the best, they weren't the worst. I just don't think this was worth $4 with the small portion. Lastly the sauteed spinach had absolutely no flavor other than old. This was obviously prepared way before our meal and reheated. There was no salt, pepper, nor garlic. I saw garlic cloves - but they had no flavor. All in all, this didn't satisfy my cravings for seafood.
(1)
Alan G.
This dump is lost in a time-warp from when they could get away with uncomfortable seats, sawdust floors, and worn-out everything. I can't imagine who finds that cool in 2014. Bar action is mainly gay men. I ordered a salad with halibut and was really shocked that the halibut was obviously frozen, stale and smelly. The waitress, who was very sweet and attentive, apologized, stated that she'd inform the owner and chef "who really do care..." But it was on the check anyway and as a "make-up," she brought their atrocious, watery, flavorless key-lime pie. The chicken parmigiana was a huge pile of salty, gooey slop. I believe the only thing that keeps them open is the ad-line, "Santa Monica's oldest restaurant...."
(1)
Jill A.
We got some bad food that we didn't like. We sent it back. After refusing to take a meal off our check that we genuinely didn't like, a rude server dropped a crumpled receipt on the table with her manager's phone number on it; she said we had to call him to talk to him about it. So we sat out on the patio in front of other guests dining at the restaurant arguing with the manager until he finally conceded that we were right and called his wait staff to have them take the pasta off the bill. It was a very bad experience. I will not be back.
(1)
white s.
I simply love this place. i end to love old fashioned places. Everything is wood and very beachy, year round Holiday lights and great old music. (im a sucker for it) Its a steak and seafood joint and has a great hang out bar. The chili is amazing !! Highly recommend.
(5)
Mike D.
Came in here for happy hour on the recent rainy weekend. The bar was full, and we were offered seating on the patio by a waitress. I asked if the patio was covered as to the possibility of immediate rain (started raining 10 mins later). The response I got was a rude and sarcastic, "what patios are covered?!"...This was my first time here, and I wouldn't expect to be offered seating outside on the rainiest weekend of the year. #thinkbeforeyouspeak Too bad because she was pretty cute and wouldn't have minded staying to catch the vibe of the place.
(1)
Brittany N.
Everything started off so well. This was a bar we had walked by a million times and decided to step in. The "dive bar" feel was genuine and the menu looked great. There were seven of us total, and we thought we had made it clear we were just here to get some late night drinks. The server greeted us with big smiles and instead of leaving us be, she went out of her way to seat us in a big booth in the back. We ordered drinks from her and were pleasantly surprised to find good service from a dive bar. But then the bill came, and we asked to split the bill. That's when the snarky and incredibly rude attitude came out of the server. "We will NEVER do this EVER again. I CANNOT believe you thought you could come in here, sit in a booth and expect to split the bill." She told us. "You should have just ordered at the bar. This is incredibly inconvenient and a complete waste of my time." Suddenly, the great service we had received was long gone. That server needs an incredible attitude check. We will not be recommending this bar to anyone.
(1)
Lina P.
Came here a while ago and forgot to write my review. Food was ok, nothing special. Drinks were good. Decor was kinda cheesy. I honestly don't remember what I had to eat but I remember not being impressed. Wouldn't come back by choice but if someone else suggested it I would be open to trying again.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Eric B.
If you want go to a restaurant with a fun decor, lively atmosphere and AMAZING FOOD, this is your place..The owner, Ron, and the rest of the staff are great. Make a reservation, it gets busy, but you can also eat at the bar. Splurge and get the 1 lb Lobster tail, its the best. Thanx Ron
(5)Scott S.
Emily's friendly! Wonderful bartender recommended shrimp cocktail, calamari , & the filet Mignon chili at happy hour prices! These recommendations were all very good values!They were the perfect complement to my five dollars Margherita! Great little happy hr 5-7 pm. She also told us this is the first restaurant in Santa Monica starting in 1934. Charming is the interior of this gem. blowfish lanterns Christmas lights, fishing and boating memorabilia on the walls together with all the nautical apparatus gathered here since 1934 is a one-of-a-kind decor in a one-of-a-kind town. A real joy to be here!
(4)Kitaka M.
The Galley has a nice location because there is a parking lot in the back that you pay for at a kiosk. My Favs: The Calamari appetizer and vegetable plate. I've had calamari at several places and this is the first place that I have actually enjoyed it. I liked it so much that I am planning on bringing my boyfriend just so I can say "See, someone can make good calamari." Next time I go, I will take pictures. I get so excited about the food that I forget to take pictures. If you want a romantic atmosphere, this is a great place. Be sure to ask for the romantic booth of love. It has the owner's father's marriage proposal that was written long before I was born and it is beautiful. Who couldn't say Yes to that proposal? Speaking of the owner, he is so down to earth and charming. Captain Ron! He takes it personal that everyone enjoys the experience. He makes you feel comfortable and homey. The food is a just right portion and the outdoor patio is nice and cozy. There are Christmas light all around the inside that gives off a festive appeal. Whenever I go here, I don't want to leave. After a few drinks, I am off singing a sea shanty. On my next visit, I will try the steak along with the calamari. Overall it is a great place to hang out for drinks and appetizers!
(4)Brian D.
While the ambiance is a nice throwback to a different era, and maybe it's a good place for happy hour, I will never return to The Galley. I went there for a steak dinner with my son. I had the New York Steak, he had the rib eye. We both ordered medium rare. Ugh. My steak was delivered with a charcoal topping, which overwhelmed any flavor the steak might have had. And my son's rib eye was much more rare than medium rare. Moreover, the place was not busy, less than one-quarter full, so it's not like the cook was under pressure. I am generally not a complainer. I grew up in a very large family eating in a food line. I'm not a food snob. I ate about one-quarter of the steak before I could not take another bite. When I asked the waitress for a new steak, cooked right, she asked the cook who reportedly said, essentially, that it would come back the same way. I told her to tell him to clean the grill. Worst steak ever. I should have asked them to take it back and off my bill, though I wonder if they would even do that. The waitress did not make an offer to do that, despite my obvious displeasure, Maybe there was a communication breakdown, Maybe the cook was having a bad day. I dunno. But given that my steak cost me $30, and $30 for my son, I would expect something better. The calamari was fine, but that's about it. Even the bread they served had a burnt bottom. At least I could rip the bottom off. If you go there to eat, just get a burger. Hard to mess that one up. I was compassionate enough to give it two stars (I initially gave it one star), only because of the ambiance,
(2)Karin H.
You have to experience this super cool yet old school great Santa Monica haunt. Food is great. Drinks are great. Staff is great. Don't miss out. It's a must visit to get the vibe of Santa Monica
(5)A J.
Food is relatively good. They have their good days and bad days. Usually the calamari is always good. I ordered the mushrooms and was very disappointed and I also ordered the clam chowder and was even more disappointed. I paid for the clam chowder and in all honestly it tastes really bad:( to the point I just let the entire bowl to be thrown away.
(3)James H.
After years as a faithful customer, spending several nights a week at The Galley for dinner and drinks since 2012, I'm sorry to say that I won't be coming back again. Ever. For whatever reason (they didn't bother explaining) they've removed ALL of the beer from their restaurant/bar and now serve piss-water ONLY (Bud & Bud Light) though, they kept the Guinness -- who knows why...? The bartender claimed they still serve Pacifico so I ordered that. Whoops! Don't have it. But we have Blue Moon. So I ordered that. Oops! again...don't have that either. Of course, nowadays, there's no point in expecting ANYTHING from anyone...least of all from the dolts who decided to cease serving beer at the oldest bar in the city. One of the last great bars in Santa Monica, DEAD. Reduced to nothing but another pathetic run-of-the-mill toilet anxious to mimic all the losers, and desperate to emulate the worst aspects of every other cloned eatery in this G-d forsaken town.., Why bother being disappointed? The Galley certainly doesn't give a sh*t. Not about their image and certainly not about the desires or enjoyment of their long-time customers...another fine establishment reduced to a joke. But nobody's laughing.
(1)Svetlana S.
This was a Valentine'S Day, we made a reservation 1 week in advance, but we still had to wait for 35 minutes in the bar before we got a table. The bar girl did not return a change from the last order. We will leave tip any way, even more, but why do you decide for a customer? The food...hmmm... I read some reviews on Yelp regarding Galley's crab cakes and that people may kill for them. I'm very surprised, I do not know what people ate before. This is a strange mix of vegetables (carrots, etc.) with some seafood meat (?). I'm not sure what is this, but there is definitely no smell or taste of crab meat. My husband ordered chicken (big pieces) with pasta and tomato souse, very strange combination, but eatable. We were hungry any way. Cocktails are ok.
(2)Flavia A.
The ultimate dive bar. Actually, I don't even want to call it a dive. It's a really nice dive. There's sawdust on the floor, regular customers everywhere, sailor's memorabilia stuck to the wall, old bottles stacked up behind the bar, and "okay" food. But the atmosphere is just so fun. With millions of colorful xmas lights strung up from every corner and rafter of the bar, the place sparkles with personality. I was surprised the first time I stepped foot in The Galley - it's a wonderful little Santa Monica gem.
(4)Cliff W.
This is the dive bar in Santa Monica you were looking for. I came by here after a few margaritas at another spot to meet up with some folks. Upon walking in and sitting at the bar I instantly had a few random single serving friends, some of which told me more than once how this bar was the oldest in the area. The bartenders were friendly and keep the drinks flowing. The atmosphere is almost anti-LA, and I'd bring up this place in any conversation about Los Angeles where people try to say the usual stereotypes and generalizations. Next time I'm in Santa Monica looking for a spot to kick a few back and catch up with friends this spot is definitely a contender.
(5)Lyn C.
I actually really like The Galley. It's like a tacky Hooters when you walk in, but we had our meal outside on the patio and it was very nice. Our waitress was so nice and helpful, and all the food was fantastic. Dinner: Calamari- can't go wrong. Clams- 4 lbs on the menu, but we shared a smaller order of 2 lbs. I definitely think we could have handled 4 lbs Rib eye- delish with a side of garlic mashed potatoes Seafood diablo- I didn't actually get this. Just writing it down so I remember to get it next time because it sounded good lol I definitely plan on coming back. It was a great dinner!
(4)Sarah K.
Boyfriend took me here for a romantic date and it was spot on. Super cute decoration, I love all the Christmas lights. Very easy parking situation (which is a huge blessing in Santa Monica) as the public parking is right behind the restaurant. Service was OK, - docking a star because they give you very small water glasses - when I asked for a pitcher of water (I drink a LOT of water), they said they would bring larger glasses, which never appeared. I also had trouble getting my drink refilled. Got the rib eye - get the Gorgonzola topping, not peppercorn. I tried both and the Gorgonzola was way better. Great veggie side options.
(4)Karol U.
A bit over priced but tasty and fun. Great vibe. I can't wait to go back. They even put little mermaids in my whiskey sours.
(4)Nancy M.
My original thought was to give 1 star only - I relented once I thought about our wonderful waitperson. She knew the menu, had suggestions of what to order and was very quick to get orders to the table and refresh drinks. The food - I order the filet mignon - which could have been delicious - however it was swimming in a red wine sauce that was cold and tasted horrible. It was accompanied with spinach & scalloped potatoes. The entire plate of food was luke warm - not even hot. The speed at which my meal came from the kitchen - I presume it was someone else's plate of of food - thus the reason it was not hot. Parking - supposedly available behind The Galley was unavailable - so I had to go to another lot and "hike" in - on the way back to my car I was accosted by a nice homeless man who wanted to walk me back to my car. Would I return - no. I am sure their are many who will find this to be "old school" charm - no thanks!
(2)Steve M.
Old school style near the beach. The Captain(Ron) who owns the place is a great host. The oldest restaurant in Santa Monica lives up to the the billing as a wonderful place to eat. I love the Filet and if they have the Chilean Sea Bass enjoy that too. One of our favorites for years now!
(5)Skinny Coach u.
The best happy hour in the universe. Clam chowder, fish and chips, etc... all $5 plus any drink - including bloody mary's! The food on the regular menu is fantastic as well although much more expensive. There are great pretty colored lights all over and a great little patio. Very romantic. Happy hour all day Sunday and Monday!
(5)Amy S.
This place is awesome! The decor is old-timey sea faring with sawdust on the floor and tacky plastic fish on the walls. The place is pretty intimate, but in a fun way - with booths in cozy corners and the dining area split into three. We were seated right away and our server Katie was there with waters and bread super quickly. The menu is nice and simple- mostly steak, fish, and chicken. We ordered calamari to start and it was very good. It came out with 3 different types of sauces as well to please everyone in the family. I ordered the petite filet mignon- medium rare with zucchini (veg of the day). The steak was cooked nicely and the sauce that it came with complimented the taste of the steak. The zucchini was nicely seasoned and the scalloped potatoes were good as well. The winner of the night was the shrimp scampi. Large pieces of shrimp sauteed in a perfectly flavored butter sauce... oh my! I'm salivating just thinking about it. The garlic mashed potatoes were also a huge winner. At the mention of dessert, Katie brought us a huge slice of brownie. It was moist and chocolate-y perfect to end the meal with. Food was excellent, ambiance is great, and our server Katie was super friendly!!! Will defo be back again soon.
(5)Richard B.
Ever envision an acid trip under a thousand twinkling lights, this is your place. The food trumps the decor, all bamboo and blowfish. The filet is butter smooth. The onion rings perfectly fried.
(4)Elizabeth S.
Had "galley salad," tacos, and chili. Salad and chili were great after a day of lazing about at the pool. Tacos didn't taste like much sorry to say. They have beer in bottles that did the trick. Inside the bar feels like your in a psychedelic galaxy of rainbow colored stars. There is a back patio too which is lovely. "Galley girls" and kitchen staff is so friendly. Feels like a laid back locals bar.
(5)Jennifer S.
I fell in love as soon as I walked in The Galley. The dark ambiance and eclectic fisherman memorabilia was very dreamy. The bar is really inviting with the cool puffer fish lights. We had drinks and tacos at the bar and everyone was very friendly. We will be back soon.
(5)Brad M.
You must embrace the kitsch! That is what this place is all about. A Santa Monica institution with tiki and nautical themes complete with old school Santa Monica alcoholics at the bar. Love it! We went for happy hour - while $5 bottled beer doesn't seem like much of a bargain, the food specials are a great deal. A big order of crispy fish and chips or a big plate of calamari with three dipping sauces is only $5. Staff is super friendly and I am so glad that not every place in Santa Monica has turned into techie hipster douche-fest. Let's keep the Galley around for another 80 years! Cheers!
(4)Jon K.
I discovered this off-beat old-school joint back in '98 after I had been living in Santa Monica for just about a year. I happened to walk in off the street one day and found myself "in" on a local well-held secret hideaway. Everything on the menu is top notch, I always go surf and turf here... the sides are awesome and I love the house salad with "Famous Galley Dressing". The staff is friendly and the quality/preparation of the food has stayed consistent all these years - still my favorite spot on the west side. The seating space has expanded a couple times since I first started frequenting the place - they are drawing a crowd now - but it's actually still as cozy and quirky as ever.
(5)Kenny S.
This is my second time coming here. I wanted a good place to take my girlfriend for dinner. I thought this was the perfect place to go since she is a big fan of seafood. They did not disappoint. I knew this place could be busy so I decided to book a reservation for 8pm. When we got there, there was a short 5 min wait before we were seated. Took us a bit to decide what we wanted but we settled on the Seafood Diablo Pasta and the Calamari Steak. The food came out pretty quickly. I was pretty delighted on how our meal tasted. We even shared a bowl of clam chowder soup. The service there is pretty good. Our waitress was very nice. I would come here again. There are pay-by spaces directly behind the restaurant but we opted to park on the street. Make sure you make a reservation if you are planning to have dinner as this place gets busy!
(4)Steve L.
Get there early if you want a seat at the bar for the very popular happy hour. Otherwise, it's the back patio for you.
(3)Michaelann B.
Good food, cute decor and fun atmosphere! Had the steak and it was delish! They made a special pasta dish for my husband! Just know it's not fancy!!
(4)Terrence M.
Santa Monica's oldest bar is Cheers meets Sponge Bob Square Pants with a dash of Chart House for good measure. The dark interior is decorated with blowfish lamps, netting and roping, paddles, Christmas lights (year round!) and other things one naturally finds in the belly of a ship at sea. It's old school, slightly chintzy, yet somehow it works really well. What one doesn't find in the belly of ship at sea are the delicious options on the dinner menu at the Galley. Plenty of seafood available, but also lamb chops, all the steak standards, chicken and pasta. It's a food flotilla that can only be washed down with an equally healthy drink menu, which the Galley also delivers on. I went with the panko crusted Alaskan Halibut and steamed zucchini. I may have already been three sheets to the wind at that point (or close to it) but I do remember thinking it was one of the best meals I'd had in a while. Panko crusted = pretty awesome. The Galley is a cozy, dark, aquatic little gem of an ancient bar and it also happens to be one of my new favorites in Santa Monica.
(5)David C.
Never review but felt the need to with this local popular spot. I love an old school scene with great history and vibe. The Galley has plenty of that. Where it fails is the overall lack of flavor in all appetizers and dishes we tried. The recipes are as old as the decor and in this case that's not a good thing.
(1)OutandAbou T.
If you love an easy going dive bar/restaurant, this is your new home. The decor can only be described as seaside Christmas on crack. The minute you walk into this small hang out, you're treated to an explosion of Christmas lights. Not the all-white, elegance of a wedding reception- these are the multi-color lights of your middle-class youth. And there are way, way too many of them, which is a delight. Scattered among the lights are nautical-themed tchotchke such as blowfish, nets, etc. All are covered in a layer of dust. It didn't bother me because nothing fell on our table, so no harm, no foul, but someone really ought to clean that up. The food is pretty good for the price. Crabcakes taste homemade- real pieces of celery, etc. are still discernible and tasty, crab quantity is decent, unlike the filler-heavy frozen cakes you get for the same price elsewhere. The fish is seasoned well and smells fresh. Onion rings are enormous and plentiful. Sauteed spinach was good, and not swimming in butter, which I absolutely hate. The house wine is god awful, but what do you want? The Galley doesn't pretend to be anything more than a casual dive with decent food and a friendly staff. Overall, a good meal. I would come back.
(4)Moe O.
This place used to be a favorite. I don't know if they have had some kind of management change in the last year but the food and service has definitely dropped off!
(1)Dylan P.
The first time I was here the service was so horrifically rude to my party that we ended up leaving. Our server was sarcastic, snarky, and fairly unbearable. I told her we would not be back and she said ok and smiled. I really hope she doesn't work there anymore. I came back a second time as part of a birthday party (clearly not my choice) and the service was ok, but we just ordered drinks from the bar.
(1)Lindsay H.
