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    Crimson Photos

    CRIMSON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for working
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Crimson

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    Jessica H.

    The food, flavor and portions are good. There is a lot of the menu to chose from for food and drinks. I would say the prices are a little higher than I would like. But overall it's a good place.

    White chicken kabob and kale salad and dolmens.
    Vanessa P.

    Ridiculously delicious tender mouth watering white chicken kabob and kale salad!!! Highly recommend this restaurant! It's clean, staff are friendly and the cook must be an Arabic Chef. This is beyond delicious.

    Massive chicken kebab (dark meat) plate with shirazi salad and garlic sauce! So juicy and tender
    Jonathan H.

    The food at Crimson is so good, fresh, and healthy. I would eat here everyday if I could. Very solid Mediterranean option if you're in the Santa Monica area. Plenty of indoor seating and the restaurant is clean and full of sunshine. The staff are really friendly and helpful with menu recommendations. I have had the grilled plates here, which are excellent and very filling. If you are looking to get a good amount of protein for the day or hit your macros, this will do it. The meat is grilled to order so it takes a bit more time to cook, but it is so worth the wait. The chicken thigh kebab is so juicy and the garlic sauce (toum) is to die for. My recommendations for the side are the broccoli salad (I know, very random for a Mediterranean restaurant but trust it is so good) and the babaghanoush. You can't go wrong with any of their side salads though and they don't skimp on the leafy greens! They also have free cucumber water if you dine in.

    Chicken Kabob.
    GlobeTrotter L.

    In A Nutshell: -Crimson is a super good Mediterranean restaurant that offers huge portions for a fair price. -I love ordering the Chicken Shish Kabob w/ 2 sides for $22. -The service is always proactive w/ plenty of smiles. Overall, the food tastes very good here & it's quick perfect for lunch!

    Ground Siloin Kabab - Fake Meat
    Makoto C.

    Crimson is in my opinion the equivalent of airport-food court Mediterranean food. Nothing feels like it was made with care or passion. It for the most part resembles the actual Mediterranean food without going above in any area (except their fries are good). Their pita bread taste like it was taken out of a Ralphs pita-value pak. And their ground sirloin ka-bab is just awful (although it looks super good in photos). It isn't real meat. When it only costs $2.50 to add a whole 2 extra kababs to your plate you know it isn't real meat. I wish they would up the prices and make the food real.

    Persian coffee (iced)
    Ruby P.

    I really liked this Mediterranean place! It's a medium-sized clean restaurant that is within walking distance from SGI-USA World Peace Ikeda Auditorium in Santa Monica. I was there on a Saturday for lunch and there were only a few people. I ordered Persian coffee (iced) and lamb loin chops (from the grill) with 2 sides (babaganoush (grilled mashed eggplant) and sweet potato fries) and pita bread. I substituted rice for mixed green salad. The food were presented nicely and they also tasted very good. I especially loved the lamb chops! Juicy and nicely grilled. It was my first time to try the Persian coffee and I didn't really like it. It had a weird flavor that tasted like chemicals or medications. And the coffee was kinda thin/watery too. I went to a concert after having lunch here and I was glad I remained full throughout the concert. If I had the chance to come here again, I would want to try more plates from the grill!

    $21 filet
    Bradley K.

    First time trying this spot. Full of regrets :( 2 stars because the staff was really nice and apologetic or it would be 1 star. Ordered the filet kabob and just fyi, it's the smallest portion of meat you've ever seen. Order 2 meals @ $21.00 each if you're hungry!! The meal comes with just a couple small cuts of meat, two small corners of pita and a 5 gallon bucket of rice. I would recommend checking out some of the other similar spots to eat Mediterranean in the area that offer normal sized portions. $42 later, I now have 6 small pieces of meat, 4 pita corners And 10 gallons of rice!

    Holly B.

    Food was disgusting. I ordered the sirloin kabob and it smells and tastes like dog food. The tabbouleh salad was old and wilted and looked like it's been out for a while. The kabob was so bad I had to spit in into my napkin. For $50+ for two plates that's insane.

