Had an actual reservation for 7:45. Stood waiting outside for over 30 minutes. We eventually left because they simply couldn't guarantee we'd ever be seated! Big disappointment. Was celebrating college graduation with my daughter. Never experienced anything like it. read more

One of the oldest restaurant/bars in town. A local favorite. Delicious food, great service and fun atmosphere. :)

Omg this was awful. I should've known when I walked in and it was so dark you could barely see the menu. Steak was dry, but was covered in sauce... not sure how they got that to work. Service was really bad. Felt like I was the only table not being checked on. The busboy was very nice and friendly and was always around to fill the water glasses. He also was able to tell the waitress to please bring the check after we sat there for 10 minutes without acknowledgement. Curse of the "close to the ocean, so can getaway with mediocre food". Worst $80 I've ever spent. read more

After a long day of sight seeing LA and driving up PCH and back down to Santa Monica pier it was time to eat. We searched all the spots to eat nearby and found this spot to have a descent mix of land & sea entrees on their menu. I looked them up on yelp and I was confused if I needed to make a reservation, so I called and asked. The hostess was very nice and said it was a Tuesday night and there was no need for a party of two. We walked the seven minutes to this place from the pier and at first it looked like a hole in the wall type of place, but I had read something about outdoor seating and was really looking forward to it. We entered and requested a table for two and asked if there was outdoor seating. Unfortunately outdoor section is only opened Weds-Sunday. I wish I would had known, we were really looking forward to enjoying the beautiful coastal weather. We got a table right in the center of the restaurant. First of all, it's pretty dark inside, they appear to give out peanuts to their customers at the bar, idk we never got any offered, but there are peanut shells all over the floor. No big deal with the shells, but I never got any offered and I was just there for dinner and drinks, after all. We waited for a few mins and the server finally came asked us for our drinks, we ordered water and two drinks from the bar. We got the water right away along with some garlic buttered bread, but our bar drinks took an extra 15 Minutes. When the server finally came to take our order she noticed we did not have our drinks and asked the bartender for them. He gave her a weird look and said he was about to make them. No, he had made plenty of drinks for customers at the bar as they arrived, he just forgot to make ours. The server took our order and the bar drinks were at our table right after. My wife ordered the butter NY steak and I got the rack of lamb special, both of us got the vegetables and La Jolla potatoes. The food came out rather quick for a busy dinner service, and our first impression was wow! The food looked delicious and plenty. The rack of lamb was not just 2-3, but 6, the steak looked nice and thick and the sides were huge. I tried my food and it was good, the green beans were seasoned well and the La Jolla potatoes tasted like scalloped potatoes, but better. My wife thought the same of her sides, but not so much her steak. She had ordered it medium and it appeared a bit over cooked. I tried a piece and it was a bit over medium, great flavor, but it was not as juicy as I had expected. It was a bit dry, but not hard to chew, just dry. I ordered another drink from the bar since the first was really good. My wife thought her martini was good too, but a little too strong. My old fashioned was great, but a little too much ice for my liking. No biggie, the drinks were good. At this point we were kind of in a hurry to leave, we had a flight to catch in LAX, so we tried to get our servers attention, but she was quite busy. Even for Tuesday night and no outdoor seating, one server was maybe a bit much. The hostess and bartender did step up and helped her refilling waters and putting orders out throughout. Overall I give this place a 3.5 stars. Good food, not great, just good. Ambiance was cool, but a little too dark for a beach town restaurant. The outdoors being closed was a bummer and should I had a good outdoor experience I would have given it 4 solid stars. The bar drinks were great, the garlic bread the server brought with our water was also quite tasty. Give it a shot, but I would definitely sit outside if the weather permits. read more

Iconic institution. Had the butter steak as recommended and was good! It's not going to compare to a top steakhouse but very good. Get the La Jolla potatoes those are delicious! Great place for a drink and has some awesome old school Santa Monica character. Can't go wrong here. read more

Chez Jay - Butter Steak - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Brunch at Chez Jay. Go have brunch in their backyard. Super cute and trendy with a small enough menu that's straight to the point. The food was great, the service was awesome and the vibe will keep you coming back. They don't offer their regular menu and instead are open for brunch offering an easy, brunch menu with a few great food options. They have an amazing spicy Bloody Mary and have mimosas. Come here on a free weekend and bring everyone. There is lots of outdoor seating! read more

Chez Jay - Brunch menu - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Some things never change...we used to grab Gimlets up the street and eat banana-something infused dinners. Where the drinks were strong and the women stronger (in the best way). All the staff from the fancy restaurants would convene here late night, so you know it's good. Unless something has changed in the past 20 years, Chez Jay, stay beautiful read more

Unfortunately the food quality in my opinion has gone down. Service is still great but I wish the food kept up with how it used to be. For the price and quality of food it's not worth it and won't be going back for a while. read more

A family favorite. Great waiters and staff. Drinks are good too. You're better off to get the 'burger' than anything else. They are undergoing some changes to the menu, and perhaps outdoors. You'll enjoy it. read more

