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Categories: Lounges, American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Santa MonicaMon-Wed. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thu-Sat. 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Simply brilliant succinctly sums up my experience at Wilshire. My boyfriend and I pride ourselves on our palates and Wilshire did not disappoint. We went for restaurant week in early October. I was deeply inspired by their gnocchi. It was seared and slightly doughy, but in a good way. I have never had my pasta like that, and I relish in the memory of its unique texture and taste.
We also had the octopus appetizer, which was fantastic. I love octopus and a lot of people do not know how to really cook it without it being too tough. They did a great job, although I do recommend the chef/cooks use a wine cork when cooking it as that is a trick to make it a little more tender. However, it was still sensational.
What I highly recommend though are the diver scallops. The flavor profiles were well thought out, loved the truffled potato cream, and the scallops were cooked perfectly.
Wilshire will not disappoint your palate, though it can be expensive and the crowd is a little uppity for my taste. I can do without that, but it's well worth putting that aside for the excellent fare they serve up.
If a beautiful outdoor dining space or a sexy restaurant bar is where your inner debonair self comes out to play, Wilshire may be the new den where you take up residence on weekday or weekend evenings.
The rows of iron wrought candles protruding from the wall in the bar is definitely eye catching. If it weren't for the fact that we had dinner reservations, I would have felt comfortable staying the night at the bar. But restaurant week dinner did call so we opted for the gorgeous outdoor dining space versus the equally nice indoor seating area. Wilshire is quite expansive and has plenty of private rooms or semi-private seating areas that would be perfect for events or parties.
Onto the food. As a short rib fanatic, I was immediately struck by the short rib pot pie. Unfortunately it was for 2 people so I managed to get the kitchen to make it just for me. Big win until I saw on the check that they only took $20 off versus $44. No biggie since they met me halfway, but I wish I was notified in advance versus when it came time to pay. Pot pie fortunately was very good as was the short rib. The sweet potato gnocchi appetizer was quite good as was their grilled octopus. We were really wowed by their desserts - the sweet potato doughnuts and the banana chocolate mousse.
Our waiter was such a darling throughout the evening and really added to our dining experience. While the hefty price tag on the dinners might keep me at bay, I'm looking forward to hitting the bar at Wilshire on my next visit.
Immediately after entering Wilshire's, you find yourself in the bar section of the establishment. The room is filled with soft lighting emanating from rows and rows of candles. This is definitely the kind of bar that would woo a date, not the kind you start bar fights in.
About 5 minutes after 6 (we had reservations at 6, right at opening time) we were led into the next room and seated. This room also had soft lighting, but was easier on the candles thus a bit more subtle. There was also a room beyond that, where you could dine al fresca, but we were quite comfortable in our booths.
I ordered the pork loin on a bed of polenta and kale. I asked for the pork medium-well, and it was that for the first 1/3 of the loin. However, since it continued cooking on the plate, the last 2/3's of the pork was over done. Surprisingly, the overcooked portion was still decent so I can't complain (too much). I'm guessing it's because they used a good cut like tenderloin, but I can't say for sure.
I seldom have polenta that I like, but here, it was smooth, flavorful, and agreed overwhelmingly with my tastebuds. Along with the kale, an unlikely companion, it seemed to me a high class version of comfort food. The food and ambiance definitely made me feel comforted and relaxed.
The waitress was nice enough to tell us that the chocolate souffle we wanted was big enough for 4. It was. The raspberry sorbet it was served with was a bit too creamy for my taste. Moreover, since the souffle was already so chocolate-heavy, a lighter, icier sorbet would have given the dish more balance. Also, I've had better souffle and better creme anglais, but overall, the dessert was decent enough.
Generally speaking, I was not wowed, but I was satisfied with the quality of all parts of the dinner. The ambiance is what makes this place really stand out. The interior decorator for Wilshire's deserves an award. Until next time, I will remember this place fondly.
P.S. There's one major downer. The happy hour menu is not available if you sit in the restaurant section- you have to sit in the bar room to order from it. I wanted to give my friends a cheaper option just in case so that was a bummer...
I came here a few weeks ago for a business dinner. I got the fried red snapper, and to my surprise, it was an ENTIRE fish! The entire thing, fins, tail, head, eyes, and all were standing up on my plate.
After the initial shock and after the manager showing me how to eat it, it turned out being really tender and flavorful, especially with the soy based sauce.
service was good, nothing amazing, but there was nothing bad or off-putting about it.
The food is little pricey and I'm not one to hit a bar without a big screen and a game, but this place is definitely worth a visit. They've got a back patio and glass enclosed hidden patio above the back bar with a fireplace and really cool seating. I went there with a couple of friends and we had most of the hidden patio to ourselves.
