Visiting from New Mexico, I can confidently say this was one of the best experiences I've had in…read moreLA. David was an absolute gem!!! he was warm, charming, and incredibly attentive. He remembered my name, asked all the right questions, and gave thoughtful recommendations that made the entire experience feel personalized. He has a way of making you feel like a regular, even on your first visit. Great hospitality like this is rare and made my visit truly worthwhile. Seriously the most charming bartender in LA.

We had dinner at Water Grill Santa Monica (Ocean Ave) on April 19, and overall it was an easy 5/5…read moreexperience. We started with the oyster sampler featuring selections from Hollywood, MD; Pope's Bay, VA; Buzzards Bay, MA; Chesapeake Bay, VA; and Wellfleet, MA. The oysters were exceptionally fresh and served with great accompaniments. We always order oysters when visiting seafood restaurants because freshness is so important to us, and Water Grill absolutely delivered. A must-order. The grilled Spanish octopus, served with fingerling potatoes, Niçoise olives, roasted tomato, pine nuts, and olive oil, was very good (3.5/5). We're fairly picky when it comes to octopus, and while we would have liked a bit more char, it was still among the better versions we've had. The New Zealand king salmon sushi with avocado, hazelnuts, papaya, and white soy-lime vinaigrette was fresh, clean, and delicious (5/5). While not particularly unique, it was executed perfectly. The crispy calamari with harissa aioli and cilantro-mint sweet chili sauce was also well done (4/5)--crispy, not oily, and very enjoyable. Calamari is another dish we frequently order, and this version met our standards, even if it wasn't especially memorable. The standout among the appetizers was the New Zealand pink bream ceviche with cilantro, red peppers, onions, lemon juice, and olive oil. The presentation was beautiful, and the flavors were incredibly fresh (5/5). We only added a touch of salt. This is another must-order dish. The Peruvian bay scallops with pistachio citrus pesto were somewhat underwhelming (3/5), and the Brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts (3/5) didn't leave much of an impression either. The lobster itself was excellent (5/5)--sweet, fresh, and perfectly prepared. The accompanying coleslaw wasn't our favorite, but we'd happily order the lobster again and probably go for a larger portion next time. The absolute star of the evening was the Massachusetts black sea bass. It was easily one of the best dishes of the night and possibly one of the best fish dishes we've ever had at a restaurant (5/5). Tender, juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. To top it all off, the restaurant surprised us with a complimentary birthday dessert featuring chocolate cake, vanilla cake, oatmeal cake, and ice cream. It was thoughtful, delicious, and a wonderful ending to the meal (5/5). Overall, Water Grill earns a well-deserved 5/5. The quality and freshness of the seafood were outstanding, the beachfront ambiance was beautiful, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout the evening. Definitely a must-try seafood destination in Los Angeles. Thank you to the entire team for such a memorable experience--we truly appreciated it.

Damn this place was insane. Can't wait to try the tasting menu!…read more The food was outrageously flavorful. These guys are masters of fish and I will remember this meal for a very long time. The location is also the definition of low key. Love how unassuming the spot is. Will absolutely be going back!!

For a Michelin-recognized restaurant, our meal did not live up to the hype…read more Kanpachi & Uni Tostada: From the first bite, something tasted noticeably off. We both paused because of a strongly bitter lingering taste - the uni had spoiled. Spot Prawn & Scallop Aguachile: Two pieces of spot prawn and six little pieces of scallop swimming in a pool of a very tart lime-based sauce. While the shrimp itself tasted sweet, the scallop didn't taste like anything. The overall dish felt one-dimensional for the price. Ceviche de Rockot (Rockfish): More reasonable portion. Snappy texture. For a mild, sweet fish, this could have been a great canvas for creative flavors. Instead it's just lime-y like the prior dishes. While each dish looked aesthetic, they shared the same acidic flavor profile. I found myself wishing for more creativity and variety in the sauces and seasonings. The seafood quality also needs to be more consistent, especially when serving premium ingredients. Service: Order and pay at the counter, grab a table number, and the staff brings the food out. The restaurant itself is located in a shared casual dining space. Pay to park. I don't think the experience justified the reputation or the prices.

Lively, loud , fun , the place to be. Super popular & relatively few seats , tho there's a small…read morefront patio , generally a wait ! Ive only tried a couple of small plates , the endive salad ( nice) and the tempura sardines- ( nice ) . The staff is high energy and very friendly! I'd definitely return and highly recommend!