We had a wonderful time at Chez Jay. Fun place great food. Can't wait to go back. Highly recommend

Impeccable vibes, great service and Bloody Mary. Food is solid, overall experience lived up to my expectations. If I lived nearby I'd be here all the time. read more

I've heard that this place was legendary but had never managed to pay it a visit until tonight. I was invited to a holiday dinner by a good buddy. The place comes as advertised, a cool old school Historic steak house in Santa Monica. My expectations weren't high to be honest but I'm thrilled to say it was an overall awesome night. The place was busy af when we (40 of us) arrived. It seemed like it might be a shitshow as there were only a few people working. Not the case. These guys know exactly what's up! The bartender Jeffrey got me my martini so fast and it was perfectly dry and icey. I ordered my bone in ribeye steak from the server lady (Heinke I believe). She advised medium rare and frankly it was perfect. She was busy but never skipped a beat in bringing me my A1 and an A1 glass of red that paired perfectly with my dinner. I skipped desert for another of Jeffrey's martinis. A simply great overall experience that didn't disappoint at all. Can't wait to come back for the great service, drinks and steak! Thank you! read more

Great cozy place. Good food. Good people. A regular stop for me during my LA trips.

Really enjoyed my experience. My boyfriend and I were able to share one entree and it did not disappoint. Huge portions and fast service. Definitely a great place to try in Santa Monica. One last thing, it's such a popular place, I would recommend making a reservation. read more

Fantastic way to end our Santa Monica trip! Steak and comfort. We were drawn to the decor, a little tacky and fun. The reviews made us decide we had to end our seafood and taco tour of Cali with a good steak! They did not disappoint. Large, perfectly cooked and loaded with flavor. There is a backyard grill that is first come first serve if you forget to make a reservation, but it is small and worth making a reservation.check this place out if you get a chance! read more

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That this place doesn't have a 5 star review across the board is an abomination. Iconic. Pristine. Historic. Delicious. Good people. Great atmosphere. Not much else to say other than don't ruin this institution. read more

Chez Jay somehow simultaneously rocks a dive bar vibe and an old-school steak & seafood place that works. Kim T. and I sat down for a well-deserved dinner after walking around the pier, boardwalk and beach. That's right, all of that is right across the street! Thankfully there's usually plentiful metered street parking, but if not, Chez Jay has its own private lot. You step inside and it is...dark! We sat at a booth, of course, and I ordered a Hot Toddy, $6.75, which is made with boiling water, lemon juice, cloves, Demerara sugar and bourbon, whiskey or scotch. Perfect for a windy day. We both ordered the house salad with Green Goddess dressing and loved it. Why don't more restaurants still serve this classic dressing? Our entrees were great. Kim T. had the Angus Steak Au Poivre, $31.50, and I always fall for the Sand Dabs Almondine, $25.75. For dessert, the Sticky Toffee Bread Pudding, $6.25, was divine. Jay's has a new feature, an outdoor patio called "Jay's Landing". It has a separate, more casual menu aimed at the beachy crowd: sandwiches, salads, burgers, hot dogs. I'll have to check it out the next time I'm there. Bonus- it's adjacent to gorgeous Tongva Park. Established in 1959, Chez Jay manages to keep its bar clientele happy (you can always hear laughter as you pass by) as well as those who appreciate the late 50's surf & turf dining experience. They are open 7 days a week, but check the hours before you come by and consider making a reservation for dinner - they do get booked up! Oh, and by the way, the menu link on Yelp needs updating - all the prices are wrong! See the Chez Jay website for more up to date pricing information. Yelp Challenge 2018: 46/100 read more

Chez Jay is a classic family favorite of ours for over 25 years! Service is excellent, food always yummy , drinks potent and the ambiance , well...gotta love all the twinkly lights and classic tunes. Grab a drink at the bar or a steak with a pal, you wont be disappointed! Old school Santa Monica at its finest. It's a throw back in the BEST sense of the word. Just Go!! read more

I really don't know why the rating for Chez Jay is 3.5 stars. My husband and I came here on a Wednesday evening right after they opened after the covid lockdown, and were so happy with the service, food, drinks and ambiance. The menu was limited, but we ordered steak nachos and my husband got a burger. The nachos were surprisingly light, and topped with pico de Gallo and an amazing sour cream sauce. So tasty! We also got four cocktails; which were strong and delicious. Our evening was great; definitely what we needed after being quarantined for 3 months. I'd return for sure! read more

Chez Jay - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I felt like I was in an episode of friends coming here. The most local spot in Santa Monica. Everyone was friendly and nice. Reasonable prices. Interesting ambiance. I enjoyed it. read more

Awful. I made a reservation for 9.45 pm on Sunday Dec 26, walked in at that time and the lady at the bar was the the only person to greet us and said she had no reservations under my name. When I showed her the booking she told me the kitchen is already closed for the night. What kind of restaurant takes reservations if they can't hold it? If your kitchen is closed then don't take reservations!! Left hungry and grumpy at this restaurant, I'll not be wasting another night on this place. We ended up ordering on DoorDash from a better and more reliable place. read more

