80% edible and delicious. There was some attempted artistry but like any art, there is personal preference. If this was an artist I would not be a fan. Once in a while they would create a piece that appealed to me. What's with the popular pork chop? It was very salty, dry and I didn't even eat it. I took it to go because I wasn't sure what to do with it and I didn't want to waste it. But it never was eaten. I didn't know what I could use it for in the end. Beets and berries was really good. The almonds were good. The rest was stuff I could have made better myself. I possibly ordered the wrong things. read more

We went for a celebration of sorts. It was well worth the visit. The food was excellent and the place had a nice vibe. The bar was small and that gave us a sense that the place would be a happy medium. It was. An ideal place to have a lovely meal with those you care about and you can hear them. WE will be back soon. Oh, wine selection is awesome! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in LA. Food is always memorable and perfectly executed. They are seasonal, local and farm to table. The good and bad of it: I find a new favorite dish every time I'm there, but I can't go back and order the same dish the next time! It doesn't bother me because each season has equally incredible dishes. The seafood has been my favorite. I've had succulent scallops, perfectly cooked sea bass, and amazingly fresh lobster. All were flawless. My hubby has enjoyed every steak he's ever ordered. All of the appetizers have wowed us - not kidding! They haven't delivered a subpar dish and I've eaten here a lot!! Wine list is extensive and reasonably priced (in comparison to other LA restaurants). Amazing food at an unpretentious place. People dressed less formal than other restaurants of the same caliber food. You can come in for a special Occasion or just a weeknight dinner and fit right in. Can't wait to go back soon! read more

I'm just going to preface this by saying that I genuinely think the other reviews that are in negative light are either nit picking to such an extreme extent or really want to bs anything. I went here almost entirely on accident. My girlfriend and I were going to go to a restaurant down the street only to find out that it was closed. We just dropped all of our quarters for a parking meter and were really hungry. We made that walk back up to the car and passed by this restaurant. I went to look them up and my girlfriend told me to not look at the menu whatsoever - keep it a surprise. Called them to see if they needed a reservation and they were pretty cool and said that it would help them out to make a reservation in the future but luckily they had a few open tables. The inside is simply beautiful. Immediately puts you in a relaxed vibe. My girlfriend and I were dressed in skater clothes and were not at all prepared for how others dressed but it almost seemed like nobody cared - and I enjoyed that. Everyone kind of just collectively agreeing we're all here for a good time and a huge plus for this was from the staff. The staff was probably the coolest people I have ever met at a restaurant. These are the guys you hang out with on a Saturday - these are the boys. They even got MF Doom playing and that right there sealed the deal. Rap Snitches Knishes playing while you eat some absolutely amazing food is a pretty good feeling. Speaking of the food, we ordered some oysters and those oysters quite honestly tasted as if the kitchen crew went out to the beach and got some oysters just a few hours before we got in. That was some bees knees stuff right there. If the crew sees this at all, you guys are pretty cool. Thanks guys. read more

Food and cocktails delicious and waiter wad awesome great recs totally bringing friends here

Do not leave Rustic Canyon without trying their honeycomb ice cream. Trust me on this one. Sure, their prime California ribeye is the best steak you'll ever have, but the ice cream is a game-changer. We've been back three times - we like to try different entrees, but we always get the bread with cultured butter and enough honey comb ice cream to feed an army. read more

Rustic Canyon - Plum ice cream, honeycomb ice cream, pavlova with peach & diplomat cream, and chocolate tart with mulberry & almond. - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Have visited may of my formerly fav hotels and restaurants. Thru no fault of their own many are off their game by 50%, lost head chefs, lost management, state restrictions etc. But not Rustic Canyon. What a delightful respite from the other fallen stars. They are still every bit the 1 Star Michelin restaurant they were pre covid and their new outdoor space is an IMPROVEMENT!! read more

Rustic Canyon - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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We came here for my dad's birthday and we had a really great time. We were surprised to learn that it was one of the first farm to table restaurants in LA. The food was so delicious and the service was also great! My favorites were the gnocchi and the sirloin cap. We will be returning soon! read more

Rustic Canyon is so, so good!!! It's definitely on the top of my list of favorite places to eat in the area. I'm a total sucker for sharing bunch of small dishes so of course Rustic Canyon won my heart. More importantly, the food is so tasty and refreshing!! Even part way through dinner I made another reservation to come back the following week. It's that good. The menu changes based on what's in season but when you read through the menu you'll total be in a total dilemma because every dish was fantastic. read more

Food is great. Cocktails are delicious. Minus one star for the tacky 4% service charge. Yes, it's disclosed on the menu, and yes, they're not the only ones who do it, but this practice is unethical and needs to stop. The entire point of it is to make it harder for customers to determine how much their meal will ultimately cost. If that wasn't the point, there would be no reason to do it--they could just raise the menu prices by 4%. Instead of trying to hide the ball from customers, just charge $26 instead of $25 and avoid the extra surcharge that makes us want to tip less. You're only punishing your employees read more

