Top-notch service and incredible food! The Maine lobster spaghetti was the standout dish for me, perfectly balanced with just the right ratio of pasta, lobster, and sauce. The roasted cauliflower was absolutely delicious, roasted to perfection and paired with a delicious sauce that complemented it beautifully. And the espresso martini was perfection, the ideal way to end the meal. I can't wait to come back! read more

My family and I dined at Orla during a Father's Day weekend stay in Santa Monica, and it was one of the best restaurant experiences we've had in quite some time. The food was excellent from start to finish. Highlights included the whipped chickpea hummus, lamb kofta, Michael's Favorite Salmon, zucchini fritters, saffron rice, and an outstanding dessert course. The cocktails were creative, beautifully presented, and thoughtfully crafted. Every dish felt intentional and well executed while remaining approachable and enjoyable. What truly set Orla apart, however, was the service. Pia stopped by our table to personally ensure everything was going well and even made sure we hadn't left any belongings behind when we departed. That level of attentiveness is increasingly rare and very much appreciated. Ryan provided exceptional service throughout our dinner. We were dining with young children, and he consistently looked for ways to improve our experience. One moment that particularly stood out was when our son preferred traditional dinner rolls over the pita bread being served. Rather than simply apologizing or suggesting another menu item, Ryan and the team went out of their way to locate dinner rolls elsewhere in the property so he could have something he enjoyed. It was such a thoughtful gesture and a perfect example of hospitality done right. Another memorable touch came when the evening ocean breeze picked up during dinner on the patio. Before we even had the opportunity to ask, the hostess noticed and brought blankets for our family so we could remain comfortable and continue enjoying our meal outdoors. It was another example of the team's attentiveness and ability to anticipate guests' needs. The team was also incredibly gracious in handling special requests and making our children feel welcome throughout the meal. As parents, we appreciated that just as much as the excellent food. Many restaurants offer great cuisine. Far fewer combine great cuisine with genuine hospitality. Orla succeeds at both. The restaurant delivers a refined dining experience without ever feeling pretentious or unwelcoming, and the staff consistently demonstrated a level of care that elevated the entire evening. We left impressed not only by the quality of the food, but by the people behind it. Thank you to Pia, Ryan, the hostess team, and the entire Orla staff for making our Father's Day weekend so memorable. We look forward to returning on our next visit to Santa Monica. read more

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This restaurant is top-notch! From the moment I pulled up, the experience was exceptional. The valet greeted me with a smile, asked my name, and when I told him it was my first time visiting, he personally escorted me into the restaurant. That level of hospitality immediately set the tone. The ambiance is warm, inviting, and beautifully designed. Even the aroma when you walk in makes you excited for the meal ahead. The entire atmosphere feels welcoming and comfortable. Once seated, our waiter was attentive right away, asking what type of water we preferred and taking our drink order promptly. As someone who doesn't drink alcohol, I was impressed by their mocktail selection. I ordered the Virgin Mojito, and it was so refreshing and delicious that I ended up ordering a second one. Every dish we ordered was outstanding. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. And let me tell you... the hummus is practically a meal by itself! It was so good that we couldn't stop talking about it. What really took the experience to another level was the customer service. The manager, a lovely woman whose name I unfortunately didn't catch, stopped by our table and made us feel genuinely appreciated as guests. After hearing how much we loved the hummus, she graciously sent us home with some to-go at no charge. That simple gesture spoke volumes about the kind of establishment this is. It's rare to find a restaurant where the food, service, and atmosphere all exceed expectations, but this place does exactly that. I left feeling completely satisfied, welcomed, and honestly just full of life. I will definitely be back and highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an amazing dining experience. read more

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We really fell in love with this place! Amazing service and yummy dishes. Our server Jesus was very nice and friendly,,, all the dishes that he recommended were yummy. That Saganaki dish is a must on their menu! It was one of the most delicious bites i've ever had. The restaurant is gorgeous, amazing view of Pacific, the lobby is so chic too!! Highly recommended! read more

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Came for lunch and it was wonderful. Loved the view, service and the Lemon dessert is a must! read more