Aside from being such a staple in Santa Monica (and it's history), I don't understand why so many people love this place. Every time I've gone, the food has been incredibly bland. The only reason I had gone back because it was for a group outing. In this visit, I had salmon with potatoes and sautéed spinach. Unfortunately I had forgotten how bland the spinach was from the last time I was there; I wouldn't have ordered it had I remembered. The salmon was OK, and again, the potatoes were tasty but couldn't make up for the lack of flavor in the other items. As in past visits, service was exceptional.
(2)Stephanie W.
Galey is awesome! I especially love their 40oz steak with 4 sides and their awesome red wine sause. Fed 5 people in $130ish (tax tips included), everyone is satisfied. The waitress is also very friendly. Note that this place is a bit dark and noisy.
(5)Dan A.
Tourist beware. The happy hour special only applies to certain seating in the restaurant. Our waitress didn't inform us until after the bill arrived that we were paying the higher price, which was almost double what we were expecting to pay looking at the menu. If the waitress had told us from the outset, we would have moved the 30 feet it would have taken to get the happy hour special. The food was old fashioned, which is fine for what it is and the portions were big. But it wasn't even close to worth the higher price tag for it.
(1)Heather M.
Definitely a cute, quirky place. Service was very good, but it was only Tuesday. They have a full bar and a nice wine list... Only bottled beer tho. It started getting a bit loud in the bar area by 7:00 PM. The bread they bring out is really good. The chili was not that great... Actually I don't think the food had much flavoring at all. My filet was cooked to perfection, but tasted like... Nothing! Scalloped potatoes were really bland, even the peppercorn sauce wasn't "pepper-y" enough to help. I did not care for the spinach, flavorless! Add some salt!! For $200 for 4, I want a meal I can taste.
(2)Ryan W.
Surf and turf was awesome. Everything was great. Angie at the bar is a total sweetheart. Great place to bring your girl have a great dinner and relax. The Galley is a 10 out of 10.
(5)Karen L.
We had a nice dinner here last week. All steaks including petit filet and rib eye were render and juicy and reasonably priced. Sides dished could use a little more creativity, but scalloped potatoes were yummy! Mashed garlic potatoes were good, but all veggies could have been a bit more fresh. Bread was not very fresh either, The quality of the meat truly saved the day. Service is excellent and friendly. Captain Ron just needs to spice up the menu a bit!
(4)Lance N.
I just had the best meal I've ever eaten in Santa Monica... and this was my first time ever eating here. I've been really frustrated with all the garbage fufu shishi restaurants here in Santa Monica that seem to think truffles & french fries go together and that cows are sacred and most won't serve any kind of steak... I've been dying to find any place to get a steak, of the rare places that do most only offer a lame flatiron nibble. THE GALLEY is what happens when you mash a diverbar with an oldschool lounge style restaurant of the 30s that fell in love with Christmas eve and decided to never give up the xmas lights. The ambiance reminded me a bit of the acid trip scenes from "Fear And Loathing Las Vegas" when the lizards come out... it's very dark but cheerfully glowy with all the seeming randomly-strung xmas tree lights throughout the establishment. The smell is a bit fishy as most people were chowing down on seafood but I really wanted steak and boy was I rewarded! My booth was very comfortable and the server was fast with my drink and I gave the garlic bread and a ribeye steak medium-rare a try. #ProTip ORDER MARINARA WITH THEIR GARLIC BREAD, it's needed and will enhance the bread. They also served sourdough bread w/ butter, recommend avoiding it if you're going to do the garlic bread. Bread did arrive first and I immediately realized my mistake of not ordering the marinara and they were quick to provide me a perfect portion for the bread. My ribeye steak was perfectly cooked medium-rare and i could've eaten it without anything else. I did add some pepper and A1 and the end result was a party in my mouth that every other Santa Monica eatery has failed to provide. My drink was refilled promptly and I was so full I could not handle the dessert. If you are looking for steak in Santa Monica YOU MUST EAT HERE. They have all the standard cuts of steak and their kitchen knows howto properly make it!
(5)Niki G.
The steak is top notch and the Filet Chili is DIVINE! I love this place. Also opt for the Onion Rings over the Fries... They're perfect :) everyone here is also incredibly nice.
(5)Cory S.
Cheap booze. Hostess was a giant angry womanbeast. We were invited to not come back because they have terrible electricity. Why two stars - dope hot dog.
(2)Jon S.
Burger Week Bonus - So Fri, went here for dinner! After a week of lunch burgers, I had the great idea to cap burger week with a steakhouse burger...why not!?! After all some of the best burgers can be found at steakhouses. This is another LA staple kind of place. It's been around forever & has a great urban legend type story of "Captain" Ron who was a regular here & loved the salad dressing. He kept asking a long time waitress Millie for the recipe. She would not give it up then one night he was in with a group of friends. He offered Millie a large tip to tell him the recipe. She glared at him and yelled "if you want to know so badly, why don't you but the @#!* place!" So years latter to Millie's shock, he finally did! It's a great atmosphere with the crowded walls, Christmas lights everywhere & nautical theme...my kind of place. I love the boat steering wheel mirror in the tiny bathroom & plastic mermaids for the drinks! What I don't love is the food. I think it's another case of nostalgia clouding the memory of the quality of food. That or at my 6th burger, I'm just over it! I would put it at the bottom for the week. I also mistakenly took a soup over the famous salad and regretted it!
(2)Mike C.
Flash forward to Santa Monica in late 2014. Sick of the transformations my home city has taken. Overrun by techie yuppies, tourists with too much money, skyrocketing home prices where a run down shack runs 1.5 mil, congestion as bad as hollywood if not worse, and overpriced, trendy, small portioned pos restuarants. Now I appreciate the galley more than ever. Here you can still get a stiff drink for under $10 and a huge and savory steak for under $30. Sure the ambiance isn't that great, but we live in a time where everything else in santa monica is going to be double the price, and half the portion. Thank you Galley for being a historic santa monica landmark where one can get a hearty meat and potato meal that won't break the bank. Even as beef prices have risen w/drought (I've noticed every other steakhouse raising price), they have kept the same prices since at least 2009!
(5)Sukhraj B.
This place has a pretty crazy bar scene. I came here with a date and after a few drinks we were pretty much gone and the bartender just kept them coming. If you're looking for a great bar scene, definitely check this place out. I love that the bartenders are friendly, don't bother checking IDs, and will pour a mean stiff drink. There's a lot to see and take in just at the bar - people hooking up, making out, or just plain getting wasted. It's a fun time especially if you've already had a few drinks. We hung out for a while and then made our way back to the car. Luckily, they have a lot directly behind the restaurant and parking isn't that much. If you're looking to just hang out and have a few drinks, this place isn't bad. They also have a restaurant area as well but I've only been to the bar.
(3)Sarah C.
I LOVE the Galley! A huge staple of Santa Monica. I was 1st introduced to the Galley by my Grandparents- it was their favorite date night spot. Thinking it was a little 'hokey' I fell in love instantly with the old Skool feel plus I'm a sucker for Mermaids. I highly recommend stopping in for a great steak or awesome seafood. Not to mention their staff is very friendly & helpful. Come in for a drink & stay for the food!
(5)Michael K.
Easily one of my favorite bars in LA. I've never ordered food here, so I can't comment on this. The setting is great and it's a very fun and comfortable place to meet you friends. The drinks aren't cheap (about $12) and they're okay in terms of quality, but the atmosphere cannot be beat. If I want a laidback night of getting comfortably boozed with no B.S., then this is my top choice.
(5)James P.
Dizzy waitresses...no oysters..no fish tacos...not a good start
(2)Olivia L.
went here for a quick drink date night with hubby. for once i ordered a drink and i could taste the alchohol. I am not an alcoholic but when I pay $7-10 for a drink I want to know there's alcohol in it. we had some appetiziers. crab cakes were good but only 2. caesar salad was enough to share. tacos were good too. very nice atmosphere with x-mas light decoration and made to look like the inside of a ship. was thinking how much my kids would love it. was fun.
(4)Stephen M.
We actually quite enjoyed our time at The Galley. The food was great and everything, but our server Candace kinda took a turn for the worse. After finishing our meal and paying, she complained twice about her tip to us...her customers. She followed us outside to get a signed copy we forgot to hand her, and she complained that we were very frustrating and the tip was too low. It was a 19% tip after waiting close to thirty minutes for our entrees after the first course. I don't think the tip was that insane that she should follow us around complaining. I'm no serving expert but I believe that behavior is frowned upon? A pretty funny ending to a great night.
(2)Brittney J.
My boyfriend and I came here for Happy Hour. The bar was full and we waited at the front for someone to finally tell us that the back patio was open and also does happy hour. So off we go to find the back patio as no one directed us. Then we waited 25 minutes to have the waiter tell us she's also serving the 'mermaid room' so she is very busy and sorry. I don't really know how that applied to us but we were understanding and ordered drinks and food right away. A man from the kitchen came out and gave us our table settings and the waiter came by again let us know there was only 1 bartender for the whole restaurant and she was very backed up. We left after the appetizers and one drink each headed over to catch the last hour the basement bar happy hour which is around the corner and properly staffed. All in all the food was mediocre at best and the service was disappointing. Will probably not be back here unless they can get more people on staff.
(2)Danielle H.
I used to live down the block from the galley so have been here more than I can count! They have great food and beer specials during HAPPY HOUR, which goes all night some days during the week - perfect! Always sit at the bar, the lady bartender is the best. Christmas lights make me happy. Crab cakes are the best (on happy hour menu). I can't believe I never tried the steak or sat in the dining area but I probably never will because I love the bar and happy hour deals.
(5)Anna T.
Awesome place,very east coast whaling restaurant,ambiance was very relaxed,dark and cozy,juke box playing and I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection.
(4)Justin G.
Cool place. Great people.
(4)Emily C.
I like this place. It's tacky, but I kind of like that about it. Food is yummy and usually the service is good except last time. My friend asked if they have any holiday drinks and the waitress suggested she go to the grocery store and buy it herself! haha!
(4)Suki H.
Great restaurant. So old school with surprisingly delicious food...steaks, seafood, chili, all wonderful. The service is first rate and the bartenders are pros...fast, great mixes and no diva attitude like so many of the Main Street bartenders. The patio is chill and no wonder this restaurant has been a staple of Santa Monica.
(5)Aubrey G.
Rock solid, long-time "institution," neighborhood steak and seafood house in the heart of the Santa Monica Strip, a couple of blocks from the beach on Main Street. The grub is consistently good. I've eaten here a couple of times a year for more years than I remember and I've never had a bad steak or a bad meal here. My regimen is that I meet my buddies early in the bar. The lacquered wood beach-style bar is fun to sit at. Consistently good pours on the drinks. (We're call cocktail drinkers, so the happy hour stuff people are mentioning here don't apply to us). After throwing a few cocktails down, we head to a table and dine. As an anecdotal example, only, last night I had a NY Steak, house dinner salad to start with their signature house dressing (I'll describe it as combination taste of Thousand Island and Ranch, but it's VERY good), baked potato and sauteed spinach. The salad is and has always been a hearty bowl of romaine, tomatoes and dressing, all chopped and tossed. The steak's flavor was outstanding....served perfectly medium rare, as ordered, and very tender. Sauteed spinach was freshly prepared; not overcooked, with a hint of garlic. The baked potato was perfectly cooked. Clientele here always seems to be fun loving locals who like to drink and eat a good meal in an unpretentious atmosphere. If you're looking for upscale ambiance, this is NOT your place.
(4)Anne W.
Meh. A really very mediocre experience at the Galley. The place looks like Christmas inside and the outdoor area is really blegh... they do have heat lamps so it doesn't get chilly but it does get hot sitting underneath them. That being said... we went there for happy hour and I wasn't honestly impressed. Drinks aren't really that cheap. $4.50 for a beer and goes to $6 for a house wine. Meh. And only select bar menu items that are at a discount. The choices aren't really that great... we picked the best you could get which wasn't even that good. We went with the crab cakes, calamari, burger, mushrooms, and fish and chips. None of them were really that good.. but we were hungry, so we ate it. The service was terrible and that is really what does it for me. Waitress rarely came around... didn't clear any plates.. the bus boy spilled hot oil on me from one of the dishes and onto my clothes. Didn't offer to do anything more than offer a napkin. I probably would never go again. Go to Enterprise Fish Co down the street.. it's bigger, better, and just more worth your money than this spot.
(1)Jennifer M.
I apparently had too high of an expectation for the Galley...We had a party of 4 in celebration of my husband's bday. FOOD & DRINK(S): Three gentleman ordered steaks and I got the shrimp scampi. 2 of the 3 guys were quite unsatisfied with their orders and 1 said he thought it tasted great. My shrimp was OK, but I wouldn't say it was worth the price. One of the unsatisfied is a manager at a steak house and was really pretty pissed about his meal. Their wine list was just OK and the champagne we ordered was meh. The drinks, however, were very tasty and strong. Score! AMBIANCE: The decor is tacky yet fun, so I wouldn't return for romantic night that is for sure. Its more of a group ambiance... but probably for a kid's birthday not for individuals in their 30's or older. SERVICE: Our server was very nice, pleasant, and friendly. The problem was more the wait time for everything... It was pretty busy on a Friday night and well, that held things up and might not have been quite worth it. Bottom Line: If I was to return, it would be maybe a good drink (those were strong) and some seafood, but I'd have lowered my expectations and so maybe I'd enjoy it better.
(3)J A.
This is a place to come for a drink, not a meal. The food is really terrible, but the atmosphere at the bar is fun and lively. Our party had a variety of dishes, from burgers to pasta to crab cakes, but not one of us enjoyed the food.
(2)Xasperniak B.
Good steak, the best onion rings EVER, ANYWHERE. Quirky atmosphere, with a patio, heat lamps. Bar area and tables in the 'locals dining area', or to the far right upon entering are the best spots inside (farther from service area, entry, and bathrooms). This place shouldn't be overlooked, but only do patio for romantic or intimate outings. Again best onion rings ever. BurgerFI is horrible in comparison.
(4)Joseph Z.
So I came here last night with some friends for dinner, and overall, I was not very impressed. The interior is covered with colorful Christmas lights which makes it look pretty tacky, but I won't judge this place by how it looks (although I wouldn't bring a date here for dinner). For starters, we ordered the fresh mushrooms, which were sautéed in white wine, chives, garlic, and butter. This was the best tasting item of the night. The mushrooms were whole and cooked perfectly. They weren't raw, but they also cooked to the point where they had no life. Although this dish was very tasty, it was seriously lacking salt. If this dish had the proper amount of salt to enhance the flavor, it would have been top notch. I also had some clam chowder which was creamy, but average. For the main dish, I tried both the Homemade Mushroom and Spinach Ravioli and Captain Ron's Favorite Land Food. The ravioli, which came with a "spicy tomato sauce" was below average. The portion was small, and the ravioli had no hint of mushrooms. The spicy tomato sauce wasn't at all spicy or savory. The dish came with shredded zucchini and carrots on top. These vegetables were simply covered in too much melted butter, and clearly lacking flavor. I've probably had better tasting ravioli from the Costco freezer. Captain Ron;s Favorite Land Food was chicken breast sautéed in olive oil, garlic, white wine cream sauce with basil, green onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and fresh vegetables served over pasta. This dish was disappointing as well. It was lacking salt, but more importantly flavor. It seemed that the ingredients were just mixed together with no cohesion. Things didn't blend together well, and each bite just seemed too plain. The service here was very good however. Our waitress constantly checked up on us, and our food came out quickly. If I would ever come back here, I think I would definitely have to try the seafood to give this place a second chance. Final Verdict: I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. There isn't really anything special this place offers, and the food was just lacking too much flavor.
(3)Georgia-Grace H.
At The Galley (again) it's a perfect evening to spend on their lovely patio. We're lucky to have Nancy (our favorite waitress) serving us dropping Yiddish bombs and making us laugh.
(5)Taylor W.
Five stars. The only negative, and I will get it out of the way in advance: I wish the Galley was open on Saturday for happy hour!!!! That being said, the Galley is a Santa Monica/Venice institution. Yes, the inside looks a bit kitsch in that it is decorated with nautical themed items complete with year 'round christmas lights. Decor aside, the food is outstanding. A few of my favorite things: 1. Filet minion chili. Hands down, my favorite thing. Well seasoned, juicy and hearty, add onions and a touch of cheese and you are good to go. Seriously impressive for a "seafood joint." 2. Crab cakes- full of crab and fresh veggies, the crab cakes definitely don't disappoint. The dipping sauce, a mix of thousand island/tomato basil, is a perfect side. 3. Fish and chips- the breading is beautifully crispy and flakes right off as does the fish. The steak fries are equally delicious. Served with tarter sauce, lemon and vinegar you really can't go wrong. 4. MAI TAI. Sounds crazy, but do it. LIFE-CHANGING. Just sayin', order one. I'll stop here for the sake of brevity. My advice? Go try the rest of the menu yourself! Make sure to read the salad dressing story and say "Hey!" to Captain Ron while you are there.
(5)Ming T.
This review is only for Saturday happy hour. The happy hour menu is pretty extensive and the waitress did a fantastic job managing our large group. Captain Ron was also nice enough to comp our group an order of fried calamari. The inside of the restaurant is very dark with kitschy nautical décor and a bit of sawdust covered the floor. A few of our friends went up to the bar to buy shots and had a great time with the bartender. As for the rest of us, we were all seated in the outdoor patio and couldn't have asked for better weather and ambiance. Come here for the happy hour and either sit out in the patio or at the bar. But as it gets closer to dinner time it is all older couples and families with young kids.
(4)Bing H.
Ambiance: *Super chill place with multi colored Christmas everywhere. *Older crowd. *Great service. Food: *Taco Tuesdays are great here. $3 Fish, Chicken, and Steak tacos. They were all really good for the deal!
(3)Christine Y.
Yeah for Wednesday nights! All night long happy hour here! Good choice JR! The man with the ketchup on his shoulders. The inside and and outside decor of this place is definitely very apt to the name, the Galley. Some places like names that have nothing to do with their restaurant, others go crazy with the entire theme. You'll definitely find the latter here. Had a wonderful time sitting at the bar with a drink in hand and plenty of food at 50% off. Pretty good bar food that I would definitely come back for. I liked the bartender too, she really worked hard at keeping our drinks going and making sure we had food to eat if we wanted it. The bar menu has select items that are 50% off during happy hour. I recall seeing a hamburger, ahi tuna sandwich, chicken sandwich, onion rings, caesar salad, house salad, fish and chips, dungeness crab cakes, shrimp cocktail....there were more but I can't remember them all! Yeah I love it when happy hour comes with half price food. ONION RINGS Delicious! Perfect onion rings to start happy hour with. They are extremely crispy and just a bit greasy. They were piping hot when they came out, but were still nice and crunchy when cooled off a bit. DUNGENESS CRAB CAKES Now there's two types of crab cakes in this world, packed with crab meat, or packed with bread crumbs. These, while albeit a bit small about 2 inches in diameter were all crab meat. It came with a side of thinly julienned vegetable strips as a slaw and some mayo sauce. Yummy, but don't get this if you only order one dish. FISH AND CHIPS Haha I think they put an entire bunch of parsley onto my dish. Isn't it supposed to be just a little bit for a decorative touch? Not a garden of parsley. Yum, they used the same crispy batter for the fish which made it nice and crunch and not really greasy. The fish inside was light and fresh and flaked apart with a fork. They totally forgot to give me tartar sauce which I didn't even think of til halfway through when i looked over and saw my friend had two of them. Maybe they gave him my tartar sauce and gave me his parsley. The fries were thick cut and crispy enough, but not the best fries ever. The fish was pretty good though. Great place for happy hour! It wasn't extremely crowded even though our group kept growing through the night. Some of us would have to stand for a little bit, but then we would eventually find seats. Definitely will be back.
