Border Grill Santa Monica

In Short – Set on Fourth Street's busy stretch, this splashy Santa Monica mainstay has been serving up mid-priced Cal-Mexican cuisine since 1985. Keith Haring-esque murals bounce off the multi-colored walls (think terra-cotta, yellow, red, blue and black). Owned by celebrity chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, the "Two Hot Tamales," the space is a loud, quirky and eclectic. Those looking for Mexican street food will be satisfied with the guacamole and charred carnitas on fresh corn tortillas that are made at the front of the restaurant (passersby can see her through the window).…

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Editor's Tips

The Extras:: Let the Grill do the cooking for your next shindig; call the general manager and ask about catering.
Happy Hour:: Weekdays from 4pm to 7pm, drinks like margaritas, mojitos and imported beers are $4, and munchies such as quesadillas and green corn tamales are all $3.
Where to Sit:: Book a private mural-accented room that holds up to 40 people. It's upstairs, but has elevator access. A seasoned manager will help you plan a perfect bash.
Where to Sit:: Book a private mural-accented room that holds up to 40 people. It's upstairs, but has elevator access.
Happy Hour:: Weekdays from 4pm to 7pm, the bar and cantina area is where patrons can enjoy drinks like margaritas, mojitos and imported beers for $4, and munchies such as quesadillas and green corn tamales for $3.
The Extras:: There is another Border Grill location in Las Vegas.

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User Reviews (57)