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I needed something healthy before hitting the gym so I sat outside and ordered chicken patties. Esteban is my waiter and he's super sweet. I probably would've opted for the chia pudding next time. The service is great and so is the hostess! I'm excited to come back here for dinner tonight! They have a more extensive menu later in the day. I came back for unofficial happy hour and it's not really but it IS because it's the happiest place to be in Santa Monica! We sat at the bar and Kevin was our delightful bartender! He has a great personality and he loves working here as he should! It's paradise and the food is great! 1,000% better than breakfast although that wasn't bad at all! I love the bar nuts which are seasoned with dukkah. So addictive! We ordered ahi tuna on falafel which was HEAVENLY like my fave out of all the dishes we ordered. The octopus was tender and good with cannellini beans. The lemon potatoes were not as good as mine and definitely need more lemon and seasoning. Overall a GREAT experience and we love the dancers that performed for a few minutes. read more

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Came here on a Monday night in a party of 3. Parked on the street less than a block down. We were seated without issue at a booth with a view of the ocean. We ordered the lamb kofta pops ($28), kataifi wrapped prawns ($35), Mediterranean sea bass done the Greek way ($59), grilled mushrooms ($16), and roasted cauliflower ($15). I also ordered the Ares cocktail ($20). Overall, this was a fantastic meal. My favorites were the lamb and prawns, followed by the sea bass and mushrooms. I would probably trade the cauliflower for something else next time, as they felt slightly too bland for me. I think I would try a different cocktail too, as I couldn't fully taste all the different flavors that were supposed to be in the Ares. That being said, the ambiance and service were wonderful! read more

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Orla by Michael Mina is in the Regent hotel on Ocean in Santa Monica. This is a very nice, very swank hotel. I have gone to a couple of Michael Mina restaurants so I was very excited. I was here for a work dinner so I was on the company dime but was still a bit shocked at the prices -- one of the cocktails (of course the one I wanted) was $35 -- I guess those are SaMo prices -- so when in Rome! We were a party of 5 with reservations at 6pm -- it was pretty dead when we got there but it was perfect for sunset. They sat us in the back room so harder to see the views (if making a reservation I would specify that you want to sit closer to the windows to see the sunset) To get a really good picture we had to go out of the restaurant to the patio deck -- It was a nice view for sure even from our back table but it wasn't picture perfect. Drinks: I really wanted the "Magic From the Gods" but it was $35 and I just couldn't justify this, but it looked good! Instead I opted for the "Zeus" which was bourbon based cocktail with pink peppercorns -- it was good but I wasn't sure if you were supposed to eat the peppercorns and when I did have one it was obviously very peppery and strange -- then it became a game to avoid getting the peppercorns in my mouth. With dinner I had a glass of the Sav Blanc and it was delightful but again so much $$$ for one glass!! Food: We started with whipped chickpea hummus ($15), marinated bigeye tuna ($26) and zucchini fritters ($17) -- everything was good but I wouldn't say it was amazing -- for what the cost was but I guess you are paying for the view and the bougie environment? Which is also a bit weird because it is in a hotel -- in fact when you have to go to the restroom you have to walk through the lobby of the hotel, so kind of strange. Back to the food -- For my main course I had the sea bass "the greek way" ($59) and it was good but the fish was a little dry-- it just wasn't amazing which is what I would expect for the price -- I guess my expectations were super high and although there are no complaints about food, service or ambiance it just wasn't enough, LOL. We had already spent over $500 so there was no dessert. I don't think I will go back unless someone else is paying, lol. read more

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Came here for my birthday. Parking can either be valet, hotel or street. Our host at our table was super friendly. The food, eh. The hummus was great. The fish was great. The chicken was mid. The potatoes overly salty. Great wine selections but the upcharge was a little ridiculous. I still didn't mind until the food wasn't all that great. The ambiance is absolutely stunning. I would go for just drinks next time and save on the food. read more

Orla by Michael Mina - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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really really high quality Mediterranean food and probably the best views restaurant in all of santa monica; right in a hotel and would make a perfect venue for a special occasion! Prices are quite unreasonably high. Probably one of the more expensive date nights we have had and for the portions, pricings can be lower in my opinion. read more

