This spot is a must go, and makes my top ten list of best brunch in the US. My last review was 8 years ago, (so here is my update) and was so impressed with the remodel. Would love to sit at the new bar some time if I ever travel without my little one. Brunch was epic, went with a usual- my wife and I went halvsies on the benedict and egg sandwich- I added some eggs, truffle fries, sausage and turkey bacon for the group to share- All was epic. Had a bite of pancakes, and chicken salad sandwich (w/ turmeric raisin bread). We started with the crostini, and did two of each; they were epic. I personally liked the apricot one and the prosciutto/goat cheese. All drinks were great, but I loved the mezcal espresso martini, and their walnut old fashioned. Table next to us got the puffed bread, and that looked epic. Also, we loved Alfonso, our waiter; he was great, and checked in to grab us some extra stuff as we kept trying to order more, and more. Can't wait to my next visit! read more

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This review has nothing to do with food or service it has to do with management and how long a restaurant should stay open. On the Internet on every possible site it says that the restaurant is open till 10 o'clock. In fact, when I went to enter this Yelp also said it's open till 10 o'clock. I walked in at 8:45 asked the people if they were open they said no that it closes in a couple minutes meaning 9 o'clock and that you'd have to order immediately. This is again my pet peeve with restaurants in California. If you're going to close your restaurant at 9 o'clock you must stay open at least an hour after that so people can sit down take their time order their dinner and eat their dinner and then an hour after that you close the kitchen, but you leave it open for dessert for another half hour then people can order their dessert in a calm manner have their dessert and still enjoy their dinner and sit around. This business of having a close time and then telling people they have two minutes to order is a bunch of crap. This doesn't happen in Chicago. It doesn't happen in New York and it doesn't happen at high in restaurants. So if you do this, you're not a high-end restaurant you're a low restaurant. It probably is having trouble staying alive anyway. So don't do this. I will always give you a one or two star review. I have enough followers and you should take my word for it that you can't do this. If you're open till 10 o'clock be open till 10 o'clock and give people time to enjoy their dinner. read more

Reservations are a good call if you're coming on the weekend. The place gets pretty busy. There's inside seating and outdoor seating. Lots of dogs! Despite being on Montana, the street is pretty quiet while dining outside. The biggest outdoor dining struggle is all of the people standing on the sidewalk waiting for their tables so close to you. The food was delish. The pancakes are huge. The portions in general were pretty big. I would have loved my sourdough a bit more toasted, but otherwise great. The prices are not bad and definitely on par with the rest of Santa Monica. read more

A really solid brunch option in Santa Monica I'll be at a bit pricey. This is one of my favorite breakfast options in Santa Monica and it's consistently very good. Service is always friendly and they have a lot of great options on the menu. Parking in this area can be a bit tricky so the best option will be metered street parking. Inside is fairly large and can host many different sized groups. For this visit, we ordered the Huevos Rancheros and the Eggs Benedict and both were very nice. The eggs were cooked perfectly on both dishes and both were really enjoyed. The coffee is also strong and as mentioned the price is a bit steep, but that's to be expected in the area. I would suggest anyone looking for a great breakfast or brunch option. read more

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This is the nicest casual restaurant with great service. We recently enjoyed sitting outside in their front patio area for Happy Hour and dinner. We started with a few basic drinks that were well poured. To share we ordered the Pink Hummus that came with this lovely crunchy, puffed up pita bread. The Pepperoni Pizza was loaded with pepperoni and cheese that was absolutely delicious along with a salad and an order of their crispy potatoes all on Happy Hour. The portion sizes were great for sharing and everything was served at the perfect temperature. This was my first visit to this restaurant but I would definitely return. They honor reservations and they have a variety of great seating areas for every occasion. Their Happy Hour is from 4-6 Tuesday thru Sunday. Not open on Mondays. read more