(4)Amber S.
I've been coming to The Galley for years and have yet to be very disappointed. It's so hard to get such a delicious meal for the price that The Galley offers. Recently my parents were in town and we went to Morton's in Beverly Hills. While it was very tasty, it could not compare to the value of the Galley. An amazing filet was $33 which included 2 sides. Compared to the $50 filet at Morton's where the sides were extra. Service can be a little slow a times but always friendly. And the kitschy décor makes the experience fun and the food is delicious!
(4)Keycee D.
Came here by accident. My BF wanted to try this one French restaurant and I forgot to check their business hours, and the time we went - they were closed. We passed by The Galley and decided to just have dinner at the place instead. We walked in and got seated right way. We ordered: -18 oz. T-Bone Steak [Medium] : It was perfectly cooked. It was nice and tender and flavorful. It came with 2 sides, my BF chose mashed potatoes and fries. -their special that day "Sauteed Salmon": It was mother freakingly DELISH! It's sauteed in white wine and lemon capers. The reason I give it a 3 instead of a 4 or even a perfect 5 star is because of their lack in service. Their service was really slow, they didn't refill my water till I was done with my meal and their cup of water was really small. They also took forever to give us our tab. I give it 3 stars just for the food. Our food were GREAT, and the portions were more than what I imagined. This place also happens to be one of the oldest restaurants in Santa Monica, which is good to know. Long history = must be that great of a place to stay around for such a long time. =) I recommend this place, just don't expect to have an average service, because you won't get it here...don't look at the menu and walk out because it's pricey, we almost did - but I'm glad we stayed, it was worth it. You're paying for the portions and the deliciousness. This place was perfect for the BF and I since he's a steak lover and I love salmon =)
(3)Lauren P.
I love this place. I haven't eaten here for dinner, but I have spent quite a few nights at the bar. It's divey in an endearing way, with all of the Christmas lights and tacky nautical gear. The bartenders are on top of it, and the crowd is always eclectic. I don't know if it's worth going out of your way for, but it's definitely my favorite bar on Main St.
(5)Julie S.
I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this place. Tacky Christmas lights, fake boat, walking distance - my kind of place! Unfortunately, the food was not good. At all. We started with the calamari which was soggy. I got the spinach and mushroom ravioli which was bland, mostly spinach and kind of watery, as if it was made out of frozen spinach and not properly drained. The steak was apparently also not that great. This was the first time in a long time that I've been somewhere where both people thought the food was sub-par. Our waitress was sweet and the service was good. I'd maybe come here again for happy hour, but not for the food.
(2)Diana S.
Thumbs down. Stopped in here during a round of Pub Golf for a friend's birthday, and this place was mediocre at best. The bartender and staff in general were friendly, but when we moved to a table outside where we'd have more room to gather as a group, we were unimpressed with our waitress and a couple annoying "policies" this place apparently has. First we discover that if you order bottled beer, they won't give you a pint glass to pour it in, since these are apparently so scarce they reserve them for Guinness. Okay... that's a little strange, but not a huge deal. But next we are warned, *before we're even ready to order shots*, that the bartender won't make different shots for each person, so if we're planning to order shots we should settle on one for the group (we had about 8-10 people at our table, not a ridiculous crowd). Now our group is pretty laid back, and wasn't planning to place a complicated order of shots anyway, so it seemed a little ridiculous for her to mention this in advance. But if we HAD wanted different things, it would have been pretty annoying, considering it's not like we were getting a discount for ordering the same thing. Seems like the Galley should have trouble making money with a policy like that. Oh, and I should mention, the place wasn't even busy, so it's not like the bartender would have been struggling to keep up or anything. We got to this place when it opened (around 5), so for the first 30-60 minutes, our group made up at least 50% of the business they were getting that evening.
(2)Kellie W.
SOOOO GOOD brought my family here for some beers and burgers. I ordered a turkey burger with onion rings. Best turkey burger I've ever had!
(5)Aidan M.
They have a New happy hour menu & it's very reasonable. Had NY steak & fries for $9,50 and it was cooked to perfection. Tasted awesome too. Cosy intimate decor with a tiki hut over the bar. The bar lady is excellent at her job. Makes a solid apple martini.
(4)Brian U.
The outside of this place suggests something dark, dirty, and disgusting await inside. The kind of place where you feel OCD because you want to keep washing your hands because everything is disgusting. It's not like that. In fact, it's quite the opposite even though the place is so old. It opened 1934 which makes it older than Formosa and makes Chez Jay which opened in 1959 look like a youngster. I didn't try the food, but the space is mostly a restaurant with a number of booths and the kitchen didn't smell bad. As a bar, it's has some nice dive bar characteristics. The red lights in the Yelp photos are no photographic trick. It's really that red. The room is lit like a colored Christmas light factory had an explosion. The drinking choices were limited, but the drinkers were young and laid-back.
(3)Aryf H.
A Santa Monica institution. Almost like a slice of Margaritaville (old-school, beach/sea-faring theme). They have some decent grub specials (half price at happy hour) at the bar, as well as drink specials. Waitresses and bartenders are friendly and 'know their shit'. Food (steaks, etc.) is quite good here, too. This place is a nice, quieter alternative to the louder places down the street. Relaxing patio, metered parking......
(4)Christina M.
Great ambiance, good service, good drinks, ok food, but MOST of all FANTASTIC buisness ethics! There was an issue with my bill, that I won't go into much detail about, but it was resolved without any issues and without me complaining! So for that, they get a 5 Star!
(5)Katie C.
Very cool decor and yummy seafood and steak. Fried calamari is real squid and they give you three sauces- cilantro dipping sauce is awesome! Crab cakes & the petite filet mignon were delish!
(4)Carmen D.
What a cute place! Very nautical and cozy. Fantastic ambiance, excellent service, and awesome drinks. The patio in the back yard is just as nice as the indoor area. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. Call for a reservation if your more than a party of 4 during busy hours. I will definitely come back!!!
(4)Matt H.
The Galley is hilarious. The interior is done up like a Red Lobster on steroids...and yet somehow it manages to work. It's like a place for tourists that only locals go to. Also, the clam chowder is good, and the steak salad is great. If you're a local and you have out of town guests, this would be a great place to take them. Like if your small-town midwestern parents came to LA? Take them to The Galley.
(4)Austin B.
We have been here several times now, and every time has been very good. Service has always been good. Their house dressing is top notch. If you like outdoor dining, which I do, they have a really nice heated patio. Parking is meter only, and there is a lot behind the restaurant, the only good thing about that is it takes credit cards, but its santa monica, and they have to pay the meter maids somehow.... I will be back for sure.
(5)Sokey L.
Christmas lights galore! I've been here a few times for happy hour and it's A-OK in my books. Not the best happy hour on the westside, but also not the worst. It lacks an energy that I usually look for at a happy hour spot. They have a great patio area, but unfortunately, happy hour is at the bar only. I've had the fish taco, which as solid. The fried calamari was pretty decent too.
(3)Daniel H.
Ok, So its been a while since ive been out and actually wrote about it. I was looking for a cool restaurant to take my family too on a cool sunday evening in Santa Monica. Unfortunately, they're aren't as many options as one might think. We were looking for a restaurant that was moderately priced, and had an diverse menu, that led us here to the Galley. This is more of hip type of place, not really for family. Pretty decent service and the food was ok as well. Not really the best place for families though and also really pricey for the selections. If you can catch the happy hour specials you will be in the game. I would definitely come back and chill on the outdoor patio but wouldn't take anyone younger than 10. All an all, a solid 3 stars is fitting. :) Happy eating.
(3)Joyce M.
Very cute restaurant. My friends and I came here for Happy hour and the bar was packed. We had to squeeze and wiggle to get enough seating for 4 people. The food is decently priced but not very good (maybe except the fish n chips). Happy Hour is 50% off but it really is worth how it tastes. They only serve bottled beer (@ $4.50 each). I MIGHT go back again for HH only... but not for anything else.
(3)Dan L.
I made a reservation for 7pm on a Tuesday night. Happy hour is from 5-7 and I knew it was going to be noisy. We were seated in an area with a big part so it was even louder than I expected. We were seated right away and the hostess offer to get our drinks. We knew what we wanted to order and the bread was delicious while we waited for a waitress. It was very busy so we waited about 10-15 minutes before our waitress showed up. She was very pleasant and took our order and brought are drink soon after. The meal was a little slow in coming but it was very good. If you read the menu you will notice that most entrees come with a starch and a vegetable. We choice steak fries, onion rings, and asparagus to accompany our fillet and jumbo porterhouse. The menu goes on about order various seasonings or marinades for you steak. In addition, they provide salt, pepper, A1 and Lea & Perrins and other condiments at the table. The meat was cooked to perfection and the sides were also very good. The waitress did check on us a couple of times to make sure everything was good. About the decor, do not expect Chri ruth's., the Galley has been around since 1937 and it looks it. It is a very friendly, festive, and comfortable environment with crhistmas lights and other paraphernalia all over the wood paneling. Good service, good food, a fun and a little funky place for Lunch or Dinner. .
(4)Mel W.
as others have mentioned, it's a totally tacky, throwback place. but you gotta kinda love it for that, you know? i've been here a few times, never eaten-i wouldn't think to eat at a place like this. but each time the service has been fantastic and the female bartenders are way cool. it's just a cool place to chill. you somewhat feel as though your'e in another timezone. or planet, or that it's kind of a secret hideaway.
(3)Laura Z.
This place looks as if The Pirates of the Caribbean retired from doing their Disneyland gig and opened a restaurant. They got together with my ex-roommate who LOVED Christmas lights all year round I had Christmas on July, for three years straight thanks to her. It's dark It has saw dust on the floor Old,cool pictures hanging everywhere I'm a sucker for crab cakes, they are good here. I've been here for taco tuesday too a few times, not bad at all. Except you can only get the tacos if you sit at the bar, the stools are uncomfortable and they are so close together you are elbowing the person next to you constantly even when you don't mean to. I was put on a high chair when I was a child If did something wrong, for time out these bar stools are just that for adults they punish your for wanting tacos, with lack of lumbar support and my little legs were dangling too a painful remainder I'm height challenged I would go for taco Tuesday every week if I could sit in a non-time out chair I don't know about the salads, sometimes I get a good one, sometimes it's just lettuce I guess it depends who is making it If you are on a date try sitting toward the right as you enter, it's quieter there most of the time. This past time I went there a couple decided NOT to hire a babysitter and brought their 4-5 year old son, who proceeded to lose his S hit every 5 minutes. The mother would pick him up and take him outside for a talk not before our ear drums were damaged by his loud screams WTF are you thinking bringing kids here?? Seriously Nobody had a good time. I hope to God, when I have kids, I don't turn into one of these inconsiderate couples who decide they are going to ruin the night out for EVERYBODY in the restaurant. Maybe by then I'll be like ....It's PAY BACK time! Here is my bratty kid you suckers spending money to eat in a quiet restaurant!!! YOU Try to chew you dinner NOW while my kid bugs the crap out of you with all kinds of noise and misbehaving!! Just kidding!......but NOT really.... I guess when you have kids you lose compassion for others around you, because you have to endure that yourself ALL DAY LONG?? We would had left for the patio but the weather didn't permit If you go to the room on the left, that's noisier. The service is good Priced accordingly, main street Santa Monica
(3)David G.
Kind of a tacky place with decent food. Really expensive considering the decor but the quality of the food was pretty good.
(3)Maria P.
I went here with a friend for dinner and had a tasty steak and enjoyed the boaters' atmosphere. It was kind of like margaritaville boat style on main street. Tiny booths and tables underneath festive Christmas lights. Our server was a cute college age girl and wasn't too annoying. I chose the filet mignon with sauteed mushrooms and spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. After housing half the bread I had room to take half of the food home. My friend ordered the blackened salmon which was quite tasty. Overall it's a great place for a moderately priced meal in a comfortable setting. I would go back!
(4)Laura H.
I have been going to The Galley for years. I can't believe this is the first review I've written. I could have already checked in nearly a hundred times (no lie). My four stars are not for the food. It's just OK. The sauce for the calamari is truly to die for, though. The only things I think are worth getting is the calamari and the salmon or rack of lamb. The steaks are not good. The shrimp cocktail is wonderful but too expensive for four shrimp, or maybe it was three? Anyway, I go back all the time because they are so damn friendly and laid back, the drinks are made right, and the ambiance is really cool. There are twinkling lights and sea paraphernalia EVERYWHERE. Upon first visit, and maybe my second, I might have gotten a bit of anxiety, but now it's just energizing and happy. The back patio is lovely. I've taken every family member here, and back when they were open early on Sundays, me and my roomie came for brunch here every week. Keep doing what you're doing, Galley Girls. It's working!
(4)Lani K.
I ordered a clam dish and the clams had so much sand that I ended up not ending any of the seafood. And for the price there are much better places in Santa Monica with much fresher seafood prepared well. Go elsewhere!
(2)Adam D.
i ate here today for 1st time ....and i had to write a review....the food was amazing, service was good but the food was amazing....i had the australian lamb chops with spinach and onion rings....very very good...will be back next week 4 sure.
(5)Melissa M.
We've been coming here for a few years now and love the food! The portions are generous and reasonably priced, but we always seem to get seated by large, loud groups that make conversation at our table all but impossible! The service is good, the wine list okay, still a good pick for family dinners cuz hey, at the end of the day, I rarely have anything to say to them anyway! The Plank is great for sharing with my kid and the fish selections are always good.
(3)Dennis S.
We go here with a group of 8-10 guys every few months. This can be a server's nightmare in some places. Not here. The crew is quick with the drinks as each one of us arrives at different times. The appetizers and main courses have always been excellent. It is worth my drive from Thousand Oaks to hook up with my friends and enjoy good foo, drinks and service!
(4)Raina M.
One of my favorite places to go in Santa Monica! If you're looking for a quality, large portioned, Americana dinner take a table. If you want to get the Cheers-y vibe and an awesome happy hour, go to the bar. All the BEAUTIFUL servers and bartender are very friendly and knowledgeable! The entrees are huge, and the happy hour menu gives you a good blend of smaller options. Stiff drinks with little mermaids holding your garnish, this is an adorable nautical dinner or drink any night. Although, it does get packed late night on weekends with a younger, rowdy, crowd. Try the filet salad and mushroom appetizer (I get them as a side, so delicious!)
(5)Joan S.
This is the oldest restaurant in SaMo! Est. 1934. It was originally on the Pier, I believe, but moved to the current location many decades ago. So it gets a couple of stars for that alone. Tradition is important. There's an interesting story about how the current long-time owner of The Galley came to acquire the place: It was his fave hangout. He especially loved the house salad dressing, and kept asking for the recipe. One day a waitress, who had been working there for 30 years, told him if he wanted that salad dressing secret formula so bad, he should just buy the place! Captain Ron felt kinda bad about that, embarrassed, and actually stopped going to his favorite haunt. Then one day he noticed The Galley in disrepair and had a calling......to buy the place. That was 19 years ago. Captain Ron was on the premises last Sunday afternoon when I stopped in, after the SaMo farmer's market. My first impression on my first visit: the interior had old-time charm, like Chez Jay. However, the odor of sawdust on the floor kinda reminded me of the pony ride at the farmer's market. But I got past that pretty quickly, as I admired the surroundings. It was rather dark inside though, tough to see anything much. I wanted a light lunch. I should mention here that Sunday is the only day of the week The Galley is open for lunch, at 1pm. All the other days they open at 5, for dinner. The Sunday menu has a Kosher hot dog that looked interesting, for 6 bucks, including fries that I would not have eaten. And they offer a burger for 8 bucks. I ended up with filet mignon chili, see photos. $7, good deal. But my watery iced tea cost $3.50, go figure. So first they brought me a nice hunk of homemade sourdough bread, see pic. Delish. Then the chili, which had no beans or veggies. It was simply filet in sauce. It came with sides of cheese & onion. All was well, except the chili was barely luke warm, not hot enough to even melt the cheese. I should have sent it back, but I rarely send anything back in a restaurant. I ate most of it, but was disappointed. So now I've experienced The Galley and am not likely to return any time soon. Service was excellent, I should mention. Spectacular, in fact. That, plus the landmark status of the place is the reason for the 3 stars. Not the food.
(3)Tod F.
New ordering system sucks....waited forever for order and showed up Wong!!!...2.50 for a small drink=stupid.....prices too high now...done with this dump....been. coming here for 20+ years....no more!
(1)Leah R.
The decor is hideous, but I don' t have a problem with that. I had lamb chops with broccoli. I was happy with the lamb, cooked as I ordered, nice big pieces, a bit of char, tender tasty and juicy. They served real horseradish, not some gross creamy sauce. The broccoli was a tad undercooked and not seasoned at all. I felt the food was a little overpriced. I had no problems with the service - our girl kept my water glass full.
(3)Yolanda O.
Ok!!! where shall I start with this HORRIBLE, TACKY place you call a business! A girlfriend of mines highly recommend we come here. And from the time we walked into this piece of SHIT I had a BAD VIBE! The HELP takes us to our table and were sitting there for about 20 minutes before anyone come to take our order for drinks. ( by the way that's the only thing that was good). So we start off with the NASTY crab cakes with that DISGUSTING SAUCE!!! After they bring out this CRAP were just sitting there waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting waiting, waiting waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting waiting, waiting!!! Seriously we waited a good hour! I'm seeing everyone but us being served. About 3/4 different waitress walking by us just looking. NO ONE asked did we need more drinks were we ready to take our order. Did we want our check NOTHING!! Until I finally asked " Excuse me is somebody going to take our order? This waitress proceeds to say " OMG!!! you don't have to attack me!!! You've got to be kidding me are you serious!!! About 10/15 more minutes another waitress comes and takes my MAN'S order because by this time I REFUSE to eat at this RACIST ASS place! I called the next day and just so happens the waitress that took our order answers the phone and comes up with every excuse in the book. By this time I'm just asking for the owners number. CAPTAIN RON! I called him up and he assured me that he will take care of the matter and asked that we come back and give them another try just call before when your ready to come back. So I call him and this CLOWN just offers us appetizers and dessert. Oh!! and a WHACK AzzzZ bottle of wine. THANK YOU, but NO THANK YOU! Remind you that I didn't eat and the bill still around 130 bucks!!! For a BULLSHIT 40 steak and some plain NASTY white rice!! But what you can do is out in front put a sign that says. NO COLORED ALLOWED!! Because that's just how we were treated!!! and FINALLY to the FAT waitress with the BLONDE hair. You ATTACKED yourself by looking STUPID when that comment fell out your mouth.
