Michael's Restaurant

(310) 451-0843

1147 3rd St
Santa Monica, CA 90403 34.0192 -118.5

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Neighborhoods: West LA, Wilshire Montana

MICHAELSSANTAMONIC…

What People Are Saying About Michael's Restaurant

The Editor

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene – When owner Michael McCarty opened his namesake establishment in 1979, it was like a whirlwind through the city's restaurant scene. The chefs in his kitchen were pioneers of what came to be known as California cuisine. Walk through the dining room, with its '80s flashback decor, and revel in the atmosphere of the lush garden patio. – – The Food – What was groundbreaking in 1979 is classic in the new millennium. The kitchen still showcases the fresh, local ingredients that are hallmarks of California cuisine. The starters are filled with unique flavor…

3 Star Rating: Average

06/04/09

Nice Ambience, decent food But some great coffee

by Nirali2009

Michael's a great place for a romantic dinner but it more on the expnsive side. The food was decent but the presentation was lovely.

Also, I must say being a coffee enthusiast the place served a great cup of coffee ! Idid some research and its called weaver's coffee - I would definitely reccomend trying the coffee there....

  • Pros: Nice patio and great ambience
  • Cons: Expensive
2 Star Rating: Below Average

07/10/08

Nothing memorable...

by traveler9

There's really nothing terribly wrong with Michael's, but nothing stood out. Aging decor, plastic seats on the patio. I do not pretend to be a gourmet, but I do know when I'm dining on wonderful food. This restaurant does not provide that. I had the poached lobster, which was just ok, and probably the smallest piece of lobster I've ever had in my life...for $ 46.00! Nothing was served with it. Nothing! No potato, no green vegetable....just alone on the plate. The waiter was adequate, but very full of himself, which is epidemic in LA. Yes, the patio is very nice, but the food and service was mediocre. It seems to be existing solely on it's former glory. My husband and I left the place hungry, which was easy to do when you receive very little food. When you spend hundreds of dollars on a meal, you have the right to expect to be wowed!

  • Pros: The decor...
  • Cons: Uninspired food....
1 Star Rating: Poor

11/16/07

Would not recommend!

by stella21

For what the prices are, the service was pretty bad. One of my favorite things to do is to go out and have a nice dinner. Of course it is at a cost but when I went to Michael's I was shocked at how we were treated. There was hardly any attention towards us from our waiter. It was like he was too good for us. I felt like we were being judged because we weren't in "suits" on a business dinner. The food was great and I wouldn't mind spending the money if the service matched the price. The decor was also very outdated and made the whole experience a huge waste.

The Details on Michael's Restaurant

Fun Fact:

Such famous chefs as Ken Frank, and Mark Peel and Nancy Silverton all put in time behind the stoves at Michael's.

Look Good:

To sample the food of another early pioneer of California cuisine, head to Berkeley's Chez Panisse.

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Restaurants

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