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    The Surfing Fox

    4.2 (302 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Open 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

    The Surfing Fox Photos

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    THE SURFING FOX ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - The Surfing Fox

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    Smoked Salmon Bagel
    KayAnna S.

    My friends and I booked brunch here for a Friday morning and when we came in, it wasn't very busy. Maybe 4 tables and 2 couples at the indoor bar. We probably waited 5-7 minutes before someone acknowledged our presence and came to seat us and check us in for our reservation. Not one server would make eye contact and even going up to the bar to try to get help did not work. When we were finally seated we had to ask for menus once we could catch a server a few minutes later. Some of us ordered drinks and we put in our food orders right away in case our waiter wouldn't come back, since everything had taken so much time already. Our coffees did come but no creamer as discussed, so again we had to flag down a waiter (always took a few attempts) before we could enjoy our coffees. Luckily, our food came out so fast! Our food was in front of us in about 10 minutes from ordering which was insane compared to the rest of the service. Our meals were delicious too! I had the breakfast burrito and did need more salsa for the other half (we had to flag down a server again). My husband gave up waiting for more salsa for his last half of his burrito and just ate it without. My friends had the smoked salmon bagel, avocado toast, and American breakfast. Everyone's meals were honestly fantastic. Finally at the end of our meal, we had to flag down our server to get our check. We ended up just paying with him as soon as he brought the check so we didn't have to wait any longer. The food is worth it but we wouldn't go back intentionally just due to lack of service.

    Breakfast Burrito
    Aileen H.

    The breakfast burrito with bacon was yummy. This restaurant is located inside the Wyhdam Hotel at 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Given its location, the prices are higher. We also got the avocado toast. The red chili pepper seasoning at the beginning was really flavorful but it got a bit much (too rich and oily) half-way through. Service was good. Great ambiance: very beautiful space with couches, swings and a nice bar.

    Breakfast Burrito
    Marcelino R.

    Great service, fun and relaxing atmosphere, and the food was solid. It's walkable from the Santa Monica pier and good people watching.

    Matt I.

    The Surfing Fox was a hidden gem. It is located in the Pierside Hotel. Nicely decorated with a calm relaxing ambiance. It was never too crowded for us during breakfast and lunch hours. The staff are friendly and the food is delicious. It is right across the street from the Santa Monica Peir and only a couple minutes walk from the 3rd street promenade. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try. Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Food: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Total: 4/5 Price: $ Rating Criteria: Based on comparisons to other establishments in the area 1/5: Terrible, would not recommend 2/5: Might be worth it depending on price and other factors. 3/5: Solid option. Average in this category for the area. 4/5: Above average and excels in this area. 5/5: Excellent, needs no improvement Pricing Criteria: Based on what we spent $: $0 - $50 per person $$: $50 - $100 per person $$$: $100 - $200 per person $$$$: $200 - $500 per person $$$$$: $500+ per person Please be mindful that reviews are based on personal experience which may differ from person to person based upon a multitude of factors (individual/specific workers, time of day, personal preferences, etc). Pricing may also differ and is reflected here based on what we paid for our meal. We typically enjoy multiple courses with our meals including appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts, and sometimes drinks or tasting menus when available. Please do your own research if concerned about potential pricing.

    Fish tacos
    Corinne R.

    We came here for lunch and everything was delicious. I had the grilled Mahi fish tacos and they were phenomenal. The Cucumber "Foxtail" is light and tasty.

    Roasted half chicken
    Jasmeer O.

    It was my first time there but not the last time. Food is unique and very delicious. I stay away from ordering any chicken dish as it's always dry. This one was very different and chicken was very moist. Rise was also amazing. Be patient when you order as it's made fresh and takes around 30 mins. Everything else we tried was amazing. We are outside on the patio which is just a block from the famous Santa Monica Pier. Service was 5 stars too. Nightly recommend

    MaDonna W.

    Yum!!! This place was so fun for brunch, we highly recommend you make a reservation. This was Valentine's Day so there were lots of people enjoying the great weather. They have a beautiful outdoor area as well as as a sufficient indoor space. The nonalcoholic drinks, the strawberry spritzer, and the honeydew refresher. We're both amazing not too sweet just very refreshing. We enjoyed so many great dishes their hamburgers with the Portuguese bun very very good. Their breakfast burrito burritos are great their hangers steak you cannot go wrong with any of your choices from the menu. There is parking here and there however we found out as we were sitting down that they do offer a $15 valet Next time surfing fox....

    Jason C.

    It was fine? Nothing crazy nothing special. Way overpriced but I guess you're in Santa Monica and it's a hotel restaurant. I won't be coming back but the decor and ambiance was nice and service was jsut ok too

    Crispy Brussels Sprouts - not crispy at all
    Susan L.

