Coast Beach Cafe & Bar

Came for dinner for Father’s Day and was very pleased with my experience. I like the beach front location and casual atmosphere. It is right on the boardwalk with windows facing the walkway and ocean. My mom really enjoyed dog-​watching during our meal.
I had the lobster roll which was jam-​packed with lobster, I actually got really full after eating half. The fries that came with the lobster roll were really good. I wish there was a little bit of green in the roll or on the plate to balance out the carbs. My mom had the ravioli and she enjoyed it. Our waitress recommended any of the pasta dishes because the head chef is Italian and really excels at the pasta dishes. My dad had the salmon which looked really yummy and healthy. His plate was the opposite of my lobster roll and had no carbs at all and had a salmon filet on top of a salad. I ate some of his of course.
For dessert we shared 3 pieces of cake, which are Susie Cakes… my fave bakery in LA. Each slice is $ 10, which is pretty high, but we were able to try 3 different flavors: Old Fashioned Chocolate, Carrot Cake, and Coconut Pineapple. Our pick for the night was the Coconut Pineapple. It wasn’t too sweet but it was light and moist. Susie Cakes chocolate cake is always a winner and I just don’t like any carrot cake haha.
The wine and drink menu looked good too but I will come back to the mojito another time. Loved the environment and vibe. Valet parking is still $ 9. Bleh. Try to find street parking if you can.

Outstanding salads for lunch. The service was impeccable. The ambience outstanding and overlooks the beach. Highly recommend for a casual and enjoyable lunch.

What a tremendous waste of money. Beautifully-​situated hotel and pretty restaurant, but the food was terrible. We tried the fish and chips (twice-​fried, stale french fries with low quality fish), hamburger (not fancy, not tasty, again with stale fries), caesar salad with shrimp (for an ungodly $ 28, did not taste like the salad dressing was made from scratch, which is what it should taste like considering the price), and the guac/​pico de gallo/​chips starter (none of which tasted good. It shouldn’t be hard to make deep fried tortillas taste good!). Anyway, $ 200 later, we were dissatisfied and poor. I’m happy to pay those prices for good food and a good view, but if the food is going to be terrible, I’ll take my money elsewhere.

After a nice stroll on the beach we came here in the late afternoon for some drinks and appetizers. We came for happy hour and since I was in a wheelchair they let us sit outside. First we ordered drinks. We all shared some bottled water and I got a lemonade. The lemonade turned out a little too sweet for me. My Aunt, Uncle and Parents got cocktails and beer, which they all very much enjoyed. Since it was happy hour all the food was less than $ 10. I was hungry so we got a few things. We ordered two fish tacos, shoshito peppers, two meatball sliders and calamari.
We got the fish tacos first, I ate one. It was very small and the fish didn’t have much flavor, it was all in the salsa. Next came the shoshito peppers and those were good, salty and mild. The serving size for the peppers wasn’t as skimpy. The meatball sliders came next and they were a lot better then I thought they would be. I liked the sauce and cheese. I took out the pickle in the slider though because that just didn’t belong, and I don’t like pickles. The rest of my family also got some calamari. Calamari isn’t really my thing so I didn’t try any.
As for service our waiter was very nice and funny. Beware of the little sparrows that hangout outside they might poop on you. One almost got my Aunt, but luckily it just hit her napkin. Our waiter commented and said that she must be lucky. We all laughed and he got her a new napkin. When we got the bill though it was super expensive for what we got. Overall everything was just alright so I think it was pretty overpriced. Not worth what we got.

This restaurant is part of the hotel we stayed at on Saturday and Sunday. We called on Sunday which was Mother’s Day and asked if there was room and the girl said yes if you come now! So we scurried and got ready and got there, it was a 15 minute wait. So we went out and lounged on the beach, of course, until our table was ready. This place is nicely decorated and on the beach, it was Mothers Day however so it was busy. In the front we noticed this was done by an executive chef so expectations were high. We got a very nice server who had a very funny personality. We ordered the eggs Benedict, steak and eggs, a bagel, and two cappuccinos. The eggs Benedict were okay however the steak and eggs were done with flank steak and was not all that tasty. It tasted weird like it was dropped on the floor before the grill. The bagel was a bagel, something you could get from Von’s. The cappuccinos were just okay. Considering we got the two most expensive things on the menu it should be the most concentrated on, which hopefully was not the case. It also came out within 5 minutes which I hate to think that everything was pre cooked. Maybe not? Overall nice place, and probally a good place to take your family. Beautiful restaurant with just normal food. What made it was the service and setting. Sorry but this executive chef needs to step up to his plate. Steak and eggs $ 27 and eggs Benedict $ 23.

