(310) 829-4559
2909 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica,
CA
90405
34.02489
-118.4593
Neighborhoods: Pico, West LA
Years in business
Established in 1968
Price:
$
Last updated 6.04.11
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Late Night Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Hidden Find, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Happy Hour, Live Music, Carry Out, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene
General Info:
Open 7 Days
Cuisine:
What People Are Saying About Lares Restaurant
Featured Review
Mar Yvette
Contributor
In Short – Stepping into this dimly lit space is like walking into a rustic Mexican adobe. Framed prints of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo artwork hover near the sunken bar made of heavy carved wood, while the roaring fireplace, exposed beams and a white stucco interior make it homey and inviting. (And if that doesn't do it for you, the host's "Hola, como estas?" greeting will.) The noise level is conversational; upstairs there's yet another bar and tables that fill up with late-night revelers on weekends. Dishes range from the simple (carnita tacos, cheese enchiladas) to the more…
Editor's Tips
- Parking:
- The surrounding residential neighborhood parking is permit-only, so the restaurant's valet is the best option.
| ambiance | 94.44000244140625% positive |
|
|---|---|---|
| dessert | 100.0% positive |
|
| drinks | 100.0% positive |
|
| food quality | 92.79000282287598% positive |
|
| menu variety | 85.71000099182129% positive |
|
| overall | 100.0% positive |
|
| return potential | 100.0% positive |
|
| service | 92.3900032043457% positive |
|
| value | 100.0% positive |
|
| wait time | 62.5% positive |
|
Jesse the "Manager"
by hogan32 at Citysearch
Stay away from the "semi manager" named Jesse. He is a large man and he greeted us when we came in. However since our entire party was not there he said he could not seat us and recommended we wait at the bar. I understand THIS IS STANDARD PRACTICE IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. However when we went to the bar it was completely full with standing room only. I was with someone with a physical disability so I went to Jesse and let him know there was no room at the bar and we would like to be seated. He refused despite the fact his patron had a disability. So we said, "What if we prepay our bill and offered him $200 to secure payment of the bill. He said yes I'll take your money....but I'll take it for myself and it won't help you get seated or go towards your bill. Two issues.....this restaurant discriminates against disabled people and they give managerial control to someone who is looking out for their own interest and doesn't even care about driving revenue for the very company represents. DON'T GO HERE. I'm sending this to the Better Business Bureau and the ACLU. You think I'm bluffing....just wait!
DONT TRUST THEM
by ninsazd at Citysearch
we are regulars on friday nights here. I left my purse tonight, went back 20 minutes later and all the money was gone. what an embarrassment.
EWWWWWWWWWW
Big on portions, and disappointment
by jordana_lorraine at Citysearch
I've been here twice...sort of. A friend and I called on Cinco de Mayo to ask how long the wait was. We were shocked when they said there wasn't one, so we headed straight over (from 2 miles away.) After paying for the valet, we got inside and saw more what we had expected and wanted to avoid---basically, a zoo. We left.
We decided to go back last week, and were greeted by an odd guy who showed us to a table and was kind of weird when we said we'd prefer to sit at the bar. The bartender got us some (verrry sweet) margaritas quickly, but took a while to ask for our food order. My friend's tostada was OK; I ordered steak+shrimp. I got enough food to feed a family of four! First, a tasty salad. Then, the steak, shrimp and "steamed" (to death) vegetables. The shrimp were delicious, but the steak was just a hunk of mediocre, unseasoned meat. Ick.
We also felt like the odd guy was hanging back and watching us, which was uncomfortable. Overall a weird experience and I doubt I'll be back.
- Pros: large portions
- Cons: weird service, inconsistent food quality
stay way stay away
by A Soni at Citysearch
STAY AWAY! THEY CHARGE YOU 75 cents for WATER!
Went here for dinner a few days ago. Awful service, awful food.
Waiters treat you like you don't exist. They push alcohol and if you
don't order any they look at you like weirdos. Nickel and dime you for everything. Better to eat at a TACO truck than to go to a dump like this.
STAY AWAY.
- Pros: awful service. Rip off
- Cons: awful service. Rip off
Bland Tam;les, Chocolate Pudding Mole
by dlmuns at Citysearch
I really liked the atmosphere of this place, and with 40 years owned by the same family, wanted to love this place. The atmosphere is legit...dim lighting with interesting wooden tables and bar. By the time the chips and salsa arrived and the margaritas were on the table, my anticipation of a great meal was peaked. The chips were thick and made on site it seems and the salsa was spicy and tasty.
Unfortunately when my tamales arrived, there were beyond bland. When I requested hot sauce for them, the waiter brought some kind of goopy tomato paste instead of more of the fabulous salsa. It seemed to have no spice in it. Beans were flavorless as was the rice.
My boyfriend says Bill Cosby would have loved the Mole because it tasted just like Chocolate pudding. It was very sweet.
Service started out good but soured as soon as I asked for the hot sauce. Like I said, I really wanted to like this place, but would love to go back in time and not have gone. At least we didn't pay outrageous prices like we did at Border Grill. Poor Santa Monica. Is there any good mexican food here?
- Pros: Decent drinks, great chips and salsa
- Cons: boring tamales and too sweet mole
The Details on Lares Restaurant
Place Categories:
- great solid food
- great gracious service
- best mexican restaurants
- best mexican food
- very nice hiddenaway atmosphere
- great don julio margaritas
- like new place
- fresh tortilla chips
- fresh homemade salsa
- comfortable ambiance
- love lares
- favorite carnitas dish
- wonderful restaurant
- awful food
- awful service
- like carnitas
- recommend carne asada tacos
- wonderful everything
- good taste experience
- great mole
- favorite mexican
- great ambience
- prompt wait staff
- great meal
- fantastic people

