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Mon Ami

4.4 (144 reviews)
PriceyMediterranean

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Lobster pasta
Liz V.

This was truly a 5 star experience and the food is definitely amazing, but our server Jay really made such a great impact. He was attentive, funny, helpful and really took our experience up a notch. This is such a great spot, hidden back a little from the main hustle and bustle of Santa Monica (you wouldn't think a few steps makes a difference, but it does!) We had the berry margarita, regular margarita, a mezcal drink and an Aperol spritz to start and all were amazing! We did a mezze board with humus and feta dip, prawns, and potato zepole. It's a great option if you aren't sure which you like and want a tiny sample of each. If you have a big group maybe opt for the full size options, but the sample was great for the 4 of us! We loved the potato!! For our mains we split the lobster pasta, 7-spice chicken and the branzino. All of them were fresh and fabulous. Jay surprised us with some donuts that come with a berry compote and a homemade whipped cream and wow are they a show stopper! We were obsessed and were so glad we tried them. Overall you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu! Everything is fresh and locally sourced. And make sure to ask for Jay :)

Beautiful decor.
Maggy B.

I had no idea this place was even in here, you should definitely check it out! It is tucked into a little corner right off of Santa Monica Blvd. across from the pier. The location is perfect! We wandered in here one afternoon and it was completely empty, I think they had just opened. We ordered a couple of drinks at the bar and let the bartender know that I wish sugar-free. She went above and beyond, and made me a homemade blueberry mint something or other, that satisfied my request. I love when places are willing to accommodate my sugar-free limitations and make it delicious for me. I will be coming back here and recommending to all of my friends. To the bartender that took the time, good on you girl!

Chicken tagine
Vicki M.

Great meal, beautiful ambiance and excellent service!! We sat outside in the patio which is so pretty with the green vines cover overhead and the cute lights. Very very inviting! And it was perfect weather too surprisingly because apparently Labor Day weekend gets really hot but this time it was actually mild and nice. Lucked out for sure with our visit!! We ordered the Mezze platter - chose the chicken souvlaki skewers (4) since we were 4 of us, the hummus, the whipped feta, baba ghanoush, nas-o-musir, and the potato zeppole. It comes with a pita split in 4 quarters and some crudite veggies. We had to order additional pita because there were so many dips and spreads that was not enough. I would strongly suggest they add another pita to accompany this mezze platter. But everything was delicious! In addition we ordered the chicken tagine which is like a chicken stew with veggies. That was also quite tasty although we only ate a little as we were quite full already and got the rest for leftovers. We also ordered dessert - the loukoumades which are described as Greek donuts with honey drizzle served with a cardamom chantilly cream. We were all quite full so only ate one or two and took the rest for leftovers. The restroom was interesting - only 2 unisex stalls and a single sink. They definitely could use renovations and some updates. I took off a star for that reason- especially given the restaurant itself both inside and outside is really amazing in its decor - was expecting a much nicer bathroom. Overall a nice experience with great dinner and a great evening!

Maria E.

This restaurant has such a great location--right near the ocean, making it super convenient. The atmosphere is lovely, especially if you sit on their beautiful terrace. Highly recommend trying the Chicken Tajine--so flavorful and delicious! Other food didn't impress us that much but we would give it another chance! Definitely a great spot to check out if you're in Santa Monica.

Ruby M.

A perfect place for a nice dinner, especially because it is a bit hidden. The service is fantastic, beautiful, intimate ambiance. I loved my whole experience here, they even gave us a complimentary glass of champagne with our dinner for New Year's Eve. I ordered their berry margarita, and I was absolutely floored! Their steak was delicious, super juicy and a perfect portion to share with your table even. Their lobster pasta was to die for! I can't wait to come again and try other menu items.

Passion Fruit Lemonade Mocktail
Anastasia G.

Gorgeous design, delicious food and outstanding service. We chose outdoor seating and were very happy with our choice. The portion sizes are large but the waiters give you heads up about that, which I truly appreciated. Amazing ambience. We'll be back if we are ever in the area.

Sharleen S.

Someone recommended this spot so we decided to try it out. I got the Mezze Platter with hummus, the potatoe zeppole and chicken souvlaki. It came beautifully presented and the chicken was good, but the hummus was pretty bland with a lot of salt. Every bite I took had chunks of salt in it. The potato zeppole wasn't the best either, it really tasted like a donut in a way. The cucumbers that came with the hummus was super fresh and great, and the bread was yummy as well. Our friend got the potato gnocchi and said it was very bland. All and all - won't be coming back for the food. The service by Christopher was AMAZING. He was the best! I mentioned it was my birthday and he showed up with amazing delicious dessert. The vibes and ambiance were cute, very "date vibes". Parking: there's meters around, and parking structures. But it's fine cause it's a nice stroll and other spots around.

