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    Massilia

    4.3 (1k reviews)

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    Recommended Reviews - Massilia

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    Fruity cocktail
    Taylor J.

    When mom is in town, she puts my love of LA restaurants to good use and has me book a trendy place for her and her sisters. Today, I got to join the fun and enjoy a lovely dinner at Massillia! Surprised the relatives for their 5:30 reservation. I was supposed to stay for just a drink, but I was having such a great time, I had to crash the entire dinner! 5:30 on a Friday night was the perfect time. It was chill and quiet. The restaurant itself is super relaxing and had a nice ambiance. To start, I asked the waitress to bring me a fruity cocktail and what she handed me was delicious. I totally forgot to snag the name, but it was refreshing and yummy. For food, my aunts ordered EVERYTHING! we are a vegetable loving family and definitely got lots of yum yum that reflected that: ratatouille, salad, mushrooms, calamari, mashed potatoes, broccoli, salmon flatbread, and so much more. Everything was so flavorful! I really enjoyed every dish we got! If I had to choose some absolute favorites it would be the salad and the ratatouille! Both were incredible ( along with everything else). Finished the meal off with the pear dessert and a glass of port. Yummy! Great meal with family! I'll happily be back in Massilia to have another lovely dinner.

    Spaghetti Bolognese
    Tyler S.

    Massilia in Santa Monica is where modernist elegance meets unapologetic allure--golden glows, sultry tunes, and a vibe that's electric yet whisper-intimate. Ideal for a wine-soaked date that'll leave you both flushed. Our server A charming whirlwind, with just the right wink. Then, the stars: Spaghetti Bolognese, a bold, meaty embrace that clings like a lover's secret; Tagliatelle aux Morilles, creamy morels dancing on fresh pasta--earthy decadence, perfectly al dente, begging for seconds.

    Alexa M.

    Came here on a first date. While the B rating in the window got us a bit nervous, we still stayed and enjoyed some dirty martinis, tequila espresso martinis, and shared the squash rigatoni + steak frites & broccolini. Steak was great but not sure I would get the rigatoni again. The pasta felt like something you make at home when you're half wanting to be healthy. Our waitress Nilin was great and gave us the best seat in the corner. If you know me, you know I love a first date side seat situation. Decor inside was cool and a bunch of people were sitting outside but indoors was empty other than one other table. Good spot to go to before heading to Harvells across the street but otherwise, not sure I'd go back. They are on inkind which is a great new app we used to pay & even got $25 dollars off.

    Tagliatelle Aux Morilles (V, GFO)
    Brianna R.

    tldr: Amazing service, beautiful space, okay food. FOOD-- We shared fried calamari. It was good, I liked the aioli it came with. I got the tagliatelle aux morilles and the flavor was lacking. I've had an identical dish elsewhere in LA so this was one disappointing in comparison. Maybe the GF noodles really are just that bad? In hindsight I should have gotten something else though I really wanted a pasta dish. DRINKS-- The bar is beautiful and they have a great menu. I'm not drinking currently but was pleasantly surprised to find a decent non-alcoholic section that wasn't just Coke & iced tea. I got a NA Prosecco and it was great! It didn't just taste like juice, the flavor was more dynamic. SERVICE-- The service here was 10/10 and made up for the underwhelming pasta dish, so I would still definitely come back and try something else. Hospitable but not overbearing. AMBIANCE-- The space is beautiful (just look at the pics!) and cozy. We sat in one of the booth areas, but they have tables, lots of bar seats, and outdoor seats as well. PARKING-- The lot across the street is super affordable (I think we paid $2)

    Espresso Martini
    Brittany H.

    Went here last night! We had a group of about 12 and when I reserved and pre-selected the meals I didn't think they'd actually meet the choices selected! Not that it shouldn't happen - I've just booked a lot of dinners and preselected a lot of dinners in the past and many times we'd get there and they would be like "oh you can pick whatever" - so that was nice to experience not having to worry about ordering from the menu really at all! The service was great and everything came out perfectly timed. The restaurant is beautiful - if you want an intimate setting, I think it's a great spot to catch up with close friends or even going on a date. We had so much delicious food - I'm not a fan of mushrooms but the mushroom pizza was super flavorful. For the main, I ordered steak frites which everyone loved! I also got to try their espresso martini, Prosecco, and sparkling rose which were all delicious as well Definitely would recommend stopping by. Jean Michel is amazing! THANK YOU

    8-Hour Braised Lamb Shank
    Rochelle M.

