Don't go here . Literally every dish we had from seafood to beet salad tasted so bland. It tasted like nothing. Not only was the food bad but the server was very strange. She came to our table maybe twice and got weirded out when we asked for another drink. I do not recommend completely overpriced read more

One of our neighborhood standards. The burger is the best in the city. The truffle fries are so thin, crispy and french! All the food is tasty and cooked to perfection! The drinks are stiff and the wine list is interesting and varied. The sommelier really makes the experience though and is so talented and generous with her time and recommendations! The outdoor bar and patio in the front is the place to be!! read more

Came here on Wednesday for Happy Hour. What a great hole in the wall neighborhood spot. The ambiance and design of the restaurant was beautiful and the drinks and food were great. $3 oysters?? Let's gooo! All this made for a perfect date night, but I had to write a review because our bartender was superb. I wish we could remember his name, but we will just have to come back again on a Wednesday! read more

I went here for the DineLA week. Decore and ambiance is very nice. I luv Santa Monica to begin with. The place was dead during lunch. A table here and there, normally a power lunch meeting going on. My friend ordered the salad and I had the pork belly for appetizer. Salad was boring. Pork Belly was good, a bit salty. For the entree, my friend had the cod, which was nice but slightly fishy. I ordered the quail with wild rice. It was very good. Not wow, but nice. For dessert, we ordered a biscotti with cream latte and the choco cake with ice cream. The biscotti was excellent, but everything else was not up to par. Service was good, but food took a while. For the price vs. quality of food, this place was at most a 3 star. read more

Remember the old days when restaurants said goodbye with mints, toothpicks AND wooden matches? Believe it or not, Michael's still has those wood matches. Why do I focus on that particular piece of nostalgia? Because it perfectly describes the restaurant as a whole. A classic place from another time. The beautiful covered patio dining space and the framed artwork on the walls remind you of days gone by, while the menu offerings complete the picture. While many menus 'wow' you with novelty, Michael's will wow you with the familiar done well--the succulent flavor and crispy skin of my jidori chicken being the perfect example. Why no 5th star for this comfortably upscale restaurant? The price. Michael's prices are about 15% higher than those at similar restaurants. Probably the one reason I'm not a regular, but would love to be. read more

Ambience: 10/10 Server (Brian): 10/10 Food: 3/10 Came here for a date night with my boyfriend and we are both writing this review. It is SO beautiful out on the patio with lights and trees everywhere. We said we felt like we were on vacation somewhere else. Our server and the sommelier were both great and super helpful. HOWEVER, the food was NOT GOOD (and we are not picky people). We had the winter seasonal menu (mostly for sharing) and here's what we had: -bread appetizer- really COLD but honestly still good. Plenty of pieces. Butter 10/10. -burrata: 7/10. Pretty good, kinda weird presentation but lots of burrata and good quality -Hamachi- I did not like this. My bf thought it was "edible" because he was so hungry. -Sea Bass- this was mainly for me. Again I'm not picky and this was not good. The skin is crazy thick and really crunchy, which some people like, but I'm not a fan. -Steak- for my bf. Ingredients seemed high quality but the execution was so off. It was very COLD for starters, which for steak is obviously horrible. Precut, cold, and medium, not medium rare like asked for. It would've been delicious if it wasn't so cold. Cheesecake: LOL. It looked like someone ATE OUR CHEESECAKE and then gave us the leftovers. There's no cake, just whipped cream from a can. We were dying laughing and were debating saying something even though we never complain! Wine was great. Cappuccino's were great. Basically eat before you come, but the ambience is gorgeous. read more

I made a reservation with Michael's as a part of the Dine LA week through Open Table. This was a very nice place with amazing service and fantastic food. The owner made it a point to make us feel welcome and had a few stories to tell us. Our waitress was friendly and also made conversation with us. We were seated outside under these beautiful umbrellas. It almost felt like we were sitting in a garden it was so peaceful. The food was great as a part of the Dine LA menu. We had told them we were traveling and were on our honeymoon so when they brought out our dessert they congratulated us with a little chocolate syrup writing around our dessert plate saying, "Happy Honeymoon". A very nice touch. When we come back to Santa Monica we will have to visit here again. read more

Michael's Restaurant - Dinner during Dine LA week - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