ambiance	89.28999900817871% positive	“Empanadas,...YUM-EE. Plus the whole vibe of the restaurant is just plain fun and the wait staff is great, you feel like you're getting a real break from work, not just going from a stuffy office to a stuffy restaurant.” “The plates were all overpriced, no free parking or validation provided.” “The appetisers are yummy, this a good place to go with a fun group.” “The place was fun, lively, perfect for our girls night out!” “Over all we were confused with what type of food this place is trying to serve if you have the money to spend on a trendy latin food that TRIES to put a zing in the typical beans and rice boring Mexican food enjoy Border Grill and its location.” “High points -- pleasant, attentive service, and decor still works.” “The atmosphere was nice - the interesting paintings on the walls and bright colors.” “Border Grill has a great vibe - it is always bustling and crowded, and the decor is beautiful and interesting.” “Great food, fun place” “It has a festive atmosphere and the drinks are delicious; albeit more expensive than just about anywhere I've been in LA.” “Really surprised to have fresh ingredients, creative, fun menu with organic rice and beans, and awesome margaritas.” “The decoration's neat, the murals were nice and colorful.” “The Two Hot Tamales from the Food Network, chefs Miliken and Feniger have created a great restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and good hea.” “Highly recommend going with a group of friends-very fun spot.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“The desserts look good but I'm usually too full after filling up on chips and then my entree to actually order dessert.” “I've been here a number of times - the first time I went I fell in love - food was amazing, drinks and wine were good, and the dessert was good.”
drinks	83.33000183105469% positive	“Good drinks but overpriced” “Our waiter was very attentive at first and offered us suggestions regarding the drinks.” “I've been here a number of times - the first time I went I fell in love - food was amazing, drinks and wine were good, and the dessert was good.” “I'm only giving the restaurant an average rating because: it's way overpriced (I only go when Whole Foods gives out $20 off coupons, which makes the price OK), it's always crowded and usually hard to get a table (it's also noisy if you mind that sort of t” “This is a great place to take out of town guests, get a quick bite & drink for hapy hour or have a really delicious lunch or dinner.” “For appetizers, drinks and to hang out with friends then this place wouldn't be too bad.” “Really great food and drinks, especially for happy hour.” “The food, the drinks, the chips and salsa all are great!” “really great drinks” “It has a festive atmosphere and the drinks are delicious; albeit more expensive than just about anywhere I've been in LA.” “The food is great (Try the empanadas), but the bar scene is also pretty lively.” “The cocktails are equally creative and interesting and tasted great.” “An assortment of decent mixed drinks however I had a Beer and same glass as water glasses seemed a little cheesy.” “For brunch, I had the banana pancakes with coconut syrup and ginger tea - tasty and pretty exciting!” “I'd also agree with other reviewers that the drinks were quite pricey.”
food quality	89.1100025177002% positive	“The food here is excellent.” “Really surprised to have fresh ingredients, creative, fun menu with organic rice and beans, and awesome margaritas.” “The margaritas are very tasty and unique but also too pricey for what you get.” “had the delicious Banana Pancakes, they come with this amazing coconut syrup, wow!” “Everything on the menu is tasty.” “Awesome margaritas, even better food” “I've been coming here for years and the food is consistently good.” “feel like each dish is either good or it really isn't.” “The down side to this place is that the food wasn't delectable.” “It has a festive atmosphere and the drinks are delicious; albeit more expensive than just about anywhere I've been in LA.” “I've been here a number of times - the first time I went I fell in love - food was amazing, drinks and wine were good, and the dessert was good.” “(Or more likely, they're spending their time at Ciudad downtown, where the food is still terrific.)” “Great food, fun place” “My steak arrived well done (ordered med-rare) with nasty soggy chilaquiles (usually stellar) and I had to send it back (which is a rarity for me).” “The food is great (Try the empanadas), but the bar scene is also pretty lively.” “For brunch, I had the banana pancakes with coconut syrup and ginger tea - tasty and pretty exciting!” “This restaurant would be better off scrapping the Mexican theme and sticking to food they know how to make, and I like Americanized Mexican food too.” “The setting and enviroment is a Neat and colorful a blend of latin America with 70's modern design, but , If your in the mood for authentic Latin cuisine this is not the place.” “had the most delicious salmon plate the other night.” “And the speed with which the food was delivered after being ordered was impressive.” “We've been huge fans of the Border Grill for years, but have found the preparation of the food a little indifferent of late.” “Even the pickiest eaters enjoyed the basics (quesadillas, tacos, chile rellenos) which were awesome.” “Food is great- skirt steak, black bean empanadas and margaritas are all fantastic.” “The dishes are creative, fresh, and always delicious.” “My favorite was the Panucho- kind of like a soft taco with chicken, blackbeans, and guacamole.” “There were a variety of people to please and we had a terrific round of dishes - tender marinated pork, perfectly cooked skirt steak and a delicious and not-so-heavy halibut ceviche.” “The food servers were fast, efficient and very attentive.” “Good food, but getting the food was not so good” “If you want to experience quality and expert taste and authentic Latin cooking of similar prices as Border Grill try the cuban delight, Mojitocuisine in Valencia CA.” “like the guacamole and the roasted plantains that comes with the main dishes.” “Fantastic food but the service was lacking” “One of them tasted like shrimp cocktail sauce - not great for dipping the chips they were served with.” “recommend the steak, the sampler that's listed as an appetizer but makes a great entree, and a really cool option for vegetarians: a portobello mushroom entree (I think called a Mullita) that's excellently flavored.” “SOO delicious, very highly recommended.” “They bring out tasty tortilla chips with three different salsa (my fav is the green one).” “I'm only giving the restaurant an average rating because: it's way overpriced (I only go when Whole Foods gives out $20 off coupons, which makes the price OK), it's always crowded and usually hard to get a table (it's also noisy if you mind that sort of t” “we started off with a couple of the shaker margaritas (perfect start to the evening) and an appetizer sampler with the tasty green corn tamales which are little morsels of goodness!” “typically order the Gaucho Steak (which, at $30, is pricey but very yummy).” “This is a great place to take out of town guests, get a quick bite & drink for hapy hour or have a really delicious lunch or dinner.” “The appetisers are yummy, this a good place to go with a fun group.” “The food here is creative upscale Mexican and it did not disappoint.” “But seriously, who really wants to put up with all of their inefficiencies just for the 50/50 chance of great food?” “Really great food and drinks, especially for happy hour.” “Beginning with a surly busboy (impossible to find in L.A.) and an amiable but incompetent waiter, the food arrived cold.” “The food at this place taste good and the service is good.” “This is one of those experiences where luckily the food was good because the service was lacking.” “The food, the drinks, the chips and salsa all are great!” “Enjoyed the endive and pear salad.” “Service: our waiter was friendly and even took one of our bad-tasting dishes off our bill without us having to ask.” “I'm