    It was another lovely dinner at Massilia. We were so glad to find our favorite outdoor corner table available. In addition to my husband's usual, the 8-Hour Braised Lamb Shank, we decided to choose a couple menu items we haven't tried. We were overall happy with our orders. The Salmon Socca Flatbread was a nice starter, but the presentation was a bit messy. The Bouillabaisse was warm and flavorful. The portion was smaller than expected -- I'm not sure if I would order it again. The Pear Melba for dessert was excellent. As always, service was friendly and attentive.

    Grilled Broccolini (V)
    Bon H.

    We went on a Sunday night at 7 and the place was rather empty. A beautiful restaurant. We were seated by the windows. We had the Burrata and Calamari to start. Brussel sprout Salad to share. The star entree is the 8 hour lamb shank. Really good. We also ordered the steak and the Bouillabaisse. Would love to return to try the Brunch.

    Interior
    Carlo G.

    A solid European happy hour spot in Santa Monica!   I visited Massilia on a Friday afternoon around 5:30pm, right before the happy hour menu cut off at 6pm. My friend had made a reservation before for 4pm at this French-Italian fusion spot. Walking in, the restaurant had a nice ambiance with outdoor, indoor, and bar seating. The lighting was nice and the seats were nice and cushiony.   My group ordered a variety of happy hour items to share alongside some regular menu items.     - Grilled Broccolini: It was nicely cooked and had a nice snap to it. The parmesan and other toppings also provided a nice flavor to them.   - Fries with Harissa Mayo: Fries were crispy and tasty, but the mayo just tasted like a regular ketchup and mayo mixture.   - Tagliatelle Aux Morilles: It was okay, I wish the pasta was more al dente.   - Flatbread Comte Cheese Pizza: This was my favorite, a perfect blend of French and Italian flavors. I loved the french cheese in the pizza, it was delicious and nicely cooked.   - Shrimp & Tuna Ceviche: It was okay, would've preferred split up crackers to make it easy to share.   - Crispy Calamari: Standard fried calamari.   With all of this split, it came out to be around $29 per person which was not bad. The servers were funny and friendly, but we did have to flag them down at times. There's parking at a structure across the street which is free for the first 90 minutes.   Overall, a good experience here and the happy hours specials were good. I would visit again.

    Robert C.

    We grabbed seats at the bar; the hostess was super friendly as soon as we walked in, and the bartender took great care of us. We both went with the Le Bowl and added chicken and ahi tuna for an extra protein kick--it was so good! Do what we did and you won't be disappointed. We were digging the high ceilings, gorgeously lit bar, and cool aged brick walls. It's got that perfect urban feel right in the heart of downtown Santa Monica. We came during the day around 11am but definitely want to check out the evening vibe because I'm sure with such amazing food and gorgeous interiors it gets hopping.

    Receipt from our meal
    Allison C.

    Came on a quiet Wednesday afternoon and this place never fails to amaze me. We ordered the butternut squash &kale rigatoni and the braised lamb shank. I don't usually go for butternut squash but today I'm so glad I did. It was fresh and citrusy and I wanted to lick the plate after. The price was reasonable and the flavors packed a punch. Getting to sit outside on a beautiful day was a plus. I fear I may have started and addiction to this pasta and will definitely be returning.

    Great Lamb shank & steak
    Lida M.

    We drove a long way to try this beautiful restaurant. We really enjoyed the welcoming vibes by all the staff. The food was delicious. I had the 8 hr lamb shank & my husband had steak & fries. We had fried calamari as our starter. They were all great. For our side dish we ordered broccolini which was the only dish that tasted funny . It tasted like it was cooked in bad oil. Drinks were good. Coffee was delicious. We will go back again.

    Alizen R.

    Massilia is a French restaurant nestled in Santa Monica near third street promenade, featuring a cozy interior and an intimate patio. Our group ordered the steak frites and lamb shank and both were quite delicious. Unlike most steak frites, the steak was thicker and you were able to select the temperature as well. The fries were perfectly crispy and deliciously seasoned. You have the option to get a chimichurri or bearnaise sauce, both of which are excellent options. The lamb shank is a gluten free meal and was so soft it pulled right off to the bone! In terms of cocktails, La Française was a clear winner. Anything with St. Germain is an obvious choice. Our server was very friendly, also French, and such a delight throughout the meal service. I definitely recommend dining here for modestly priced options with great ambiance. (32/50--2024)

    8hr Lamb Shank
    Fabian L.