Here is the story.
Half dead beach Rat under the table next to me and my wife.
This was about 6 months ago. Me and my wife have been to Coast and One Pico over a dozen times.
We sat outside at Coast on a Sunday afternoon. Place wasn’t that busy. Some couples and other tables of people sitting around us.
Now i understand that being close to the beach there is definitely a Rat issue and i am certain with their doors always open they are constantly fighting it.
That wasn’t the issue here.
Having worked in the Hospitality Industry for a portion of my life, after spotting the dying Rat under the table next to us, i could of stood up and yelled RAT. It would of set off a Fire Drill for sure of old ladies and B list celebs who were sitting around us. Instead i played it cool.
Called the busser over and politely explained to him about the dying Rat next to us. He scooted away and came back with an army of bussers and managers to scoop it up quietly.
No harm no foul.
Now the food we had eaten was great, the service was great. At that point we stopped eating.
The manager who was of Foreign decent (just a description so he knows who he is) came over and explained he was sorry. he offered to by us dessert. Like i said after seeing the dying Rat my wife was done eating and wanted to leave STAT.
Bottom line, he comped 2 drinks off our bill.
Being in the business for as long as i have been, that bill should of been thrown in the ocean.
You do not hand a bill to a customer who quietly points out a Rat, bug etc in any area of your food establishment period. I am sure you comp more items for less reasons.
Just wanted to let you know exactly how i felt and let you know, next time comp the check. I am sure your owners of the establishment would agree.
This review is 100 percent accurate.
Like i said, food and service were great, but overall dealing with the half dead Rat, not handled well in the end which falls directly on manager on duty.

Went here for a business meeting couple days ago, and i found out that i love the place, beautiful beach setting/​ocean view that are so relaxing and very inviting plus the good service, this place is phenomenal to me, the food is not so great as other American sea food places can offer yet they have the best taste of Lobster roll in town and Probably I’ll be back soon for that.

Ocean views, situated in one of the prettiest hotels in Santa Monica… what’s not to love? We were craving seafood and ended up with the shrimp cocktail, grilled salmon… and because I’m a lucky girl, Maine lobster to continue my birthday celebration. The service was so-​so but really… you’re not here for the service, or even the food. You’re here for the ocean breeze from your window seat and to think of how lucky we are to live in Southern California.
I think I prefer Loew’s or Del Mar for my ocean views BUT I did like the atmosphere here. The food was good enough and they had their own pressed juices, which I loved. I would be open to brunch or a coffee at the bar, but that’s about as far as I’d go with this one.

Yum yum, a really nice celebratory dinner with some friends a week back.
I had what was essentially the linguine with white clam sauce, and loved it. You could tell it was fresh pasta, and the clams were plentiful and large. The mascarpone cheesecake was also to die for. Usually graham cracker crusts are the flavorless, corrugated delivery device for cheesecake, but not so in this case — every bit as good as the creamy deliciousness atop it.
The waitress was super nice — made suggestions, took pictures of us, enjoyed her job. Served an excellent bottle of wine at cellar temp, and helped make fan exquisite Santa Monica dining experience.
It’s a top choice in the area. You’ll pay for it, but it’s a seafood joint, so you had to expect that.

We usually walk here for the overpriced, but pretty good breakfast/​brunch (and yes you will pay $ 25 for an eggs Benedict). However we had the unfortunate experience of stopping by at night and ordering a grilled calamari salad… which turned out to be grilled COUNTERFEIT calamari or, um,.grilled, processed pigs’ anus. Yup, we were disgusted too. You would think that a restaurant that’s associated with Shutters and serves fresh oysters would get fresh calamari — or at least source their frozen seafood better.
I think we’re going to have to wait for the memory of our last meal to fade before we come back for breakfast and that $ 17 egg sandwich.