One of the few times I felt compelled to sign on and review - I unfortunately felt pretty mistreated at this place. This was a recommendation from a good friend - and I won't hurt her feelings by telling her how bad it was. We were there on a slow weeknight, non-holiday, with seating a little less than half filled. But in short: - they pitched us the rabbit, three of us ordered it, then they didn't have it. They offered us the dish without rabbit - which after asking they then admitted was just pasta and butter. - as a replacement my wife ordered fish with mung bean, they gave her fish with arugula (hoping we wouldn't notice?), when asked our server did apologize and went to look into it, but then never mentioned it again. - my dad ordered the pork chop, which didn't come until essentially the bill arrived. They did not charge us for it. It was also is barely cooked. - the starters came out fine, the main courses took hours to arrive. - For the trouble our server said "any drink that touched this table" would be comped - then they charged us for everyone's but 2 (we were a party of 9). - during all of the above, any explanation as to status or reason on delay, misorders, or misbilling was never given. Our server (call him D) did more or less what he could, but the host/maî·tre d Nathan didn't make any effort to communicate, remedy, or apologize - which felt pretty bad. This was not only a father's day dinner thrown by my wife and me​, but also a celebration of our first child (everyone having traveled for the day's baby shower). So as much as the way they handled food/timing/billing was not ideal (and if the place had been anywhere near busy I'd get it), but the way we were ignored on what was supposed to be a special occasion​ made us feel pretty terrible - and I feel bad having taken the family there. read more

This place has a great happy hour and a fantastic ambiance! Come here for a very affordable experimental menu item experience and if you want a place that is not too crowded but still very much part of the LA scene. I went here with a friend early Friday night and we stayed til closing since happy hour is all night long. All the happy hour menu items were $6 and the drinks and food all seemed very unique. Although the drinks were kind of small, they were quite good. My friend got the "Yes, please" and Daiquiri, both which were quite flavorful and delicious. I got the 15, which was very refreshing for a bourbon drink and still strong. The "chicken and waffle" wings were a perfect blend of sweet and savory. The music is great too! I'm a fan and will definitely come more! read more

Michael's Restaurant - No 15 and yes please - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We decided to give Micheals a second try..much better service and the food was great..will try a third time to make sure the Yelp review had nothing to do with that. You will always get fresh ingredients here & unique dishes!!! read more

We had an enjoyable meal at Michael's. The atmosphere was fresh and inviting. The staff attentive and quite charming. Our group tried many items. The fresh tomatoes, radishes, arugula were fantastic. The best tomatoes I have had all season. I would return for those alone. We tried two pasta dishes, one with truffles and the other with sausage. They were perfectly done and left us wanting more. We shared the rib steak, what a disappointment. It was served with the bone, but sliced away from the bone. My husband swears the meat we received was not from the rib bone it was served with. We ordered it medium rare. It was tough from one end to the other. There was not a tender or juicy piece on the plate. For dessert we had an eclair, orange Creme brûlée, and a gorgeous pavlova. All were delightful and delicious. I would definitely return again but would be extremely hesitant to order a steak. read more

Went their last night to celebrate my husbands bday. This is by far the BEST food experience we have had in LA and we dine out often. I guess they hired a new chef 8 months ago and he has made some amazing changes. I love the fact that they have a small but ever changing menu. We sat in the bar while they were setting up our table and had a glass of wine. The bar tender from Michigan (forgot his name) was outstanding. In addition to suggesting a great Sanscerre he explained several of the menu items in detail. I have never met a more knowledgeable bartender. He was also very very sweet. Our Server was David and spot on perfect for our dinning experience. Pleasent and quick with a bright smile and a cute french accent. We started with a mixed green salad which looked not so exciting until the first bite. It was incredible! Lots of textures and flavors going on. It was a large portion that could have been shared by 4 but we had no problem finishing it. For a main entree we had the lamb and also the Branzino. I am still dreaming about both. The lamb was fork tender and had tremendous flavor. A very generous portion. The Branzino was the best we have ever had. Crispy skin that was not greasy or overly fishy tasting. Because the portions are fairly large and intended to share. We plan to go back and bring another couple so we can try more items on the menu. If I could give it more than 5 stars I definitely would. read more

Michael's Restaurant - We had a great corner table. Can't wait to go back. Most amazing food in LA. - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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It's a shame how this place is fading into the darkness. The food prices are going up while the quality is incredible bad, I am not talking about then ingredients but about the dishes, they are just not good. I don't know who they hired after Miles Thompson left a few month back, the differences on the dishes are clearly palpable. My girlfriend and I sat on a table twice, although we rather to hang out at the bar, the reason we kept coming was the bartender, actually both are really cool and the spanish one is really funny and we love his accent (he told us he was living to go to a new restaurant also in Santa Monica, so at least we still have a new place to go). The last time we went and sat on a table the energy on the staff was really down, they don't smile as usual, I wouldn't know how to say this. I would give them a one atar review but the bartenders deserve their own star. PS: you have to try the cocktail Science of Mariachi!!! read more

