Ocean Park Omelette Parlor
Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: Santa Monica2732 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310) 399-7892
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Sat-Sun 6:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: None
- Good for: Breakfast
- Alcohol: None
21 reviews
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
"Buddhist rejoice. Come to The Stand on Mondays after 5pm and for only one dollar they can make you one with everything. Not enlightened…" read more »
74 Reviews for Ocean Park Omelette Parlor
So yeah its cute and homey or whatever; but I would just like to say that a pile of ingredients with a slab of egg over it does not an omelette make. Is it so much to ask to get some DISTRIBUTION people?? Or maybe even slice things up and mix them into the egg batter? I might be slightly more forgiving if this place went by any other name, but its called the OMELETTE parlor. I expect a great omellete! And paying thirteen dollars does not make it great!
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The booths are cute - in the old 50s-80s type of way.
It does scream parlor =)
The omelette not so much.
I came here a few years ago upon a friend's recommendation.
The omelette was the most boring omelette I had.
The potatoes - way too greasy.
The pancakes were not good.
Overall, what I remember from this place is that it was just wayyyy too oily and greasy.
Peep the pix.
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Unfortunately I have lazy friends. These lazy friends insist that everything in Beverly Hills is "crap" and that I have to eat down by them, where they insist food is "way-better" and "cheaper" and people "keep it real," etc.
This is extremely unfortunate because if you have to drive to Main Street in Santa Monica and try to park your car on a Sunday morning you will want to scream with rage and punch all the beach-people taking their sweet time walking around and jamming up the traffic. I literally gave up and parked across the street from the Omelette Parlor at a lot that charges $6, that's how frustrated I got looking for parking.
In addition to that, I arrived with one friend, and the other two were going to meet us, but the hostess wouldn't seat us unless our entire party was there. Urge to flip out definitely rising.
Once we were all present, and seated, we ordered our food and chowed down. It was pretty good, but to be perfectly honest, I prefer the omelettes at The Nosh or S&W to this place. Great apple butter though, they would get points for it if everything else didn't take away so many points.
The real problem came when we wanted to split the bill. My friends, don't understand the importance of carrying cash around to make splitting bills easy. This doesn't excuse the gentlemen at the register accidentally charging everything but one omelette on one of the cards though. That was definitely his fault.
If this place wasn't such a hassle to go to, then I could deal with all the other little bits and pieces. The worst thing is my friends are all totally gung-ho about going back.
This place is really cute, and really crowded. It's become a brunch staple of mine when I'm in the SM area. Love the omelettes - especially the Renter's one - shredded crispy potatoes, sour cream all inside a fluffy omelet...mmmm...prepare for major food coma! The portions are huge and all of the omelets come with your choice for bread product and delicious apple butter, AND potatoes.
This is the best breakfast on the westside. Ever.
It's really worth the money. Try to avoid the sunday afternoon rush or your slightly less that perfect dining experience won't put such a damper on the actual food that's right in front of your face. This versus let's say.. a monday morning 11 am brunch with a lovely rasberry and powdered sugar topped pancake staring you in the face is pretty close to perfection. Eggs benedict are always 100%. Maybe it's too much to ask for low low prices for breakfast on main street but hell, I ain't complaining. What do you expect? If you want something for 5 bucks I'm pretty sure there's a McDonald's down the street somewhere.
There ya go :)
Wow. Not in a good way, more like "wow that was a ton of money for breakfast food." The food isn't bad, dont get me wrong. But have eggs and bacon or biscuits and gravy really gone up to the price of $15 a plate?
Ok, it's expensive food - that's fine every now and then, i'm over that. Here is the kicker - orange juice. It is fresh squeezed and tastes like Simply Orange with high pulp, which is great. But they charge you by the glass, which is smaller than most LA bar shot glasses. My waitress didn't bring me a glass of water to go with it, only asked if i wanted another glass of juice...for which i was obviously charged another 4 or 5 dollars for. You gotta warn people of that crap! At least give me the water option.
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It's the Super Bowl. I want to eat grease before Grease. While others celebrate the football dynasty, I'm excited about the chance to eat junk.
I must say that while I can understand where they're coming from, I was supremely annoyed at the fact that I couldn't bring in a cup of Groundworks coffee -- I'm a coffee snob, yes, I'm over it -- and was ordered to leave my cup with the cashier and submit myself to Burnt Crap. Don't like Burnt Crap. Drank it anyway.