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I would give Orla 4.5 stars if I could, but since there are no half stars, and they have a beautiful location and some stand out dishes, I chose 5 stars instead of 4. I came with a larger party of 7, originally we were right by the balcony overlooking the Santa Monica pier, but due to the size of our party, we were seated at a larger table farther back. Still a beautiful view, but if you come with a smaller party, you get to be right at the edge with spectacular views. Some of the stand out dishes we ordered included the zucchini fritters (omg so good!) the steak that was perfectly cooked, and the Kanpachi Crudo with a beautiful sauce. We also ordered a delectable fish dish - I'm not certain what type of fish it was, but it had a light bread crust, it was perfectly cooked and the sauce complemented it so well. Well also had the chicken entree and the dark meat on that chicken was so good! We also shared a babaganoush and tomato salad which were both solid side dishes. The service was lovely, very attentive and accommodating. At one point there were women dancing in the bar inside who were dressed in feathery show-girl-esque costumes. It was a fun time. You can park at the hotel that Orla is located in, and they validate, but I'm not certain what the price is because we parked at a regular public lot. read more

This place was BOMB wow. Definitely a pricier restaurant but so so yummy and also great aesthetic/views by the beach! We got the Zucchini Fritters, Orla Bread Service and Kebab Platters for the table. Some of us shared the Tomato-Ginger Glazed Salmon and Black Harissa-Grilled Lamb Chops. Everything was honestly delicious, plated and flavored beautifully but I think the star was the lamb chops. So tender and juicy! Great experience overall. read more

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Beautiful refresh / remodel of the lobby space and restaurant. Had Dine LA lunch today and it was excellent. Wonderful menu. I love the space and the deco influenced design. It was a gorgeous day and the place is so light with massive windows and stunning beach views. Nice attentive service. The food was superb. We started with tasty dips and soft pita, my favorite was the red pepper Muhammara. Delicious Greek salad also served. The best thing were the zucchini fritters! I had them in Greece and had been on the hunt. Can't miss them, perfectly done with a lovely crisp and mind blowing flavor. We split a few mains which were great. Excellent fish and chips. The lemon olive oil cake for dessert was a superstar. Absolutely unique and beautiful presentation. Overall, a wonderful restaurant. Can't wait to go back and highly recommend. read more

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Restaurant is inside the Regent hotel which is beautiful. Everyone greets you and the host was friendly and gave us a table with a beach view. Server was so friendly but professional as was other staff. We came for the Dine LA lunch which included a mezze of butternut squash hummus,beets and labneh with pears. I chose salmon for my entree and hubby chose eggplant. Both came with a beautifully dressed salad and couscous. Appetizer was absolutely delicious. My entree had the smallest piece of salmon I've ever been served plus it was fishy. Hubby wasn't impressed with the eggplant which needed some umph. Dessert a mini lemon type cake. Maybe I expected too much but the food was underwhelming. Service and ambience was excellent. We also ordered the truffle macaroni and cheese which was delicious. read more

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Orla is crushing it! We ordered the $105 set menu and it felt like a bargain for the quantity and quality food! It included the mezze platter (so fresh and flavorful), lamb skewers, branzino, dessert, an sooo much more! Every bite was spot on. The cocktails were just as good as the food -- creative, balanced, and really fun. Service was friendly and attentive without being pushy, which made the whole night feel easy and enjoyable. Orla has quickly jumped to the top of my list for Santa Monica dining. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Orla by Michael Mina is a gorgeous restaurant located inside The Regency Hotel in Santa Monica. I fell in love with this restaurant as soon as I walked in. We were seated in front of the main window which faces the beach. I could not stop looking around, everything was so pretty. Our server was very friendly and kind. Our food was outstanding. I ordered the crusted sole which I devoured immediately. I did have some leftovers for the following day and the dish tasted even better. This dish is definitely highly recommended. I'm looking forward to coming back. I parked in the parking lot by the day. read more

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Based in The Regent hotel in Santa Monica, Orla is an oceanfront oasis with beautiful Mediterranean & Egyptian influences in the food m, decor, and atmosphere. The space is incredible with the large bar, expansive indoor-outdoor seating and ocean views from every seat. There was even a live performer dancing gracefully and effortlessly during the night to add some flair to the dining experience. We were seated in a very comfortable booth facing the ocean. The service was excellent throughout the evening. We started off with some cocktails including the Santorini Sun, which was smoky and a little tart, and the non-alcoholic A Little Bit of Rita, which was very refreshing. We shared the Hamachi Crudo and Whipped Hummus to start, the salmon and Mediterranean Sea bass for our mains, and The Lemon for dessert. All the dishes were flavorful & delicious, and the portion sizes were substantial. We all thoroughly enjoyed the meal & experience overall. We cannot wait to go back! read more