Entrance
Luis M.

My company hosted a private event here and the experience was amazing! Everything from the food to staff was so great. The cocktails were all super well made, excellent craftsmanship that the bartenders have here. Both the outdoor and indoor area are equally stunning, such neat thought that went into the layout and decor here. Will definitely come back to check out the dining experience here.

Mediterranean Branzino,  Lobster alla Catalana Pasta
Madison D.

Food was absolutely delish! 3 of us shared the Mini Zeppole and Whipped Feta w Peta on happy hour for our app, then shared the Steak Frites, Lobster alla Catalana Pasta, and Mediterranean Branzino as our mains. The portions were great, we were all full and even had a little leftover steak and pasta to bring home. I personally thought the Mini Zeppoles lacked flavor, however they were my friend's favorite dish of the night. It's served with a yummy Spicy Tomato Dip which was sooo good mixed with the Whipped Feta. Knocking off a star because the restaurant was very hard to find and was extremely loud inside. Even without many people in the area we were sitting in, I struggled to hear my friend's talking across from me and the waiter. There is very minimal signage from Ocean Ave indicating that the restaurant is tucked away down a little alley. Maps doesn't take you to the entrance on Ocean, it tries taking you down various alleys. A sign on Ocean Ave pointing towards the checkin area would be extremely helpful. I will say it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL inside. Funny seeing the old 41 Ocean club turned into a high end restaurant, but they did it extremely well.

Mezze platter ( IG & TT: @takeonefortheroad)
Tiffany L.

Vibes are immaculate, food is good, definitely get the lobster pasta. Octopus is cooked perfectly. Chocolate panna cotta is really rich and a bit too sweet for me. Service is great!

mezzo platter with prawns, yogurt dip, baba ganoush
Kendall C.

What a cute restaurant! It's a bit hidden, has an adorable patio and the inside is quite nice as well. Our server Justin was fantastic. Gave us great recommendations. The pulpo was some of the best I had ever had in LA! Great flavor and the perfect texture, not chewy at all. The chef special squid ink pasta was phenomenal. Everything was truly great. I do wish the greek salad were more traditional (feta block vs whipped, black olives vs green) but it was still lovely.

Outside
Aileen H.

This restaurant is tucked away in the back of other bigger restaurants off Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. You cannot see the restaurant off the street. You need to walk to the back of the other restaurants and then you will see it. It is a hidden gem. The minute I stepped inside, I felt transported to a Mediterranean garden and an upscale lounge/restaurant. The restaurant opened three months ago and a local friend took me here. Otherwise, I don't think I would have found it. We selected the Baba Ganoush (eggplant), Prosciutto Tomatoes, and Olives for the Mezze Platter. The Prosciutto wrapped tomatoes were my favorites. The sweet and savory prosciutto paired nicely with these small juicy flavorful tomatoes. Each mouthful was a burst of flavor and absolute deliciousness! We also ordered the chicken tagine and that was enough to share for two to three people. It was chicken slow-cooked in a curry sauce and came with vegetables. This dish felt hearty and comforting. It came in a hot pot. The chicken was tender.I highly recommend it as a shared entree. For drinks, the Cave Rose was great but the Virgin Paloma (mock tail) was bland and lacked flavor. The reason why I am not giving this place 5 stars is because I am allergic to loud noises. If you like loud music, go for dinner (they are not open for lunch yet) Thursday through Saturday when there is a DJ. I was there on a Friday night so the DJ was blasting loud club music. If you don't like loud music, then go Sunday through Wednesday. I learned this from our waiter. I highly recommend making a reservation. The place was mostly packed. Except for the loud music, the place was lovely. Service was good and the food wasn't bad.

Crab Fregola Risotto at Mon Ami
Krys N.

Say hello to the new it spot in Santa Monica! Tucked away on Ocean Avenue, this is one of those places you can't stumble upon, but need to know about. Once you open up its wooden doors, be prepared to be taken to a Mediterranean oasis! The patio is super cute with pink umbrellas and greenery everywhere. The indoors is great as well that serves as a good date spot. As for the food? So many good choices! Recommended is the Mezze Platter where you can build your own platter to try a bit of everything - get the Potato Zeppole for sure! Who doesn't love a crispy potato donut with tomato dip? We went all out with the Steak Au Poivre and Crab Fregola Risotto which both blew our expectations out of the water. The hostess, servers, and busboys were super attentive and helpful the entire time as well. You can easily drop a pretty penny here but for a nice night out or a special occasion, just do it!

IG: Snacks_with_steph

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Mon Ami Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mon Ami

Are dogs allowed on patio? The answer is yes! Got confirmation from the restaurant.

Not sure since I was there for dinner .

Any mocktails or non-alcoholic beverages available?

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

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Calabra

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Mon Ami - mediterranean - Updated June 2026

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