Waiter Man was nice. He dealt with my hemming and hawing about what to include in my omelette. Ultimately went with an egg white, swiss, tomato, mushroom, avocado, and sauteed spinach creation. Tasty. I liked that the spinach had a hint of garlic, liked that it wasn't overly cheesy, and liked that pushed between those eggs was a garden patch of veggies.
Boyfriend ate a big waffle with a scoop of ice cream. He packed that whole thing in his little belly before I could take a bite. I take that as a sign that it was good.
Minus two stars for not allowing me my Groundworks Goodness, and minus one more for the fact that the spinach made my omelette a little watery. Potatoes, though, were greased out fabulousness, and they give you apple butter to put on the English Muffin.
I'd go back on another lazy, greasy Sunday. I usually have a few a year.
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finally went here early Sunday morning, happened to go out for an insomniac inspired stroll on the beach and decided to give it a try, thank goodness we went early as it was mom's day.
so the whole time i'm sitting there i'm like, "are we getting on pirates of the Caribbean next?" and i kept expecting a barbershop quartet to pop out and sing an early 1800's rendition of "OMLETTEVILLE".
their whole wheat nut english muffin, was the best thing, not too big on carbs right now, but couldn't resist this delicious lil guy, soo good.
turkey sausage is ok, the omlette was alright, great selection, there's about 2 more other than what i had that sparked my interest for a moment, unfortunately, attention and interest is not something long lived with me, so i can't say i'll go back...it wasn't horrible, just ok, there's better spots in this area, too bad they don't open early.
The boyfriend and I were out on Main this past Sunday, and being the adventurous types, we decided to give the Omelette Parlor a try.
The decor is very parlor-like, ugly patterned wallpaper with old photos and lots of spindly wood railings everywhere. It was fairly late in the day so we were able to snag a table inside right away.
Coffee was offered immediately by a server and being the total coffee-addict I am, I was super excited. Hooray!! Restaurant coffee can be REALLY good sometimes.
This was not one of those times.
This coffee was bitter and sour and made me sour and bitter too.
(Minus one star)
The soup (yes, soup, I wasnt feeling well) was ok, just a basic turkey/veggie type thing. John ordered a club sandwich that turned out to be totally GIGANTIC and well made, but the coke they brought him to drink was in a can. (Minus one star.) I mean, seriously, with the prices they charge, you'd think they'd be able to afford fountain drinks.
As for the service, the hostess was a sweet older lady, but our server brought our check before we'd even gotten halfway through our meal. (Minus another star.)
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You Thevin' *&^(ers!
Now, having gotten that out of the way...when the nice man comes up to your table with a pitcher of fresh squeezed OJ, be forewarned, it's a TEENY, TINY glass for $3.00 and no free refills.
Moving on: the wait on a Sunday afternoon blows. But, it's a brunch spot in Santa Monica, that's sort of a given. The service each time has been totally mediocre, not exceptionally bad, but nothing I would call good. You'll get your food in a reasonable amount of time; and when you do: it's HUGE. The portions are incredibly huge, good enough to share (except my bread; don't touch my bread).
The booths are cute, and comfortably seat about 4 people and if the wait isn't too bad it's worth a trip (except for the OJ).
Omlette Parlor is pretty average. I haven't ever had a bad experience here, but it's also not anything to get too excited about. I like the California Benedict. You could certainly do worse, like the Firehouse, but I'm still looking for great in Santa Monica/Venice. Any suggestions?
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I don't get why everyone loves this place. I like the patio but the food and service is mediocre. I mean it's not "bad" by any means but I've never had anything outstanding. The breakfast tacos are the best thing I think and Del Taco's breakfast tacos are better! If I'm on Main and looking for bfast I'd rather go to Urth...OP is just not worth the wait or the price...my fave breakfast spot is still S&W in Culver City!
I can't believe anyone goes here! The owner and hostess are so rude, I think they must want the place to themselves. Or maybe they just wanted to go home early. The worst customer service, EVER. I'll never go back! I can't believe people pay to get treated so badly, but I won't and I'm sure you could find something much better.
someone had rated this place as a solid 3, I agree. There is outside seating, additional seating/extension had been added because of the CROWDS!!!
DON'T go there on a Sat or Sun at 8am, maybe 8am you'll get away with not waiting 1/2 an hour...but 9am...fogetaboutit!! really, really, really crowded on weekends!!!