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Located in Regent Santa Monica Beach Hotel Beautiful ambience and love the tiered flooring with a spectacular view of Santa Monica beach. FOOD 3/5 - Tried the Orla Pre-Fixe Experience Tuna Falafel The Greek - can't go wrong with veggies 4/5 Whipped Chickpea Hummus - solid 4/5 Pesto Prawn Rigatoni - solid 4/5 Macaroni Bechamel - dry and too crispy 3/5 Kebab Platter - okay 3/5 Chargrilled Branzino - bland and not tasty 3/5 Asparagus, Saffron Rice, Pita Bread 4/5 The Lemon (probably the best item on the list) 4/5 love the presentation SERVICE 3/5 Decent service but for the amount of servers on deck our water, drinks and empty plates weren't attentive. Would have expected a better experience. PARKING 4/5 $23.00 + TIP for VALET Valet only unless you're willing to walk from a paid structure parking lot. read more

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this restaurant was beautiful with a perfect view of the beach! there is valet parking at the front of the hotel, but i was able to get meter parking right out front. all the starters were delicious! i ended up getting the burger and it was very juicy and flavorful. we went to the outdoor area to take pictures, and it was the perfect day! service was good-- the only thing is i remember our water wasnt getting refilled. it also started to get very warm in the outdoor seating area. other than that, we had a great experience (: read more

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Michael Mina has done it again!!!!! My entire experience at Orla was divine, from beginning to end. First and foremost, the hotel itself and the restaurant are exquisite. The restaurant is filled with beautiful leather booths and an incredible bar! The food, as always at any Michael Mina restaurant, was out of this world. I love how he paired traditional Middle Eastern flavors with contemporary dishes and seafood. Every dish was quite simply insane. DO NOT skip Petrossian Caviar Fateer, the Lobster Roll, the tuna falafels, or the macaroni bechamel. I will be dreaming of these dishes for the rest of my life. Believe me, you are going to want more of each dish the second it's done. I can't wait to go back and try more things on the menu (both brunch and dinner). Our server was also fantastic. Was able to pull some strings and get us the Petrossian caviar bite during brunch and I was beyond thrilled. 10/10!!! read more

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Absolutely stunning restaurant with panoramic views of the ocean and the newly renovated Regent Santa Barbara. Michael Mina's latest concept delivers both elegance and flavor in a setting that feels elevated yet welcoming. The service was exceptional, warm and attentive from start to finish. Zucchini Fritters with tzatziki, dill, and Meyer lemon: crisp, light, and bursting with flavor. This is a perfect starter. Dungeness Crab Spaghetti with black lime hollandaise and Bloomsdale spinach: incredibly decadent and beautifully balanced. A generous portion and a must-order dish. One of my favs. Kataifi-Wrapped Prawns with young coconut and spicy mango lime leaf: one of the best prawn dishes I've ever had. Uniquely crisp, aromatic, and completely addictive. Best thing we ordered! Wagyu Beef Hawawshi - Egyptian-style pita burgers with tahina, secret sauce, and tabbouleh: juicy, flavorful, and perfectly spiced. Comes with four sizable portions, ideal for sharing. Orla is an instant favorite. Beautiful design, exceptional food, and a prime oceanfront setting. I can't wait to return! This is a destination-worthy dining experience. read more

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Food Service Ambience Our waiter was Amazing, location is great with ocean view. Food was amazing. read more

What a fabulous luxurious experience! The greeting that we received when we walked into the restaurant in itself was amazing . Located in the recently renovated Regent Santa Monica, We had brunch and were seated facing the beach. We shared the avocado toast, omelette and salad. This is a restaurant setting perfect for people watching! Think Super good food meets high end expectations/experience. read more