(1)Patty P.
I love the food at this place, BUT the biggest problem I have is their bar. There is only ONE Bartender for the whole place and we have waited up to 20 minutes or more to get a drink order in standing by the bar. She is very nice, BUT for a Saturday night the management needs to be aware that they need TWO Bartenders. Another issue is the reservation process. We make reservations but we have to wait around 30 to 50 minutes to actually get seated. It would not be so bad if we had a drink on our hand while we waited. Otherwise I would give it a 5 star.
(3)Luby H.
Ventured here on a valentines date with a LONG wait, should have figured. Me and my boyfriend hung out at the bar for a while where the bartender carded me and said "WOW. Deceiving" The drinks were strong but not too enjoyable flavor wise. The food was pretty decent though, and the service was great. My favorite part was how the history/bio of the restaurant was posted in the stalls on the bathroom and on the menu, so at least during the wait you can learn about how the owner came about the idea.
(3)Francisco D.
Although Galley is expensive for what it is, I used to love the Galley, neat spot, (good happy hour), pretty neat spot but one bad night made me and all my friends run away from this place. My entire office used to be frequent customers but on the night of March 27th, something happened and I will never go back nor recommend anyone go to the Galley. It was late at night and the kitchen was already closed. My group of four was sitting out on the back patio having a late dinner. There were no other customers on the patio when we left and the gate was locked. I left my laptop unattended for 5-10 minutes and when I came back the table was cleared and the laptop was swiped. Clearly, it was my stupidity for leaving the computer. I do not know if it was or was not the staff, I give them the benefit of the doubt but the real problem comes with how the staff responded to (not) helping me file the police report. I called the Santa Monica police and asked them to meet me at the Galley to file a police report. The police showed up within a few minutes. The staff was very unhelpful with the police. The police asked the manager for her ID and she was not able to produce it. She started yawning in the cops face, showing complete lack of interest in helping one of her clients file a proper report. I get that people are tired and want to go home. The police began to ask for details and phone numbers of other workers who were there between the time the laptop was stolen and the time the police had arrived. They were giving fragments of information and just not being informative, like most business owners should be during a police report. The police was there roughly 15 minutes trying to gather information. It gets worse. As the police was leaving, one of the workers came out and said "one of the women you were with, with a tattoo on her face/neck, was with another woman and I saw them near the bathroom stuffing something into their bag." This was a complete falsehood, one employee's wife was with us and she doesn't have a face or neck tattoo. This was all very suspect, stories kept on switching and the police ended up searching one of the employees cars for the missing laptop. I have no interest in going to this place ever again. If they can't treat their clients with respect in filing something so valuable, God knows how much care goes into running other parts of their business when they are tired and just want to go home. Buyer Beware!
(1)Poppy C.
This is an excellent place to bring your naive extended family from the Midwest to for dinner. I don't think they salt anything so your uncle can add flavor as desired. I also don't think they pay really careful attention to what you order so you might get a pleasant surprise! You might also get an unpleasant surprise like half your food never arriving. You know what's great about this place too is that you probably will never get food poisoning because they make sure to fully cook everything, meat is grey, veggies practically incinerated. Also good for your aunt with the bad teeth that can't chew well. Your little cousins will be happy with all the fried breaded starters and your alcoholic cousin has a fine choice of standard drinks. There are Xmas lights and dead puffer fish and weird old pictures everywhere, very entertaining for your ADD addled nieces and nephews. Bring a lot of money bc it's like red lobster pricing here.
(3)Alyona Y.
I loved all the lights inside! Cool decor, free nuts. A fun, lovely vibe there. Service was good.
(4)Gerard H.
Went here with my wife and son for his birthday on a Saturday night. Had reservations for 7:30,and were told we would have to wait for 20 mins. We ordered drinks at the bar, and noticed there was only one bartender for the bar and restaurant.On a crowded Sat. Night? Get Real!We were seated and ordered. My son had the ribeye and my wife and I ordered the 30 oz. sirloin for two. I had the filet chile as an appetizer, which had a heavy soy taste. When they brought our entrees, I was kind of stunned by the tiny size of the sirloin and asked the server why the little steaks? She said that's what you ordered, and I told her we ordered the sirloin for 2 which is 30 oz. and is the only sirloin for 2 on the menu. She brought me the menu and asked me where it is. I showed her, and she said she would bring me another portion of the tiny steak she had brought to the table.i said I didn't want that. She got all haughty and said well,what do you want. I said I want what I ordered. She grabbed the two plates in front of my wife and I and disappeared.By the time our steaks were ready,my son was almost finished .We were never offered anything while we waited(appetizer,drinks,comp dessert), but we didn't expect them because we never heard an I'm Sorry from this poorly trained waitress.I had been here once before and was very dissatisfied,but tried it again on my son's suggestion.he said his ribeye was tasteless,the same as I found their christmas light decor to be.I won't be back.
(1)Jesse H.
This place would be good for a burger and a beer. Unfortunately, I paid 32 bucks for a steak that was burnt and full of no flavor. Additionally, 2 of my buddies experienced the same problem with their steaks. I'm not going to give them a 1 star because our server and bartenders were very nice. However, based on the quality of my meal, go their for veggies, burgers or beers. Don't go there for steaks...
(2)Anne O.
I like to call this place "the first date" restaurant.. Although I've never been on a first date here.. I have seen quite a few going down while at the bar alone, waiting for a table.. The Galley has an old world charm, with old ship memorabilia, complete with the round nautical windows, mermaids, and those cool little Christmas lights, indicative of a dive bar, if you ask me. It has great dinner lighting, not bad for a intimate dinner with a cool date, but not too dark to see your food.. The food is delicious, and the staff is very friendly, and happy creating a nice family atmosphere.. not too stiff and "fine-diney". There is a patio out back that is even nicer to chill.. it has more artistic pieces of flare outdoors, great conversation pieces, and the location of course leaves the evening open to a good variety of after dinner choices, as it's centrally located near cafes and ice cream digs. I would definitely recommend it for a first date. Not too expensive, pleasant, and plenty of icebreakers all around. you can go any night of the week and have a great time, just make reservations close to the end of the week, or during valentine's.
(4)Mandy M.
So I have been here twice but I always forget to leave a review! First time I came here with my roommate and a friend, we had the crab cakes and they were delicious! We also shared the calamari which we loved too! Usually I find that ordering calamari can be a hit or miss when trying it at different restaurants, but this time it was a hit- pwwh! As if these appetizers weren't enough, I also had to order the Clam Chowder- yum! Roommate and I shared The Galley Plank Special which actually came with FOUR sides, imagine that. And the plank was 30oz so had plenty of left overs! It was super tender and juicy, kind of a "melt in your mouth" experience. Friend had the Caesar salad and she said she loved it, but I never tried it since I was too focused on my meat, ha. Second time I came here I had the garlic bread, Linguine with clams and the chocolate cake- and I was one very happy (and full) girl! I've never tried any of their drinks but rumors says they are great and apparently they have a great wine and beer selection too- next time! So I've covered the food, because that's the most important part for me. But I also have to mention that the service was great, from the very friendly and fast and efficient busboys, to the super sweet and skilled waitresses and the personal touch and funny humor from Captain Ron- who actually stopped by our table both times we came! We sat on the outside patio both times! Super cozy with heating lamps, christmas lights and the boys enjoyed watching the game from the tv screen that they have out there! Oh, the second time we went there we were a big group, 18 or something and The Galley had no problem with accommodating us! Thank you guys!!
(5)Andy L.
This place was a delight for the both of us. Brought back old feelings of being back in the Gulf area and she said it has the feel of The Bay Area. Definitely a neighborhood gem. Will be coming back for more. Btw, we had the Calamari Steak, different, but good, and the crab cakes. Also a different take on the dish, but it was fun and delicious. Clams came out nice, chewy as expected and a unique set up for the broth and butter. Our server, Zinger was on point the entire time as well.
(5)Meat Me in the Middle ..
I love The Galley located on Main Street in Santa Monica. It may look like an abandoned ship from the outside, but it is definitely a yacht when it comes to quality and taste of the food and drinks. The menu offers everything from seafood to steaks to soups, salads and everything in between. Try their famous salad with the Galley "secret recipe" house dressing - taste like Thousand Island dressing with a hint of tang and something you can't quite place your taste buds on. Other favorites include: crab cakes, lobster tacos, clam chowder, pasta dishes and more.
(4)Krista K.
Chicken sandwhich was juicy, steak fries were hot n tasty. Caesar salad was fresh and the dressing was nice I really enjoyed the hot loaf of bread we got before the meal. Half price during happy hour was definitely a plus. Its half off a bunch of meals and house wines are $4. Calamari Appetizer was good, they give you tentacles and squid minis. Breading not too heavy. Green onion aoli or something to eat it with was good. We ate at the patio out back. I recommend that if the inside is too much for you. The patio was nice, but our server didn't check on us as much as I feel she should have. She was polite and attentive though. Place definitely has character.
(4)Marion P.
I came here for their happy hour. While I LOVE the decor (Christmas lights all over the inside, shells, anchors etc.), I really didn't like the service. My husband and I were seated at the bar (beware, their happy hour fills up so seating is limited and usually requires the whole "scouting"/nervous standing thing). We ordered a few drinks and an appetizer of fries and onion rings, regular bar food. Everything tasted pretty standard. Anyway, the whole time we could over hear the bartender complaining to the waitresses about particular customers etc. I get that it must suck working in a bar this busy, but keep that talk resigned to the break room. I mean, I came here to enjoy it, not feel guilty for technically employing you. Anyway, the entire time it was impossible to get her attention. This meant that, when we finally received our food, sans ketchup, we had to wait at least fifteen minutes to get her attention and finally get some ketchup. I mean, fries with no sauce? Preposterous. The only thing that ever makes me consider returning is that awesome decor!
(2)Ron B.
Just good, tasty food and a fun, nonpretentious atmosphere. Don't bother coming here if you're too full of yourself, but if you're a fan of relaxed, oldschool restaurants with friendly people, large portions, and great staff, then definitely check it out. We just did a large-group dinner here with a special menu request (cooking up a venison steak that we brought ourself) and they were totally accommodating and made the occasion even more special with some extra touches.
(5)James C.
I live nearby and thought that this would be a fun, quirky place to go for a beer and a bite. When you walk in it definitely is quirky. Dim lights, stuffed blowfish hanging everywhere, nautical ropes on the walls, sawdust on the floor, etc. We were after a random, fun experience so this looked perfect. Upon closer inspection, the blowfish hanging over every table were so disgustingly dusty, I don't think they had ever been cleaned. I made the mistake of looking deeper and it didn't look like most things around/on the table had been cleaned in a long time. Everything had a grimy feel to it. The food was very average and VERY overpriced. Bland steak and potatoes. $20 salad that came out of a bag. When I eat out I want to have something that I can't cook at home. This was a big disappointment.
(2)Sam H.
Just ordered apps and drinks, food was average but not spectacular. The interior of this place is horrible. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas meets Long John Silvers.
(2)Avishek C.
Um... Where to start? The decor is meh. Very red inside. Also, the tables were a bit small. 3 of us guys went and sitting at a 4 person table was tight. But you know what? That might be cause we are all fat as hell. So, no negative points on space. But all that doesn't really matter. What mattered is that the food was not good. I ordered a $30 steak and got a $12 steak. It seemed that the steak was frozen for a while. I mean, if you're going to do that, that's fine. Just charge $12-$15. Not $30. Very bland steak as well. All this was explained when i went to the bathroom. Above the latrine there was a framed story from the owner. And in this story he tells us that the best thing about this place is the salad dressing... Great! At least I know now not to go there anymore.
(2)Lisa B.
I found out while sitting in the loo during a recent visit to The Galley that it is the oldest restaurant in Santa Monica. Ah...no wonder I smelled mothballs. The Galley seems like it should be a theme restaurant next to the tall ship in Disney's Adventureland. After ten minutes, it's pretty hard to comprehend that Santa Monica is right outside the door. Eery darkness is completed with helm chandeleers, tiki lounge kitsch and thousands of little colored lights strung about. The barmaid delivered a pretty good top shelf marg. The staff, in general are quite friendly and seem pretty happy. I thought the service was pretty good. The garlic bread and mushroom appetizers came highly recommended. I found the garlic bread to be a-okay. The mushrooms possessed the consistency of canned and warmed with butter and garlic. I was pretty disappointed in the steak salad I ordered (I know, I deserve it for ordering a steak salad). The steak itself was cooked well and pretty tasty, however there were maybe five small pieces of steak swimming in two bags of tasteless spinach. I hear the steaks are good. The rest of my party seemed pretty satisfied with their meals. The prices are reasonable and the experience wouldn't keep me from going back. Nuff said.
(3)Gemma L.
A++ for atmosphere. I went here with 3 girlfriends late one night and I felt like we were in a magic sailors fairy land with twinkle lights everywhere and vintage pictures everywhere. Just awesome. My burger was really good, but not magnificent. Definitely a fan and definitely would go back!
(4)Marion Z.
Are you a fan of a sponge that lives in a pineapple under the sea? Have you always wanted to enjoy a Crabby Patty at the Krusty Krab, but found that you were larger than a lobster and can't breathe seawater? The Galley is the solution for all of us with legs instead of fins. Its really cute and fun. There is a patio but eating in feels as cool as can be. There is a neat story about how it came to be owned in the ladies room and it just has a fun happy vibe which I very much appreciate. I'm happy gobbling things up here under blowfish that have been blown up and illuminated with christmas lights, even if they make me feel sad for the blowfish- they still look cool as all get out. A great place to take your favorite pirate.
(4)Craig M.
Mediocre at best. I came for happy hour and sat at bar. Ordered shrimp cocktail, allegedly half off $15. I got 3 pieces of shrimp not super large not tiny, in cocktail sauce. That's right, the "deal" was 3 shrimp for $7.50. Really you charge $15 for that regularly? I wouldve thrown a chair. Clearly it's half the food at half the price. Not nice
(1)Allison K.
This is a fun restaurant - the ambiance is definitely memorable... and being one of the oldest restaurants in this very new city gives it extra credence. Food is fine... but not good. Passable. A little pricey. It's a good time but not the kind of place I'd want to go on a regular basis.
(3)Greg D.
I'll admit when you walk in here the decor is pretty tacky. It's very dark and they have Christmas lights strung up throughout. Along with the lights they have fish/fisherman themed decorations everywhere. If you can see beyond all this, you'll find some of the best steaks around. This is a family favorite, especially "guys night," when I come here with my Dad and my Grandpa. There is a bar scene but we always come here for the steaks. The Steamed East Coast Clams are really good too! They also got a good collection of wines, especially their cabs, although I'm a sucker for their Coppola "Diamond" Merlot.
(4)Jaelynn D.
Never been here before until last night. The decor is awesome. it's like the setting of a Spongebob Squarepants episode with Christmas lights everywhere. The place is packed, but the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The bartenders served me stiff bloody marys, Their shrimp cocktail is HUGE and since we went there on 1934 night, the steaks were 85 cents and the salads were a dime. We also ordered clams (which were regularly priced). Man they were good. Came with butter and some sort of warm clam broth and was hot and really good. The steak was cooked perfectly. The service was fun and attentive, even with the fact that there's people EVERYWHERE. Great place
(5)Andy S.
Old school divey bar with great food and service...
(4)Maxwell P.
Captain Ron you need to be cooler to your wait staff, i know you can be a ass-neck. Remember you are not what makes this place rock, you are the stuffy owner who thinks he is so cool cause he owns the Caesar dressing, get over yourself. As for the service, amazing. Go here for the wonderful ladies
(5)Elizabeth Y.
My friend and I wanted to go somewhere on Main since I live a block away. We were going to go to the typical Urthe Cafe for a light dinner or M Street Kitchen, but decided to branch out of the usual and try The Galley because it sounded/looked interesting. I've walked and driven by it more than a million times and always wondered. So, in we went! The fact that they have happy hour all night if you sit at the bar was a turn on for us. We just wanted a light dinner, nothing pricey, nothing too heavy. You have to order at least one drink so we ordered their house Chardonnay which was really delicious. We ordered the Raw Veggie Plate with their "Galley Dressing" and blue cheese -- one of the best veggie plates! Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, carrots! We also ordered Fresh Mushrooms (in chive/butter/garlic type sauce), & Fried Calamari (with 3 sauces -- all SO good). For bar food, it definitely was worth it! And it was 1/2 off which helps the deliciousness of it all. I felt like it was Christmas time with all the lights inside but still had a beachy relaxed tiki theme goin' on. My family is coming into town next week and I'll definitely be back soon :) Thanks Caption!
(4)Brenton C.
A solid, homey restaurant. I went with my dad during orientation and it was awesome. The restaurant has a lot of history and the clam chowder was just the same as it is on the east coast. They definitely know their seafood here and the service was fantastic.
(4)A G.
Go early or expect to wait.... The place has been there for years. The atmosphere is cool - lot's of wood, fishing nets and twinkling Christmas lights all year round! They have a patio in the back (with twinkling lights too) and heaters in case it gets abit chilly (you are in Santa Monica after all). The other half and I like steamed clams and you know what? It's actually hard to find some good steamers in LA (so if you know other places, please let me know) - anyway this place has them and we usually split an order of the steamers (4 pounds with broth and butter for $30) and get salads. Not to make anyone sad, but do you remember the Black Whale on Washington Blvd? It's been gone for years, but they had the best steamers, salad and prime rib.........boo hoo!! I MISS THAT PLACE!! Back to the Galley - we also like liguini with clams, so this place hits the spot. The fried calamari appetizer is yummy along with the sauteed mushrooms. The have happy hour every day of the week from 5-6:30 and most items on the bar menu are 50% off. I actually haven't tried their steaks yet or their filet mignon chili yet - it's on the list - but I keep getting stuck on the clams and linguine :-)
(4)Ed T.
-1 star for having to pay for parking and almost getting stung by a bee as I fed the box. +1 for the friendly greeting as we walked in, as we sat at the bar and as the bartenders switched shifts. +2 for TRULY making a drink the RIGHT way; vodka tonic is m
(5)leahnora r.