    I liked it. It's too expensive, but our server George was great! The sweet potatoes were delicious. The brussel sprouts were tasty but not crispy. The poke is good, but the cucumbers were under-seasoned, or maybe there were just too many as filler for something that was too expensive and small. The fish was delicious though. It's confusing. I think it's so expensive because it's close to the SM Pier. Plus, you have to pay so much for parking, too.

    Fritz H.

    Stopped in for a quick brunch and was pleasantly surprised. The menu had a good variety of options to choose from. I ordered the avocado toast, which was fresh and delicious, while my mother had the breakfast burrito and said it was excellent. Service was friendly and attentive, and overall we were very happy with our meal. Would definitely come back.

    Cheyne T.

    Cute place to eat by the Santa Monica Pier! I like how they have different types of tables set up. Drinks (4/5): ordered 4 cocktails and we enjoyed most of them, my favorite was the espresso martini. Food (3/5): we tried a variety of appetizers, entrees, and sides and while the presentation was great, most of the dishes lacked flavor. The shrimp bao, lobster roll, and sweet potatoes were our favorites. Overall would be a good spot to grab drinks, they have a patio outside that seems nice to hang out in.

    Celine C.

    The Surfing Fox is located on the first floor of the Pierside Hotel, which is literally by the Santa Monica pier. The restaurant is trendy, clean, and felt very much like a vacation. Service was friendly. Food, however, was just okay. The American breakfast was disappointing in terms of flavor and presentation. I requested for scrambled eggs but got a large piece of dry egg crepe lol (see picture). As for the potatoes, they were so bland and lacked seasoning. Breakfast plates usually come with a piece of toast but not at Surfing Fox. I had to order a side of sourdough to eat with the avocado slices that I substituted for meats.

    Ceviche* gf
    Melissa B.

    I was nervous about a place so close to the pier - often the location near popular spots is great but the food is subpar. We stopped in for brunch and were delighted to find both a great location and awesome, fresh food. Family had lobster rolls and fish tacos that they enjoyed. I had the ceviche and sweet potatoes, which were fresh and flavorful. Was only shocked to find, given the location and great food, it wasn't more crowded at brunch on a Sunday! Check it out if you're visiting the Santa Monica Pier area!

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    2 months ago

    Fun place to watch Egypt-Iran, made a few friends. Good, strong wine, decent burger and fair service.

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    The Surfing Fox Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Surfing Fox

    How much is valet?

    is there parking or is it street parking?

    Is there a happy hour?

    Yes, there is now HAPPY HOUR at The Surfing Fox Monday - Friday (3pm - 7pm)

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    Tar & Roses

    Tar & Roses

    4.5
    (2.8k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$
    Romantic vibe
    Locally sourced ingredients

    The food and the wine are incredible here. We came here right before we got engaged in 2018, and…read morewhat I wanted for our 6th anniversary was to come back, and we did in September! The mains that are wood-fired are delicate and delicious. I appreciate all the bold wine pairings, especially with meat. Wood-roasted bone marrow was incredible! The duck breast was moist and sweet! My husband got the lamb shank, which was by far the best with bold Middle Eastern flavors like zhoug and labneh. You must try!

    Tar & Roses is a mixed bag with one genuine high point…read more The menu is where it lost me. It swings from Vietnamese small plates to a straightforward steak, and the range never settles into a point of view -- it reads less like a confident eclectic kitchen than a grab bag. The fried red snapper was the standout: crisp, well-cooked, good enough to stand on its own. It came with a fish sauce for dipping that it didn't need -- a wedge of lemon on the side would have suited it far better. The Vietnamese crab cake was a real miss; I couldn't get past it. The dumplings were fine but forgettable. Service ran to extremes. Our server was warm and eager, almost too eager -- he pushed a bottle of wine we weren't sold on, and we ordered it anyway. Then, after all that attentiveness, he disappeared toward the end of the meal and never came back. The wine list was fine, nothing memorable. There's real skill in that kitchen -- the snapper proves it -- but the meal never added up to more than its parts. I left full, not delighted.

    Photos
    Tar & Roses
    Tar & Roses
    Tar & Roses

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    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar

    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar

    4.2
    (4.7k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    We had a very good experience here! Our waitress was friendly, fast, and gave great…read morerecommendations! We split two appetizers, which was plenty due to the portion size. Drinks were delicious and the vibe was fun!