Amazing a true fine dining experience. My husband wowwed me with this Valentine's Day excursion The food was top tier. Best octopus I've ever had. Service was on point. Exquisite wine selection. Our server was friendly and attentive. No complaints here. The duck dish my husband ordered he loved, I'm not a super fan of duck but he enjoyed it & the fish platter i ordered was crispy and cooked to perfection. The grilled octopus with gigante beans stole the show. This restaurant is highly recommended and the ambiance is romantic and beautiful. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE NIGHT ENDED. WITH A VERY HAPPY ENDING read more

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Came here with a group of 10 for a friend's birthday dinner, and sadly, the night didn't match the gorgeous space. Orla is located inside the Regency Hotel, which is stunning. From the lobby to the restaurant interior, it all looks high end and well designed. Parking is either hotel valet or a bit of a walk if you're trying your luck with street parking. Now for the actual experience: the service was noticeably bad. We were barely checked on the entire night, and when someone did stop by, it wasn't even our server, maybe a manager? Hard to tell. It felt like we were kind of forgotten about. The food, which I was most excited for, was a mixed bag leaning toward disappointment. Here's what we ordered: Starters: -Bread service: A good start, can't go wrong with a variety of breads and dips. -Tuna falafel: This was strange. Raw tuna on top of fried falafel. I was hoping for something more creative. It felt like an off brand version of crispy rice tuna, and unfortunately, it just didn't work. -Octopus: Something in this dish was overwhelmingly bitter. Not just the greens (which I expected), but another element completely threw the balance off. Couldn't get through more than a bite. -Kataifi prawn: Bland and forgettable. -Black truffle saganaki: One of the better things we had. If you like cheese, you'll enjoy it. -Zucchini fritters: Wanted to love them... didn't. They just didn't hit the mark. Mains: -Macaroni béchamel: Best carb of the night, though it needed more salt. -Crab spaghetti: This was a miss. Really disappointing. -Chargrilled branzino: Finally a win! This was the best thing we ordered by far. -Kebab platter: Meh. For something that should've been bold and flavorful, it was mid at best. Sides: -Asparagus: Simple and solid. -Lemon potatoes: Hard pass, didn't enjoy these at all. -Fries and spreads: Just okay. One bright spot: a server who wasn't even assigned to our table but came by to drop off a couple of dishes. I wish I remembered his name, he brought a spark of energy that the rest of the service was sorely lacking. All in all, Orla is beautiful to look at, but the food and service didn't live up to the aesthetics. With better execution and hospitality, it could be a great spot. Lastly- head to the bathroom for a photo, it's really pretty! read more

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We chose this place for a special occasion and were very pleased. The interior in a slightly segregated room provided a nice and very quiet space such that we in fact could engage in conversations. The staff was charming. And the food was delicious, maybe a touch on the salty side, but without any doubt masterfully composed. read more

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Such a beautiful restaurant with an amazing view of the pier and ocean. Inside a hotel, the ambiance is inviting and perfectly dim for a romantic dinner. Service was attentive but nothing out of ordinary. The food was really good up until I had the lobster- which was sadly had no flavor unlike many of the other dishes we had tried. The tuna falafel was deli as well as the pesto rigatoni. read more

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Today we went to Orla for the first time to celebrate our friend's birthday. We came for the amazing brunch menu which offered a variety of options that everybody had something to try and of course share with one another. On top of the brunch menu we did start with some hummus and pita bread since we're all starving, and it didn't disappoint. The bread came out fresh and the hummus was well seasoned and comes with a bunch of toppings that gave it a unique flavor profile The brunch menu is quite generous, and some of the appetizers that we loved were the zucchini and salmon, the Big tuna on falafel, and definitely the crusted shrimp Remains I got their Egyptian Pita hamburger, which was really generous in terms of portion that I actually took a big chunk of at home. I also got to try my friend branzino which was exceptionally well done, but wish that it came with some side dishes or vegetables to help balance out the entree For dessert, the chocolate mousse was my favorite and I could eat three of those if I had the opportunity. Orla is located just within walking distance of the beach and offers some amazing views. We were sat in their sunroom which had prime view of the ocean and all of the busy bodies walking up and down the strand All of us agree that we will be coming back to Orla for dinner and to try more of their delicious food items and cocktails The service was great and the aesthetic of the overall restaurant and hotel is stunning definitely worth coming by with a group of friends or date night. Great job Orla team! A new gem amongst the Santa Monica foodie scene read more