Coast is a delightful small spot tucked into what would otherwise be the basement — in this case the «beach level» — of the lovely Shutters Hotel. The menu is casual but prepared with care and with more of a café selection than a restaurant.
We were here for dinner for the first time after being here often for breakfast and lunch (both of which are terrific here). The service still lives up to Shutters’ standards and the crowd was lively and well-​heeled. Don’t be misled by the casual vibe, though, as it isn’t cheap and has a nice wine selection and a few expensive items.
Recommended mostly for breakfast or lunch but if you want a comfy casual spot with a touch of flair in the Santa Monica area this would be a good choice.

First i must mention that I used to be a hotel manager that also had a few restaurants on property.
This place came highly recommended but I cannot recommend regretfully.
First impressions are key and normal pleasantries go a long way especially when you’re in the service industry. I decided to sit at the bar (big mistake) and have lunch while I was in Santa Monica. The bartender appeared to be elsewhere which is why his attitude presented itself upon greeting me.
I ordered the chicken club and a juice, simple order. In the 30 minutes I sat at the bar, not once was I asked how I was doing or even if the food was to my liking. I certainly wasn’t looking for chit chat as bartenders often do but rather a welcoming experience, that didn’t happen.
I cannot mark this as the employee was having a bad day– I’ve lost loved ones and didn’t bring it to work. I noticed that I wasn’t the only one that received this substandard service. The bar had three patrons sitting enjoying lunch.
When I was presented the check an employee came over and turned this experience around with the best service and the service one would expect with such a high class, high rated hotel/​restaurant. Andreas the busboy is the employee that each and every person should emulate.
I shared my experience with him and thanked him for appreciating me as a customer and because of him I may be back.
*note to owner/​GM* Employees make or break your business. I certainly wouldn’t want to recommend a business that doesn’t share the same values as I do when it comes to service. There is no excuse for a poor attitude or that the employee is going through tough times. Work is work and when you’re in the service industry you shine. It is your job to make the experience something to remember, a positive one.

Want a quiet breakfast meeting with good ambiance? Perfect spot. Also a great place to meet someone or take an out of towner for a lovely view.
I’ve only been here for breakfast. It’s clean, crisp, classy, and truly captures Santa Monican charm (yup, just used 4 c’s to describe it). The view is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. My colleague had eggs, bacon, toast, and didn’t complain. I had oatmeal, it was lovely and came with all the right toppings. The coffee served here is great.
Depending on when you go, you can get metered parking on the street. Otherwise there is valet which I believe was $ 15.
During the holidays, they have great lobby décor, including a model train.

I came on Thanksgiving around lunch and the service was horrible. Our waiter did not make us feel welcome, and did not come to our table and take our order for about 20 minutes. He had a very grumpy attitude and clearly made us feel like he did not want to be there. I expected better service especially from such a beautiful restaurant.
The food as well was subpar. It was nothing spectacular, and I left most of it on my plate because it tasted very bland.
The only positive was sitting outside because the weather was beautiful (a bit chilly), but the ambiance is very pretty. I would not want to come again though because of the service and the food (for such a high price) did not taste like anything special.

Dining at Coast is like hanging out at your friend’s super cool beach house. That is, if your friend is really your frenemy, over charging you for food and drinks, and can’t wait to get you out of their place. But seriously. I’m absolutely in love with the ambiance, but the food and service leave much to be desired. Go for the relaxing vibe, killer view, and drinks, but don’t expect much else. Wanna know more? Keep reading…
FOOD: (2.5÷5 stars):
Came for brunch and the food was just okay. At those prices, ($ 60 for 2 entrees and a coffee) I expected a bit more. Here’s what we had:
Bulls Eye Breakfast Skillet (2.5÷5 stars): This sounded amazing! Eggplant and spicy tomato with eggs cooked in a skillet, how could you go wrong? Unfortunately, it was super bland and needed more flavor and more spices.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (2.5÷5 stars): Again, sounded fantastic, but did not deliver. Light and fluffy, but not flavorful enough and a pretty skimpy portion.
SERVICE: (¹⁄₅ stars):
Absolutely terrible! When you’re paying high prices you expect good service. I’ve been twice, had 4 waiters, and with 3 out of 4 of the waiters had terrible service. One waitress was super sweet and friendly, but other than that everyone else we had acted like they couldn’t wait for us to get out of there and we were inconveniencing them by being there. It was to the point that we felt uncomfortable and rushed to get done and get out. Not exactly a pleasant or relaxing experience.
AMBIANCE: (⁵⁄₅ stars):
This is what you come for! The whole place looks like an adorable beach cottage! I love the outdoor seating with the twinkly lights and of course being right on the beach. The inside is just as adorable and there are huge windows so you can view the beach no matter where you are sitting.
Verdict? Go for drinks, try to ignore the rude service and enjoy your beach view!