Went here with a friend for dinner & the setting was amazing! The ambience is awesome and the food is delicious! Michael actually came to our table to introduce himself which I thought was a wonderful gesture. He was going around to all of the guests and saying hi & thanking them for choosing to dine at Michael's tonight. I'll definitely going back :) read more

I came here on a Thursday night with some coworkers for Happy Hour and we really enjoyed ourselves. We sat in the lounge area as there were 5 of us and they have Happy Hour all night long. We got there when it opened and had their specialty drink of the day which happened to be a Kamikaze (it's been at least 20 years that I've had one of these.) You can only order 1 per person and its only from 5:30-6:00 pm but its ONLY $1.79 so why not??? We had the most wonderful server named Noelle. She was attentive, sweet, funny and very patient (a person in our group has several of food restrictions and asked a million questions.) They have an expansive food menu for Happy Hour and we all shared plates - pomodoro, burro e salvia, burrata, chopped salad, broccolini, french fries and buttermilk quail. Everything was delicious. The owner came over at one point and introduced himself. He was so nice and made sure we were enjoying ouselves and our food. I highly recommend this restaurant. It's beautiful and I would love to go back and sit in the terrace. We definitely found our new go-to spot. Thanks Michael's read more

Michael's Restaurant - Daily cocktail special for $1.79 - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Been hearing for years how great Michael's is and was really looking forward to our first dinner there. The covered patio was beautiful though very cold and heaters we're useless- needed to sit with my coat on. Started with salad that was just lettuce and barely any dressing. Then the Dover sole was really dry and dull; my wife's halibut with sweet sauce and undercooked/raw; cauliflower also too sweet and uninspired. Dessert Tarte Tatin was minuscule and nothing special while the brownie tasted no better than store bought. Service was nothing special either and in all our party all agreed this place was much ado about nothing - obviously had seen better days. read more

We recently dined at Michael's. Party of 6. Patio table. It was the first time for all of us, and given its history, we were all looking forward to it. We were shockingly disappointed. The Pros: we were seated on time. They offer a very nice Chablis by the glass. Heirloom tomatoes were fresh and delicious. The mixed green salad was very nice. The Cons: The remainder of our food was marginal at best. Very limited menu and uninteresting choices. The duck confit tasted like a pre made warmed up version. The prime rib (the only beef choice on the menu) was extremely fatty. Given the price, it should have been a much higher grade of meat. The "Orata" was prepared and plated with no imagination whatsoever, just a medium sized fish in a bowl. It had such a strong fishy odor that we could taste it. All in all, the most palatable portion of the meal was appetizers. Out if 6 at the table, all entrees were unremarkable to regrettable. Even the pasta, strozzati(?), which we were told was incredible. Even this missed. The dish was chewy and flavorless, even with pesto. Lastly, the service was extremely slow and borderline rude. This, I am tempted to attribute to not enough wait staff, perhaps causing undo stress. We left and walked to another nearby restaurant for dessert. Sad :-( read more

This place is wayyyyyy over-rated!!! Don't get me wrong-- the ambiance is great; the design lovely; the staff knowledgeable and friendly and easy on the eyes; the din not overbearing; sound system fine and musical selections easy on the ears. They even have the boss make personal visits to each table. BUT... Though the food looks great, it's just not that special-- and that in and of itself would be ok except for one ginormous problem: everything is more expensive than you'd imagine and by design, (which they proudly tell you) every dish is smaller that what you'd expect for an entree! See, they're going for that "tapas-thing", but what it really is is a high class scam to give you a hell of a lot less for a hell of a lot more! Additionally, when the nice waiter asked if we'd "like some bread", and we said "ok", what he brought were three plates.... one with bread and butter, one with assorted olives, and one with assorted candied nuts. What we assumed was a pleasant table offering actually cost us $18!! Have you ever been charged for condiments? Imagine getting a bill for the pickles on the table at Jerry's deli or the ginger, soy sauce, and wasabi at Sosabune!! Really? Eighteen bucks for bread and olives?? And of course, the wine... ah... nothing like paying for an overpriced bottle for each glass... There a zillion truly great restaurants in Santa Monica and LA... do yourself a favor-- go to them and get a whole lot more for a whole lot less! read more