Yes, they are known for omeletes, but funny, I hardly ever order them here...not a big omelete fan I guess...too many damn eggs in one sitting...
What can I say, I'm boring. I get the main street basic, whole wheat english muffin, eggs, potatoes (really good!), add ham maybe, coffee...very tasty....
I have had the waffles, very, very yummy...the bacon is good,...But they have an assortment of other choices, too...but they do breakfast...& do it very well.
Worth repeating: you have been warned, K!! I will not go there on a sat or sun a.m., bec of the wait...unless I go really, really early...NOT!!!
parking can be a B, you know it's Main st. but there is usually plenty of parking in the paid/coin lots just around the corner, before Neilson Wy--SM Beach Parking...
A
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This place gets a one star for one good reason, they made me pour out my brand new cup tea before I could enter because "Sorry we don't accept outside beverages."
I don't really care about the $1.00 cost of the tea I care about the immediate confrontation I had to deal with the second I stepped through the door. Not only are they making a pathetic request, but the girl at the door wasn't even nice about it, and that truly is pathetic. I don't want to feel like a 8 year old school kid getting scolded by my camp counselor for seeking in candy when I'm out for breakfast on a Sunday morning.
Do they really care about the chance that they might loose $1.00 if people bring in their own (better made) tea or coffee? So much to the point that they risk loosing $25 in business that day? Because they would have if I wasn't with company. I for sure would have gone someplace else on principal but stuck it out for my friend.
Talk about bad business policy. Through their thinking, they would expect me to spend a 1.00 or 2.00 on a drink once I got inside, but I didn't. Once we were done I went right back to where I bought my tea before and re-bought the exact same thing I ordered 45 minutes earlier.
I don't like writing bad reviews and I don't get agitated with establishments easily, I just think they're creating uncomfortable situations for their customers with nothing to gain from it...Lame.
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If I go to a place called the Omelette Parlor, I expect them to make a good omelette. This place does not make a good omelette. It is essentially a pan of whipped eggs cooked well-done and folded around some ingredients. The eggs are so thick and dry they are difficult to eat. The ingredients are fine but seem out of place sitting inside this odd egg contraption they call an omelette.
I love omelettes, cook them all the time, and eat them all the time. If I was rating this place solely on their omelettes I would give it a 1. However, this restaurant does have good potatoes, and some of the other food items are slightly better.
The atmosphere is nice and I do enjoy sitting outside in the back of the restaurant. I live just down the street so sometimes it's difficult to avoid this place when friends suggest it.
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Here's what I love about Yelp. I went to the Omelette Parlor on Sunday and thought, wow, what a cute little place to go and have breakfast on a weekend. Then I started reading the reviews and I realized so many of the less positive reviews were actually accurate.
Tasty breakfast. Fun atmostphere. I was leaning towards a 4-star review.
But... alas... it was terribly crowded. And while I lucked out during a 10 minute window of no-waiting on a Sunday morning, immediately after I was seated, I saw the wait increase to over 30 minutes. Which would have annoyed me... if it was me.
Service was good. The server checked in on us often and made sure we had everything we needed.
But the bill came and it was steep. Spent like $35 on breakfast for two (tax and tip included). So yeah, 3-stars. Good breakfast, nice place, but not necessarily worth the wait and the money.
However... if you do go... the waffle with bananas is pretty freakin' awesome.
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I first tried the Omelette Parlour a few years ago and I go back every now in then when I am in the mood for a no frills breakfast.
I like sitting outside in the patio area. It is very relaxing except for the birds flying around scavenging for food. Be careful because these birdies are not shy or reserved!
The menu has the usual breakfast fare, eggs, pancakes, waffles etc...
I always have an egg white omelette with spinach and cheese, a toasted english muffin and a fresh grapefruit juice. Nothing very exciting but it is cheap and cheerful and I get to relax outside and breathe in a little fresh air.
I would not classify this place as a favourite spot but it is pretty consistent and always good.
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It is a solid three. I'd go back, but only if someone else really wanted to go there. The food was okay, the coffee was great, and the service was really on. The wait wasn't too bad, unlike a lot of other places on a Sunday morning, but I just left feeling utterly unimpressed, and slightly ripped off.
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Its funny, after reading the other reviews, I had to drop it a star from my initial thought... I think I was SO hungry when I got there, that I would have given Mickey D's a few stars for a breakfast sandwich.