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Loved it! We came during happy hour and tried quite a few items on the menu. There was still plenty of seating when we arrived at 530, but by around 7 PM. It was getting a little more crowded. It looks like you can bring your own bottles. I'm not sure about the corkage fee. Our server was Randy and his enthusiasm in describing the various menu items sold us on everything we asked about! This place is also very spacious with outdoor/sidewalk seating, indoor and indoor courtyard seating options. The pizza was delicious, the beet hummus was a nice surprise, the blue cheese crostini w fig jam was an excellent combo of flavors, the ginger mocktail drink was tasty, and the potatoes were AMAZING! I already have a lineup of what I'd get next time. LOVED IT! read more

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This is easily one of my top 3 brunch spots in West LA. The vibe here is just right -- super comfortable and perfect for a laid-back weekend, whether you're catching up with friends or coming with family. We came with our kid and sat on the patio, which made it even better. The staff were friendly and patient -- much appreciated, especially with a little one. Food-wise, everything hit the spot. I absolutely loved my salmon toast -- definitely one of my favorites. Big plus that they use olive oil. Our kid got the Mickey Mouse pancake, which was adorable a We live nearby, so we'll definitely be back. read more

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The food was delicious! We ate outside, and even though it was a warm day, the ocean breeze was just perfect. My friend and I shared different plates, and we loved the soup and salads. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

From the start the waiter was rude, but my final straw was when I was taking a picture of my friend and the waiter flipped us off in the background. This is disgusting. I cannot believe this happened and I will NEVER come back nor recommend this place. read more

The Courtyard Kitchen - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Hmmm, unfortunately, while the staff is friendly and the ambiance is nice, the food we received during brunch fell short. We ordered 3 items: - Truffle fries: Pretty good as expected but nothing to write a lot on, as this is a relatively simple and straightforward appetizer. Not bad, but not memorable, either. - Spanish chorizo hash: the best of the 3 with a good variety of components that work together. The Spanish Pork Chorizo was rightfully front and center and paired well with the herb potatoes. - Panuozzo: the most underwhelming dish that we ate. On paper it looked enticing, as this "Pizza Sandwich" had prosciutto, parmesan, tomato confit, aragula, and pesto sauce. Unfortunately the pesto sauce overwhelmed everything, and nothing else stood out. So rather than a symphony of taste, eating this dish became a flat and monotonous experience. I felt I was just going through the motions of eating it rather than enjoying it, and when I looked down, I still have a whole other half to finish. It's just too one note and somewhat bland. I may give this another shot to explore the actual dinner or lunch menu, but I'd have to really read the reviews to see what's actually good here. read more

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Great location on Montana Ave., I have had many good meals at Courtyard Kitchen. The Eggs Benedict is one of the best I have experienced. Just had pancakes with fresh, sweet fruit on top, yummy! Kevin, is a wonderful and friendly waiter. The staff at the bar make you feel at home, Ever, Donny, & Logan. It's so great that you have the option to eat alfresco, inside or at the counter for a quick meal by yourself. read more

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We ate there for the first time today for brunch. Wonderful food. My husband even said it was the best meal he has had in a while. We both had the Matcha Storm drink which is delicious and refreshing. I had the Green Egg Story (something like that) which was delicious! My husband had the Eggs Benedict. We live in the Pasadena area but will definitely be back. Would love to try dinner and order a pizza next time. The place is lovely as well. Very happy with our experience. read more

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Charming little restaurant with plentiful outdoor seating, outstanding service, and pretty good food. We ordered the grilled peaches and burrata (a daily special), the fennel sausage pizza from the happy hour menu, and the Tuscan kale salad with added grilled chicken. We also ordered the ginger crush and pink lady mocktails. Of the mocktails, the ginger crush was our favorite - the ginger flavor really shone through. The pink lady was ok but had a sweeter profile. The peaches were still a bit hard despite being grilled. When raw, I prefer a firmer peach, but when cooking I would think you would want more than char marks to really bring out the sweetness. It was a nice pairing with the burrata, though. The pizza had good flavor, though personally I am not a huge fan of olives. The crust was very thin and didn't hold up to the sauce very well - definitely a droopy pizza. The kale salad had good flavor and a nice mix of ingredients and I would get it again, though I could wish for more radish and other goodies. The chicken was cooked through and a bit on the thin side. Overall, a decent place that I would be willing to eat at again. read more

