06/11/09

Hair in pasta

by calalak

Friend found a very long hair (she has short hair) mixed into her pasta. When presented to the manager, her response was not to take any responsibility. She claimed it 'flew in from the air'. This hair was NOT laying on top of the dish, it was well mixed in. She said all her cooks have short hair. Offered no compensation, free dessert nothing.

• Pros: mostly good food
• Cons: Poor customer service

04/12/09

Great Food, Service by Satan

by FoodLoverinLosAngeles

How is it possible that the owners of Babalu consistently produce some of the best food in Santa Monica and yet insist on hiring careless, self-absorbed, narcissistic waiters? Yes, this is Los Angeles, but the heights of inconsiderate behavior reached by the wait staff make Steve Martin's Absent-Minded Waiter look like the paragon of service. Don't ever sit at a table outside; you will be left to molder until the restaurant shuts down. Don't ever wait to ask for a refill of your drink; you are better off quenching your thirst at your neighbor's table, assuming they still have something in their glass. Don't ever worry about forgetting the name of your waiter; they will never volunteer the information in the first place for fear of future reprisals. And if your waiter should happen to look you in the eye when asking you for your order, know that this is a nervous tick and to never expect eye-contact again.

For the owners: I don't know the name of my waiter on my last visit, but it was a dark-haired woman and the time of my visit was 5:00 April 12th. I have come to expect terrible service at Babalu's, but this last experience was one for the books.

02/06/09

Unbelievable Desserts!

by sandrastar

My boyfriend recently had dinner with a friend at Babalu and had the amazing Turkey Meatloaf. He was dying for me to try it. It was great! But the big satisfying surprise was one of the best desserts I've ever had! I love coconut and their Coconut Praline Cream pie is out of this world. I want to tell everyone to go and have dinner but don't leave until you've had dessert! The service is excellent and the atmosphere is very cozy. I live in the mid-Wilshire area so it is a trek but so worth it! A new favorite on our list!

07/17/08

Slow and Steady

by kiercemartin

This is one of my favorite places on Montana, and while it's true that you are almost assuredly going to wait. Let me just say that it is worth it. The unusual menu offers up all kinds of weird Cuban/American fusions that are pretty incredible. The inside of the restaurant has some really cool decor, and the paintings on the walls are always changing. Or if people watching is your thing, take a seat outside and enjoy the yuppies strolling down Montana. Either way this is a great little Montana spot, and yeah it's pricey, but you're on Montana what do you expect? I'd say it's definitely worth the price and the usual wait.

07/16/08

Worthwhile

by barefield

Above average food, slightly overpriced and a manager with bipolar. It's worth visiting when the angry blonde behind the counter has the day off. Coconut shrimp, chicken tacos, vegetable stir-fry, and all of the desserts are tasty.

06/23/08

Not worth the wait OR the price

by billg985

Went to Bablu last night. We waited about 25 minutes, which I was totally ok with. It was, after all, 730pm in Santa Monica. The room has a good atmosphere, nice and airy.

When we were seated, the server was frantic. It's not a big place, but it was full... with a wait, and they had two servers and one busser working. She was nice, and the service was adequate. It was not reflection on the quality of the service staff, more about the management understaffing and not doing there job.

Now the food.....Disapointing at best. I had a chicken chopped salad. It was a Denny's quality mix of lettuce and vegetables, all diced up into neat little cubes. Decent dressing. I paid an extra $3 for chicken, which was also diced into cubes. The total amount of chicken was probably about a quarter of a chicken breast, with little flavor. Price = $20. Are you kidding me? I also got their version of Baba ghanoush (that's how they describe it. I can't remember the exact name). The pita was ok...obviously store bought and cut into triangles. No oil, no lemon, just cut up bread. The "Baba ghanoush" itself had a werd sweetness (maybe figs?) to it. Very dark, like refried beans. Very "fibery"; I could see strings of whatever it's made out of at the bottom. I didn't like it too much. I knew it was a little different, but I thought I'd take a shot.

My friends ordered :

1) Hamburger with sweet potato fries

2) Chicken Enchiladas (3 to an order) with rice and beans

3) Chicken tacos (2 to an order) with rice and beans

4) two ice waters, two iced teas.

Price .... you ready for this.... $90.

NOT Reccomended at all.

• Pros: Ambience, location, service (friendly, not fast)
• Cons: Everything else

Make like Ricky Ricardo at this Cal-Caribbean favorite for a jumbled menu of delights and a colorful, relaxed beachside atmosphere.

by Contributor

In Short
The sarong-clad waitstaff glides from table to table, casually serving stylish Montana Avenue shoppers and neighborhood families. Brunch favorites include pancake and omelette specials, as well as a creative eggs Benedict on corn cakes with chipotle hollandaise. Light lunches feature dishes like a blackened chicken tostada salad, while dinner picks include chicken with ancho chilies and sweet potato tamale. Homemade gooey desserts are favorites.

04/23/08

LOTS OF FUN, UNUSUAL DECOR, AND A MENU FULL OF SURPRISES

by FAWLTYTOWERS

This is a good place to go for something off the beaten path but still civilized. The menu should have something for everyones taste: Carribean/California Fusion. There is lots of light and the area is well organized, if a little tightly spaced. Like every place in LA the service varies from excellent to just OK, but mostly good to excellent. Prices are moderate. Parking in Santa Monica does not exist; Montana is metered, so try a side street South of Montana. It is worth the trouble and every trip back will be different.

• Pros: AMBIENCE, DESERTS, LOCATION
• Cons: PARKING

03/16/08

Long wait, followed by SLOW SERVICE!!!!, More Confusion that Fusion

by radiancelee

The atmosphere looked promising, but after a 45 minute wait, I was hoping to be blown off my seat. The restaurant is tiny yet somewhat cozy depending on the table you get. The waitress is virtually non-existant and I am still hoping the more efficient busgirl got the tip we left rather than that pretty L.A. waitress/actress who made 1 cameo at our table (once to take our order, lastly to receive the check once it was paid). Not impressed.

The food was pretty good. The ribs and the Jamaican jer* chicken are the way to go, but a lot of the menu seemed confused - from szechuan rice to missippi short ribs....i don't know what they were going for...but i expected more Carribean cuisine on the menu.

Good wine. Good beer. Ritzy neighborhood. Most menu items priced above $20

03/10/08

Small town neighborhood atmosphere with good food

by mkawayoshi

This place has a small town neighborhood feeling. It's not a Mom and Pop shop but it seems like it would be. The food is good and tastes fresh. They have good coffee and really good desserts. I had the crab enchiladas and scallop appetizer. I've only eaten here once on a Wednesday but there was no wait. A lot of people in earlier posts wrote that the service was bad but I thought it was great when I went. Maybe they made some adjustments since. Definately a place worth trying.

• Pros: Dessert and Coffee is good, fresh tasting food