Chez Jay - Reservation confirmation - Steakhouses Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Excellent service. Excellent chef , who actually greeted every table . From the hamburgers , to the drinks , everything was done with precision. Full bar , and back area for dining . Sunday brunch is served from 10 am to 2pm . Will be back again soon . I grew up in the area but never ate there . read more

Chez Jay is old school and iconic Santa Monica from time long gone by and that's a good thing! I attended a birthday celebration tonight with some friends and we had a great time and the menu is pretty much the same the waitress has been there for years, but her name escapes me who gave us excellent service! We shared some appetizers (mushrooms. salads) and for the main entre I order the Curry Shrimp which was excellent. The restaurant is centrally located in downtown Santa Monica just south of the pier and across the street on the westside from the Loews and other motels. If you seek a cozy, comfortable venue where you are treated like a regular even if it is your first time, you can't miss with Chez Jay and the menu is extensive with many selections. Looking for a fun night out, checkout Chez Jay but honestly almost everyone I know loves it too. It's a no-miss proposition, especially for a tourist who can experience the architecture and history of this special place! RECOMMEND! read more

Great food... from the roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and balsamic vinagrette to the scalloped potatoes and New York strip steak with peppercorn sauce, and last but not least the sticky toffee pudding to boot! Excellent service! Cozy and eclectic! Highly recommended! read more

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My parents love to come here when visiting from Chicago. It says a LOT, and I mean A LOT, when my mom says the best steak ever is at Chez Jay. This is down to earth, no pretense service with excellent food. Thank you! read more

Ok so Goliath is my favorite show and the reason I wanted to come here and I will be forever thankful to Billy Bob for his love of this place. I loved everything about it and can't wait to come back. The atmosphere was so warm and cozy. Such a vibe. The food was really good! We had the chefs special which was a filet that was cooked to absolute perfection. Prices are unheard of. For the location and quality they are under priced. Great wine selection, $18 for glass of Justin. Crazy right!! Service was excellent. 5 stars +. read more

What a great place. My wife is gluten free and the fryer is only used for fries and Brussels sprouts. The Chef sat with us and made sure that we got a gluten free meal. He sat and chatted with us and told us some stories about the place. There was a good pour and large portions. I love this place. read more

Awesome in every way great food good wine selection and the service was fantastic. Big Thank you to HEIKA!

Great food, casual atmosphere. Low key. Easy parking options. Love history behind it.

I love this place but it is casual, not fancy, in case that is what you expect. I especially love the bar scene in the restaurant and at the "Backyard" behind the restaurant. read more

Looking for the best way to drive across the country? Look up at one of three epic road trips from Chicago to Los Angeles! Feb 2021 Chez Jay was chosen as one of the best places to visit on a road trip by The Wall Streat Journal! This American restaurant, the historic landmark (from 2012) that was established in 1959 in Santa Monica on 1657 Ocean Ave. Its Owners did a good job on The Backyard (opened August 2019) where now we all can enjoy brunches on weekends and live music from 7 to 9 pm on Wednesdays. The New brunch menu is fantastic! Chez Jay is one of those special places where beside good drinks and amazing meals especially if you are into seafood and steaks you can get the best of its atmosphere, meet new interesting people and to make new friends. Great service and every person who works there is a good person. You will always feel people care about you and make sure you are happy at Chez Jay! read more

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You'd think this place would be pretentious and overrated because of all the famous clientele over the decades, but it's totally not. They also serve fantastic breakfast, which I recommend over going for dinner as you won't have as much of a crowd. Get the seafood omelette, you'll thank me. read more

Tremendous service and a great steak. We always wanted to try Chez Jay when in Santa Monica and it didn't disappoint. Can't wait to go back read more

Great food, great service, great ambience. This place is nostalgic and sentimental. Looking forward to experiencing it again! read more

Highly recommend! Cool history, great meal and drinks. Cozy Will definitely go back! read more

This place is so amazing! I can't wait to come back and everyone is so nice. A really cool spot for a first date

Typical dive bar atmosphere. Food was mediocre at best. Worst fried calamari I've ever had and below average steaks. We went because it was a huge part of the show Goliath. Nothing that warrants a return. read more

Love Chez Jay forever. Great food and the ambiance is one-of-a-kind. A slice of history.

Chez Jay has been a favorite for over 40 years - it was nice to be able to sit inside again after Covid - I have been enjoying the patio until now! Steaks amazing as always and service was spot on read more

Chez Jay is one of those old timey places that takes you back to a better time where things were a bit more affordable on the westside. I got the steak with the bernaise sauce and my fiance got the filet. The steak itself is $40 roughly and I would say thats about all its worth. If you want a top tier steak go somewhere else if you want a bar style steak with good beers and solid service this is your spot. I dig it, reminds me of when I would go to a diner with my dad growing and an hourly bar chef would make it so I would come back but just for the nostalgia I may try the seafood next time and change my review. Solid date night spot though if you want drinks and some apps. read more