ususally here for the margaritas and the late night happy hour (loads of tasty apps) - took a gamble on a full dinner for a large group and it totally paid off.” “My party tried 3 different appetizers and 1 entree dish and everything was both unique and delicious.” “That's why Border Grill is a lifesaver, the food is delish and there's enough to please the vegetarians and keep the carnivores happy.” “The place was pretty crowded, but the food was so good we didn?” “After reading a review in the LA Weekly, we were looking forward to a tasty and unique twist on Mexican food.” “The margaritas are awesome, the food is top notch and the service is super friendly.” “It was probably one of my favorite seafood experiences ever.” “It was delicious, who knew olives on fish could be so good.” “The food is yummy.” “Fun place with great food!” “Poor execution of the dish of what sounded good.” “Delicious food, GREAT happy hour” “Appetizers are large and you can make a great meal of them.” “The food was good, I had the hanger steak and friends had pork porterhouse, sauteed shrimp and a lamb dish.” “Really good, fresh food.” “The best Mexican food I've ever had” “The steak was very good but we weren't asked how we liked it and it came rare.” “The ducks wings were really good too.” “Anyways, the food was overpriced.” “Margaritas were good, but a little on the pricey side-- not as good value as the food.” “Believe it or not, a nice tequila is great for sipping before, along with, or after your meal.” “The tamales were undercooked, the fish wasn't very fresh and the margarita was far too syrupy without enough lime - I couldn't even finish it and it was only about 8 ounces for $12.” “One complaint - the salsa is mediocre.” “Over all we were confused with what type of food this place is trying to serve if you have the money to spend on a trendy latin food that TRIES to put a zing in the typical beans and rice boring Mexican food enjoy Border Grill and its location.” “The $3 dollar margaritas are good enough (for $3 anyway) but it's way worth it to spend extra for one of the premium margaritas and then chow down on the yummy, cheap ($2 i think) appetizers.” “All 5 of us ordred different dishes and none of them were tasty.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“Really surprised to have fresh ingredients, creative, fun menu with organic rice and beans, and awesome margaritas.” “Great menu!” “Everything on the menu is tasty.” “The menu is great, the prices are not too high.” “There were a variety of people to please and we had a terrific round of dishes - tender marinated pork, perfectly cooked skirt steak and a delicious and not-so-heavy halibut ceviche.” “The menu has great selections, and it's a good place to get stuff you wouldn't order at more typical restaurants.” “Eclectic menu with amazing flavor combinations”
overall	100.0% positive	“Border Grill is a great place for late night happy hour” “The menu has great selections, and it's a good place to get stuff you wouldn't order at more typical restaurants.” “The appetisers are yummy, this a good place to go with a fun group.” “The Two Hot Tamales from the Food Network, chefs Miliken and Feniger have created a great restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and good hea.” “This is a great place to take out of town guests, get a quick bite & drink for hapy hour or have a really delicious lunch or dinner.”
service	94.73999977111816% positive	“Beginning with a surly busboy (impossible to find in L.A.) and an amiable but incompetent waiter, the food arrived cold.” “I'm only giving the restaurant an average rating because: it's way overpriced (I only go when Whole Foods gives out $20 off coupons, which makes the price OK), it's always crowded and usually hard to get a table (it's also noisy if you mind that sort of t” “The waiters are great.” “The margaritas are awesome, the food is top notch and the service is super friendly.” “Service: our waiter was friendly and even took one of our bad-tasting dishes off our bill without us having to ask.” “This place has a great vibe that is matched by friendly and prompt service.” “The Two Hot Tamales from the Food Network, chefs Miliken and Feniger have created a great restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and good hea.” “The service was excellent.” “Note- our service was great.” “The service has always been horrendous (yesterday I had mediocre service, which I considered a treat for this establishment) - and I'm not a hard person to please!” “There were a variety of people to please and we had a terrific round of dishes - tender marinated pork, perfectly cooked skirt steak and a delicious and not-so-heavy halibut ceviche.” “The food servers were fast, efficient and very attentive.” “Fantastic food but the service was lacking” “High points -- pleasant, attentive service, and decor still works.” “Our waiter was very attentive at first and offered us suggestions regarding the drinks.” “The waiters were amazing and basically standing around waiting to serve us.” “Empanadas,...YUM-EE. Plus the whole vibe of the restaurant is just plain fun and the wait staff is great, you feel like you're getting a real break from work, not just going from a stuffy office to a stuffy restaurant.” “This is one of those experiences where luckily the food was good because the service was lacking.” “The food at this place taste good and the service is good.”
value	66.66999816894531% positive	“I'd also agree with other reviewers that the drinks were quite pricey.” “wasn't a huge fan of the green corn tamales only b/c I didn't care for the sweetness.” “Anyways, the food was overpriced.” “Margaritas were good, but a little on the pricey side-- not as good value as the food.” “We've been huge fans of the Border Grill for years, but have found the preparation of the food a little indifferent of late.” “It has a festive atmosphere and the drinks are delicious; albeit more expensive than just about anywhere I've been in LA.” “typically order the Gaucho Steak (which, at $30, is pricey but very yummy).” “We were quite surprised at the prices when we arrived, but made the assumption it would be perfectly spiced with a unique combination of ingredients.” “Portions were huge.” “The plates were all overpriced, no free parking or validation provided.” “This place is pricey but so worth it.” “I'm only giving the restaurant an average rating because: it's way overpriced (I only go when Whole Foods gives out $20 off coupons, which makes the price OK), it's always crowded and usually hard to get a table (it's also noisy if you mind that sort of t” “The margaritas are very tasty and unique but also too pricey for what you get.” “The menu is great, the prices are not too high.” “Over all we were confused with what type of food this place is trying to serve if you have the money to spend on a trendy latin food that TRIES to put a zing in the typical beans and rice boring Mexican food enjoy Border Grill and its location.” “Just took my boyfriend's family here last Saturday night - it was a huge hit.” “In retrospect, we should have just paid full price somewhere (or stabbed each other in the legs with pencils and just gone home).” “The $3 dollar margaritas are good enough (for $3 anyway) but it's way worth it to spend extra for one of the premium margaritas and then chow down on the yummy, cheap ($2 i think) appetizers.” “If you want to experience quality and expert taste and authentic Latin cooking of similar prices as Border Grill try the cuban delight, Mojitocuisine in Valencia CA.” “Good drinks but overpriced”
wait time	66.66999816894531% positive	“This is a great place to take out of town guests, get a quick bite & drink for hapy hour or have a really delicious lunch or dinner.” “Avoid Border Grill in Santa Monica at all costs and if you are thinking to yourself right now, "I like that place," take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror and recognize that your taste stinks and no one gives a darn what you think.” “Service was slow and I don't like the fact that they wanted "my entire party to be seated before ordering”