Wow ... how could there be so many bad reviews for the new menu and chef? Do Angelino's in 2017 REALLY not understand the concept of shared plates??? (for the record, "family style" is Buca de Beppo, shared plates is AOC). There were four of us and we pretty much ran the menu that night. There was not a dish that disappointed and none of them were THAT "out there" like some people have commented. I can't stand molecular cuisine but nothing at Michael's was like that. Just the right number of high-quality ingredients, prepared in manner that resulted in a combination of unique and delicious flavors. The burrata, black rice, gnudi, duck breast, Denver Steak were just right. We all commented how the kitchen nailed it on every course. This was especially nice, since I'd had a meal the week before at Alma, (another restaurant that has experienced a recent "reboot"), and just about everything at that place was terrible and we returned many plates half finished. The service was right out of the Danny Meyer handbook, with the staff showing just the right combination of expertise, enthusiasm and "all-around good guyness". Meyer's approach is unique in that he trains his staff to be half server, half-friend, and Michael's is one of the few places outside of NYC where I've experienced the same feeling. They've found a way to make the guest feel super-special and perfectly taken care of, void of any ass-kissing fakery. We didn't save room for the ganache (that buckwheat bread is pretty damn addicting) but had it anyway. It was one my favorite desserts in LA, but best shared among a group. I can't imagine one person eating the entire thing. It's outrageously rich. Either way, PLEASE don't be turned off by the ignorant, bad reviews for the new menu. The four of us have eaten all over Los Angeles, and we all agreed our experience at Michael's was one of the best in the past 12 months. And to think ... we almost didn't go because a lot of people "Were Not Yelping". read more

The happy hour was awful and the menu was very limited. The dumplings were doughy and only three of them. The calamari chewy but the batter was ok. The sauce for the calamari was just ok. The ambience is beautiful it's just a shame. Maybe dinner is better. I think it's a very popular place for drinks only. read more

Pleasantly surprised by the quality and ingenuity of the menu. The octopus, burrata and hamachi collar were inventive, but not pedantically fussy. The service was attentive and friendly. The music was fun and upbeat. All of the action is on the outdoor patio which is beautiful. All in all, this is a Santa Monica favorite and I will definitely be coming back. read more

Really good food and great value. Great for sharing. I'd recommend a party of 4 so everyone gets a bite of everything. Buckwheat bread and butter is fresh and nutty but I wasn't super impressed with it. Roasted broccolini with white chocolate - wow. I was so pleasantly surprised by the flavor combination. Burrata was great. I couldn't figure out what was paired but it was full of flavor. Pappardelle was fantastic, new to the menu . Must order again. Octopus was fantastic. Grilled and served with a some sort of bean paste that was subtle and didn't overwhelm the octopus. Yellowtail collar was unique and presented itself as a finger food. I enjoyed the Asian sweet seasoning. I think mirin may have been applied. Branzino with coconut milk was out of this world. The flavor is so unique and tasty with hints of Asian basil in the reduction. My favorite dish of the night. read more

They charged us $9 for water????? And they lied about having a happy hour online. The entire place was empty but when another couple came in, they sat them at a table right next to us. We were sitting so close we were practically on a double date (during Covid). 6ft distancing my butt. Cute aesthetic but not worth the annoying experience. read more

Not quality wagyu. Not wagyu A+. Over cooked, not warm enough. Fish a little too dry. Too much lemon. Pasta sometimes too runny and not enough season. Salad does not have same consistency of dressing and seasoning. Crudos not enough season and not same consistency. A little late on food and desserts as well. read more

The headlines read: "Mike A. spotted at Michael's", but we all knew the real story here. It was a gloomy Friday, or maybe it was sunny. It doesn't matter. The weather, it never matters, don't tell yourself it does. You're just lying to yourself. The sub-line was even more damning: "Only an egotist would dine at a restaurant that shares his name." Oh? Is that so? Ignore the headlines. The #MSM is full of lies. The real story here is that a guy named Michael had just re-opened a restaurant named Michael's, all within a few mere blocks of the recently shuttered Michael's arts and crafts store on 4th street, and a guy name Michael was dining there on a Friday night with his wife, not named Michael. What was going on here? Was it all just a coincidence? Or was there something more at play here? Mike A. had to find out, so as the sub-sub-line says, "He ordered some food and it was really good." Note: whoever wrote this article is really bad at writing articles. He should stick to writing Yelp reviews. "At approximately 6:45pm, a wounded soldier delivered a fantastic drink known as the Martinez. He immediately transformed from a solider to a waiter and then took their dinner order. A leafy green salad. Some grilled octopus. A bowl of pasta. And a steak." "The couple left with full bellies. They were never to be seen again. Until someone saw them outside at the valet and then later at their house and then later at every other place they went because, as it turns out, they were always to be seen again." read more