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1000 times yes! Very happy camper here. Wonderful service. Jenn was the sweetest. Manager also lovely, can't remember his name. We went for Brunch. Sat outside. Was cold so they provided us with COOOOZY blankets! We had the mimosa special. Tuna with falafel The hummus Shakshouka Steak and eggs Everything was BEYOND DELICIOUS!!!! Be-yond! Wanted to stay all day and have dinner there. Will be taking anyone who visits me to this place! Oh! And the views?!? GORGEOUS!! read more

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Had the pleasure of dining at this beautiful new restaurant hidden inside the new Regent hotel in Santa Monica. The hotel is absolutely stunning. A huge upgrade to the former space occupied by the Loews, finally something upscale in Santa Monica. I look forward to having lunch here with the beautiful ocean views and amazing so cal weather. The service from the moment we arrived was exceptional. From the hostess stand to the bar to our wonderful wait staff everything was perfect. Our server Ryan was amazing and took great care of us. He gave us wonderful recommendations and we loved everything he suggested. He also did an amazing job coursing out our meal and making sure our plates were changed out for each course, it's the little things that you have to appreciate. Now on to the good stuff. We started out with the hamachi crudo, which was excellent. I also really enjoyed the octopus, the lamb chops, the lobster with fried rice was one of the most exceptional dishes I've ever had. And the Dover sole was the best fish I've ever had. And the desserts were all phenomenal. I personally loved the lemon dessert. But they were all great. After dinner our friends wanted to check out the ballroom. The general manager of the hotel came over and gave us a wonderful tour of the property. At this point it was almost midnight but he was so kind and patient. We really appreciated the tour and thoroughly enjoyed this lovely property. read more

Orla by Michael Mina - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Still dreaming about my experience here!! I came in solo for my birthday and was greeted with such a friendly service, and a beautiful view of the Santa Monica beach and sunset on the patio! I ordered the Tuna Falafeel, Sea Bream, and the Passion Fruit Cheesecake. I was licking my fork after they took away my plates!! Great portions for one and the flavors were amazing. Definitely on the pricey side so would recommend visiting for a special occasion! read more

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In archaic Irish, Orla means either Golden Princess or vomit depending on the context. In Hebrew Orla means foreskin. To Chef Mina Orla translates into Rich Pageant which describes a good life with excellent food. Orla is a love letter to Egypt and Greece and a blessing to all who dine here. For me, it was LA's new hot ticket for truly creative yet accessible cuisine. Walk into the lobby at the Regent Hotel and look mystified. Someone will have pity and direct you to Orla. Two lovely Hostees will meet, greet, and seat you either in the gorgeous Bar poached from a Parisian Michelin Star resto, or the glassed in Patio with a view of the swaying tropical Palms and whatever is currently floating in Santa Monica Bay. Or, it's a large civilized Dining Room for you. The Decor is glass and class. Muted tones of NASA grade plastic and wood grained veneer are here. The chairs and tables are elbow/butt friendly. Beginning at Nappy Hour a fetching lithe dancer in a slinky dress, and huge feather fans, will perform an interpretive swooning Swan dance. Crumpled dollar bills jammed into a stretched thong waistband would be so wrong. The Dancer simply adds to the charm and grace of the place. And before your Cocktail fueled date is compelled to get up and gyrate like a fool in a Fez, the dancer drifts away. I suggest an early visit to Orla. When it gets slammed with guests it may be louder than the second night of the Arab Spring. The Staff: On it from the jump. Ryan was a practiced pro with a fine wit to make a good fit for my table. He was genuinely interested in adding to the dining experience. Can't decide? Prone to overordering? Too sloshed to choose? Let Ryan curate a terrific meal for you. The Bar: Full and not full of themselves. Signature Cocktails, classics, done classically and a Wine List as deep as the Aswan Reservoir. My Forbidden Fruit had Rhum du jour Ala Mina, Elderflower, Lime, Pomegranate, Baharat Spice all over one large ice rock. A distant mild bitter twing on the finish made it divine. Who's here? Mina's mob of foodie followers, hungry Hotel guests, and sadly recent fire fugitives. The Food: It is glorious from gullet to gizzard. Ryan shows you the spice box instead of merely wafting the Black Truffle box in your direction. The kitchen is confident and bold, so, buckle up as you're in for a treat to eat. The Urfa Pepper Dusted Big Eye Tuna sits atop a crunchy Falafel cube with a layer of Whipped Tahini, and a brunoise of tiny traditional Egyptian Spiced Salad. This dish will impress any jaded gourmet. The Zucchini Fritters were a row of golf ball sized globes. Crispy and creamy and nestled in a sharp Yogurt laced Tzatziki with Fresh Dill and Meyer Lemon Juice. While conceptually simple it was artfully constructed and should be sold by the bucket. Sign me up for two full ones. The Toasted Orzo & Spicy Duck with Kefalograviera Cheese, fresh Garden Peas, Urfa and Aleppo Pepper read like a Breast on Orzo and stuff. It was actually a stew instead. I thought I misordered until I tasted it. This dish was no Daffy Duck. It was comforting and tingled with a mild memorable spice. I could've and would've eaten a vat of it given the chance. The Phyllo Crusted Dover Sole served with Roasted Baby Brussels Sprouts, Skordalia (a Greek mash up of Potato and Garlic) and finally a touch of Caviar Cream. It was Fish and Chips elevated to Bocuse d'Or level. Crispy, crackly, crust enrobing a perfectly cooked delicate Sole that had soul. A definite re-do the next time I show for sure. The Roasted Chicken was enough for two hangry Egyptian Pyramid Construction workers. Brined and refined, it was moist and Chickeny with sliced Red Chilis, Feta Cheese chunks, and Fresh Mint. Don't be chicken to order this. I left full as a tick after Orla ticked all the boxes. Orla, more, ya! read more