    After my first time here I had to return. I came in a Wednesday night and they were able to sit us quickly. We chose to sit outside and the ambiance is very cozy. We started off with some broccolini and it was perfectly cooked and toasted with some Parmesan on top. For my main I ordered the 8hr Lamb shank and oh my god it was amazing. The meat fell off the bone and it was so tender some bites melted in your mouth. The shank was served over potato purée which was seasoned to perfection. With the amount of Lamb served it was well worth the price. Compliments to the chef.

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    Massilia Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Massilia

    Is there still a bottomless mimosa option at brunch?

    Are your hours wrong? I drove an hour and showed up at 10:30am on a Sunday but the store is closed?

    Hi Kevin, really sorry about this, but we had a plumbing emergency and had to close the restaurant. I apologize

    Is there brunch on Fridays?

    Nope. Only Saturday and Sunday.

    Do you have gluten-free options?

    Yes, our menu includes gluten-free appetizers, vegetable plates and mains! We also have a gluten-free socca flatbread that is delicious.

    View All 8 Questions

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    Élephante

    Élephante

    3.9
    (3.6k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$
    5 years in business
    Rooftop seating

    Really flashy, trendy spot in Santa Monica with a great view of the ocean (depending on where…read moreyou're sitting). Making reservations was pretty simple and luckily Santa Monica has parking structures everywhere so parking was pretty easy (lot literally across the street). Service and staff were friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. It's a bit loud for my taste but we were still able to hold conversations fine. We ordered the following: - Whipped Eggplant: not a fan of eggplants but this was delicious. I see why this is a signature item. - Calamari Fritti - Meatballs: it was a bit sweet? Kids enjoyed it. - Vodka Sauce Pasta - Ragu Bianco - Prosciutto Scramble - Polenta & Mushrooms - 10 oz Prime Skirt Steak Everything was cooked well, delicious and was enough food for 7 of us (including 2 kids). I saw some items I think I would want to try so I will defintiely be back. We came for brunch and for the price, quality and location...I would definitely recommend.

    We made a reservation for 9 and already pretty early so we were able to hang out at the bar for a…read morelittle bit before sitting down. There isn't much space to wait so I do recommend hanging out at the bar if you can. We were sitting in the outside area and the view itself was spectacular. It was a real chilly night and they server saw we were freezing and he brought over blankets. I was in shock and so appreciative cause I was cold. The food was amazing. The service was just as good. It was such a nice time.

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    Élephante
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    Forma Santa Monica

    Forma Santa Monica

    4.3
    (1.6k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    Five stars for everything, but only 4 stars for the back patio covered seating area. I can see this…read morewas supposed to be a temporary patio, perhaps during Covid, and they have tried to make it as cozy as possible. My only suggestion is to make the drywall look less like a construction zone. The only reason I am writing this is because I wanted to have photos taken of us by the waiter, but changed my mind due to the ugly drywall behind us. I am not an interior designer, but maybe a wall covering? They did their best with plants and lights. The 5 star for this back patio area is that one can bring their dogs, and it is much more quieter so one can have a conversation. The main restaurant is beautiful, cozy and inviting, but the noise level is too loud and jarring at dinner. I don't know how the noise level is during lunch. We all loved our food. I ordered 2 appetizers, chicken meatballs and crispy artichokes and this was filling for me! My friends ordered main courses for their dinner. My friend really enjoyed the Pasta Ragu and finished it completely! My other friend ordered the calamari and shrimp pasta and she really enjoyed it too. We all shared the tiramisu for dessert and loved it. Oh! I forgot we started with a Aperol Spritz, which we really liked! We will definitely return. I might try to venture to sit in the main restaurant next time! Ha!

    The sole fish was totally bland. It had no flavor. I asked…read morefor tartar sauce to enhance the flavor. They said they didn't have any. Service was good. The gnocchi appetizer was in some kind of sauce. that made it less than tasty. We did not enjoy the lasagna ... not sure if it was was the cheese Or some kind of seasoning I don't believe we shall be returning.