Beautiful indoor / outdoor atrium with pretty foliage as a backdrop for dinner. A memorable setting for a nice dinner out. Wait staff attentive and helpful. Meat entrees were hearty and portioned well. read more

Friend Took Me One-Time To Dine @ Michael's Santa Monica , After Strolling Around 3rd Street Promenade. Sitting At Outdoor Table , Order 30 Day Dry-Aged Ribeye + Parmesan Frites. Tasty. Enjoyed. Nice Restaurant. read more

Went for first time since new chef arrived. Among best upscale food in Santa Monica. We especially liked the pasta, striped bass and flounder. Probably the best seafood I have eaten in Santa Monica. Tables are well spaced so conversation is comfortable. Setting with plants and trees is spectacular. Among my favorite restaurants in Santa Monica. I highly recommend a visit. read more

This is a restaurant coasting on its reputation. Kitchen may still put out a decent product, but our group of four had to wait for it over 90 minutes, during which time service staff remained disorganized & unhelpful. After readily over-selling us on "some starters", our waiter became notably less available, and frankly evasive in explaining the delay. No one was in charge on the floor, incl 'Michael' himself who seemed oblivious to the poorly functioning scene of his domain. None of this affected the hefty tab. Perhaps Michael might consider some investment in heaters for chilly nights & more than wavering tea-candles on the tables. The kitchen here deserves better support, and there are many other venues for talent in Santa Monica; we will not waste time&money again w Michael's. read more

We had dinner at Michael's last night, and it was the loveliest experience ever. We had $8 drinks and $3 oysters at the bar while waiting for our table. Our bar server was the smiliest, most congenial server ever. We moved to the back patio room for dinner which was gorgeous. We ate the striped bass, which we would highly recommend. We also had the pea tendril salad -- great. And, the creme brûlée was to die for. Again, our dinner server was a lovely man. Michael stopped by our table at both the bar and our dining table. He's pretty fabulous. We live on the east side sadly, but I will say if we lived in SM, this would be our hangout. Seems like a fantastic place to be a regular. Highly recommend. Fun, delicious evening. read more

This is a great sports bar. Been here for dodger playoff games where they set up the projector in the back. Every seat had a good view of the game. Also been here for big nba finals game. Bar was packed but service was still good. I think they have daily specials but a great place to watch a sports game. read more

I am so sorry to say that Michael's has absolutely ruined its menu. We were here for a special dinner recently. I ordered the broccolini and the gnocchi. The gnocchi is inedible, I probably took two bites. No one else in my party seemed to enjoy the food either. Broccolini was meh, drowned in sauce but overall not terrible. I used to love this place, it was so special to me. The menu is now so limited and overwrought in an attempt to be trendy(?) that you cannot have an enjoyable meal here, even if you spend hundreds of dollars. I'm really heartbroken. read more

Having our wedding here was a fantastic decision. Drexel, the event coordinator, made sure everything ran smoothly and was to our liking! The chef changed only a couple weeks before the wedding and it really spooked me, but he made us feel much better about the situation and on the big day, the food was WONDERFUL! I had a great meal, and all our guests absolutely loved it, as well as the passed appetizers. If your wedding is on the smaller end and you care about showing your guests a great time with great food, great ambiance, and in a great part of town, this is your spot! read more

Great Father's Day brunch! Asked for special seating due to multiple small children, arrived and everything was set up as promised. Food was great - we all tried the freshly baked biscuits which were dreamy. Outdoor patio area is beautiful and chill. Would go back. read more

As a long-time Santa Monica resident I always felt dining at Michael's was for special occasions. As currently configured, Michaels is just a place to park near when going to the 3rd St. Promenade. Last week as a party of six we were "instructed" by our waiter to order small plates to share. Six people sharing tiny, not small, plates resulted in each of us enjoying a tablespoon of each. To order more meant waiting 15-20 more minutes. Come on, Michael, return this place to its former glory. As a previous reviewer noted, stop trying to "over-engineer" good food. read more