This joint opens at 5pm and at 4:30pm there was already a gathering of hungry animals waiting outside with foaming mouths. I can't believe I lived down the street from this place and never went. I finally couldn't resist the beckoning call of the happy hour colored with x-mas lights in maritime themed decor. We sat at the bar and I gave the bartendress a break for not serving us for 15 minuts b/c there were so many people who poured in when they opened the doors. She did acknoweledge us and bring us some mixed nuts while we waited. The vibe inside was oooozing with comfortable cozy but lively at the same time. I sat next to an old bird (70+) who was having dinner by herself gearing up fr a big night dancing with some boys. Also met some nice folks on my other side who were huge fans of the place and easy on the eyes ;) The drinks were fair priced for happy hour and all the app's are half off. I wouldn't mind docking my boat in this harbor more often....
(5)Agent F.
I lovve this place! the filet mignon chili is the bomb! Never had a disappointing meal and always have a great dining and social experience here. A gem on Main Street...
(4)Naomi F.
Excellent. Split a lobster with my dad - it came with two sides, and we ordered a house salad. Everything was A+. I also had a rum and coke which was well made. Service was great. Ambiance was too cool. Feels like the inside of a drunken ship with christmas lights and seaweed and stuff hanging from the ceiling - massive booths. unpretentious. a Kid would have tons of fun at this place.
(5)Joey B.
I won't be back here. We spent about 50 bucks with tip for 2 house salads and an order of crabcake appetizers and 1 beer and 1 bottom-shelf mixed drink. Had the salads been good, or anything like that, this would have made sense, but this place is such a cheap ripoff, I left upset about having spent the money on nothing. The salads were small bowls of iceberg lettuce, essentially. They should have cost 2 bucks each. It was pointless to buy them - even worse, the menu says it's going to be "mixed greens". HA. The crabcakes were dry and didn't have a good flavor. Unfortunately we didn't finish them. The drinks were fine and the waitress was sweet. The atmosphere was good for late night eating. In my opinion the menu is WILDLY overpriced, it's almost a joke. I was extremely surprised to walk into that atmosphere and see a menu with white tablecloth pricing. And the food DID NOT match up to those prices in the least bit, from what little we experienced.
(2)Amber P.
Lobster tacos - The lobster meat itself was delicious. Everything else about the dish was disappointing. The side rice was soaking wet. The makeshift taco shells fell apart instantly. Steak sandwich - The cut of steak was definitely not work the price. I call it cowboy steak...as in...should have been served on a tin plate next to canned beans. Service - Hostess and waitstaff were pleasant. Only one of the two beverages ordered arrived before the meal.
(2)Sally R.
This was our first stop of a big pub crawl, but we ended up getting several rounds of drinks and some food. Overall, I think we were treated really rudely for the amount of business we brought into the place right as they were opening. We asked our waitress for pint glasses to pour our bottled beer into, and she seemed really put off. She gave us these tiny water glasses instead. When we asked again and explained it was part of our pub crawl game, she told us the place didn't have enough pint glasses for the 15 of us. Really? She also made a scene when she brought us the check. Anyways, we ended up going to 7-8 other bars and restaurants that night, and we all agreed The Galley was where we were treated the rudest. This seems so counter intuitive considered how much we had drank towards the end of the night when the waitress had every right to hate us (by that time we had grown to 20+). Anyways, I probably won't go out of my way to head back... not when we were treated SO well by the people at Brick and Mortar right across the street!
(2)Cindy Y.
The food was good. The wine selection was crappy and the vodka selection was not very good. We asked for fresh oranges and in the state of California was not available. really! Why can't we get fresh fruit here.? The entries were alright we would not come again or recommend to our friends.
(3)Matthew D.
The Galley is my type of place. Casual, not trendy and therefore, not full of LA stereotypes - a perfect spot for locals and LA natives. I arrived before my friends last night so I found a spot at the bar and settled in for about ten minutes - just enough time to make a few observations. The cocktails are large and mixed well (not too stiff but you get a fair share of booze), the staff is friendly and the decor has this nautical/Christmas thing going on that I really like. Once seated, we started with shrimp cocktails and an order of fried calamari. The shrimp cocktail was standard but the calamari was above-average. Tender, nicely breaded and accompanied by a cilantro-scallion sauce that was very tasty. Next up was the dinner salad with their "famous" house dressing. While the dressing was good (sort of like Thousand Island without the sweet pickles), the salad itself was rather plain - iceberg lettuce, two slices of cucumber and two cherry tomatoes (hold for me). For my entree I had the linguini with clams, which came with a cream-based sauce. The clams were the star of the dish - big, tender steamers - while the linguini and sauce were pretty good, too. Overall, a good dish. The service was prompt and friendly. Prices are standard, maybe a few dollars high on some items, but in line for the quality of food and locale. I think the people complaining about the prices wouldn't blink an eye if the decor was more up-to-date. I like that they have kept the old-school nautical theme - I think it keeps the trendy jerk-offs away.
(4)Pam T.
Eureka! We have found our pre-McCabes dining spot. Very funky and cozy with a great vibe, nice service and an interesting menu. So far, we've only had two dishes, and both were good. Yay!
(4)Shelley G.
Food: good. Salad dressing really is yummy, but I had an extraordinarily bad experience with service. My friend and I had 7:15 ressies on a saturday, but we weren't seated until 8:30. The poor hostess was really sweet, but she was filling in for someone and clearly overwhelmed. And she hadn't checked Open Table since 5:00 (which is how we booked our table). The place was PACKED. Captain Ron, the owner, comped us a round of drinks and shrimp cocktail when i flagged him down to fill him in on the service, which was appreciated. The shrimp cocktail was really yum- jumbo shrimp with an extra spicy cocktail sauce. Sinus clearer!! While the food was good (I had steamed clams), I'm not in a hurry to head back. I realize this was an extreme experience, but definitely double-check if you book with Open Table. I would just skip this place on weekends all together.
(3)rob c.
I will keep it to the facts: We had a reservation for a week through open table.com We waited for 50 minutes to be seated. Shrimp Cocktail so chewy it had to be returned. Food arrived, terrible but we got through it. Service was terrible between out 2 waitresses and poor non English speaking kitchen short order cook delivering food. The bill was wrong. The manager "not working" on Saturday night. I emailed in to their website to complain. Week later no response... Summation: Ripped off for 100 $ for the 2 of us and a damper on the evening. Don't eat here.
(1)Coco A.
Where I come from, this would be called a "supper club" and for a supper club, it's pretty nice. The holiday lights really light the place up in a sort of "I'm tired of them after 45 minutes" sort of way, and the food was good. Probably a good memorable place to take your parents when they're visiting.
(3)Michelle D.
Took a little long for the food to come out, but the steak was great!! There's a lot of christmas light-ey decoration on the inside that was a little much for me, so if you don't want that sit outside.
(4)Brendon D.
Walk the plank, suckaz. This place is pretty cool in a world of "let's see how high-end we can make coffee shops, dry cleaners and water bottles". This place is no frills and has character. Character means a lot to Brendon "Rip It!" D. (always looking to speak about myself in the 3rd person) They have tasty nuts at the bar. The cocktails are strong and fit the environment. This place definitely feels like a boat or a coastal restaurant from the 70s. You don't have to get dressed-up here. Roll in casually and get down on their great seafood menu. It's all tasty. Don't half step. If you're looking for flash, head to another of the many tourist-centric joints in the immediate area.
(3)Jon N.
The decorations and lighting are a little odd and I could see how they wouldn't appeal to everyone. I personally really liked it. The food was EXCELLENT and we had a really nice evening here.
(4)Maya B.
My husband and his friend had hamburgers there last night, and now they both have food poisoning.
(1)The J's H.
Happy Hour Review! From the outside naval theme to the Christmas light-lit inner deck (yes, those are lit-up blow-fish!), we dug the Galley's dark, cozy vibe and the yummy-in-my-tummy food menu. By the time we got here, we'd grazed on chips & salsa, a quesadilla, and coconut curry dumplings (at other Main Street happy hours) but were still hungry for dinner. Luckily, quite a few of the Galley's food items were half-off - including the fried calamari, pasta marinara, ahi tuna sandwich, and more. I'm a sucker for a vegetable plate (quite filling, yet not too terrible in nutrition - even with the dipping sauce) and so enjoyed their non-happy-hour priced veggie platter (still only $5.50) along with the Gourmet Onion Rings ($3.25 on special). I'll be honest, I was driving that night, so enjoyed dinner with a Diet Coke w/ grenadine, a bar-treat favorite. So we liked the menu, but the ambience was just as cool - there were plenty of interesting folks here in the limited bar seating and all the Christmas lights reminded me of a restaurant we used to go to when I was a kid in Omaha, Mr. C's. Happy memories doth a good review make! We didn't have a chance to hang on the patio, but happy hour was available at both the bar and patio. If I were a Santa Monican, I think the Galley could be one of my favorite grab-a-bite while being entertained by an old sailors' tales kind of place.
(5)Gary T.
Really, really good food! NY steak, perfect! The Filet Mignon chili awesome! Interesting vibe, not pretentious, just good food and drinks (well poured cocktails) and an old school layout that allows you to carry on a conversation. I'll try outside patio area next time (and there will be a next time!) Plenty of metered parking in city lot adjacent to restaurant.
(5)Amy U.
I came with friends late at night to grab some drinks at The Galley. I believe it was either a Fri or Sat night, either way the place was packed! I really enjoyed the layout and design of the restaurant. It was unique and funky with its pirates of the carribean theme and twinkling Christmas lights. Service was decent as well, but I was really disappointed in the food. I am an avid seafood lover so when I ordered the Clam Chowder I expected to be wowed since this was one of the restaurants speciality.. unfortunately.. I was not wowed. The Clam Chowder came out cold and tasted tangy as if it was past its expiration date. It seemed like whatever secret ingredient they thought would add pizazz to the dish made it well.. gross. Either way I am torn about going back.. but if I do, you can best believe I will not be ordering the Clam Chowder.
(3)Shirley K.
Service: 3 stars Value: 2.5 stars Decor: 3.5 stars This seems like a popular date place. However, I think that your date would have a better experience at a themed decorated restaurant at Cha Cha Cha (in Silverlake). Also, the food at Cha Cha Cha tastes better and the price is a bit more reasonable. The $13 hamburger was very disappointing...The buns are like the generic brand buns you see at grocery stores and the patty is thinner than the $6 burger from Carl's Jrs. The $25 Chilean Seabass comes with your choice of 2 sides and this was a satisfying dish. However, this is not on their menu so I don't think I would return to this restaurant for anything else on their menu. Parking: There is a meter parking lot behind the restaurant.
(2)Tyler P.
We stumbled in here by accident, and I've been kicking myself since for not finding this place earlier. Where to start.... it's just... a zoo. I was half expecting the entire time for the doors to burst open with the entrance of an old salty dog captain, dragging his 1,000 pound Marlin catch, matched by cheers from the bar, packed with rowdy regulars downing their whiskey. A place, finally, where men can be men. Food's also excellent, and the service is great.
(5)Carm S.
The cocktail napkins at this restaurant say "The restaurant with a heart". It couldnt be closer to the truth! They don't make em like this anymore! My girl and I spotted this place across the street from the Ben & Jerry's and knew we had to come back to try it. So last night we walked in and instantly fell in love! The lighting is super red and dim, there are xmas lights everywhere and nautical kitsch up the arse. We got a cozy booth to the side, in fact all the booths looked cozy. We started with a bloody mary and vodka tonic, clam chowda's, and split a full size ceasar salad. I loved that they separated the salad in our own bowls for us and offered real anchovies. The chowder was home made, perfect consistency and creamy! We ended the meal with an order of fish n chips. Best I have tried so far! Fish pieces were thick and not too much batter on them and the fries were big and tasty as well! Service was super friendly and attentive. Also noticed the patio lounge outside was a great place to just chill and have a drink. Overall, I will definitely be returning, loved the old school vibe of the place and the staff really made us feel welcome. **Parking tip: there is a metered lot in the back of the restaurant 75 cents per hour**
(5)Vince D.
With the kitchy tropical decor and pufferfish lights it walks and talks like a Tiki bar, but it ain't a Tiki bar. And by that I mean they don't specialize in tropical drinks. I found that out when I tried to order a Zombie and they were confused, then said they didn't have the ingredients. So I ordered a Mai Tai, which everyone makes, and found it to be just okay. Once I understood that it was just a regular bar that makes drinks like Cosmos and the like, it was all good and I adjusted my expectations accordingly. The bar aside, my dinner was amazing: the Spicy Seafood Diablo really took me by surprise by how good it was. I'll for sure be getting that one again. Overall, the place is a fun visual feast, so if you're into nautical themed seafood restaurants and happen to be in Santa Monica, check out The Galley.
(4)Jin Y.
I honestly don't get all the rave reviews about this place. Sure it's old, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't get with the times. We wanted to go to a nice romantic steakhouse and somehow The Galley was rated really well so we found ourselves here. We called to make reservations and they told us that even with reservations, we'd most likely have to wait when we got there. We were fine with that. We got there and the pirate-like shipwrecked restaurant that looked like a set for "The Vagina Monologues" was pretty much empty. The hostess went away and came back (why, I don't know...it was mostly empty) and seated us next to these fat old people wearing shorts who you'd see eating at Denny's at lunch. There were no hot people there (not like that's a marker for excellence, but anyway, if you care, there were no hot people eating there). We immediately felt overdressed and out of place. So... for those of you who want a more casual dressed environment for a "steakhouse", here you go. Signs of a bad steakhouse: -A bottle of ketchup and steak sauce on the table (a good steakhouse doesn't have/need these). -paper napkins with half naked woman drawn on it. -sticky plastic menu -overwhelming prices in contrast to where we were - a red-tinted denny's if it were a pirate ship. At this point we thought.. the steaks are either really really good that people would overlook these cues and still come and rave about it, or the steaks are really bad and the night will just suck. Well, our night sucked. The steaks were mediocre at best. The only redeeming factor was that the server was great. Perhaps I have to come back and try some of their non steak items that people are raving about. But as a steakhouse? I don't think so.
(2)Candace K.
This spot was definitely interesting! Great option for a casual dinner out especially if you're into "loud" decor and people watching! The food was less than stellar but the portions were generous, the butter soft, and the service forgettable.. but in a good way. The waitress was decently attentive, didn't mess up the order and seemed happy to answer our questions. All things you expect from a a person in this job.. but hey.. this is LA and I've learned quickly that you should expect to not necessarily get that! Giving this place 3 stars for the entertaining ambiance, the HUGE shrimp in the cocktail app and the nummy carrot cake!
(3)Lindsay H.
Cute and old-timey. I had hoped for steamed artichokes, as the outdoor menu had them. But it turns out the Galley stopped serving them ages ago. I had homemade spinach and mushroom ravioli in spicy tomato--not too heavy and just delicious. Impressive wine and beer list and super old jukebox round out this Main street eatery.
(4)Cecilie R.
Its like having dinner inside sponge bob square pants' underwater pineapple! Whether you think that is a plus or minus is your choice. The food on the other hand is decidedly not great. Its not bad, but considering the millions of places you could go in Santa Monica to get fish and other eats, it seems silly to waste your time at The Galley.
(2)Matthew I.
Every year I come here with my lovely girlfriend for Valentines day. See you tonight!
(5)Gia P.
Some friends of mine and I went to Santa Monica Pier last weekend to get out of the house and spend a day out with friends. When it started to get chilly, one of my friends looked up restaurants in Santa Monica on yelp. So off we were to The Galley. The decor is questionable but I suppose it's fun. Christmas lights are everywhere in the dining room. We opted to sit out in the patio which in hindsight might have been a bad idea since we were seated right by the sewage drain and none of the heaters worked. The service was nice enough but if you have to ask your table to be wiped down before your meal, I don't think you really deserve a tip. The fish & chips were excellent. Well, at least the fish was--right amount of batter, cooked just right, succulent and delicious. Squeeze some lemon, with a bit of malt-vinegar & tartar sauce to set it off. The chips were a bit too well done and bland. The filet mignon chili was okay. Kinda tasted like canned chili with bits of steak thrown in (the steak was good, though) served with a side of cheese & onions. A couple of my friends got the lobster tacos and said those were tasty. The pasta was on the watery side and kinda bland. My other friend didn't enjoy his ahi tuna sandwich either. Come to think of it...most of their items needed some salt in order for flavor. He said he couldn't even taste the tuna, so he had to douse it in sauce in order to make it tasty. Not the best place for happy hour unless you have a fat wallet--no beers on tap and the beers are still $5 for HH. After the meal I went to the restroom to wash my hands and I found a table tab with $101 left in the tray on the sink. Tsk tsk. Best deal for HH was probably the $5 fish & chips. Lobster tacos and filet mignon chili aren't on the HH menu. Could've used some more fish on the fish & chips plate but can't complain when it's half-off at $5
(3)JulieBean M.
I'm definitely a fan. From the silly nautical interior to the delicious food - this place rocks. The SO and I sat at the bar and had a drink while we waited for our table - the decorations sparked lots of fun conversation and the drinks were nice and stiff. You can tell it's the kind of place people have been coming to for years; I like that. I had the calamari steak lightly breaded in panko crumbs, pan fried with lemon caper sauce (so good) on the side. It came with my choice of two sides - I went with the asparagus and broccoli. I really appreciated that the veggies were obviously prepared fresh - so often they come out looking previously frozen. SO had the wild Atlantic salmon with the chive sauce. We both really liked our food, our waitress was sweet as pie, and the total bill was very reasonable - about $55 before tip. Hope to come back soon!
(4)Sean P.
The Galley at first glance can give you mixed feelings. Depending on what you see first you may be dissuaded from entering or even driving to this place. I'm here to possibly change your mind since I was in your shoes a few days ago. To set your nerves at rest I can vouch that all the food we tried (about 6 meals worth in our party) was excellent. So if it's not the food what could be wrong with the menu? The menu seems overpriced and you're probably right to be scared. To compensate the groaning of your wallet you could order the "steak for two"(4 sides as well) meal for $40. Considering how much food you get it's actually a pretty good deal when comparing to other mid range restaurants. The galley burger at $13 is also a cheap way out while the rest of your party pays double for their meal. It tastes great too. If you're worried about the ambiance of the place, trust me you'll get used to it after a while. It reminded me of an upscale hooters with all the Christmas lights strewn around the wood paneled bar and restaurant. No need to dress up for this Main street Santa Monica restaurant. I would have given this place five stars but for some reason the menu prices were just out of my range of what I feel comfortable paying for large meals. They also have a semi-patio in the back of the restaurant if you would rather eat outside. Also, try and find street parking so you don't always have to run back and put quarters in the 2 hour public lot behind the restaurant. If I was looking for a nice relaxed night out for friends I would definitely revisit the Galley. It's just my type of nice...yet not so nice night out.
(4)Natalie B.
I came here tonight for my boyfriend's birthday with his family. He kept saying it was his favorite restaurant but after tonight I'm not quite sure why... I ordered the linguine with clams and a dinner salad with their famous dressing. The salad was AMAZING. Definitely the best of everything I tried. The linguine was said to be in a white wine cream sauce but I would describe it more as linguine slathered in heavy cream with some parsley and about 10 clams. The clams were great but my stomach and taste buds could not handle the "sauce". My boyfriend ordered the surf and turf (most expensive item on the menu, but it is his birthday after all!). I thought the lobster tail was amazing and his filet was too well done for me but I still thought it was great. The peppercorn sauce was also tasty. Not sure if it was worth the $58 though... The service was good. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive. Overall it was decent. I would come back for the salad and maybe try something else, staying completely away from the pasta dishes.