What an incredible seafood restaurant!!! Their happy hour (4-6pm) is also so lit because it's $10…read morestrong ass martinis lol I was drunk with half a drink and had to order the trout dip ($26) to balance out my dizziness! The trout dip was sooooo amazing!!!!!! Staffs were super super friendly and welcoming! I was seated at the bar first as I was waiting for my friends but the staff started chatting with me about life and the menu. I really appreciated the friendliness here! Once all my friend arrived, we were seated outside and ordered a bunch of fish and oyster tacos ($8 each). They were both delicious. The shrimp toast was also super yummy. The seafood platter was a must!! So fresh and so delicious! Definitely will be back to try more food. The restaurant is quite small so I'd recommend making a resy if you can or be ready to sit at the bar first come first serve. The ambiance is cute and casual- would even be a great place to enjoy a solo meal!

Amazing service! Roman was phenomenal and made us feel at home! The wagyu was unreal.read more

Kevin was our server and he was amazing. Took care of us well and everything came out super quick…read more He was very kind and we had great conversation with him too. He made our experience 100x better. Great food, great service. 10/10 would recommend and will come back.

Back here as we got hooked from trying for first time at La Cienega. We fell in love with their…read moreshrimp taco, ceviche, and poseidon. The one here had much shorter line and most importantly huge indoor sit-down space with full aircond blasted, super helpful amidst this summer! Back for their poseidon again and still as refreshing and palatable as we remembered.

Delicious shrimp tacos (tacos de camarones) here! Among some of the best shrimp tacos I've ever had…read morethus far. The shell was nice and crispy with a meaty shrimp filling. The shrimp was plump and flavorful. What amped up the flavor was the salsa on top which was super flavorful and fresh and not too salty for me. I also liked the creamy avocado on top. Everything held together well and it wasn't too messy to eat. I would keep coming back here for these alone. This is a food truck, but they actually have a designated indoor seating with ample tables and chairs and even bathrooms! Parking is street parking. I would highly recommend this spot among LA's best tacos spots.

Crab House We got…read morecombo A $99 : Korean crab Spicy crab Sea urchin (M) Seafood tofu stew Then we added another Korean crab to the combo. THIS PLACE is always good everytime I've gone but I think they improved from the previous years because the banchan was so interesting !! I never had a fish head + deeply braised radish that was perfectly salty spicy and sweet. The spicy rice cake portion was huge ! My friend and I were super full leaving and extremely satisfied. 10/10 recommend for uni bowls + raw crab lovers. I prefer the korean crab but the spicy one just goes so well together. Absolutely amazing service ! Super kind and helpful. Small cozy restaurant not here for the aesthetics of the atmosphere more here for the aesthetically pleasing food + delicious taste. Free parking outside. Follow me for more foodie adventures -living with Luci

I have been wanting to try raw marinated crab for the longest time and this spot did not…read moredisappoint! The soy crab and spicy crab both have their strengths, I would recommend the spicy crab if you need the sauce to hide a little bit of the fishiness of the crab. For those who don't like raw crab, the crab soup had a deep crab flavor and tasted very comforting and homemade. Since it was our first time, the server was very helpful and gave us recommendations. One crab is definitely enough for two people, especially with all the delicious side dishes that it comes with. While they give you gloves and a bib, come prepared to make a mess and get into the shells! It's hard work, but it's definitely a great group experience and is perfect for chatting with friends. This was a great meal and you could definitely taste the quality of the crab!

I've been wanting to try this place for ages, so I finally stopped in for lunch this week. I had my…read moredog with me, so we sat outside. It was perfectly pleasant, though be warned: foot traffic passes just a few feet away. I kicked things off with a martini, which was excellent--surprisingly generous by today's standards and a real deal at $12. For starters, I had the Caesar salad. Think tuxedo at a pool party: definitely overdressed. But it was delicious, and I'd order it again--just with light dressing. The fish sandwich was fine, nothing more. I couldn't help thinking McDonald's might edge them out on the Filet-O-Fish (though it's been decades, so who knows). It wasn't bad; I'd just try something different next time.

Came here for a group birthday dinner and it was pretty quiet on a weekday night (same night the…read moreDodgers won the series). Everything we tried I enjoyed for the most part. Parking is brutal in the area so expect to be circling around for a bit. They have a late happy hour which are half off oysters which is nice! We tried a set of raw oysters - rockefeller, small but might in flavor and meatiness. Shucking was done well too. Grilled octopus - pricey for the amount you get, but cooked well. Accompaniments like potatoes were OK, but could have more mushroom. Shell pasta - the pasta was homemade cause it tasted so light. I think the sauce was a little too light for me as well, but overall still a solid dish. Cioppino - Also a little lighter in flavor and I think just smaller in size in comparison to price. Seafood is fresh though, and that's clear in every dish here. Lonely Louie - the star of the night. I loved how fresh and bright this was. Everything mixed so well together and would definitely be getting this again. Atlantic Pie - their version of a key lime pie and was a tangy, nice finisher to the meal.

Great food, staff is super friendly! Don't sleep on the Cap't Loui sauce and the shrimp.read more

Its our first time eat here,Good Area,Clean,excellent service,Good Food,we like the garlic noodles…read moretotally delicious,Nice Area!