Michael's offers one of the most iconic patios in Santa Monica, a tree and plant-laden area that provides an intimate atmosphere for a dinner with close friends or a date. The restaurant is tucked away next to the 3rd Street Promenade next to Demitasse coffee and there is a parking lot right next door to the restaurant for easy parking options. I was very impressed by the decor of both the indoor and the patio area as both offer a different dining ambience for your pleasure. The COCKTAILS are all carefully crafted and provide a unique take on some classics: + CHEF'S EGG NOG: Creamy and lightly sweet...the amaretto, cognac, and nutmeg provide a nice comfort while enjoying this cocktail + THE 1979: How can you resist the brown butter infused rum? This was a very unique cocktail that provided some nice warm notes with the brown butter and maple syrup. + BARREL-AGED WHITE MANHATTAN: Very clean cocktail, which pairs white whisky and citrus notes. Now for the food... + OCTOPUS: With a mango-lime curd, thai chili, and shrimp vinaigrette. The tender octopus is paired with nice asian flavors, especially with the dried shrimp, which i rarely find in western cooking. The dish has a nice clean taste with the mango and lime curd that pairs with the pungent taste of the dried shrimp. + DUCK CONFIT: Make sure you mix everything together with the duck and the porridge for the full experience. This is definitely what I would call comfort food, if you enjoy porridge. The duck added great depth of flavor to the rice, which had a little spicy kick itself. + BURRATA: Visually, the most beautiful dish that we had. The pure, white burrata is served on top of pickled black mustard greens and topped with some fish roe. You have the aggressive taste of the black mustard and the salinity of the roe, cut by the mellow taste of the burrata. Hits all the tastebuds. + DUCK BREAST: For our main entree, we had to go with the duck again. what I really enjoyed about this duck was the skin, it was prepared with a perfect crisp and accentuated the great duck flavor. The meat itself was juicy, and the duck they serve has the perfect ratio of fat to meat. + BLACK GARLIC RICE: One of my favorite dishes of the night. The black garlic rice had a nice texture and delicate flavor. What I loved most was the addition of the turnip for a contrast in texture. read more

First of all, this rating is purely for the food and primarily for the taste of the food as the presentation is a bit lacking and sloppy. This place is a bit of a confusing conundrum at the moment with the location and clientele not quite matching the food, which would be what you would expect at some hipster place in Silver Lake, rather than some hoity-toity place with its attendant richer and older skewing crowd. Particular favorites of the night were the Dungeness crab chawanmushi, Thai leaning octopus dish and expertly prepared duck. The potatoes a la plancha were less successful and the buckwheat sourdough bread was a bit of a disappointment. The Dungeness crab chawanmushi is a cold savory steamed egg dish which draws inspiration from the hot Japanese savory steamed egg dish or custard called chawanmushi. The presentation is a mess and completely discordant from the wonderful taste that you get from a spoonful of the delicately prepared cold egg custard. The blend of uni and Dungeness crab only make the chawanmushi that much better. More surprisingly are the bits of toasted rice that add not only a hint of good burntness to the taste but a wonderful additional texture. This dish quickly set the stage for the rest of the night as your mind is set into a confusing motion sickness as the poor and sometimes messy presentation that your eyes begin to process are met with sometimes sublime flavors. The octopus dish was another example of this interesting motion sickness as the taste was again interesting and refreshing but the presentation was a series of sloppily put together pieces of octopus with some sort of green leaf on top. The octopus was expertly prepared, tender and without any fishiness. The Thai chile and little pieces of small fried shrimp lent a Thai inflection to the dish, but it was really the lime curd (something that seemed like fell out of a key lime pie) that added the sweetness and tartness that made the dish better than the sum of its parts. The best prepared dish of the night was the duck breast. The duck itself was brined so tasted consistently great throughout the bite, and the skin was crispy reminding you of the skin of the best Peking duck you've ever had. Here, the presentation was a bit better with some beets and squashes arranged nicely, but again you've seen better elsewhere. At this point, however, your brain has retrained you to the discordant messages from your eyes and taste buds, so you happily finish every last bit of the duck and move on. The potatoes a la plancha were fine, but you've had better potato dishes, especially if you've tried the crispy potatoes at Wolf, which are so crispy on the outside with a buttery soft interior and good by themselves without any sauces. Here, the potatoes tasted fine by themselves but are much improved after you dunk them in the furikake aioli. The buckwheat sourdough bread was the most disappointing thing of the night, saved only by the sunflower butter. It is not an overstatement to say that the bread tasted too much of someone trying to make a healthy bread. We tried the whipped cheesecake, and this was really the most comical dish of the night. Nothing from the description of the menu prepares you for this dish. It comes out looking much like someone dropping a "plop" of sour cream on the plate with some brown bits haphazardly thrown on top of the splatter of sour cream. In essence, this was a deconstructed cheesecake with a liquid-y sour cream that masqueraded as the cheesecake portion and scattered bits of graham crackers. I think we would have been less shocked if someone had mentioned that it was going to be a deconstructed cheesecake. The taste was fine, but we would have skipped this dessert, opting to try something else. Usually, I don't talk about the service as most places have the service down, but this place was very interesting. First, we were sat next to where the food comes out of the kitchen when the entire restaurant was essentially deserted. This was a bit uncomfortable as we were trying to have dinner yet there were always at least a couple of waiters close to the door just chit chatting since the restaurant was empty. Second, and most comical of all, despite a relatively empty restaurant, the waiter was always a few steps behind the runner who brought out the dishes. This repeated itself several times throughout the dinner as the waiter would rush back to our table and ask if the runner explained the dish and then hurriedly going into his normal spiel of how the dish was constructed. In summary, the food here is fantastic. Almost everything tastes great and have surprising touches. Don't let the less than pristine presentation put you off as there are several dishes that really will surprise you here. You could be snooty, letting the less than perfect service put you off. Or you could be like us and think of it as a dinner & show, as a comedy show unfolds while you find each bite more & more astounding. read more