(3)Will L.
I was driving out to Santa Monica on a rainy, blustery night. Rain in Los Angeles makes rain in Seattle look like drizzle. When it comes down in L.A., it's like the sky is trying to give the hills a nice douche and rid the coast of the stain upon the earth I lovingly used to call home. Los Angeles. A great place to be from. And from L.A., I am. Unfortunately, it's been a while since I'd been over to my bro's house, and I got myself lost. Heading up Main instead of Ocean (whoops!), I passed this place. Steak? Seafood? STEAK? MEEEAAAAT!? I hadn't had any red meat in a while. Or steak! Wait... what did that mean... hmm.. Anyway, I called my bro, got my sis-in-law, and asked her if that place was any good. I could hear the drool dripping. Ok, maybe that was the rain on the roof of the car. But the sentiment was the same. We decided to walk down there, since it was only a few blocks, and what's a little rain, right? I chuckled at my bro and sis-in-law and their umbrella, typically Seattle. "Aww what's-a-matter, afwaid of a wittle wet?" Yeah, five minutes later I'm shivering under the umbrella with them, soaked to the bone. Got to the Galley, stopped at the bar, ordered some drinks. I immediately got into a conversation with a local gal who looked lonely, and I guess thought I did too. Actually, I thought she was the hostess, she was very knowledgeable of the specials. Turns out she had just finished dinner. Ah. Silly me. The inside of the Galley is fun. Random sailing and beach gear hanging all over the place. See some of the pics other folks have uploaded... thousand words... and I'm wordy enough as it is. I had the bass special. Of course I did. I play bass! That means I gotta eat it to. BE YOUR INSTRUMENT! EAT YOUR INSTRUMENT! SH*T YOUR INSTRUMENT! Etc. It tasted like lobster. Seriously. It was awesome. My older bro had the steak, and it was pretty good, though I only had a bite. Yeah yeah, my conscious got the better of me last minute. I could hear my arteries screaming in fright. I also had the famous salad, and the dressing definitely was good. We drank whiskey sours, my older bro's fave drink, and they were yummy. He recently joined a scotch drinking club, so we tasted a couple different kinds that they had. The treat? My sis-in-law recognized the owner, she's sold hats to him from her shop down the street. He totally recognized us and not only did he buy us a round, he bought us dessert. That... Rocked! Here's to hat fans!
(5)Mel S.
Yes, I am a Galley fan. I've been coming here for close to 10 years and it's one of my favorite steak places. It is not, as my grandmother would say, "tricked-up food". Everything is prepared very simply and very well. Steaks are always done to spec, fish is tender and moist, and that's about it. It does feel a bit overpriced, considering the kooky decor and the lack of refinement in the presentation, but the food is consistently tasty and I always leave feeling satisfied. The atmosphere also lends itself to both group dining as well as couples (the patio is great if you want a calmer atmosphere). This is my little black dress of restaurants. P.S. Reservations are always a good idea, even if you make it only an hour in advance. When I called last Saturday at 7 to make a reservation for 8, they said things were looking pretty calm. But by the time we got there, there was a 15 minute wait. We were seated right away, though, thanks to that 7pm call.
(4)Eric B.
Sucks. Never again. Overpriced, and food's nothing special. Enterprise Seafood Co. right around the corner is better in ever respect.
(1)Melissa T.
The day I met the classiest women in Santa Monica: Last night, my friends and I attempted to grab drinks at The Galley while making our way to a few bars on Main street. While we waited for (literally) 10 minutes for the bartender to come help us, I noticed that she was having an extremely hard time handling herself. Honestly, my experience in the restaurant industry is immense, so I figured that she was just having a really hard day and didn't think anything of it. She took our orders from our friend as we went to the restroom, but we returned with still no drinks at our bar spot. I then noticed she was the only bartender on staff (I realize this means she's helping the rest of the restaurant as well and trust me, I get it), but why would you only have one scheduled for a Saturday night? More than 5 minutes later, a blonde waitress asked us if she could help us. Replying that we thought we were already in the process of being helped, she insisted on taking our order, so we reordered the 4 shots and one beer. While we were waiting, she apologized for the wait and explained the bartender was by herself. Since we knew the order was actually being recognized this time around, we watched the bartender as she made a few drinks in front of ours. This is when my friends and I realized the issue the whole time. She was...wasted. It's not like she was just rushing because it was busy, she was blatantly missing whatever she was pouring in, fumbling with glasses, filling wine all the way to the top to where it almost overflowed, and she couldn't put alcohol bottles back in their designated place without it almost spilling. At one point, a bus boy was behind the bar and he took a second to look at the bartender funny, as if his expression was asking if she was drunk and ok to be working. Once our drinks were made, they sat there long enough for another random waitress to taste test them, as if she was "confirming" they weren't hers. I'm sorry, but how many people order 4 shots that are bright green? Yeahhhh, we can see you trying our drinks. Needless to say, by the time the blonde waitress brought our shots, we were over the place and I thought she should know we didn't want anything from them. She rudely insisted that the bartender was not drunk, but was simply "tired" since she had been working since 2 pm. Given that it was 10 pm then, I didn't see how that mattered at all, as it sounded like she had a good shift compared to my 14-hour work days. While discussing the issue, the bartender came over and said, "You think i'm drunk?!" in the best sloshy, hot-mess-of-a-drunk-voice possible....NOT even able to make eye contact with me. I mean, seriously? The bartender proceeded to walk away, not even apologizing for making us wait 25 minutes for 5 drinks or the fact that a random waitress taste-tested our shots. As we were walking out, the best part came from the blonde waitress, who substituted a "sorry" or a "goodbye" with "that's really shitty of you." ....classy. All I want to know was if I was being Punk'd...
(1)Heather R.
Love the colored strings of lights all over this old, "Argh, Matey" joint. You half expect Spongebob Squarepants to wait on you, which goes perfectly with the old-school swabbing-the-decks atmos. Or maybe Gilligan. Anyway, last night was my 3rd trip to the Galley, and probably the 1st time I've REALLY liked it. The calamari appetizer is very yummy - not greasy, and the calamari is thick, but not rubbery. The cocktail sauce is delicious and tangy. The tartar sauce is good, too, but the stand out sauce is the cilantro-scallion sauce. I'll take a VAT, please. Thanks. They also had a special filet mignon crostini appetizer last night with some kind of pesto/garlic/orgasmic sauce. If it's offered when you go - GET IT. I had pan-fried halibut, sauteed spinach and a baked potato. The halibut was good, as was the tater, but the spinach was EXCELLENT! Not creamy or buttery - very fresh with subtle garlic flavor. So good. My husband's mahi-mahi special was also delicious - he gave me a taste and I immediately wished that was what I had ordered. Our waitress was a delight - she was friendly and funny and got everything right. Our bill was just over $600 for a party of 10 with plenty of booze. Not cheap, but not a bank-breaker. The food is very good and a great place to spend a very fun evening with friends. Don't expect anything earth-shattering and you'll have a fantastic time.
(4)Nicole O.
This revue is for drinks/snacks only. I love it. Great charm, silly decor and really friendly workers. They also have a late happy hour which is awesome, although prices aren't super cheap, they are good for the area. I also ordered Calamari with my group (which I am normally not a huge fan of). It was great, not too over-fried and the sauces were goods- the presentation on all of the food (looking at others) is very old school, but who cares if it is yummy!
(4)Michelle M.
The Galley is a family favorite. Love the old time charm, year round Christmas lights. Steamed clams, yes! Plank for two, perfect! Always yummy, always good service.
(4)Lawrence P.
Good food, great service and Emily is an outstanding Bartender! I've been going to The Gally since the early sixties and it's one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)M K.
I have only been here for happy hour a couple of times, but I really like the place. The decor is beautiful and the service is fabulous. I ended up having a meal here the first time I went...delicious. The happy hour food portions are great! It's like ordering from the regular menu (big plus point). Sunday evenings are perfect as there is extended happy hour (I think) and you can order drinks such as Mai Tais for a great price. Definitely plan on going back here soon again!
(5)alex p.
The Galley is a fantastic old school restaurant! Great steak, seafood and service! Thanks Capt. Ron for the great times! We will keep coming back and having wonderful meal! Great salad dressing...
(5)Al M.
This place has a dive-y ambiance with fine dining prices! Their entrees START at $20 and go up to $60. If you go to the Galley - be prepared to spend some cash. We had a party of 10 people and our bill was almost $500! For $50 a person - the food better be pretty good. Nope. Everything we had was average and uninspired. I don't really understand the hoopla about this place, but I guess people in Santa Monica like paying steep prices for mediocre seafood. The entire restaurant is covered with cheesy nautical decor and Christmas lights. We went on a Friday night and it was packed. The decibel level was ridiculous! It was so loud just from people talking. The acoustics are horrible and we had to almost yell across the table to be heard. I ordered the Organic Half Chicken with mushrooms and a balsamic sauce. Chicken was good, but was missing flavor. I ordered sauteed spinach as my side dish which came out almost cold and tasted like any frozen spinach that I cook up at home. I also ordered a vodka and soda which was $10! Ugh. Two people at our table got the hamburgers and they were completely unimpressed. One person got a salad with enormous jumbo shrimp in it and he barely touched it. Our server was nice, but took FOREVER to get our check. Needless to say, by the end of our meal - we were over the Galley and our 2 hour parking meters were about to expire. Parking is not the easiest in this area. Normally, I agree with other Yelpers, but The Galley gets thumbs down from me.
(2)Jason R.
Went on WED night for their all night Happy hour at the bar. It was crowded. Sat on the back patio. Had a few beers and the penne marinara. Waitstaff is amazing and eventually sauntered inside for a half price wrap up cocktail at the bar. Love the nautical atmosphere here. Keep it coming Galley.
(4)Declan D.
I had the NY strip, with garlic mash potatoes and spinach....delicious! The interior decor and lighting is pretty cool. You feel like you are on an old fishing boat.
(4)Andrew H.
This restaurant has been around since 1934. The interior is real cozy, with colored lights, and wooden booths, and a nice bar. They specialize in comfort food, and they have very good steaks and burgers. The night I went for dinner, there were young and old people, but what seemed to characterize everyone was a friendly, convivial and casual air. Nobody seemed to be pretentious or dressed to impress. It was old Santa Monica, with the worn in jeans and the women in long, straight hair. Our waitress was especially friendly and professional. Extremely courteous and fun. The only minus I would say are the relatively high prices for wine. One glass might cost anywhere from $6.50-11.00.
(4)Jen E.
A definite "meh." Went there recently for a friend's birthday dinner. Besides the interesting history lesson I received (Santa Monica's oldest restaurant, etc., etc.) from my friend and the back of the menu, I'd have to say the experience was pretty lackluster. I mean, it's a bad sign if the highlights of our meals were the calamari starter with 3 dipping sauces (I did love their tartar sauce) and the garlic mashed potatoes that I ordered as my side to my butter-drenched overly-salted shrimp scampi entree. And my boyfriend, who unfortunately is allergic to shellfish, resorted to "Captain Ron's Favorite Land Food" pasta, then agreed Lean Cuisines have more flavor and thicker sauce. Everything was overpriced for what overall was pretty mediocre. Dare I say, I recall better dining experiences at Red Lobster? But it's a fun atmosphere - the type that makes you crave a mai tai. I had my first in years, and must say it was tasty. Oh wait, so there were three highlights of my experience...
(2)Anuski L.
Very disappointed... I've been to the Galley a couple times, I like their filet mignon steaks, food there is not bad it is their customer service that has been an absolute disappointment. My friends laptop was stolen at The Galley the last time we went and we were the last clients there. Now with that said still to this day we do not know who did it, but the way the staff behaved and how unprofessional and unhelpful they were is enough for me to STAY AWAY. Maybe we are the irresponsible dummies and maybe we are forgetful but I can honestly say that I have left my wallet and blackberry at places like Urth Cafe fully unattended and guess what they were still there when I called the place with even all my money still in my wallet. The staff that was left that evening was unable to produce detailed identification, even the police seemed frustrated when asking questions because after having been there questioning and questioning one of the guys from the kitchen decided to come up with a "new twist to the story" and suddenly saying he had seen 2 girls trying to put "something" in their bag... and by the way the physical description of the characters in this sudden twist did not even look like anyone in our group. Anyway, enough is enough. The Galley crew this particular night could not have been more unhelpful, I know I will not be going back to this establishment and I will not be recommending it to anyone.
(1)J D.
Not bad - pretty good. Nice patio.
(2)Jessica X.
This place was a cute find and a little hole-in-the-wall-ish. The Christmas lights everywhere are a nice trippy touch, and the alcohol selection is not bad. We stumbled across this place and were very happy after a few drinks. Our bartender looked oddly similar to the Delta girl on the video that plays before the flights-very pretty, that's a compliment! Just a random look-a-like!
(4)Neely M.
My mom and I met up for dinner on Tuesday night on Main Street and had planned to go to the shee shee cafe. She liked the west hollywood one, I had never been, blah blah blah. Se we looked at the menu and decided this just wasn't our scene that night. We wandered down Main street on a hunt for seafood and I spotted The Galley across the way. I had read some ok reviews on here, knew they had fish and knew it was a landmark so we decided to venture in. I love the feel of this place. It is dark and the walls are covered in nets and and lights and it feels like you are inside the hull of some old ass pirate ship. I expected peg legs and eye patches but, instead, got incredibly friendly waitstaff and some pretty decent food. I had the salmon with mashed potatoes and broccoli. My mom had the halibut with green beans and broccoli. I like that they serve all the fish with sauces on the side but my salmon was pretty steeped in butter to begin with. They were totally open to special orders - my mom is a bit like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally ("I want the fish but only in olive oil with lemon on the side and double veggies instead of a starch and no wheat products...") and the waitress was forever patient. She offered up a grilled calamari steak instead of the pan fried - no problem. She was attentive but non intrusive and so nice. The downside? I don't understand how expensive everything is. This place doesn't feel high end. I understand they are a surf and turf spot but seeing the $40 average steak on the menu just threw me off. This place would be great if it was a neighborhood spot - not a high price once in a while place. I would venture down here quite often, i think, but they kinda break the bank. I would love a $15 entree from here - many choices of said entree, as a matter of fact - but I am really only allowed a burger or salad if I choose that. I would be here a lot more if that wasn't the case. All in all, this place is atmosphere. Don't go here and expect romance. Expect pirate fantasies and old salty dogs. But do expect to pay a lot for your dinner that will be made however you like it but will be kinda doused in butter and so-so if you just go with what they offer.
(3)Scott E.
HUGE rib-eye! Loved this place since I was a child. Been there since main street was a dirt road.
(5)Neil V.
Novelty. It's a fun atmosphere - it's a lot like the inside of a boat + tables. Granted, i went on halloween...but my waitress was dressed as a pirate. With novelty, of course, comes a price. And since pirates are usually missing legs and eyes and crap like that, they turn around and charge YOU an arm and a leg for their food. I had the steak, which was no better than a $5 steak at ralphs. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't marinated anything special either. Dinner and drinks for two was $150 and i was still hungry and sober.
(3)Kyle S.
Definitely one of the best steakhouses in Santa Monica. The porterhouse is great, the atmosphere is nice and there's always great service.
(5)Kelsey G.
So I'm supposed to meet up with one of my friends for dinner and drinks last night, and he's in a meeting that's running late...real late...like 2 1/2 hours late! He finally gets out at around 9:15-30, calls ahead to the Galley, and "Sure, no problem, we'll keep the kitchen open for you guys." On a Tuesday night! Fantastic service! We sat at the bar, and rapped all night with Christine, the bartender, who rocks! I had the recommended Captain's Salad, which was pretty good. Nice and light for the late night eats. Couple of Dirty Martinis makes everything better. All in all, cool spot, with a great historic vibe, (Matt tells me its the oldest bar in Santa Monica). Looking forward to hitting up the Galley again!
(4)Sean C.
After years of living blocks away, finally ventured into the Xmas light festooned room. Arrived around 730 Friday, waited about 30 minutes at the bar. $ 6 dos equis. Got sat in the heated back patio. Nice enough. Got some sourdough (not warm) on the table. Ordered the grilled salmon with mashed potato, broccoli and lemon caper sauce. Very tasty. M'lady had a house salad and the garlic bread. Garlic bread was good.
(3)Hali M.
Happy hour is fun and a great deal, but, the catch is that you must sit at the bar and its a pretty small bar. Less than 20 seats available. The food is always great though. I recommend any fish, the clam chowder or me and my boyfriend's personal favorite, clams linguine. The decor is made of christmas lights. If you're looking for elegance, go to Ocean Ave Seafood. If you're looking for fun and some bomb SM Seafood, try The Galley!
(4)J M.
I won't be going here again. As another poster said...not bad, but just OK...but with all the other options for dining in and around the are....why go here? I ordered a pasta meal....no flavor and very little chicken and veggies.....basically just pasta and sauce. Also, we had a party of 5. Four meals were brought to the table by the server and the waitress. My meal was the one missing. I assumed they would be coming back with it and the server just couldn't carry five meals. Ten minutes later I still don't have my meal and our waitress is nowhere to be found. We finally have to ask another waitress to get our waitress. You think when she had served the first meals she would have looked around our table and then asked if we need anything else like they do in most restaurants. Turns out, my meal somehow did not make it onto her order (or some excuse like that). So I had to wait another 15 minutes for them to make my dish while the rest of my group ate.
(2)Brent A.
Christmas lights in Sept? Yes please. This place is great! Not sure why I haven't been here sooner. Quick drinks in a fun atmosphere.
(3)Vitus H.
Great ambiente! Loved the xmas lighting. only had some starters, they were good but kinda pricey. 6 bucks for a bud light is rather outrageous i think
(3)steve b.
Captain Ron has such a fabulous formula. Hire cute girls to serve your grizzle. The last three meals I have eaten at this landmark progressively got worse. I forgive a bad steak every now and then. But now seems to be the case with THe Galley. The RIb eye is better at Ralph's supermarket. The Galley served a disgrace for the price point of $33 dollars. I would pay good money for good steak. They are robbing people of a good meal. I do have a solution ROn just buy better meat. I also have a solution to all the wonderful customers who have been loyal to ROn and his Galley. GO to Huston's on Wilshire for dinner then go to Ron's for drinks afterwards. The steak at Huston's is the best in Santa MOnica. Nuff' said.
(2)Thom G.