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The service was very slow. Slow to bring menus, water, get water and carafe refills, and slow to take the order. After we ordered it was more than 30 min to get our food. The food was solid but pricey. It made for a very long brunch, at these prices service should be on point. And if your kitchen is struggling, communicate that to your customers, apologize, be proactive. read more

Located on Montana ave, the heart of santa monica courtyard kitchen is there. The energy of the restaurant is amazing. Everyone is so nice, it's a beautiful place and overall such good vibes. The food is immaculate and service is amazing. The courtyard kitchen is my favorite place to go for breakfast/brunch. My favorite things to order are the crepes that are always perfectly cooked and served with warm nutella, and the fried egg sandwich OH MY GOODNESS. I never stop thinking about that sandwich. It is the best sandwich ever and is the recipe for a perfect day. All the staff are the sweetest people ever and the service in that place is excellent. I want to come back to try EVERYthing on the menu and I can't wait to get my hands on the chipotle burger. I've heard amazing things about that. I remember the first time I came here was on my 16th birthday, my friend took me out for breakfast. To this day that is still my favorite and most memorable birthday breakfast read more

What a disappointment. While the ambiance is charming--a friendly, open-air courtyard with a cute Santa Monica vibe--the food was one of the worst lunch experiences I've had in a long time. The quality of the food was shockingly poor given the premium prices. I ordered a feta/mixed green Mediterranean type salad topped with 1 scoop of tuna salad. The lettuce was wilted, the salad itself was uninspired, tomatoes dreary and limp. The tuna salad was watery, overloaded with mayonnaise, and lacked any fresh flavor. For $22 for the salad plus an additional $8 for a small scoop of tuna salad, I expected something far better. Instead, I received a tiny, mediocre salad with a dollop of what tasted more like a poor-quality egg salad than fresh tuna. No bread, no side, no extras--just a very underwhelming plate that came to roughly $35. The portion sizes were surprisingly small, and the food looked tired and uninspired. While some of the pizzas looked appealing, many of the other dishes coming out of the kitchen appeared sad and lackluster. Santa Monica and Montana Avenue offer many excellent dining options. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them. The restaurant seems to be relying on its trendy, bougie atmosphere rather than delivering quality food. The courtyard is lovely, but the food is overpriced, mediocre, and simply not worth the money. I would not return and cannot recommend read more

Courtyard Kitchen had been one of my favorite places. The quality of the food is very good. Unfortunately, I had a terrible experience the last time I was there. They had switched from cloth napkins to black paper napkins. I had worn a new pair of white pants. I dropped a crumb on my pants and put a dab of water on my pants. The black dye from the napkin transferred to my pants. When I got home, I contacted the Aaron, the manager. In a calm manner, I explained what had happened. His exact words were you should be ashamed of yourself. At first I thought I hadn't heard him correctly. I asked him to repeat what he had said and he said the same thing again. He doubled-down and said that people like me file frivolous lawsuits against restaurant owners. He went on to say that if I drop a drink on my clothes am I going to sue the restaurant. I said that's not analogous. Also, I didn't file a lawsuit. I've never at a restaurant sent a meal back or asked to speak to a manager. I'm in my 60s and in my entire adult life, I haven't been talked to in this manner. I worked for Human Resources and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors for many years. I ended the conversation with Aaron saying I can't imagine talking to a member of the public the way he was speaking to me like was a child. He eventually offered me a $25 gift certificate but said he couldn't send it to me. Huh? I sent a letter to the owner but never heard back. read more

Had lunch today with a friend and my fur baby at the Courtyard kitchen. Food was excellent service was really good and very friendly. They are incredibly dog friendly. They asked if my fur baby would like a piece of turkey bacon and they brought out a plate of it for him. Made the lunch so much fun. Highly recommended. read more

Delicious food and great cafe ambiance! The bread and hummus had such great flavors! Good portions, too! read more