Anyway, I met a friend there for breakfast on a Sunday, and was worried that we would have a half hour wait, but they sat us pretty quickly (in the shade, outside). He had the 2-2-2 and enjoyed it; I had the Meter Maid -- it was a gi-normous omelet (it was so big, only made up words work). The veggies were tasty, and the potatoes were EXCELLENT, but it needed more cheese. It wasn't the most melt-in-your-mouth omelet, but it was good. The service was solid for how many people they had, and since you sat so close to your neighbors, the conversations were pretty funny. I'd go back, but wouldn't necessarily make a special trip for it.
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Ring-Ring! "Hello?" "Yes, can I speak to an overrated restaurant?" "Speaking."
The people that eat here remind me of the "cool" people who work in music stores that think they actually make the music.
Long waits, overpriced, sooo whatever standard food AND they tried to shut down the omelet stand at the SM Farmer's Market.
Ban Sal's Pizza! I mean the Omelette Parlor!
Take off the blinders people. This place blows.
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With places like Griddle Cafe around, when you pick a "specialty" for your restaurant and base a menu around it AND name the place after it, you'd better make damn sure you do it well...
I'm looking at YOU, Omelette Parlor.
Anyone who's caught the Omelette Episode of Good Eats (or hell, actually eaten an omelette) knows that omelettes are not eggs cooked in the fashion of a pancake and later wrapped around the ingredients.
It wasn't runny and soft and delectable, but it WAS huge, and the waitress pretty much encouraged us to sneak in liquor to add to our coffee when she saw how saddened we were by their lack of alcohol. Just try to have better timing that my friend when it comes to pouring-- i.e. NOT when other waitresses are staring at you.
Here's something I like about the Omelette Parlor: their idea of a side of fruit is a slice of orange and a bit of fresh pineapple. Good fruit! Not a little bowl of cubed melon just because melon is the cheapest way any breakfast place can think of to produce a given volume of what the law will technically admit to be fruit.
It's a small thing but it means a lot to me. I hate damned melon.
Two other strengths here are the potatoes and the bacon. It follows logically that the best omelette on the menu is the Renter's Rights, which crams more bacon and more potato onto the plate under the eggs.
The coffee is good. The orange juice is *really* good, but pricey for just a little glass.
Avoid the Monte Cristo sandwich. They use grape jelly, which is just wrong, and they put the jelly on for you, which is unnecessarily controlling.
Lucky for me I guess, but I didn't even notice any birds on the Omelette Parlor patio when I ate here for breakfast recently. Although if the bird did bother me or my food I probably would have pooped back on them -- the food was that good.
My dining experience was pretty solid. I wonder if some of us even ate at the same restaurant. I enjoyed the food - and had a really delicious breakfast sandwich with a sausage patty, crispy thick bacon slices, a fried egg and melted American cheese on a kaiser roll. Is this a culinary or foodie paradise -- not at all. It is what it is, a simple breakfast diner -- nothing more, nothing less. The highlight for me was the thinly sliced country potatoes. I gobbled everything up - and my appetite was satisfied for the rest of the day.
The ambiance in the restaurant is decidedly Midwestern and old fashioned. They was a small crowd waiting at the entrance, but it seems as if they were waiting for a large table, perhaps because we opted for the patio and were seated right away. It was a busy Sunday morning and the service seemed to be rather slow. It took about 15 minutes to get water. I'll go back if I'm in Santa Monica or Venice - it's nothing to drive across town for.
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I like this place, but never go. Can't normally make it there before work and I don't want to drive to Santa Monica on a weekend. They have phenomenal omelettes. Service is fine, some parts of the restaurant are more cramped than others. Believe it or not, I love their oatmeal. I have never been for lunch, but I hear they have good sandwiches. Parking is on the street or in a public lot. Small place, so it is difficult to bring kids and strollers.
Highlights: oatmeal, any omelette, fresh orange juice
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fresh from trying the omelette parlor in costa mesa, i went to this location with my co-workers for breakfast. there was about 30 of us and they sat us outside on the patio. i was excited to be there again, but they had a set menu prepared for us. which was smart and understandable.
the hot chocolate i ordered was a little too sweet for my liking but the orange juice was good. i ordered the waffle with banana and strawberries on the side. it wasn't on the menu but the nice waitress accommodated my request.
i've come back several times afterwards with friends and my boyfriend. he really liked his california avocado benedict. and i went for my usual waffle with hot banana and walnut topping. always soooo good.
It absolutely amazes me when places have such long lines and their food and service is nothing to write home about. I rather eat an eggo at home.