Maybe my expectations were set too high, but the Galley isn't a "nice" restaurant--it's kitch, and it borders on dive. Even so, there were a few things that I SHOULD have expected: --Help with the stroller. We have kids. The hostess didn't know what to do with the stroller. We ended up folding it away. --An apology for spilled water. The water server spilled a glass all over us. No apology. --Napkins. There were no napkins at the table. When we ask one of the busboys to bring us some, he threw them at each of us. --Good food. Overall, the food was good. (The T-bone was good. The ahi was not.) --A good server. She was! But the rest of the wait staff seemed more interested in getting on with their own thing.
(2)lala d.
I took my boyfriend to eat here for his birthday last year. Such a great experience. We both loved our meal. After having taste their lamb, we both haven't found any restaurants that can compare. Yes its that good:) a bit expensive but worth it. The service was great. Our waitress were friendly and wasn't annoying us every 5 min. I forgot what drink I had but I remember it being so strong. I tried to drink it anyways and couldn't handle it. When our waitresse asked me how everything was going, I told her the drink was pretty strong, she took my half drank drink back into the bar and got me a new one free of charge:) again, great food. Great service. I would definitely come back here again.
(5)Patrick M.
What a cool dive-y type place! I went with a couple of friends to the Galley last night and it was great. We sat at the bar and chatted up the staff and patrons as we got saucy with the alcohol. It was a great time. Their happy hour was going strong and so we decided to order the calamari (pretty good), the shrimp cocktail (yum) and the fish and chips (awesome). All the food was half price during happy hour so we got out of there without breaking the bank. I will be back. It was a fun scene and the ambiance was awesome! BTW, if you want a great date place, this is it. I guarantee action if your take your S.O. here...
(4)Sheena D.
As a Main Street local, my boyfriend and I have only visited The Galley's bar as a waiting place for a cold beer until a table opens up at Manchego. The inside is lit with Christmas lights and kitschy beach memorabilia. Definitely an older crowd with a regulars feel to it. We finally decided to have dinner and started with the clam chowder which was tasty with garlic croutons. We ordered the 1/2 lb cheeseburger and the halibut special. For $14 my bf was disappointed in the burger. It was not seasoned and tasted like a frozen hamburger patty. Steak fries eased the pain. I took our friendly server's advice and got the special, pan fried halibut over risotto. For $23 it was just okay. I don't mind paying the price for good food, but unfortunately the food was overpriced. I really wanted to like this place, and come back again to try their steak specialities, but if you can't do a burger right... I'd be nervous about a steak. Looks like we won't leave the bar next time.
(2)Anna B.
I really enjoyed my evening at The Galley. I had no idea what I was in for. I drove by on the way to pick up some friends for dinner. We had no idea where we were gonna go. I thought, why not. The atmosphere is fun. As others have mentioned, it's like a pirate ship sorta vomited inside a restaurant, but in a good way. And the food was delicious. I had lamb chops and they were cooked to perfection. Others at my table had steaks and they were equally pleased. Drinks were generous and tasty and service was great. BTW... had a pseudo-celeb sighting there. Scott Wolf: Party o' Five. Not typically a celeb sighting sorta girl, but we were there with friends from Ireland and she was so excited to see a celeb, it was sorta infectious. He looks exactly the same btw.
(4)Dane S.
i had one of the worst dinners ever last night at the Galley. I am pretty sure that i am sick today because of their clams.
(1)Matt L.
A true classic! Est in 1934, The Galley is full of charm. The atmosphere, from the lights to the super-friendly staff make it a "must" experience. Dress casual & get ready for a nice evening. The food is solid & music mostly nostalgic. Trust me, check it out.
(4)john M.
Red Lobster meets the north pole. If Santa quit the sled game and decided to venture by ship, he would probably frequent the Galley. I'm not sure what was up with the pirate theme adorned with a million Christmas lights but that's what was going on within the walls of the Galley. I have to admit, it made for an interesting experience but I wouldn't say it screams fine dining, or whispers it for that matter. The service was good, the food was decent, overall it was a pretty forgetful experience other than the decor and my company.
(2)iki i.
This is a really cute fun place to eat. The decor is very sweet and cosy. The food isn't special but it's tasty and served with a smile. A big bonus for this place is the friendly service and the good value. Like I said, the food isn't haute cuisine but it's not trash either. It's quite good. Great date night on a budget!
(4)Alejandra I.
I love the Galley. I love having cocktails there & the mermaids they put in my drinks. I've had fish, steak, pasta, exquisite desserts there... they have a back patio... I go there all the time & have never been disappointed. The only thing I could possibly complain about is some of the waitresses, but other than that.... perfect. I love it.
(4)David R.
I really enjoy eating at The Galley. Their generious portions are great when you need that hardy meal!
(4)Ty P.
All of the steaks are great. The sides are solid. The waitresses are the main attraction, second only to the salad dressing. A bit expensive but if you want to hang on Main Street and get the feel of an "Old School" Santa Monica spot, then The Galley is the place.
(4)JoAnn K.
The Galley is known to be one of the oldest restaurants in Santa Monica and in my opinion one of the yummiest! It has a lot of character, as soon as you walk in gets dark and red. Lots of Christmas lights everywhere and hot server chicks ready to take your order. There's also this interesting sign up on one of the walls that states "A Wise Monkey Never Monkeys With Another Monkey's Monkey..." can't remember the rest but there are fun facts framed on the walls which are fun to read. Oh, basically this is one of my favorite restaurants because of their ROSEMARY CHICKEN dish!!! It's the best I've ever had...a must try!
(5)Laura F.
I like this place. It is very chill, fun, kinda kitschy. I brought my dad here and he loved it. Full bar, strong drinks, and solid but not exceptional seafood and steaks. The thing holding this place down is the prices. They are ridiculous for what you are getting. You can go somewhere like Billingsleys and get the same food for about half the price. This place is great and is fun for the neighborhood, but go there for drinks, not a full meal, unless someone else is paying!
(3)Nicole H.
Holy Christmas Lights Batman! I had read the reviews on Yelp but really they did not do the decor justice. I've never seen so many lights inside a building in my entire life. And I'm from Missouri. There are a lots of lights out there around holiday time. Something I miss actually. Sorry got sidetracked. Temporary blindness aside, the rest of the decor and ambiance is very comforting at the same time unique. Once my friends and I were seated I fell in love with the place and kept my fingers crossed the food would be as good if not better than mentioned. Oh hello Seafood Heaven! We started with the Calamari appetizer. Surprisingly I've discovered this is actually a very easy appetizer to screw up. It's typically either too burnt or undercooked. The Galley got it done so perfectly I could have eaten the whole thing myself. My friend ordered the Surf n' Turf and his mom ordered the Trout. Although I can't offer their individual opinions, both seemed pretty content. Although the steak in the Surf n' Turf was a little overcooked. I guess everyone has a different idea of what medium rare is. Now I ordered one of the best dishes I can honestly say I've ever had. It was a special that night. Panko crusted Halibut with Basil Risotto in a Red Pepper Cream Sauce. I am salivating just thinking about it. I can only hope they bring it back again as a full-time part of the menu. The Halibut and Risotto were cooked perfectly but I have to say the star of this dish was the Red Pepper Cream Sauce. I could have drank it straight off my plate and almost did....which is probably why the waitress was nice enough to bring me a second bowl. I am giving four stars instead of five for two reasons: the undercooked steak and the service was just a tiny bit slow even though it wasn't busy when we first got there. Certainly not enough to keep me away. Thank you to my friends for introducing me to this place. I will most certainly be returning and hope to try every dish they offer. Unless they put the Halibut special on the menu permanently. Then I'll just need to buy a personalized bib to catch the Red Pepper sauce.
(4)Nero M.
Nuts to the galley.
(1)Lauren C.
I'm going to use this as a chance to rant about the extremely stupid hostess at this restaurant. Sorry if this comes off as rude and mean (I'm really not that mean) but man, was I annoyed. I came here with friends on a Sat night around 6:30 and the place was definitely busy. We walked in and like any normal person, asked the hostess how long it would take for us to be seated. She said 15 minutes. We waited 20. Then, we went back in to ask her on the status of our table and she said it would be another 20 minutes. WHAT!! I pointed out that she had told us 15 minutes 20 minutes ago. How could it be another 20 minutes. She gave me a horrible excuse about reservations. I said.. you knew about the reservations beforehand. She gave me a very stupid confused look and didn't seem to understand. Argh.. So, we wait 5 mins more and then my sister goes in to ask if she can leave her cell number and get called when our table is ready. The hostess says, "It'll be another 40 mins until your table is ready. We just seated all of the tables and they have yet to order." Again.. WHAT!! Is math taught that poorly in schools these days? Needless to say, we left and walked to another restaurant. But.. within 10 mins, they had called us to say our table was ready. Being set on going to this place, we ended up turning around and walking in. Nevertheless, I was extremely confused. Now on to the food. Despite the fact that the hostess was possibly the most incompetent one I have yet to encounter, the food is decent. Not something that's going to blow your mind away but decent. In my opinion, the food matches the kitschy interior of the restaurant. We sat outside in this nice patio area in the back. I had the top sirloin which was a bit tough. My sister had the clams which were quite yummy and my friend had the crab cakes. Overall, not a bad experience as long as you ignore the hostess.
(3)David C.
A bust on all fronts tonight. I have been coming to the Galley for over 25 years and tonight was a distinct and total departure from the normal experience The host had clearly lost control of the house and we were seated nearly 45 minutes after our reservation time, and only after we became insistent. When asked after 35 minutes, she had totally forgotten about us. We were seated only when another sever took charge and took us to a table. The table experience was not much better, although our server was trying her best. My steak was delivered overcooked. I don't like eating my dinner well after everyone had finished. The make up to all of this was a free desert: a brownie that can best be described as not calorie worthy.... I don't think I will be back for a long while, if at all.
(1)Edward J.
Day 08 hwy1 bicycle tour: Biked really far, 68m!!!!! From Ventura. And it was the rose bowl night, argh, crazy car drivers almost ran over me in santa monica. What I want is to eat at the Real Food Daily vegan restaurant. But my friend wanted seafood, FINE, let's go here 'cause its the only place that is not too busy. So this is a total tourist spot! Feels like I'm in the world of Spongebob. Antiques and marine equipments everywhere. So how is the food? Kind of good but definitely way over priced. I got the seafood pasta, it was something like $30. I don't remember, very expensive. Though filling. My friend went nuts and got the $58 lobster tail. I was like.... what if it tasted bad? Turns out it was pretty good. But $58!? I still think we should've gone to Real Food Daily.
(3)Rich P.
The oldest restaurant and bar in Santa Monica doesn't disappoint! One of the best things about it isn't just the fabulous sea food (ahi tuna salad is delicious), it's the very friendly and chatty waitresses (who are also very easy on the eyes!)
(5)Kristin K.
This place cracks me up. My other half and I were hungry for a steak. The Galley isn't exactly a steakhouse but the prices were pretty decent. We sat out on the patio, which reminded me of some random patio in the backyard of a college friend's house (so, not the nicest). The plastic chairs really set the mood. Seems like a dive to me. The food was pretty good but I'm sure Happy Hour is fun.
(4)Tammy P.
Ah, where to begin...The Galley is darkly lit for good reason and with purpose. I roll up to the bar for a libation and an appi. I sit down next to what later becomes a cast of eccentric oddballs at the West End of the bar, who's combined age was roughly around 250 years old, which is exactly how old the decor is! Decor and lecherous company aside, I order a glass of wine and browse the oversized menu. The prices were decent so I went ahead and ordered the filet mignon chili and the filet mignon salad. (Don't judge me I was craving beef.) Before I had a chance to take my second sip of wine, a trough of chili was placed before me! I was surprised at the quality of meat, each bite confirmed it was the best chili I have had outside of the great state of Texas. The waitress returned with a huge portion of salad, which included about 6 additional ounces of meat. The dressing was light vinaigrette and complemented the heaviness of meat with the tender greens.
(3)Samantha M.
Liked this place. Loved the decor, the extensive (but pricey) menu, loved the story about the owner's obsession with the salad dressing... they make a mean midori sour too! Loved the outside patio with heat lamps... though we were kicked out after awhile because we were sitting at a table where there was a reservation... the waitress was very nice about it, though! Just went in for a happy hour, but would love to try the food next time, as my friend said it was quite delicious! Patrons and staff were very friendly and talkative! Fun place, will definitely go back when in Santa Monica again!
(4)Ryan H.
Ahoy!! This place is down to earth, cool, and comfortable. From the moment you enter your inside voice will give it a hoot... Embracing a staunch festive nautical theme, the decor is kitschy good! This ship is most enjoyed weighing anchor at the bar or with a slew of swashbuckling friends in the patio. The Staff or Mermaids as I like to consider them are typically pleasant than not. I do have some mixed feelings regarding the food though. The dishes can be a hit or miss here, so I tend to choose other places for steak and seafood. Nonetheless, I have enjoyed the Spinach and Mushroom Ravioli dish and the Filet Mignon (Medium Rare) Spinach Salad with Avocado... Hmm Good!!! I more specifically recommend this place for Happy Hour!! My favorites include the Ahi Tuna Sandwich, the Kosher Hot Dog served with Filet Mignon Chili, and an ICE cold adult beverage.
(4)C K.
It's different & funky with a somewhat interesting decor. It was crowded & filled with young, boisterous people - some already having imbibed quite a few. The food was decent & was a different place to go in Santa Monica. If you're up for seafood, a semi-long wait on a Sat night & just a casual evening, this isn't a bad place to go.
(3)anthony s.
after being in the hospital for 22 days in Japan, A steak at the Galley made me feel at home, talk about excellent comfort food. and a feeling of being missed by the galley girls. Love it, Anthony
(5)Michael G.
The Decor is what sold me on this place, it gets a little dim on Saturday nights, which is a good thing. The bar is very well stocked and the drinks are properly made. Service is actually very good as well and the prices, should you choose to eat, (which you should) are very reasonable. More of a place to take somebody to on a first date or a pre-party cocktail than a main even location, not really a big singles following here gang. I recommend it, go for the great food, awesome service, good pricing and stiff cocktails. Just mosey your way down to the Circle Bar if you need to find a friend for the evening!
(4)Steve D.
I may be biased in that I have been a customer (infrequent) for years. I avoid it on weekends as it is crowded . During the week it is a welcome break from many of the loud places. Great place for steaks and some good drinks. Tables are spaced far enough apart to provide some bit of privacy. My recollection is that their corkage charge was reasonable. The bar is very comfortable for a solo dinner. You'll usually find some interesting folks hanging out at the bar, long time locals to new media moguls and an occasional industrial debutante.
(4)Ned M.
If you are a fan of the Simpsons, you like big steaks and big seafood, you are going to love this place. It is like a real live version of the Frying Dutchman minus the healthcode violations. It is dimly lit, has cargo nets, fake starfish and Christmas lights on the wall (maybe because it was late November). The service is good. The menu is a sort of crowd pleaser that has the usual fish and chops. The only person that would be unhappy is the vegan. Also, if you enjoy restaurants with a story on the menu like the legend of the secret salad dressing, then this is going to be the sort of place you will enjoy. The three star rating is by no means a knock on the place. I think three is very respectable. What brings this down a little bit is that it is not the sort of restaurant you go to regularly. The food is well made, the portions are big, but aside from it's quirky character, it is just average. I recommend checking this place out when you are hanging out with your buddies and are starving, but it is not the sort of place you would go to impress or please a gourmet.
(3)S A.
ok ok ok ok ok this place doesnt serve GREAT food, and its a little bit on the pricey side of things. HOWEVER, you do get to dine under a net. Also, I took off a star for the absence of ye ol' eye patch. No?
(4)Janet T.
I went here last Friday night for dinner with bf and loved it. Walked in it was a nice atmosphere its decor reminded me of an nostalgic past of a boater/sailor/fisherman theme with Christmas lights. They had an old jukebox at the front entrance too bad it was broken I haven't seen those since I was a child. Anyways, our waitress/hostess was great although she admitted she couldn't pronounce the name of the sauce that filet mignon but it was with mushroom & red wine sauce as she described it. I had that, the bf had the ribeye w/huge shrimp entree. Bf dish was huge, the shrimps were so huge I couldn't believe that shrimps could be so huge. I had a couple of his shrimps and they were delish too me it tasted like lobster lol. I love the food I had the special filet mignon with some mushroom/wine sauce with potatoes & beans. The service was fast, kudos to the bus boy /server were fast and on it serving & taking away our empty dishes & filling our drinks those guys were attentive. Dessert was also delish had the black cake Definately will come here again.
(4)Michael M.
I went to the Galley with my wife and parents and it's a mixed bag. I got the crab cakes which were good(run of the mill), but my wife got the ahi tuna which was cooked correctly, but served cold. My parents were very happy with their dishes, especially the chilean bass. Most of the fish dishes are above 20 bucks, so although the fish was good, it's not a bargain. The ambiance is great, running along the lines of an old seafood restaurant. It's defintiely worth going to The Galley, but I won't be a regular.
(3)A S.
I've been to this restaurant so many times over the years and now I've read several reviews as well. Interestingly, another woman had the same experience of the bartenders and waitresses gossiping about customers sitting at the bar, who were not acting out or behaving badly. They weren't even drinking. My friend and I also noticed them talking negatively about them. And the bartender was talking about them with another customer. It was the most unprofessional, ridiculous behavior I've ever seen from a bartender. And the owner obviously has no qualms about this behavior. I was blown away by how rude the bartender was to us as well. She could barely be bothered to be of service. And we ordered happy hour burgers which we had to send back twice because they were cooked wrong. The owner is really just an ass and expects that customers should tolerate him and his unprofessional employees, ridiculously high prices, and awful service. The decor is a great east-coast seafood place vibe. But so not worth it. It's a shame that restaurants like this don't get more honest feedback and change their attitude. If I could have given - stars I would have given 5. The owner is a shyster - how ever you spell that and the employees most of them are taking his cues in unprofessionalism.
(1)Sonja S.
We loved this place! We had a very good meal for a great price. If you happen to be there when the owner is there, he is a riot. We loved the friendly staff. The bar area is lively, we sat in a more quiet booth with our son. We also loved the outdoor patio in nice weather. We love the service and low key atmosphere.
(4)Michael T.