I really don’t know how they do it! Coast hires the best people who make me feel like such a valued guest no matter how long it has been since my last visit. And given the most I am here is 3 times a year, it’s pretty impressive!
A special thank you to James and Dylan (always terrific and welcoming) to a couple of new people I met on this visit, Jesse and Bradley. Bradley makes the best Bloody Mary in the entire place and Jesse was such a great server, we wanted to just sit in his section all morning (but we didn’t, knowing he wanted to turn the table!)
The food is consistently good (I crave that coconut cake) but for brunch you can’t beat the eggs benedict or the cobb salad. And always be sure to add a side of their wonderful bacon on to anything you order.
And the location can’t be beat either. Yeah, I get that I am raving about a restaurant in a hotel. But this one deserves the high praise!

Came here for lunch today, I’ve been here for dinner and breakfast in the past but don’t remember the food much. First off, the restaurant was HOT (granted it was a hot and humid day even though the restaurant/​hotel was in the sand section with the beach being right there it was still pretty hot). This is what I did not understand 1) why did they not close all the doors — the hot air from the outside came in and 2) why was the AC not really on? (And if it was on, then they need to close all the doors and windows to keep the cold air contained).
The service was friendly and prompt, and I liked our waitress. I started with the gazpacho, it was very blended (which I don’t like, I actually like them with a bit more chunks like ones from the Daily Grill.) Otherwise the gazpacho was delicious.
For my entrée I got the fish tacos, they were just okay as well, these were a bit too fishy for me (I hate it when I could smell the fish) I should have gotten the spaghetti pomodoro instead.
The saving grace was the carrot cake! Omg! The whole time I was eating it I kept saying how it reminds me of Susie’s Cakes in Manhattan Beach! And Lo and behold! It was from Susie’s! Lol my friend got the peach cobbler, we both agreed that the carrot cake was much much better!
We even had a winged friend who joined us for lunch!

I used to love eating there. Sat down at the bar and had brunch. I ordered Cobb salad and a Bloody Mary. Both were just ok not worth $ 36 for a meal. The salad was chunky and underwhelming.
The Bloody Mary was not worth $ 15. The one thing that bummed me out the most is that their fans were full of dust in the dining room. I looked up and imagined all that dust flying around. I pay attention to details and that is something that turned me off.

Unremarkable and over-​priced food and service. We over-​ordered a little bit, but even so the $ 90 I spent (including tip) was outrageous for a meal during which I had ONE cocktail and a bowl of gazpacho as my main dish. Half a point for a really solid spicy margarita, which I would them promptly deduct given the utterly boring nature of everything else on the table – except for the lobster roll we shared, which is hard to mess up. Also, why do potato chips come with EVERYTHING at dinner? Very strange.
They sat our party of six at an awkward eight-​person round table so that there was a huge gap next to me and we were generally way too spread out to have a conversation over the din of the party next to us, which happened to be a table full of very adorable but very loud children who sang throughout much of their meal (I get that it’s at a hotel and thus is a family restaurant, but they should have found a better spot to put us for our 8:30pm dinner).
When one friend had a non-​serious allergic reaction/​rash from the food, they did not have Benadryl on hand — at a SEAFOOD restaurant. Very surprising. When we approached the front desk for help, they charged my friend $ 12 for a whole box of Benadryl (no option to get just one pill) – after we had just dropped hundreds of dollars at their completely disappointing restaurant. Even though I wasn’t staying there (other friends were), I expect more from a hotel where rooms average over a thousand bucks a night.
I would not return to this restaurant and would advise others against going. Too bad, as Shutters overall has a nice reputation and I love a good seaside dinner and drinks experience!

I came here for lunch this past week for business. Note that my rating is actually a 3.5 but I feel bad rating a 3 so I just went up a star instead.
Pros:
— beautiful beach setting
— great people-​watching
— good service
Cons:
— no bread basket
— ok food. I had a lobster roll and it was nowhere near any of the best lobster rolls that I have had in LA.
Food was nothing phenomenal but the location would probably make me go back if I needed a Westside destination.