01/20/12

Border Grill serves up Modern Mexican Cuisine

by oc food diva

Yucatan Pork is achiote pork slow roasted in banana leaves, caramelized onion, orange, cinnamon served with sautéed plantains, rice, black beans, guacamole, and handmade corn tortillas. OMG, this is absolutely fabulous! Banana leaves are a great way to roast meats (ask anyone from Hawaii). The leaves subtly flavor the meat as it cooks. The onion, orange, and cinnamon were a beautiful combination with the succulent pork. The guacamole was creamy and tasted so fresh. The plantains were caramelized with a slightly sweet taste, reminded me of bananas foster. The tortillas had a rich roasted corn flavor, great for making your own tacos with the pork. Thumbs up, way up!

The Chile Relleno Burger is ground Black Angus brisket topped with a roasted poblano stuffed with manchego, panela, cotija cheeses inside a brioche bun with chipotle aioli, tomato, shredded romaine and served with cumin fries. This is a match made in heaven! I love chile rellenos and topped on a juicy, flavorful burger - what else could a gal (or guy) ask for! There are so many flavors going on, that your taste buds start to dance – a little spicy from the poblano, a little smoky from the chipotle aioli, creamy from the blend of cheeses, and meaty burger to bring it together like a symphony. The cumin fries were great, especially with a dip into the chile sauce that they bring out with the chips. The helping of fries could be a little bigger as it left me wanting more. They are addictive! Thumbs up, way up!

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11/23/09

Taco truck, please

by dlmuns

After reading a review in the LA Weekly, we were looking forward to a tasty and unique twist on Mexican food. We were quite surprised at the prices when we arrived, but made the assumption it would be perfectly spiced with a unique combination of ingredients...a treat worth the money. My boyfriend enjoyed the baby back ribs and spinach, but I thought the spicing on the ribs was heavy-handed. My shredded pork was very spicy too, but I wouldn't call it flavorful. Drinks were adequate but expensive. Overall a lot of money spent without a great deal of return. So far, not terribly impressed with Santa Monica's mexican food since we just went to Lares, which was cardboard bland.

Cons: overpriced,

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05/05/09

Happy Hour from Hell

by eastbayfunk

I love alcohol. I love happy hours. Shoot, I sound like Asher Roth. Let's start this one over.