While my wife was shopping at Buffalo Express across the street, I wondered into The Galley for the first time yesterday to have a drink. As soon as I opened the door I was pleasantly surprised by the Christmas lights, decor and otherwise dark lighting. I LOVE places like this. Immediately I was greeted by the lovely and super-friendly bartender who welcomed me, showed me a free seat at the bar, and helped me with my order. Usually the first thing you have to do in places like this is fight for a seat and try to get the bartenders attention, so it was a really nice relief to have that kind of attention. Not "too" much by any means, but just the kind of acknowledgment and attention you want. I really loved the decor and character of the place, and I hope to go back there to eat some time. The prices for food appeared to be a bit more than I wanted them to be, but not enough that would write it off the list. Plus it has really great Happy Hour prices with a lot of the food half off! This is the type of place I'd love to come back to with a friend or two and sit, talk and enjoy the atmosphere. If all the bartenders and wait staff are as pleasant as my bartender (I forget her name... Samantha maybe???), than this place is doing something right. There are two things that prevented this from getting 5 stars. First off, there are no taps... this would be the perfect atmosphere for a nice drinking hole to sit back and have some microbrews. For me atmosphere is everything, which is what makes this place exciting... but unfortunately as a bar, what your serving (the product) is important too and it's tough to get super excited about drinking Guiness from a can. But maybe that's just me... But who knows... maybe if we try hard enough we can tell ourselves that it only adds to the random charm, haha. The other thing is that I would have put some more lively music in there. As a Composer by trade, I take notice of music, and this place needed something more than Frank Sinatra and the like all evening. It had the music of an Italian restaurant, and it would have been nice to sit back and here some more mixed, lively and eclectic material... maybe a David Bowie tune followed by some 80's and 90's rock... at least bring it up to the 60's and give us some Beatles and Floyd. Alrighty... if you're in Santa Monica and are in need of a drink and Atmosphere is your thing... you can't miss this place!
(4)Waterside Of Hwy. I.
Consistently wonderful steaks. Yummy sides, albeit these are basic fare - and comfy booths but you have to be comfy with the idea that it is not a new sparkly establishment.
(4)stephanie l.
I live about 3 blocks from this restaurant and dined here about 4 times. It is different from the other restaurants on Main Street to me. It is always very laid back and has a relaxed darker ambiance with colored christmas lights, a nautical theme, and friendly servers. I see a real mix of people in here...younger and older, both tourists and locals. I have tried a few dishes here, but am really a huge fan of the salads- especially the spinach and filet salad (I get balsamic vinaigrette instead of the dressing they serve with it) and the shrimp salad with pasta. Both are huge portions and consistently great quality ingredients. I also think the cocktails are pretty good at the Galley and the bartenders are funny and friendly. My one big gripe about this place is the bathroom is small and cramped (one person only)- sometimes there is a line or people knocking while you are in there. I have waited a little longer than normal for food when it is crowded, but nothing that upset me.
(4)Jen B.
I have to give The Galley 5 stars because my husband has been eating and drinking there his entire adult life. He is something of a celebrity (Ron still calls him Elvis, even though he long ago parted with his greaser hair). Honestly, I would rate it 5 stars anyway. The Galley is a decent surf and turf place with a silly nautical theme and a great bar that knows how to make a stiff, well proportioned cocktail The waitresses are always attractive, yet the service is typically better than average to great. The atmosphere, silly as it is, lends itself to being comfortable rather than snooty. Its location keeps the place young to middle aged, rather than some comparably priced joints that seem to cater to the over 70 crown (Petrellies, The Buggy Whip, etc). In fact, in its price range, this is definitely the better in town. People who balk at the price either ordered the Rib Eye (which is not good), or they don;t eat at steak houses so they don;t know how much they cost. The steaks are juicy and flavorful, but don;t melt in the mouth as they do in a more expensive place. The Plank (for two), Fillet, New York, and Jumbo Porterhouse are all good. Avoid the Rib Eye. Its not what they specialize in and I found it disappointing. I often order the steamers, but I find them hit or miss. Of course, you need to consider season. Even when in season, sometimes they are too sandy of too rubbery or too clammy. Other times, they are really terrific. I love clams so much I order them and hope. If you are very picky, you may want to avoid. Unfortunately, the waitstaff always says they are great, so they are no help. The fish in generally is pretty good. Avoid the trout. Too trouty! Again, if you are super picky, you should stick with their catch of the day as it tends to be the best. Another popular dish is the shrimp or seafood diablo. Its good, but I don't often order pasta when I am out. When eating at The Galley, please keep in mind the price. It isn't cheap, but neither are its competitors and it is superior to them in every way. If you want to spend about 20-40% more money, there are definitely better spots (Dan Tanas, Maestro's, Morton's, Ruths Chris are all far superior, but waaay more expensive).
(5)Nick H.
This place is great. The happy hour deals are constant and very good, and the Sunday waitress was very charming. My only complaint would be the stale Sinatra-style lounge music. While there's nothing wrong with Sinatra, I'm in my mid-twenties, and I'd like more relevant music. That's the only thing preventing a 5-star review, otherwise it's a great place.
(4)Walter M.
I have been to the Galley at least 20 times with my father who loves the place and it's old-timey feel. The interior definitely has a funky-cozy 1960's feel. The food is first-rate and the portions huge (very American). They do not have a sophisticated beer & wine list -- but they do have a full bar. The prices are relatively high, a lot of entrees over $30. The wait staff can be great but if it's crowded (often the case) the service can be slow. A good choice to bring older folks, parents, people from out of town. The menu is not that large, but what's on it is very good. I give an A++ to their pricey shrimp cocktail.
(3)Macelle A.
Kitschy..... Pirate ship gone wild.... The place boast to have been around for over 100 years / forever. Food: Nothing amazing nor memorable but not bad either. Overall conclusion: Fun place to go for a group celebration, squish into a cozy booth and enjoy the atmosphere.
(2)David J.
We had seen this restaurant the last time we were in Santa Monica so decided to give it a try on March 30. We were spending the night in LA in order to catch an early morning flight out of LAX to Hawaii. The Galley seemed just the sort of restaurant to put us in the mood for Hawaii. The inside is really cool - dark with what seems like millions of colored Christmas lights. It sounds kitschy but it works. We got there at happy hour and ate on the quaint back patio - the only ones to do so. When we got to the restaurant at 5:00 (when it opened) we were the only ones there. By the time we walked back into the restaurant to leave it was close to full. The happy hour menu is good with plenty of yummy choices. There is no kids menu but plenty of things on the happy hour menu will satisfy the picky kids (our 8-year-old really liked her hot dog). The mai tais were very good, too. Our server was excellent - she took great care of us and even brought us a huge brownie as a complimentary dessert. I recommend The Galley and hope to come back again soon.
(4)Cookie C.
the food was ok, a little pricey for what you get. but overall, good. not great. i was totally distracted by all the christmas lights - which i dont really associate with seafood. there are so many lights that my eyes were hurting!
(3)Bruce F.
Whenever I have a friend in town, and I want to go someplace fun, The Galley is always my choice. The atmosphere is great - everyone seems like they're having a good time, the owner (Captain Ron) is always on the top of his game, the waitresses are very friendly and efficient, and the jukebox is always playing upbeat music from my era. And, of course, the food is excellent and plentiful. Don't forget to save room for dessert. Love that chocolate fudge cake.
(5)Amy H.
Two words...HAPPY HOUR. This is the best deal around for fun food. Most of their appetizers are 50% off...filet mignon chili, caesar salad, crabcakes, awesome shrimp cocktail and fried shrimp. Damn...I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! They recently put their drinks on happy hour too. This is a fun place to chill. The decor is great too. If there was a bar on Gilligan's Island...this would be it! Also, Alexis is one of the best bartenders. It's always fun when she's there!
(4)dana m.
This delicious eatery with it's whimsical maritime decor sparkling lights and tasty food is sure to make even the crabbiest diner smile with joy. My husband and family enjoyed the entire experience and would recommend this restaurant in it's entirety. I hope others will enjoy it as much as we did.
(5)Mel H.
A fun, kitschy little bar: colored christmas lights, fisherman's paraphernalia as decor---including, yes, blowfish lanterns. Ya gotta like a place that has blowfish lanterns.
(4)Kelli B.
Had a great dinner! Servers were prompt and the bus staff totally was on top of it. The food was awesome! I had Halibut w/ Risotto my boyfriend had the rib eye and we both enjoyed the fried calimari for starters. Crispy and delicious! the atmosphere is cozy. I can't wait to go again!
(4)S G.
The perfect mai tai can be found at The Galley with a cool little plastic mermaid to adorn your glass. Collect your own Ariels of different colors. The dishes: The shrimp are like pillows of melted buttah and the linguine with clams is my favorite. If you order fish, try the basil and cream sauce. I love this place for special occasions or a weeknight dinner - the Galley is casual enough to walk in with jeans but cool enough for when you want to spruce up without feeling overdressed.
(5)Evan J.
With a name like The Galley and decorations that make you feel like you're dining with Capt. Bligh, it might not seem obvious that this place serves a great steak. They are no friggin' joke, despite the kitsch. In a lot of ways, it feels like a casual neighborhood bar, but their food is top notch.
(4)Lauren B.
The food is great, and the atmosphere is a lot of fun! I really liked my burger, and my friend loved his filet mignon.
(4)Wayne C.
not a bad place, a bit over priced, but good food overall.
(3)Cosmolicious L.
I love this place from the top of it's year round chistmas lights and dust covered puffer fish dangling from the ceiling, to the bottom of it's gianormaously tender filet covered in peppercorn sauce. It's a must visit when I'm down from San Francisco.
(5)Stephen C.
So I'm adding the Galley to my go-to list of bars. Me and my friend were riding our bikes back from a November day at the beach. So we needed something to warm up with, and the obvious conclusion was a shot of whiskey. We happened to be riding past the Galley at that moment so we did a hard left across traffic and went in. In the past, I never really took the place seriously, cause it looks like the Sea Captain's restaurant from the Simpsons from the outside, but the whole beauty of the place is the kitsch. Its got blowfish and fishnets hanging from the ceiling and tons of WWII era posters on the wall. Christmas lights hanging everywhere. Cool atmosphere. We bellied up to the bar and the friendly bartender poured us the largest shots of whiskey I have ever imbibed. For five bucks too cause it was happy hour. Everyone there was friendly, even servers who weren't looking for a tip struck up conversation with me and my friend. The fact that they were also all attractive was a nice bonus. Although I didn't eat anything, so I can't comment on the food, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time at the Galley. Needless to say, I didn't need a jacket for the rest of my bike trip home.
(4)Heidi B.
Wow, what a great time I had at the Galley! The decor of this landmark restaraunt and bar is amazing! There's a mermaid in a ship outside in the front and porthole windows...inside are year round Christmas lights and nautical fare everywhere!! This all contributes to warm and welcoming ambience. The hostess ushered us to a great booth in the mermaid room where an attentive (and adorable) waitress took are drink order and told us the specials. We decided on starting with a shrimp cocktail, a bucket of steamed clams and house salads to start!! OMG! I've heard the Galley salad dressing is legendary and delicious and it IS!!! So good. The shrimp cocktail was great as well...huge shrimp and a sauce with a kick, yum! The clams and broth were amazing as well!!! For our main course we ordered the seafood diablo pasta and a filet! Again, fresh, delicious, flavorful food....soooo good! We shared a chocolate mousse cheesecake for dessert with coffee. The perfect ending to a satisfying meal. I defintiely recommend the Galley for it's ambience, great food and a stiff cocktail!! I'm coming back!
(5)Frances J.
Came here last night, a Sunday, to celebrate a graduation. We were a party of six, with a reservation. While the food was very good, the service left a lot to be desired. We had to repeatedly ask for bread so we could get for everyone. They delivered three cups of chowder, but said the bowl of chowder had to wait as they were making some fresh. Okay, but then they didn't bring the bowl until we asked what happened to it, after those eating cups of chowder had finished. Then there was a looooong wait for our food. Nobody checked back on us, we were sitting there with empty glasses. We had to ask for butter for our potatoes, and I had to specifically request that the server find out if anyone in our party wanted a second drink - and of course several people did. We also had to flag the server down and request dessert and coffee - nobody offered. I am a big fan of The Galley, but usually come in with one or two other people. Last night I saw a whole other side to the place that left me shaking my head.
(2)Aleesa A.
I got food poisoning from the tuna steak sandwich - like violently throwing up sick - and when I called and nicely told the manager about it so others wouldn't get sick, all he offered was "come in sometime, ask for me and I'll do something for you." As if I'm going to go in and order another $100 meal and then have the "something" just be a cheap glass of wine. I was incredibly insulted by the lack of empathy for making me puke my brains out and not only ruin my night but my next day, too. I should have been offered a free meal or some definitive dollar value for my misery if I'd ever give them another chance after 13 years of being an occasional customer.
(1)Eriko P.
We came here for Happy Hour on a Friday.... 5:20pm. The bar was almost full, but there is a small round table near the front door, which was perfect for us. I ordered Fish and Chips, and my husband, steak sandwich and a side of clam chowder soup. Everything was tasty for the Happy Hour price, $5.00 each. The interior is always decorated with those Xmas twinkle lights, no matter what. I always feel cozy upon entering this restaurant. Nothing fancy, but it is welcoming. We found ourselves being among the youngest crowd. Hahahaha! I think the average age at Happy Hour around the bar.... 70. Where else can one go for Happy Hour, feel comfortable and cozy, have a yummy meal for $5.00 and see local seniors also having a good time? I am glad Santa Monica has a place like The Galley. The food: It was good for the price. My fish and chips were not the best, but heck, for $5.00, I am not complaining, thus the 5 stars. One needs to take in the entire experience of The Galley. It's a restaurant that is a landmark here in town. It opened n 1934 and I believe it was a place where the movie stars would come and hang out after working in the studios. There are photos of them decorated all over the place, among the fish net and Xmas light decor. Kitchy, but it works. Granted, I am only writing my review for the Happy Hour, and the crowd was older, but I loved that there is a place for local seniors to hang out, have a good time and feel full. When I get older and am alone, I would like a place like The Galley. But today, I am young at heart and it warms my heart to see how friendly everyone is here. So, this is why I am giving this place 5 stars. I should add, the staff was very friendly, with a smile.
(5)Patti L.
The food was Wonderful so was the service. Lots of food options I had the Rib eye and Lobster tail combination both were very large and very very good plus a salad. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive she kept coming over to make sure we were happy. We met Captain Ron really sweet he told us the story about his Mom and Dad we saw a Love Letter from his Dad to his Mom during WWII We sat in their booth. They have a nice busy bar. I would recommend reservations. Parking in back but it's paid meter. I will go back again.
(5)Sasha K.
This place is great for happy hour. Crab cakes, ahi tuna sandwich, sliders, and margaritas are what we always order. Reasonably priced, good service (however a couple waitresses are a bit ditzy), and funky atmospehere. Crowded during happy hour but you can sit outside on the patio when the bar area is full. Regular menu is way overpriced, but it is an institution in this beach city.
(4)Will A.
One of the best places on Main St to grab a drink and a bar food bite. Burger is awesome! Service is top notch and ambience is one of a kind. Real SAMO Classic
(4)Kelly F.
They Galley is the best. Wrote in to Captain Ron 2 weeks before a friend's birthday happy hour to see if we could reserve the back patio on a Friday. Captain Ron rocks, and when we walked in at 7ish, it was all ready to go. Made it so easy. I rarely get food, although it always looks and smells great. THE DIRTY MARTINIS ARE THE BEST. SERIOUSLY. GET ONE. +1 FOR MERMAID OLIVE HOLDERS.
(5)Michael G.
Came here the other night because I was craving seafood. Let me get one thing perfectly clear here - The service was good and the waitress knew the menu. One would think that a restaurant with a nautical themed name would have amazing seafood. The atmosphere inside was sure nautical. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi entree. This dish was far overpriced for what it was. It was $28. You may think this is reasonable, but alas, this had only 4 shrimp. There is a similar appetizer listed on the menu with 3 shrimp for $15. This would render each shrimp at $5. This isn't atrociously expensive, but overpriced indeed. That said, "what accounts for the other $8", if you're following my math, you may ask. This dish comes with 2 meager side dishes. Options include mashed potatoes, canned corn, sauteed spinach, etc. A 49-cent can of corn is nowhere near $4 in value. Lets talk about the food for a second. The Shrimp was alright. It was nothing special. In fact the sauce was unbalanced in flavor. The lemon/capers were too strong which overpowered the shrimp and butter. While the garlic mashed potatoes weren't the best, they weren't the worst. I just don't think this was worth $4 with the small portion. Lastly the sauteed spinach had absolutely no flavor other than old. This was obviously prepared way before our meal and reheated. There was no salt, pepper, nor garlic. I saw garlic cloves - but they had no flavor. All in all, this didn't satisfy my cravings for seafood.
(1)Alan G.
This dump is lost in a time-warp from when they could get away with uncomfortable seats, sawdust floors, and worn-out everything. I can't imagine who finds that cool in 2014. Bar action is mainly gay men. I ordered a salad with halibut and was really shocked that the halibut was obviously frozen, stale and smelly. The waitress, who was very sweet and attentive, apologized, stated that she'd inform the owner and chef "who really do care..." But it was on the check anyway and as a "make-up," she brought their atrocious, watery, flavorless key-lime pie. The chicken parmigiana was a huge pile of salty, gooey slop. I believe the only thing that keeps them open is the ad-line, "Santa Monica's oldest restaurant...."
(1)Jill A.
We got some bad food that we didn't like. We sent it back. After refusing to take a meal off our check that we genuinely didn't like, a rude server dropped a crumpled receipt on the table with her manager's phone number on it; she said we had to call him to talk to him about it. So we sat out on the patio in front of other guests dining at the restaurant arguing with the manager until he finally conceded that we were right and called his wait staff to have them take the pasta off the bill. It was a very bad experience. I will not be back.
(1)white s.
I simply love this place. i end to love old fashioned places. Everything is wood and very beachy, year round Holiday lights and great old music. (im a sucker for it) Its a steak and seafood joint and has a great hang out bar. The chili is amazing !! Highly recommend.
(5)Mike D.
Came in here for happy hour on the recent rainy weekend. The bar was full, and we were offered seating on the patio by a waitress. I asked if the patio was covered as to the possibility of immediate rain (started raining 10 mins later). The response I got was a rude and sarcastic, "what patios are covered?!"...This was my first time here, and I wouldn't expect to be offered seating outside on the rainiest weekend of the year. #thinkbeforeyouspeak Too bad because she was pretty cute and wouldn't have minded staying to catch the vibe of the place.
(1)Brittany N.
Everything started off so well. This was a bar we had walked by a million times and decided to step in. The "dive bar" feel was genuine and the menu looked great. There were seven of us total, and we thought we had made it clear we were just here to get some late night drinks. The server greeted us with big smiles and instead of leaving us be, she went out of her way to seat us in a big booth in the back. We ordered drinks from her and were pleasantly surprised to find good service from a dive bar. But then the bill came, and we asked to split the bill. That's when the snarky and incredibly rude attitude came out of the server. "We will NEVER do this EVER again. I CANNOT believe you thought you could come in here, sit in a booth and expect to split the bill." She told us. "You should have just ordered at the bar. This is incredibly inconvenient and a complete waste of my time." Suddenly, the great service we had received was long gone. That server needs an incredible attitude check. We will not be recommending this bar to anyone.
(1)Lina P.
Came here a while ago and forgot to write my review. Food was ok, nothing special. Drinks were good. Decor was kinda cheesy. I honestly don't remember what I had to eat but I remember not being impressed. Wouldn't come back by choice but if someone else suggested it I would be open to trying again.
(3)