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Wow, what an experience! I was so impressed from the outstanding service, to the views of the beach, Orla exceeded my expectations. Oh and I didn't mention the food yet...get the Orla experience ($175/pp). It's coursed out and samples of the best things on the menu. It was so much food, we brought more than half home with us. Check out the pictures to get a view of what you will get. This was for 3 people, so much food! Also the wine pairing went well, $95 a person. read more

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I was really looking forward to Valentine's Day dinner at Orla, but unfortunately it was one of the worst dining experiences I've had. The portions were shockingly small, especially considering the prix-fixe pricing. For over $400, I expected to leave satisfied, not still hungry. On top of that, a noticeable portion of the food tasted stale, which was incredibly disappointing for what's supposed to be a special-occasion meal. Service made things worse. Our waiter had zero personality and took an extremely long time to check on us or bring courses out. It felt inattentive and disorganized all night. What really upset us was that gratuity was automatically included in the final bill. Being charged a $65 tip for service that did not reflect even basic attentiveness felt unfair and frustrating. Valentine's Day is meant to feel special. Instead, this dinner felt overpriced, underwhelming, and poorly executed. For the cost and the reputation, I expected so much more. read more

We were staying at the hotel and since we had a hotel credit we decided to grab dinner here. Let me just say, I love this hotel. But I find this restaurant is better simply used for a good breakfast option as opposed to a high end dinner spot. Our experience did not feel high end here. And for the prices they are commanding, it should have felt that way. Wait staff is dressed very casually which already told me a lot. I didn't find the service to be representative of the pricing, just wasn't great. We ordered many things off the menu, and while we did like the appetizers we got, everything else fell flat. One thing I really didn't like is that they had a "sizzling king crab" on the menu for $109 we were excited about. When we ordered the waitress told us it was actually big prawns. Which at the time I didn't know exactly what she meant but we still ordered. We were served 2 large prawns on peppers and onions that tasted like some type of cooking accelerant. When we got the check we were charged the price of the king crab listed. Didn't feel they were comparable or worth over $50 a prawn. Very misleading. Anyways, we liked the appetizers as I mentioned & the restaurant patio was beautiful so that's where the stars are going. We didn't order any alcoholic drinks & our bill was $342 BEFORE tip. Thank god for our hotel credit or I would have been pretty upset. Would we come here again? Certainly not for anything more than a hotel breakfast. read more