Who doesn't love happy hour? Exactly. So on Friday, me and some friends got off of work early on the Westside in Los Angeles and wanted to find a good happy hour to get the weekend started off on the right foot. You would think that the only reason most of us don't make happy hour is because we have jobs but in reality, at least in Santa Monica, CA, happy hour is not so easy to find at 3:30. Most of the happy hours we knew of started at 5 and we just didn't want to wait. (Sushi Roku is a good one of those 5 o clock happy hours.) So we drove around and made some calls and ended up at Border Grill in Santa Monica. We thought, "This is perfect: margaritas and tacos." Well, we were wrong. In retrospect, we should have just paid full price somewhere (or stabbed each other in the legs with pencils and just gone home).

I wasn't even sure it was open until I pushed in the door and saw that it was actually pretty crowded. The place seemed dirty, almost unhygienic. I don't get how place like this can legally stay open. For starters, the lights weren't even on. The place was pitch black and dead silent. The people already there looked like they were frozen in time in that exact location and dust had been building up on them and the restaurant for about twenty years. A bar is a bar though, so we sat down at some empty bar stools and ordered drinks. $5 a drink. Happy hour. Whoopdie doo. The drinks were fine and all but not that cheap and definitely not cheap enough to warrant the ambiance in that dump. Then we made the mistake of trying some tacos. These were no $1 tacos. These were $3 each on the happy hour menu. Honestly, they looked like they had been delivered from the cafeteria in my old UCLA dorm circa 2002 and had sat around in Border Grill's dirty kitchen since then waiting for my arrival. These were so bad they were inedible.

We asked for the check and went to El Cholo on Wilshire in Santa Monica. They didn't have a happy hour. That place is actually weird too but that's neither here nor there. At least it was clean and outside of the twilight zone. Avoid Border Grill in Santa Monica at all costs and if you are thinking to yourself right now, "I like that place," take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror and recognize that your taste stinks and no one gives a darn what you think. Happy Hour from Hell.

wwwblankfromhellcom

Pros: Drinks
Cons: Food, Decor, Ambience, Lighting

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11/30/08

Tasty but not inexpensive

by differentplaces

After wandering around the promenade for a bit for something new, we found the Border Grille a block away. The Carnitas Nortenas were good, with the full complement of sides- guacamole, serranos, house-made tortillas, and other stuff. I would not say they were better than carnitas I've had other places, but they were $5-$6 more expensive than other places I've been too. I'd also agree with other reviewers that the drinks were quite pricey. The margaritas and mojitos were around $12. The atmosphere was nice - the interesting paintings on the walls and bright colors. On the service issue, it was a bit strange. We were told there would be a half hour wait because we hadn't made reservations - yet half the tables appeared empty. Perhaps there weren't enough waiters. In any case, we were seated immediately at the family/communal table when we said that was alright. There were already ten people sitting around the table. That made it interesting - in a good way. Our waiter took our order quick enough, but then there were periods when we didn't see him for a bit too long. He did suggest the perfect entree for my wife. And the speed with which the food was delivered after being ordered was impressive. I'd say we were served in about five minutes. It was the follow up for other items that had us looking for our waiter. A decent experience overall. The below average rating is based on value.

Pros: ambience
Cons: value

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09/26/08

Eclectic menu with amazing flavor combinations

by moneymoney

Just went to this restaurant for the first time even though I have walked past it countless times. What a gem! My party tried 3 different appetizers and 1 entree dish and everything was both unique and delicious. The shrimp ceviche was sauced differently than I've ever had it with more of a tomato base but it was delicious. Enjoyed the endive and pear salad...the blue cheese added a great touch. The entree was a slow-cooked pork dish (don't remember the name) that was super-flavorful. The highlight of the evening was their Moroccan Eggplant appetizer, which was one of the specials. SOO delicious, very highly recommended. It came with a curry cream sauce that had so many distinct flavors that all compliment each other and the eggplant wonderfully. The waiters were amazing and basically standing around waiting to serve us. The Maitre d' came over to make sure all was well with the meal and even chatted with us for a few minutes. Great experience! I was thrilled to see that in touristy Santa Monica, a restaurant still knew how to treat its customers.

Border Grill Santa Monica

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What People Are Saying About Border Grill Santa Monica

Allison Austin

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Editor's Tips

01/20/12

Border Grill serves up Modern Mexican Cuisine

by oc food diva

11/23/09

Taco truck, please

by dlmuns

05/05/09

Happy Hour from Hell

by eastbayfunk

11/30/08

Tasty but not inexpensive

by differentplaces

09/26/08

Eclectic menu with amazing flavor combinations

by moneymoney

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