WARNING - NEW DINNER MENU as of September 13th, 2016. Our dinner group decided to try this place and I had always wanted to check it out. Bad timing though with this new menu that was just launched September 13. The new 28yr old Chef is known for his "inventive, ambitious" cooking.(I felt it was pretentious). The newly renovated patio garden setting is nice but felt a little crowded and uncomfortable. Michael McCarty, the owner, made rounds to each table to greet you personally. We were also surrounded by eager, energetic boys in black who were our waiters and servers. They "explained" the menu to us. If it needs explaining.....need I say more? To our annoyance, our main young waiter kept pushing the idea that their menu was MEANT to be "family style" sharing---Tapas--"Angeleno style." Who ever said THAT was Angeleno style? I had to disagree with that---family style is not LA style--saying so does not make it so! We were a group of six unrelated local community adults and wanted to order our own dinners, thank you. (STRIKE ONE). We did jointly order the bread basket ($5) which we were told contained 5-6 slices of Buckwheat bread (made that morning and served cold). We were six and of course they delivered 5 slices! (STRIKE TWO) They had explained that there were "small plates" and "big plates" to order. Basically the small plates are side dishes and the large plates we thought a dinner plate (more pricey)---but not so really as my table-mates found out to their dismay. Between the six of us we covered the menu. My five dining club friends ordered both small and large plate items. Small plate items: octopus confit, sichuan pork dumplings (pasta was chewy tough, and too spicy), pork cheek and pig ears, etc. I had ordered 3 small plates to make up my dinner--- salad "mixed baby lettuces ($12. had mint and sunflower seeds in it and very little of the vinegrette dressing), the "ricotta gnudi" lamb "sausage dish ($18. for a few crumbled pieces buried in which seemed like cooked spinach and there was NO orange flavor as claimed in menu), and potatoes al la plancha dish/parmigiono ($9. for a baked cut up salty potato with some yucky yogurt type sauce and sprinkled cheese on the side and ghastly spigarello leaves covering it?--I was expecting a nice mashed potato cheesy dish by the name). I had a glass of ok Riesling ($12) wine- (Total for me with tax and tip $70.00. ) My dining mates were all grumbling quietly to each other when their large plate dishes arrived in the same bowls as the "small" plate dishes The only large plate dish that seemed satisfactory to them was the duck breast ($34) if you like duck NOT the duck confit ($26). However, the fish for example the Black Cod ($30 & "mediocre" my dining friend proclaimed), & Striped Bass ($28. "a small unappetizing looking square in a bowl"--see photo) were disappointing. Overall, poor presentation, small portions & mediocre taste they all seemed to say. (STRIKE THREE). I loved my mixed greens! The group's dismay must have been noticed because one of the waiters delivered an extra plate to try---one which had already been tried by one of them. It was the pork stuffed dumpling that was chewy pasta and very chili spicey center. It just confirmed for everyone that the menu food was "mediocre at best," and overpriced. One friend had ordered 4 small plates and she said that her potato dish NEVER arrived --Thus, for all the MALE wait staff, the service was mediocre too. There were so many male waiters they were tripping over each other.(tables tight) We six all voted and agreed we would not likely recommend nor return here, as there are far too many other places to choose from. Im sorry to say that the new menu with its "family style format," and "unique" taste combinations, is lacking in a certain--je ne sais quoi! We decided to skip desert or coffee here and just pay and leave. I think the lone salad on the menu was the best thing if you had to order something, if you don't mind mint leaves and sunflower seeds in your salad. I used to be a taster for a French Chef from Lyon and feel it is best to keep it SIMPLE, honest, fresh, and respect the classical-- whats wrong with traditional, and basic combinations, and using just plain English titles? Its the TASTE that matters not the fancy name, or trying for inventive pairings. This food seemed over-processed and over fussed with. My sincerest apologies for my dinner club (and I) for not appreciating your new menu. I feel that Angelenos like fresh salads, wholesome FRESH seafood, healthy food- (hold the salt) organic, non-over-processed--traditional French, Italian, Mediterranean, garlic, lemon...or even American. (I accidentally checked in twice when writing this--not sure how to undo that.) Maybe they should just go back to the old menu that these other reviews are based on and just add more salads - perhaps with an international theme! (Greek,French, Italian, Asian.) read more