    I finally made it to The Misfit in Santa Monica, and honestly, the interior is giving major…read moreBalthazar-meets-Parisian-speakeasy energy. It's located in the old Clock Tower building, and the Art Deco decor is absolutely stunning--dark enough to hide a bad day but vibrant enough for a girls' night. The Vibe: It's loud, lively, and perfectly "bohemian chic". If you're coming on a weekend, prepare for a crowd, but it's the good kind of crowded where everyone looks like they just came from a gallery opening. The Food: I'm still thinking about the Crispy Chicken Sandwich--it was juicy, perfectly seasoned, and came with a fennel-apple slaw that actually felt fresh. We also shared the Bacon Wrapped Dates (obviously) and the Hand Cut Kennebec Fries, which arrive in a bowl so huge it could basically be its own zip code. The Drinks: Their Happy Hour is arguably the best in the city. I had the Japanese Dream with matcha, and it was expertly crafted--not too sweet, which is my biggest pet peeve. The "Misfit" Moment: The service can be a tiny bit slow when it's "rammed," and there's a 4% kitchen fee that feels a bit unnecessary, but they make up for it with those complimentary sea salt chocolate chip cookies at the end. They are warm, gooey, and life-changing. One major heads-up: I heard a rumor they might be closing their doors on April 18th due to some landlord drama, so get there while you still can.

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    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar
    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar
    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar

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    The Backyard at Chez Jays

    The Backyard at Chez Jays

    4.5
    (64 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    We visited The backyard at Chez Jays in Santa Monica on a Sunday afternoon, looking for a…read moredog-friendly spot, and it turned out to be a delightful choice. The atmosphere is super cute and cozy, reminiscent of relaxing in your own backyard, which is fitting given the name. The staff and other patrons were friendly, making it a welcoming environment for both us and our dogs. We ordered nachos with chicken, but I found them lacking in cheese, and the addition of lettuce felt a bit off for nachos. The guacamole also could've used a bit more flavor. On the brighter side, the drinks were enjoyable; I had a michelada, while my friend opted for a Mai Tai. She also tried the chicken sandwich with fries and really liked it, especially the slaw that accompanied it. Service was decent, sweet and attentive, though it could've been a bit quicker. A nice perk is the parking lot, though keep in mind that you need to pay during certain times. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, but there's room for improvement in the food.

    The service was excellent. The dog friendly ambiance was great. The food was standard but we will…read moredefinitely be back to bring our dog to the beach! The inside is funky and cute. The tots were crisp and under seasoned which was a good thing. Everything else was standard. Nothing to write home about. Would have liked more gluten free options!

    Photos
    Outside eating area
    Outside eating area
    Oreo's dessert
    Oreo's dessert
    Lavender Haze Martini

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    Lavender Haze Martini
    Shoreside

    Shoreside

    4.0
    (21 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    Outdoor seating
    Kid friendly

    The ambiance at the Shoreside is beautiful, the service is wonderful and attentive and the food is…read moredelicious! I will definitely be back! I had the beet salad, filet mignon' steak and roasted asparagus. All were excellent especially the steak which was cooked exactly the way I like it ( medium to medium well)

    They should call this restaurant poolside instead of shoreside. They are not set up for large…read moregroups. I was looking for a new restaurant for a work dinner -- I would not suggest this spot. I also thought you would be able to see the ocean since it is right on Ocean Ave -- but once seated you can't really see the water. And unfortunately the view of hotel guests swimming wasn't very appetizing. We had a reservation for 14 and somehow they lost it (even though someone called to confirm the day before) -- so they had to quickly set up a table for 14 which they clearly did not do that often -- it was all squished between plants and heaters. After waiting 10+ minutes we were finally seated. Right away we noticed that the menus were different, not drastically but enough to cause some confusion. The waitress seemed very flustered and kept mentioning that our group was not expected. We started off with drinks -- I got a strawberry lemon tart -- it was good but the strawberries were a bit too chunky for a cocktail (IMO). Some people received their drinks in a plastic glass -- I guess because it was near the pool? We ordered a number of appetizers and then our mains. The waitress wasn't sure about us even ordering a main -- it made me wonder if they actually had enough of the dishes in the kitchen. Apps were good but nothing amazing. I got the sea bass for the main and it had no spice or flavor to it -- it even had these little dollups of romesco sauce that was also flavorless. Several people at the table ordered the filet mignon -- the only beef course on the menu and one of the plates came out at least 10 minutes after everyone else received their meals. The waitress did give him a free drink for his patience. Also my other coworker told me the lobster roll was terrible and made her stomach hurt the next day. Overall I was not impressed and will not likely return for a dinner here.

    Photos
    Shoreside
    Shoreside
    Shoreside

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    The Surfing Fox - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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