    Outside
    Roselia G.

    Seriously good Mediterranean restaurant! It's all street meter parking, but we were lucky enough to get a spot right outside the door. I love the interior, and that wall sign right by the register too. It's kinda funny and sad at the same time, but it's the perfect table to sit at right under that neon sign if you're breaking up with someone. You'll get it when you walk in:P Amazing meats, really good sides, and great service. I am one of those that really only eats dark meat, so I was pleasantly surprised that they offer both options! I had to try the filet mignon wrap first, and it was so good! I'm gonna have to come back for the dark meat chicken kabobs, cuz I have never seen that offered anywhere else! I'll also have to get more of the sweet potato fries. They were probably the best I've had! Oh and the Persian Latte was so good! I had never had it before, but it's part coffee and part tea. You gotta try it if you never have.

    Mark L.

    Definitely worth the walk from 3rd Street Promenade--this place has some of the best Mediterranean food in the area. Every dish my family ordered was delicious and satisfying. The prices were fair, and the ambiance was lovely and inviting. Overall, it's incredible Mediterranean cuisine that shouldn't be missed by anyone.

    Chopped Salad with Salmon
    Jaenell C.

    The food here is good. The salmon is perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The salad is tasty and the dressing is a nice compliment. The portions are decent as well. The service is very hit or miss. If you're dining in it becomes pretty apparent the restaurant favors to go orders. Almost every time we've eaten here it's practically empty. Still if you don't mind a quieter spot with consistent food I'd check it out.

    Chicken Gyro (White Meat)
    Jia Y.

    Pretty good pretty good! The chicken kabob plate was definitely pretty good and very filling!

    Salmon kabob, Filet Kabob, Chicken kabob
    Maylee W.

    Ordered thru Grubhub/ chicken kabob, filet kabob and salmon kabob - delicious! The filet was very tender and juicy. My order was delivered very quickly. I would definitely order from Crimson again.

    Salted caramel (right) and tan and black or something like that.... both good!

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    7 months ago

    This is my favorite Mediterranean food spot! Love the salmon plate and all the sides they offer are fire!

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    Crimson Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Crimson

    Does this place serve halal meat?

    Yes, the do serve halal meat and use organic ingredients as much as possible.

    Do you order at the counter or is there a waiter?

    Hi Sam, we are a counter service restaurant, however for parties of six or more we are happy to provide table service.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Pita House - Chicken Kabab

    Pita House

    4.4(478 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I went here with my husband, and even though he was not really satisfied with his food and I was,…read moreI'm still going to give them 5 stars. - Their service was impeccable. They are great at greeting you, attending to your needs, and checking in on you, which I really appreciated. - The staff is really friendly, and they always change the restaurant experience. - The ambiance was very lively. There were several groups of people eating inside, talking, and having a great time. It was a good vibe. It wasn't too loud, but it was definitely not quiet. - In terms of the food, we ordered the avocado jalapeno hummus, which was very good. We both liked that a lot. - My husband ordered the spicy creamy chicken, and he did not like that. He felt that the creaminess was too milky for him and that it just tasted like he was eating too much dairy, which really sounds like kind of a personal preference rather than something being wrong with the meal. He was not a fan of the cream sauce. He felt like he was just dipping his chicken in spicy milk, and he was not a fan. - He also was not a fan of the baba ganoush, but I think he just doesn't like baba ganoush because when I tasted it, it was actually very good. - As far as my food, I got the cauliflower for an appetizer, which was delicious. It came with three sauces: tahini, garlic sauce, and some sort of green, spicy-ish sauce. The cauliflower was flash-fried with no batter, and it was really good with the garlic sauce and the lemon juice. - I also had the salmon kebab wrap with fries, and I felt that it was a delicious wrap. I loved the portion size, so it wasn't too much food, but also not too little food. I thought things were good, and I thought the experience was good. I think he just didn't like his particular dish, but I don't think there was anything wrong with the dish itself.