The Courtyard Kitchen - Zara's spiced bread and pink hummus/kale salad / Greek juice - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I've come here often some mixed experiences with service. But I am inspired to write a review this time because my husband came here for dinner with our one year-old daughter for Valentine's Day. We are making a tradition to go out to dinner individually with our kids. There was no one in the restaurant plenty of availability on Resy and they refused to see him because he had a child with him. It was kinda heartbreaking. We live blocks away and we will never be back. read more

The Courtyard Kitchen is one of those hidden spots that feels like a peaceful escape in the middle of Santa Monica. The outdoor patio is charming and quiet--perfect for a weekend brunch or catching up with a friend. I had the Mediterranean omelet, and it was solid--fresh ingredients, not too greasy, and portioned just right. The side salad was simple but crisp. Service was friendly and relaxed, not rushed, which works well in this kind of setting. It's not a fancy or trendy place, but that's kind of the point--it feels local. Pro tip: grab a seat outside and go during off-hours if you want a calm vibe. Parking is typical Santa Monica--hit or miss--so plan for a short walk. read more

The Courtyard Kitchen - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Way over-priced. Menu photos are out of date here on Yelp. Got three flat tacos for over $20. A not-good carrot, turmeric juice for $10. Tip and taxes made the total $40. Value of meal was maybe $18. read more

Christmas Day. 2024 has been a trying year and I think I had quietly thrown my hands up re the holiday, to an extent. Hubby found this place for us to meet our eldest and I was really impressed, because I usually have time be the event planner, tour guide etc. Not only did he find us somewhere open on Christmas, but the space was beautiful and the atmosphere--really pleasant. Our eldest made a reservation and met us there and I have to say everything was seamless. We were shown in right away, the food was good, and the service was right in the pocket of being enough, but not too much. It was a lovely way to start a Southern California holiday day. Much appreciated read more

The Courtyard Kitchen - Love their kiln - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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What a disappointment! Last night was my first time at this highly recommended neighborhood restaurant. Our server was very gracious but had to apologize multiple times. 1) showing up late after the water was poured. 2) appetizer was delivered by someone else 3) after 10 minutes I had to ask where the drinks were. It took another 5 minutes to get them. He said the bar was slammed. I think he forgot to put the order in. 4) after a long wait, the entrees showed up. The cheeseburger was overdone, but I said nothing bc I didn't want to wait any longer. 5) could not find the server to pay the check 6) his payment system had the last guests charge in there. He disappeared again to look for a manager. 7) finally came back. I said they should comp the meal. He said well, I need to find the manager. We just wanted to get home, so we paid and left. This was a totally negative experience. IDK Maybe you have to be a regular to get good service. read more

The Courtyard Kitchen - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Great spot for breakfast! I've come here twice now when I visit LA and Ive loved it both times. There's a good amount of seating indoors and a few tables outside as well to enjoy the nice weather Service is friendly, and the food hit the spot after our morning hike. I'm sure I'll be back when I stop by LA again read more

The Courtyard Kitchen - Commoner's breakfast - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I liked my server (Hispanic woman) and I liked my drinks and food but one star for the ending of the visit. My server gave me a pen that didn't work and I asked the Mexican employee (possibly manager) who kept passing my table if he had a pen - he handed me one and stared straight at my bill as I was filling out the tip and total, almost like staring me down or trying to intimidate me. I tipped well and I hope none of it went to him, it was so weird. read more

Very disappointed in this ube cold foam matcha. Tasted like a milkshake, no matcha or ube flavors. Don't recommend but the service and food were good! read more

The Courtyard Kitchen - Matcha storm - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The food, ambience and service we have always found to be excellent. A "go to" place for all occasions. Most certainly one of our favorites read more

Lovely restaurant and good food! I've been here a number of times and breakfast and lunch are great!