We had an amazing dinner here tonight. We love all of the restaurants in the Rustic Canyon family, but tonight was a new high for us. The wine list is amazing and anything that sommelier, Ferdinand Mucerino recommends will be amazing! We enjoyed a few different wines and I now have some new favorites! For dinner we had the Milo & Olive ciabatta with butter and olive oil. Needless to say, we devoured the entire thing. We also enjoyed the empire apples and sharp cheddar as an appetizer. We loved the fresh lettuce and radish salad with homemade dressing. For our mains, we loved the roasted chicken and hangar steak. For dessert we had the lemon tart and the homemade honeycomb ice cream. This was honestly, the best ice cream ever! Service is great and the atmosphere is welcoming and friendly. We can't wait to go back! read more

We really enjoyed our dinner here in a cozy booth - the black cod we had was sublime! And excellent, welcoming service! Nice to see a restaurant that really cares about its patrons. read more

So disappointing for the $. They first sat us on the patio in the back , terrible. But after speaking with the manager we got a table inside. I ordered tequila they brought me the wrong kind sent it back and then they brought me a margarita which I didn't order. My husband ordered a pork chop it was probably five inches thick and undercooked with so much sauce. All our dishes were covered in sauce and unappetizing read more

Great food in a comfy yet elegant atmosphere. The cocktails were tasty as well. Waiter recommended just the perfect dishes for me.

I had high hopes for this place since it has a Michelin star* and all. I will say the service was excellent. Great ambiance as well. The flavors of the food were incredibly simple despite the very elaborate menu descriptions. Most dishes seemed to be cooked in either chicken or beef stock making them rather simple tasting.... Berries and beets-needed to citrus or contrast. I found it bland. mussel Chowder-was served almost room temp and was really no different than your standard clam chowder. Duck leg-my favorite dish, loved the mustard sauce. I would have loved to close the meal with this. Steak with mushrooms- salty with a beef broth glaze. I would not recommend. There are way better steaks out there. I think they have good intentions here and just in need of some innovation. They have the right look and feel but I just wanted more taste wise. read more

The best restaurant I've been to in Santa Monica. Only got a pic of the salad, because I devoured everything else so quickly. The flavors were so unique & fun. And our server was just a gem! Definitelyyyyy recommend. read more

Amazing food, downright great service. I was seated on their outdoor patio as per COVID guidelines, staff all wore gloves, masks and face-shields. The waitress was very nice, gave recommendations and made it a fluid transition between courses. I was very impressed with the quality of the pork. read more

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Really good! It's fresh, it's seasonal, it's not pretentious. The beets were out of this world. And that's coming from someone who doesn't like beets. I implore you to get them. The chicken was also a standout. The only dishes that disappointed me were the potatoes (kind of felt like glorified poutine) and the green beans (just a little boring). The rest was stellar. Service was great, albeit a bit chaotic at times. What knocked my socks off the most were the desserts. We got both of them and I was so taken away. Would definitely come back for a nice dinner if Santa Monica wasn't so far away! read more

The waiter suggested that 2 gentlemen typically order 5-6 dishes to share. This plus 4 glasses of wine totaled $408 before tip. Ridiculous! One dish was 3 boiled potatoes covered with an awful oily white gravy. Another was a 4" diameter bowl half filled with tomatoes. A beef rib with succotash $99. The food is very good but clearly overpriced. read more

Wow! Few restaurants can make the COVID transition... and they have done it right - great music and lighting. So you're happy to be eating out and it's all so well done (tables and cleanliness) and welcoming... So you feel comfortable. The service is seamless and the kitchen, even better than before ( I never thought that'd be possible as this is one of my favorite places on the planet)... Try for weekdays as weekends are impossible and take a break- relax and enjoy a wonderful treat that's warm and inviting... and renews you - restores you... read more

Rustic Canyon - weiser's honeynut squash, summer peppers & avocado leaf curd - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I'm honestly a bit surprised by the Michelin nod here. We had two starters with the pickled peppers and the endives with persimmons. These were both good, the flavor combinations were unique. We then had the squash with vadouvan sauce - slightly underwhelming, the sourdough linguine with mussels and parsnip - the pasta was good, but the mussels and parsnip didn't go well with it, and an extremely fatty pork chop - too fatty for my taste. The food really didn't match the price point, and I felt that the chef really was trying too hard to live up to the Michelin hype instead of just creating delicious food. read more