    The food is good, though it is a pricey menu and the service is terrible. I waited in here for over…read morethirty minutes for....wait for it....a beef Shawarma wrap and French fries. It was a Thursday night and there were three other parties eating food here. They all had their food though, and yet the owner (who was definitely not thrilled that I hadn't tipped, on a pick-up order) seemed much more focused on his Uber Eats and DoorDash orders than someone waiting in-person for their food. Don't come in if you're ordering food to-go. It isn't quick. The owner will probably respond with some BS about the food being fresh and requiring more time to prepare it but it's just because he only cares about the people eating inside. The owner is a LOSER who treats his customers who are picking up food as lesser people and barely acknowledges them. The food is NOT good enough to be treated like shit. Just because the owner is depressed that nobody comes to his store doesn't mean he should take it out on the take-out customers. DO NOT COME HERE. owner is a cancer on the restaurant itself. I feel bad for the cooks, they're the ONLY ones that work hard in this place

    Photos
    Pita House - Nice interior, well thought-out

    Nice interior, well thought-out

    Pita House - Chicken Shawarma (center). Baba ghanoush (left). Hummus (right)

    Chicken Shawarma (center). Baba ghanoush (left). Hummus (right)

    Pita House - Sit-downs

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    Sit-downs

    Crimson

    Crimson

    4.1(1.2k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    We came to Crimson to meet some friends, and it was a great experience from start to finish. The…read morefood was absolutely delicious, full of flavor and clearly made with care. I ordered the chicken with salad and a side of sweet potato fries, which were OMG so good and definitely a must-try! The ordering process is simple: you order and pay at the cashier, receive a number, and the staff brings the food directly to your table. It was smooth and efficient, even for our group of eight. They were very accommodating and made sure we were comfortable, which we really appreciated. There's street parking available, which made it convenient as well. Overall, a great spot for both small and larger groups. I'd definitely come back!

    I ate at Crimson tonight and for the most part everything was OK. I had the chicken kebab with the…read moreside order of the lentil soup and the Greek salad combination. The chicken was OK, but I would've preferred it with a little bit more seasoning/flavor and a little hotter as well. It was not bad, but it didn't pop like it was outstanding. As far as the lentil soup goes, they're very light lentils so they're not the normal lentil soup that you may be used to. That could've viewed a little bit more seasoning as well. As far as the Greek salad goes, it was just an average and ordinary small Greek salad, but it was tasty and the vegetables did taste fresh. They gave me two little slices of pita bread so I had to ask for more, but when I came out. Those were not heated like they should've been. Therefore, the bottom line is the food is good not outstanding and memorable and there's definitely room for improvement. We will definitely give them another chance and hope for the best. I wish Crimson the best!

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    Crimson
    Crimson - Falafel Wrap with Lavash Bread!!

    Falafel Wrap with Lavash Bread!!

    Crimson

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    Habayit Restaurant - Humus, eggplant, Israeli Salad, coleslaw.  We do catering!

    Habayit Restaurant

    4.4(271 reviews)
    2.6 miSawtelle
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    Amazing food !! Super home vibes …read more. got the sabich pita & small matza ball soup and they where delicious!!!

    This great place is small, so slow down or you will miss it. It is ever so cute inside. It has fun…read moreart that my grandson loves. It is super clean and just a fun place to go. It is Israeli food, but also quite American as well. It has a wonderful Mediterranean flare. All of their food is Kosher, which is always nice and all of it is just great. The menu is not huge, but it does not need to be. They have something for everyone. We love the service. Some of the servers have been there awhile and they know everything and if you are looking for other Kosher places or even a Temple if you are a visitor, they have you covered. The servers are always smiling and are great with kids. It is super family friendly. We love all their food, but a must have is their Matza Ball soup. It is perfection from the soup to the Matza Ball. You can get it in a cup or bowl. We have been here a few times over the years, sometimes for breakfast and other times for lunch. Their Shakshukah is a great way to start your morning. It is a wonderful breakfast item. It comes with eggs and salad with a great home made tomato sauce. They also have just eggs if you want. For lunch we love the Israeli Vegetables Salad, which has Finely cut assorted vegetables with lemon dressing, tomatoes and cucumber. It is the bomb. If you want to be daring, get their combination salad, which is a combination of all their salads. It is so good. Their Humus is great and has a wonderful lemon juice and olive oil. All of their Pita sandwiches are tasty as well. Another favorite is their grilled salmon. It is cooked perfectly and you will love the fresh flavor. There is not one thing not to like here, so go and have fun and relax.