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Went here for Dine LA, and it was a great experience for the most part. My friend and I got lucky that we found metered street parking by the beach, but apparently they validate parking, which I assume is hotel parking. We got confused on how to enter because the hotel doors facing the beach were closed. We walked around the block to the other side and realized the entrance was on the main street. Upon walking in, we were impressed by the hotel staff's hospitality in greeting us and pointing us towards the restaurant. We got there early for our reservation, but fortunately we only had to wait a few minutes before we were seated. They took us to a table facing the beach view. It wasn't by the windows, but it was elevated and we were still able to enjoy and admire the amazing view. There was also a live DJ, and a dancer with massive feather fans walked around the restaurant briefly to entertain. At some point, the dancer even got on the platform/surface connected to the back of our booth and other booths! Those were unexpected surprises and quite the highlights of our dining experience. Loved the vibe and luxurious decor. Our server started with giving us welcome drinks. Some sort of tequila. I told the server I don't drink alcohol. He only asked my friend if he wanted my shot, but didn't offer me anything. I would have appreciated an offer of a non-alcoholic beverage and an explanation of their non-alcoholic options, but nada. I ended up having to ask him. I felt like it was poor service. Fortunately our food arrived not too long after placing the order and was pretty good. We got all the mezzes, baklava french toast, wagyu beef hawashi, and the lemon. Everything was better with the Egyptian chili oil, but our favorite was the za'atar cured salmon. The tuna falafel felt forced, like they were just tuna on top of a falafel and didn't pair that well. The wagyu beef hawashi was pretty good. The portion was huge and filling. The french toast was decent, except we couldn't really taste baklava. Maybe if they poured honey on top after they toasted it and sprinkled some kadayif it would have tasted closer to what we had expected. The lemon was amazing! Loved the attention to details on the lemon color with some green and the chocolate stem. It reminded me of a key lime pie, but in a very cute mini lemon shape. TL;DR: The decor and beach view are the main selling point. The food was pretty good overall. Service was on the poorer end given the price point. read more

Incredible spot! Great service, staff goes above and beyond for you there. Food is unique and a special take on middle eastern. Blends modern technique with traditional flavors. The vibes are elegant more like a date spot. Sit outside to see beautiful views of the ocean! read more

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Dine LA lunch was out of this world. Great selection, a terrific introduction to the menu, which is creative, diverse and excellent. Every bite of food was spectacular. Views are some of the best in the city. Service and decor were amazing - you have to check it out. Just beautiful. The appetizer plates were delicious, especially the whipped hummus and the pickled beets. Salmon was excellent, as were all the sides. Desert was a work of art. We will be back for lunch or dinner again, although it will require a party of 4 or better because the menu is certainly on the pricey side. But wow, what a restaurant. Terrific. read more

Orla by Michael Mina - Lemon cake dessert. Tasted as incredible as it looks. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We came for Dine LA lunch. Beautiful space overlooking the water. Nice decor. Even though the restaurant was fairly empty, it took forever for the server to take our order. The first course were shared appetizers- hummus, halloumi and beets. All delicious. Then we had the lamb meatballs - tasty, but a bit dry. Again, we waited forever for our main course to come. By the time they arrived, we had been there over an hour. I had salmon and my friends had chicken. Both had beautiful presentation and tasted great. I finally had to get up and asked for the bill because we had to get back to work. They boxed up dessert because we didn't have time to eat it. So, food was great but everything was way too slow. read more

Orla by Michael Mina - Chicken Kebab - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Everything about this beautiful restaurant is amazing!! I recently enjoyed the prix fixe brunch at Orla and loved every dish. They provided so many tapas style dishes and all of them were delicious. The 3 dips for the fresh pita bread were perfect and all different from each other. It's hard to choose a favorite dish in general. However, I must say that the lemon dessert was the best lemon dessert I've ever had in my life. Absolutely gorgeous presentation and tasted like Heaven. I truly believe this place should get a MICHELIN STAR! Previously I'd been there for dinner and it was great as well. The staff and managers are always so kind and accommodating. You can tell they love working there and love working with customers. I was greeted with the sweetest smiles when I arrived and left with an even bigger smile on my face. It's hard to find restaurants like this with all the good things you love in one, so Orla is definitely a gem!! Congratulations to manager Robert! I can tell his light and expertise has elevated the customer experience at Orla! I can't wait to come back. read more