Top fave restaurant in Santa Monica. Amazingly thoughtful food, cocktails and wine list. This is the place you should save and splurge for all courses. It's quality food and they don't over-price. Don't skimp on the beets and the veg, because they're just as good as the meats. And DO NOT miss out on the honeycomb ice cream (seriously, even if you get another dessert, tack a scoop on). Regular dinner menu is fabulous. If I can't get a rez, sometimes I try to score a spot at the bar. And I've been to a 12-course special tasting... so special. Rustic Canyon is always well worth it. read more

My niece (a Santa Monica native) and I recently dined here during my visit to her and I was so impressed. We got a very comfy seat in the bar area at a table despite the fact it was Saturday night and we had no reservations. Angel our server was so friendly and had such a deep knowledge of the menu and preparation of the various dishes, with such a love for the food and such pride in what he was serving, it was a sheer joy, and yes, the food was impeccable, creative and interesting. We shared a bunch of dishes, and with a glass of wine, the price was just over $200 total, which given the quality of the food and where we were, I thought was very reasonable and we left feeling very satisfied on every level. Definitely will be back and recommending it highly to everyone. read more

Met my husband's coworkers here for dinner the other night. All one of them talked about was the honeycomb ice cream (seriously, that is ALL she raved about the entire drive over). We ordered a few appetizers to share, a seasonal one with tomatoes (they had fresh tomatoes from the market, they were absolutely DIVINE), beets & berries (I know, it sounds horrible but it was pretty darned good), pork belly (it was cooked PERFECTLY, however the dish was only 'meh), and ricotta dumplings (yummmmmmm). We also ordered the hanger steak - which was cooked to perfection and simply delicious. They've got a terrific selection of booze, including fabulous local beers (I ordered the kolsch). Staff was friendly and attentive, I drink a lot of water and don't think my water glass was ever empty. Desert - The honeycomb ice cream did NOT disappoint - it was absolutely amazing. A.mazing! The lemon tart was pretty good, too. We did not like the dandelion chocolate budino thing, I'm not a fan of apple butter (at ALL). The negatives: The acoustics can be a little loud, but I noticed if you had a booth it was quieter because of the low ceilings above the booth (the gal I was with said it was MUCH louder in a table on the floor). The did try to do something about the acoustics by installing buffers in the ceiling nearest the window, I can't imagine how noisy it would be without them. I would also suggest that they need to clean the underside of their tables. Sitting at the booth with the sun where it was when we sat down I could see that the edges of all of the tables within my view needed to be cleaned. All in all it was a great experience - the service was spectacular and our meal was top-notch. read more

I needed to buy some acid indigestion pills after eating here. Yes there is flavor but it goes in a thousand directions. The pasta was touchy and heavy. The salmon was tasteless. The chicken was eh. I think the chef has flair and color pallets is lovely. Very hip looking good. Not tasty read more

Great dinner place. Lovely spot for a date with delicious food and wine. They have a wide selection of wine by the glass or bottle. The food was so delicious. We started with the cheese plate that had such amazing cheeses and the Milo and Olive bread. The bread was to die for. I had heard about their sister store (Milo and Olive) from friends and I now need to go check it out. For dinner we had the garden of gems salad, beets and berries dish, and the grass-fed hanger steak. Each dish was plated so intricately and tasted amazing! Will definitely be back read more

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Wow. First time here at this vaunted restaurant having wanted to come here for years. Huge disappointment. Staff and service was great, and all of them were personable and the reason they get 3 and not 2 stars. First sign that this place wasn't what it once was was the fact that on a Friday night the place was half empty. Ordered the berries and beets salad which has supposedly been on the menu forever. They forgot the avocado and the beets and berries tasted like someone poured a box of special K over the salad, presumably the quinoa l. Cheese plate for 23 is like armed robbery, the blue the only special or memorable of the cheeses. Bread was so-so Waitress told us there have been 5 or 6 chefs since opening, not exactly instilling confidence. Stopped with these two items and drinks cause I just wasn't impressed with the food. Whatever food was so hot that put this place was in the top 5 in LA is long gone. Not a real fan of this restaurant group. They own a bunch of sa mo places and all of them are very mediocre. Wouldn't come back to any of their restaurants. read more

Service to the community! Above and beyond! Durning the covid19 crisis and lockdown, Rustic Canyon is help Frontline workers. read more

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Rustic Canyon is known for its great food and a casual setup, so we were expecting for a nice dinner. It didn't go as we expected. The waitress was suprisingly unwelcoming. The food did not quite hit the mark either. We ordered the summer succotash with corn crackling. The broth was vibrant but not has the umami flavor we were expected, and we didn't appreciate the bunch of cheetos put on the bowl. The farm chicken was a misdeliver. We were served 2 thighs. One was marinated nicely and has great tenderness, and one tasted like it was frozen for 10 years. Overall, we would expect better experience on our next arrival. read more

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What an amazing restaurant and OBVIOUSLY what an amazing Chef. Every dish that I had was amazing different flavors and seasoned properly. A lot of chefs are scared of salt but not Jeremy he knows the deal. It was a mind blowing experience. For a girl whose had quite a few meals, this one for sure was unforgettable. read more