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    Habayit Restaurant - Seasoned grilled chicken breast (shnizel grill)

    Seasoned grilled chicken breast (shnizel grill)

    Habayit Restaurant - Chicken shawarma

    Chicken shawarma

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    Baked chicken

    Calabra

    Calabra

    3.8(462 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$$
    Rooftop seating
    Romantic vibe

    Came for dinner!…read more FLAVOR (4.2/5): 1. PHYLLO BAKED FETA: Probably the best dish of the night - perfectly flakey, with a good mixture of sweet and savory from the cheese and honey. A great appetizer to order for the table. 2. HUMMUS: The hummus was delicious with the pita! Another great appetizer to share. 3. GREEK FRIES: The fries were flavorful and came with two dips. If you're a big fan of fries I would recommend. The portion size was decent. 4. CHARRED OCTOPUS: The octopus was good and tender, but I feel like the main dishes we ordered fell flat compared to the appetizers. 5. JIDORI HALF CHICKEN: The chicken was okay, a little dry despite the shakshuka sauce. SERVICE (5/5): Service was good! AMBIENCE (4/5): Fun rooftop restaurant in Santa Monica. I was seated at table that didn't have the best views, but seeing the sunset with the comfort of a heater was still pleasant. PARKING (3/5): I parked street, but they may have valet - not sure. TAKEAWAYS: I liked Calabra and would have loved to try even more of their offerings - the branzino especially caught my eye. Unfortunately I probably won't be going back because although the food is good, it doesn't justify the price point. For reference, Bestia's marinated olives appetizer is 9 dollars, while Calabra's is 16.

    Quite a beautiful rooftop restaurant located in the very fancy Santa Monica. Came here as part of a…read morework dinner, so I was in a large group (12 people almost!). The beauty of Mediterranean food is that it's perfect to share with large groups. Because I had some fellow vegetarians (and veg friendly people) with me, ordering was quite fun. We almost ordered every vegetarian mezze, which included: Mezze sampler: the Muhammara was my favorite of them all and the naan was amazing. Very soft, but flavorful. Sprouted cauliflower: interesting way they made it. Golden tahini had a nice touch. Pickled vegetables: loved them Greek fries: can't go wrong with that Roasted sweet potato: surprisingly quite good and a very different palate from the fries. Baked feta: interesting, but this wasn't a fan favorite amongst the group. While our non-vegetarian colleagues enjoyed the octopus, we were nearly full with just the mezze. We decided to go ahead and order the mushroom skewers while the other side enjoyed the tomahawk. Everyone was full after all this food. The cocktails kept flowing. I stuck with just one Urfa mezcalita while enjoying the views for the remainder of the night. This lasted until dessert where plenty were ordered. I got a chocolate gelato not realizing I'd get two scoops. Sadly I could only finish one scoop. Anyhow, there are heaters all over the rooftop so that people can enjoy throughout the year. They do have to crank it up as needed, but it's there. Can't mention price much because this was work sanctioned, but it was a great decision.