    Photos
    Forma interior and food
    Forma interior and food
    Chicken Greek Fresh Mozzarella Knots
    Chicken Greek Fresh Mozzarella Knots
    Mixed berry sorbeto with vanilla gelato, brownie and biscotti plate

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    Mixed berry sorbeto with vanilla gelato, brownie and biscotti plate
    Milo and Olive

    Milo and Olive

    4.0
    (2.4k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Im a big Italian food lover and the pasta was great! Literally to almost perfection!…read more The quality of the food was amazing, you can tell they take passion in making sure all the food is made with fresh produce. We were seated in the outside patio and the environment was warming. Plants, fresh, breeze, old school pizza machines. Such a good vibe.

    This review is based on a Saturday visit dining at their backyard patio. Why is that important? One…read moreof the main reasons I am taking some points off this experience is the setup. They have metal tables and chairs with loud speakers blasting music that echoes throughout the space. Add in loud crowds and kids dropping utensils, and it makes the whole environment pretty unpleasant. As for the food, we ordered the garlic knots, a croissant, the hanger steak, the peach and hot honey pizza, and the wood-fired vanilla bean pound cake for dessert. We covered a good amount of their key items. The main takeaway is that while everything is cooked well, but the dishes really lack flavor. I dine out to get flavors that are not easily made at home, and unfortunately, I did not find them here. The food lacks depth, and frankly, it needs salt to make it stand out. The pizza dough is actually really well prepped, easily as good as Pizzeria Sei, which is the best pizza place in LA, period. But again, it just lacks flavor. Also, as a small side note, there is a 4% employee health insurance surcharge added to the final bill. I probably just missed it listed on the menu somewhere, but oh well. Overall, it is a decent place, but I would not go out of my way to come back here.

    Photos
    Open kitchen
    Open kitchen
    Brioche Breakfast Sandwich
    Brioche Breakfast Sandwich
    Artichokes

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    Artichokes
    Cento Pasta Bar

    Cento Pasta Bar

    4.4
    (1.2k reviews)
    8.4 mi
    $$$

    Charming laidback outdoor courtyard setting nestled in trees and a lively kitchen-view, counter…read moreseating inside. The menu is inviting with plenty of great options without being overwhelming. Less is more. But let's talk art (culinary, that is). The dishes certainly deserve main features. To start "the best Caesar salad in LA" and I quote which was certainly true. Grilled octopus charred on the inside and juicy at the center. Spicy pomodoro is perfectly al dente and a well-balanced sauce. But, my favorite-- the agnolotti! Wow, melt in your mouth! The flavor profiles of corn, crème fraiche, and old bay were delicious. My only wish -- larger serving of this (smallest pasta serving on the menu). To complete it, banana pudding tiramisu -- delicious too with a firm center and oozy outside. Atala was wonderful and very sweet. Recommendation: come with a group of at least 4 to try more on the menu -- the large plates (branzino and ribeye) looked excellent! Definitely a worthwhile visit.

    I have to admit, I don't eat pasta very often, but damn... the pasta here was amazing…read more Getting a reservation was surprisingly easy through OpenTable, which was a huge plus. We came on a Thursday night as a group of four and the place was pretty busy. From everything I've heard, Cento is one of the more popular pasta spots in LA right now, so I was excited to finally try it. We started with the radicchio salad which was delicious. Light, refreshing, and tangy, a great way to start the meal. For pasta, we ordered the Spicy Pomodoro, Sweet Corn Agnolotti, Broccoli Bucatini, and the Cavatelli Finocchio. Honestly, it was hard to pick a favorite because every single one was excellent. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, the sauces were flavorful, and each dish felt unique. My only complaint is that the portions are a little small. I understand they're meant for sharing, but to be honest I probably could have eaten all four by myself. At around $30 per plate, this definitely isn't a cheap meal. One thing that was a little disappointing was that it was my fiancée's birthday and I had noted it on the reservation. We noticed another table receiving what looked like a special birthday dessert, but nothing was mentioned for us. My fiancée didn't want me to ask about it, so we just let it go and ended up getting dessert elsewhere. Not a huge deal, but it was a bit of a letdown. That said, the food itself was absolutely outstanding. If you're a pasta lover, this place is definitely worth checking out.

    Photos
    The kitchen view from our seats
    The kitchen view from our seats
    Spicy Pomodoro
    Spicy Pomodoro
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    Beef Tartare

    Massilia - french - Updated June 2026

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