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Today was a good day. There is nothing like waking up and stuffing my face with a big fat omelette. Game Over!! I need a 4 hour nap after that.
This place loses a star because it was hideously overpriced. I paid $12 for an omelette that was just bacon, avocado, cheese and a tiny bit of sprouts. Is it really $4 for avocado? Or were the sprouts on the endangered species list?
I will give it that the food was really tasty. I didn't have to ask for my bacon to be crispy and it was perfectly crunchy and not limp like you get it at so many restaurants. The avocado, while all lumped in half the omelette not over the whole thing was perfectly ripe.
The potatoes, and I can't remember exactly what they called them, home fries, hash browns, whatever, weren't very good though. I don't like onions in my potatoes, and they weren't crispy at all. Since this is a breakfast-y type place, that caused another loss of star.
The place wins points for the fresh OJ, though I was never offered a refill and for all the griping, we got in at 11am on a Sunday without a wait.
On the way out, I saw someone with a bowl of Oatmeal that looked heavenly: fruit, nuts, bananas, the works.
This is a nice little place to go for breakfast. It has a real Heartland America kind of feel and the orange juice and coffee comes right to the table when you sit down. Their french toast wasn't great, but I liked the Maya Sonrisa omelet. The waiters seem more attentive to diners sitting inside the restaurant, and don't expect too much comfort when eating--outside you get plastic patio furniture, inside you get wooden bench seats.
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4 stars.
Maybe it's because of what I ordered? I had the California Benedict - 2 pouched eggs on top of wheat nut english muffins, with sundried tomatoes and basil topped with hollandaise sauce served with country fried potatoes and salsa. It was all just very delicious to me! Everyone's meals were fantastic - although K thought her omelette was a litte dry. Our food came right out and sure it was lunch time and they were closing in a few minutes, but we didn't seem rushed at all and our server, Drew, made sure we were taken care of.
I like this place and will come back again.
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Not bad, good omelette and friendly service. I think they have 1/2 price omelette if you come in real early. Too bad I could never wake up that early, for that price I would've given it a 5 star..HAHAHA.
No complaints here! This was a tasty Main Street breakfast on a Saturday morning on my way to the beach. If you get here early, you get half-priced omelettes. I've never done this, but it is enticing. I can't remember what I ate, but I do remember having a tasty breakfast with 5 cups of coffee out on the back patio. I was good to go for the day!
Overall, the Omelette Parlor can be a hassle if you have a car. Street parking is a hassle. Finding a spot, the quarters, reading all the signs...for breakfast? Hassle.
I lived within walking distance of this place and because of the long lines, I assumed it would be great. Wrong. Bad coffee, mediocre food, crappy slow service. I tried it a few times and just became more disappointed.
A good breakfast where the food is served hot is hard to find.
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Overrated. I hate when places are so popular that they feel they can ignore you and your party because they have *so* many other people to serve. We would have tipped you well. VERY WELL but no, you had to brush pass our table for over an HOUR after waiting 30 minutes to even get in the damn place. Sausage Egg McMuffin anyone?
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This is a great breakfast spot. They have really great coffee and great waffles and sausage. I've not yet tried an omelette, but I'm sure they're good.
The line is long on the weekends, but they seat you quickly.
I did have a really annoying waiter once that pretty much refused to make a modification to my order because he felt the cooks wouldn't listen because it was so busy. I thought that was bad customer service, but other than that, I've enjoyed my meals there.
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eh. so- so.
pretty patio outside, though.
My second favorite breakfast place. They have killer omelettes and great pancakes. I heard the sandwiches and burgers are good too, but I have a hard time getting anything that is not breakfast related. My favorites are the Merlin, Strawberry-White Chocolate pancakes (Wed & Thurs only) & Sausage Breakfast (I think that's what it's called...I'll correct it next time I go there). A little more than average price, but you're paying for the quality of food.
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Yummy food and a really cute place. Prices are very decent and it's very close to a parking lot where it's pretty easy to get a space. Staff is very pleasant.
My only real thumbs-down is that the portions are HUGE. Being a health-conscious type, I kind of frown on this -- the food is yummy, but I just couldn't finish it. On the other hand, well, I guess it's omelettes in the first place so it's not like I should be expecting lettuce and low-fat balsamic vinaigrette.
These omelettes are good, but I wouldn't go anywhere near great. Pretty standard for in-yo-face multi ingredient omlette parlors.