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    Calabra
    Calabra
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    Mon Ami

    Mon Ami

    4.4(144 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    Reservation: not needed unless particular preference for seating and cancellation fee applies if…read moreno-show Parking: free 90 min in Santa Monica parking structures Service: immediately seated, great recommendations provided, and full explanations of specials Vibes: GORGEOUS patio with pastel colors, plants, and string lights - cute for girls' night or romantic date night; inside restaurant atmosphere classy Food: one of my most memorable meals in Santa Monica - every dish I had was well cooked, seasoned, balanced, and nicely plated Other: InKind app had good deal

    Phenomenal restaurant all around -- delicious food, beautiful ambiance and incredible location…read morenestled on Ocean Ave. right by Santa Monica Pier, and fantastic service. Lobster alla catalana pasta 5/5 - Lives up to the hype, so delicious with a bit of a spicy kick, strong lobster flavor with lobster pieces throughout and fresh basil Chicken tagine 5/5 - delicious flavors and well balanced, the serving size is huge and served in a traditional tagine! Can likely serve 3 comfortably, may be nice to also order a side of carbs to soak up the scrumptious sauce Perfect for a date night; offers both indoor with bar and outdoor seating with heat lamps so can be dog friendly. Beautifully decorated and themed both inside and outside with overarching vines and lights in the outdoor patio area. Access right on Ocean Ave with the restaurant tucked at the end of the pathway around other restaurants; there is a hostess and podium with the restaurant sign right on Ocean Ave. to direct you in. For some reason, Google Maps suggested entering from the back of the restaurant, which is not the best way to enter. A bit on the pricier side but reasonable for this prime location and with hearty portion sizes. Overall highly recommended!

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    Mon Ami
    Mon Ami
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    Panini Kabob Grill

    Panini Kabob Grill

    4.2(188 reviews)
    3.5 miDel Rey
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Casual dining

    Came here with some family to order the tried and true chicken panini dish. Was awesome as usual,…read moreminus any flare it's just a good solid product. And while some may want more details, it's not really necessary. Don't we go to any spot on the continual basis to have pretty much the same experience especially if we are ordering our favorite meal? Of course this experience was topped off by a true CSA, (CUSTOMER SERVICE ALL STAR) names Jules-pictured. While I went with my tried and true, she definitely broke down the menu to my family member, and provided service that was on par with few others. Thanks Jules! Your a credit to the Panini Kabob Grill brand.

    After having a great experience at a Panini Kabob Grill restaurant in Costa Mesa a couple of weeks…read moreago, we decided to try this location very close to our home. It was a mixed bag for sure. When we walked in, we were greeted right away and told to sit wherever we liked, so we chose an outdoor table. Our waiter promptly came and got us started with our drink and food orders, and returned quickly with our drinks. I liked him and his pleasant, cheery manner very much. But then it all started to go sideways. Our tzatziki appetizer arrived not too long after our drinks, which was great. It was a very generous portion, accompanied by an equally generous amount of pita bread triangles, along with a small salad of lettuces and tomato. Our entrees came out about 15 minutes or so later - but they were not, in fact, our orders. So the waitress who brought them (not our original waiter) returned to the kitchen and reappeared with our orders a few minutes later. We had ordered a Chicken Brie panini and a Chicken Parmesan panini, each with a very generous side of Greek salad. The sandwiches were decent, yet somehow rather lacking in flavor. Fortunately I had a cup of marinara sauce to dip my sandwich into, but Boyfriend didn't have a sauce and felt the Brie had overtaken his whole sandwich and the chicken was pretty tasteless. After we had eaten our fill, we sat and waited. And waited. Finally our original waiter came back to clear our plates and we asked for a couple of to-go boxes. He said "of course, be right back," but we waited again for another 10-15 minutes. He brought the boxes back and we asked for the check, which again took 15 minutes of waiting. To be fair, our waiter was extremely energetic and pleasant and he did keep apologizing for the wait. I feel like he was definitely overwhelmed and was doing his best, as he seemed to be nearly the only server in the place and he had way too many tables to attend to. It wasn't spectacular, but it also wasn't terrible. We may come back again to sample some of their other varied menu items, but this restaurant definitely needs to improve the efficiency of its service.

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    Panini Kabob Grill
    Panini Kabob Grill
    Panini Kabob Grill

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    Crimson - mediterranean - Updated September 2026

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