I had brunch at the "courtyard kitchen" on a Sunday morning, this February 2026. I was really glad I made a reservation because the place was so packed that there was a line on the street. The host was extremely graceful, even with the stress he must have been under. Upon arrival, I requested a table change. He explained he will try his best but may not be able to do it. At the end, he was able to change my table (I had made a reservation on line to take clients there and I realized upon arrival that my table was in a noisy corner- my doing). I was really impressed at how the host managed the situation and kept smiling, although many people were after him at all times. Every single employee from the host to the waiters was very pleasant and was radiating great positive energy. The ambiance was hip and cozy, loved the choice of different decors outdoors/indoors. The food was good. I ordered the avocado toasts and the Florentine Benedict eggs, I liked the ratio quality/price/ambiance/location. I loved that they have fresh squeezed orange juice on the menu. I will go back for the reasons above. It is not a "gourmet"restaurant, don't expect superb quality or presentation. I consider it a nice place for a decent, standard brunch outing with friends, pets and family. read more

Very cute dining patio and interior. Quick service and the wait was much shorter than advertised. I got the tuna sandwich, which was good but left a little to be desired and also had a tomato that was like an inch thick haha. But I would come back for the vibes read more

Love this place. I'm local and it's usually great. The waiters are always super cool. Kevin is laid back and really nice. Food is delicious. My only complaint is regarding the hostess. We were seated (2 of us) in the back room which was completely empty... a minute or two later she brings 5 people in and seats them right next to us.. 3-4 minutes later she brings in a group of 4 and seats them right on the other side of us... wtf?! 11 people all in the corner of a spacious room talking! So much for a peaceful Sunday breakfast with my girlfriend. I completely understand that the restaurant can get busy, but this was not that. When we left l asked the hostess "please don't be offended, but do you have a seating method of some kind?" ..and described what she had done. She basically shrugged and had no explanation. I wanted to say well just for future reference, we're not sardines and this is not the video game Tetris. Why not space people out?! So they can 1, have a private conversation...and 2, not have the guy at the next table stare at our food and start asking questions about our order. A little thought goes a long way. read more

I came in with great expectations, but unfortunately, iwas pretty disappointed with the overall experience. The vibe was great. The hostess was very friendly and sad us quickly for our reservation. Unfortunately, from there, it took 20+ minutes to take our order and another 35 for food to show up. The food was good, but the waiter never even asked us how it was. I hope it was just some bad luck, but given the reputation, I was expecting a bit more. read more

Love the ambiance of the restaurant. Feels hip but homey as well. With a nice looking restaurant you would think the food would be mediocre but you'd be surprised. The food was quite delicious. I'd definitely go back for the food and a plus is the nice staff and ambiance of the restaurant. read more

The Courtyard Kitchen - Yummy avocado toast & crepes - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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My friend and I asked a male server to move our seats cause we had a extremely small table that was right next to door. We had to hold our handbags entire time on our laps! Extremely uncomfortable. My friend asked a male server to move our seat more inside (there's another huge inside place after you pass a courtyard) but he said it's reservation only. We already MADE A RESERVATION and there were so many empty seats there! Only two tables were occupied there and I saw so many tables available. Maybe the restaurant or owner doesn't want any Asians get a table there?? Food was okay, coffee was really good but it was a mistake visit the restaurant. read more

The Courtyard Kitchen - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Cute little restaurant in an area of Santa Monica that we had not yet visited. We sat outdoors and enjoyed a glass of wine with our brunch. Service was friendly and fast. My husband enjoyed his eggs, Benedict, and I had the TCK breakfast burrito which was flavorful and filling. Overall, an enjoyable experience, there's plenty of boutique shopping along the street. I would stop back here if in the area again. read more

So good! I had to take a photo of it after couple bites! Definitely recommend! Thank you to the server who recommended this menu! The service was so great, kind, and warm! The space has a chill ambiance vibe during the day! Definitely would want to check out during the night time as well! read more

Good, service, and ambiance were great. Had an appt nearby and saw this place driving by. Decided to stop and it was a great decision.

Their happy hour is expensive- $2 off regular priced drinks...good service- great cheese free pizza.

Extremely noisy at indoor table next to Courtyard. Also, the tuna sandwich recipe seems to have changed. It was very watery and too much mayo and bland. It used to be a dryer type with more veggies in it and more flavorful. I'm wondering why they changed the recipe! Not sure about returning. read more