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Mixed feelings about this place. I've been here many times due to convenience and their happy hour. It's not particularly fashionable, a bit outdated and pretentious in all the ways that aren't too irritating. Service is inconsistent. One waiter in particular is quite rude when I'm there with POC. Pretty disappointing but I guess that's to be expected in a place like this. read more

***Michael's has a good staff, but the restaurant is probably past its prime; the food is just okay and does not warrant the high prices here*** Michael's has a lot of history. It opened in 1979 and was one of the first contemporary Californian Cuisine restaurants. Many top chefs have worked here, including Jonathan Waxman (Top Chef Masters), Mark Peel (Campanile), Nancy Silverton (La Brea Bakery, Osteria Mozza, Pizzeria Mozza), Roy Yamaguchi (Roy's), and Sang Yoon (Father's Office). The restaurant has three distinct areas--a bar/lounge area, an indoor dining area (that has an upscale corporate commissary feel) and a candle-lit outdoor dining patio. I am not sure if it was caused by the recent gloomy weather, but the outdoor dining area provided a surprising nighttime atmosphere at lunch. Elite Yelper Ciara G. and I went here for a dineLA lunch based on the menu, which sounded good. They started us out with freshly made baguettes, which were toasty and nicely warm. Good crust and a good chew to the bread. The bread was served with butter. I started with the Crispy Kurobuta Pork Belly Salad. The pork belly was braised, which provided a tender texture. It was also seared to provide a crispy outside, which was a good contrast to the tender meat. The pork belly was tasty and meaty (with most of the fat rendered down). Some of the edges were a little on the dry side, but overall it was still good. The pork belly was served on some fresh watercress and was topped with thinly shaved melon (large portion of melon) and toasted hazelnuts, which provided a good crunch to the salad. I am not the biggest fan of melon, but the melon here was light and mild. Shaving the melon thinly helped a lot. The melon was a good accompaniment to the salad and it did not overpower the other ingredients. I had the Grilled Manchester Farms Quail as my main course, which was a small portion (but not really an unreasonably small portion considering that it was lunch). The Prime Hanger Steak also looked to be a small portion (but probably still lunch appropriate). The quail was split and then grilled. Good flavor though simple since it was not really wrapped in anything or glazed with a sauce. Pretty tender and meaty though I've had juicier and better quail at Josie (bacon wrapped quail) and Piccolo (quail that was stuffed with foie gras and served with a marsala sauce). The quail came with some good but maybe not great sides. The frisee was good and not too bitter. The wild rice was warm and flavorful (slight crispiness to some of it, which was good). The bacon was not crispy enough, but it was still pretty tasty. The salad was dressed lightly with olive oil. Nicely seasoned salad with a good balance of flavors. Nothing really stood out but still a decent and serviceable lunch main course. Dessert was a letdown. I had the Valrhona Chocolate Cake, which I've had before and it was significantly better on my last visit. The chocolate cake was a dense and mostly moist chocolate cake (but not molten) and served over top of a chocolate sauce. There was a little bit of dryness to the cake--could have been from over-baking or maybe just not the correct mix/size of ingredients. Okay chocolate flavor. The creme fraiche ice cream was really disappointing. The flavor was fine, but the texture was wrong. It was not creamy; it was actually quite crumbly. It had a texture similar to hard meringue that had been formed into a ball and was then frozen. This type of cake tends to go good with ice cream, but the ice cream's texture really kept it from enhancing the chocolate side of the plate. Service was polite and pretty good. Food came out at an appropriate pace. Pretty attentive staff. Michael's has a lot of history and their menus sound good, but I wonder how this would compare to their earlier years when they had so many superstars in the kitchen. Michael's is an okay restaurant and is worth trying at least once because of its deep history in L.A. cuisine, but there are better L.A. options in the same price range (or even at lower prices). If you want to dine in Santa Monica for a weekday dineLA lunch, nearby Fraiche is probably a better option for both quality and value. For parking, there is a parking structure that is a little bit east of Michael's (directly north from P.F. Chang's). The structure is free for the first 2 hours. Even though this parking structure is very close to 3rd Street Promenade, I typically find it easy to get a space there. They have an electronic sign out front that informs you how many spaces are still available. read more