Rustic Canyon - Pork chop. - Wine Bars Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I rarely make note of a disappointing meal. But, had to comment. This is a place that needs reinvention. It seems be coasting on past accolades. It is in no way groundbreaking or even on trend with great food today. "Farm to table" is no more exciting than fusion cuisine was in its day. Any restaurant today has access to great ingredients. It's execution and creativity that keep a restaurant relevant. This place has neither. For its price point and press, it's a big let down. And the servers seem to know it. They also are uninspired. The energy has moved to Cassia. Ownership needs to revisit its ignored brother and reboot. read more

Terrific place to go to get a special meal. Always original and delicious all the way from appetizers to dessert

Excellent place! Plenty of gluten free options and inclusive to dietary restrictions. The menu is unique and different. The staff and service was . They checked vaccine info for indoor. The cocktails and the wines also were excellent. We will be back! read more

We had a meal at Rustic Canyon a few years ago that was a disappointment but we've kept in touch with this restaurant group and got an email about a new chef that was doing some great things. We went tonight. They are seriously KILLING IT! Their cocktail menu is really fun and imaginative and each of our drinks were interesting, complex and balanced. You can, of course order your favorite but their drink menu is wonderful. A list of about 15 wines by the glass is also available and their Sancerre was the perfect compliment to our meal. A very extensive wine list is also available. Delicious fresh seasonal dishes like a take on a Greek salad with ripe nectarines and a whipped feta, a corn & greenbean salad that we were fighting over and a tomato and mozzarella salad that was like dessert. There were proteins like duck breast cooked perfectly and a shrimp dish that felt kinda out of place. The highlight was an unexpected Trout dish that was sublime. Desserts were also a huge hit...coconut rice pudding with blueberry compote, an incredible apricot cake with caramel, a GIANT chocolate chip cookie and honeycomb ice cream. Lovely service and a buzzy atmosphere. The place is pricey but this is a meal to remember and worth every penny. RUSTIC CANYON IS BACK! Bravo! read more

Arrived upon opening and received amazing service. The food was some of the best over ever had. I'm on a ketosis diet which means no carbs and no sugar; much to my surprise there were plenty of items I could enjoy! The food is pricey but well worth it for flavor and presentation read more

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One of the best meals I've had in a while. Each dish is an unexpected explosion of flavors, and yet it's good, clean, food. The staff were so accommodating and kind. They deserve their Michellin star. read more

Came in for dinner last night with a couple friends. Didn't order any mains and shared a bunch of smaller dishes. Plates were nicely spread out so that we didn't have more than 3 dishes on our table at a time. Our waiter checked in on is but not so much to be annoying. -beets & berries: perfectly cooked, balanced, light -endive salad: interesting combination, I liked the crispy sunchokes -chicken liver mousse: smooth, not strong liver flavor, enjoyed the fresnos on top -white yams: my favorite dish of the night, perfectly cooked, balanced, and allowed the za'atar to shine -ricotta dumplings: super light pillows of cheese goodness -squid & bean salad: under seasoned, didn't care for it too much -pozole verde: over seasoned, not much depth -basil pavlova: mango and passionfruit, not super sweet, light Shared a bottle of the 2015 Ambyth Estate Sauvignon Blanc "O.W" from Santa Barbara. Gorgeous color, looks hazy, tastes like peach tea. read more

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I have been meaning to come to Rustic Canyon for a long time and I am so grateful I finally made it here. It has officially become one of my new favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. Every single dish we had was so well curated from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. It was like a flavor party in my mouth! Salty, sweet, spicy, bitter, tangy. I normally detest endives and the endives were one of my favorite dishes. And the 3mo aged rib?! Oh my... that was... divine. The cocktails are all equally as uniquely curated and interesting. Highly recommend! read more

Very good but entrees for the price not quite what I'd have expected. My dining partner couldn't have much of the pork because it was super salty / fatty. Would like to come back to try some other menu items. Service was impeccable! read more

Came here because we were on a date and wanted a nice dinner. Great hospitality, I felt very well taken care of. Started out with drinks and my cocktail was very refreshing. They also had good recommendations for non alcoholic drinks that weren't just soda or water which i appreciate since my GF does not drink. Get family style here as they recommend. Started off with the crudo which was good, nice a fresh. Honeynut squash was not bad and had a great sear and carmalization. Striped bass was perfect. Usually I don't like western cooked fish but this was great. Yo that pork was BOMB!!! I was skeptical when they recommended it because it was the most expensive thing on the menu but WORTH EVERY PENNY. Last was our dessert - compliments to the pastry chef for a fantastic goat cheese ganache with passion fruit. I was so full and left so happy. I want more and looking forward to their next menu. Congrats on the Michelin star. read more