Oh, and Jose is an awesome bartender. Tip him well!
A word of warning to those not from the area: when plugging this address into your GPS system, make sure you enter the city of Santa Monica, not Los Angeles. We ended up at the wrong end of Wilshire and realized our mistake a bit late. Oops. We called the restaurant to let them know we'd be late for our reservation, and they accommodated us without a problem. The hostess even told us not to worry and that our table would still be available when we arrived.
The valet parking costs $6 at dinner, I think it's a couple bucks cheaper at lunch. When making a reservation, make sure to request a table outside. We were inside, and it was clear that outside was the place to be. As the place cleared out later in the evening, they let us move to the patio for dessert, which was very nice, and certainly added to our dining experience.
I had a Spanish white wine that was delicious, and recommended by the waitress. To start I had the arugula salad with shaved parmesan, and I added the American proscuitto and melon. I'm not sure what it is about LA, but since I've been here I've had melon twice, and neither time has it been ripe. Having seen a bunch of cantelope trucks on my drive down here on I-5, I wonder why finding a ripe melon seems to be impossible. For my entree I had the Miso Glazed Black Cod, which came with crispy white rice and a mushroom salsa. This dish was absolutely amazing! The cod tasted like butterfish, it was so delicate and melted in my mouth. For dessert I tried the Vanilla Souffle, which came with strawberries and creme anglais.
My sister had the Sunchoke Soup, Panko Crusted Tofu and the Berry Crisp. She devoured all three plates, exclaiming that it was delicious. My dad started with a Caesar Salad, and then had Bucatini with Mushrooms. He had an extra fork for dessert and shared with both of us.
All three of us certainly stuffed our faces at this restaurant. The amount of food I ate here is probably what I would normally eat in a week, but it was so worth it! A great spot to come for a drink or for a meal, and the patio makes it feel like a special occasion. Definitely a recommended stop, if your wallet can afford it.
I totally loved the place. I went with a bunch of men, yes the only woman in the group ;-) and I had a super time! The appetizer my friend had was delicious and the service was super friendly. I had a great mojito, had had a few in a previous bar:-(((( but I guess it was really good!
The decor really cool..soft lighting, great bar with a back patio and a neat fireplace. I will definitely go back!
Go on an early summer's evening, when the sunlight changes to dusk and the moon rises over the tree topped canopy. When the candles flicker and the gas flames dance among the rocks.
My friend's date cancelled at the last minute. She gave him the heave-ho. She rang me up, wanted to know if I was interested in dinner. We agreed whoever got there first would get an outdoor table.
She called to request a reservation at table 50, however the benevolent maitre d' apologized in the classiest way that it was already taken. She promised to seat her as close to table 50 as she could.
I arrived first, was led to a table just to the left of the doorway. Uncomfortable for me, not a great view either. I asked for a table closer to table 50 and was accommodated. Ask and you shall receive.
If you order the Wonderland drink, like she did, don't be surprised if you end up wondering what happened to you. It packed a punch. How much? Our waiter Adam looked better than Ashton Kutcher. Found out he is not an actor, but a writer. He offered up the specials of the day, 1 of them being bone marrow. Having finished taking our orders, he progressed to the next table. My friend remarked lustily, "I wish I could suck his bones instead!"
We both ordered grilled artichokes (not on the menu) which continually are the finest here. Not sure if it has to do with the huge bags of mesquite charcoal I saw stacked outside the restaurant. Part of the secret preparation?
My friend ordered her usual petit steak. However this time she took it a notch up with the truffle shavings ($25 extra today) which she oohed and ahhed about. It came with the roasted garlic (more sighs of contentment).
I ordered a coconut, vegetable stock based red lentil dish. I took 1 spoonful, then a 2nd just to be sure. My friend also tasted it. DO NOT order this dish. It was the oddest lentil dish I have ever tasted. It was a potential waste of money. I informed our better than Ashton Kutcher look alike waiter, Adam about my displeasure of this dish. He returned it to the kitchen. The charge was dropped.
I ordered the beets with pea tendrils and burrata. The best part of this dish were the freshly toasted, surprisingly, new sensation of squeaky hazelnuts that accompanied it.
We checked out the next table beside us, who had cleaned off their plates. We decided they must have known what to order. We got the same which was miso marinated, panko encrusted tofu. My friend thought this tofu dish was so good she declared it better than any kisses she could have gotten from her date that night.
Unfortunately no pictures were taken, as my camera's in the repair shop. The bottom of the plate held a pool of light green sauce (possibly pea puree?). Above that a miso marinated, crunchy panko encrusted tofu cutlet triangle. Accentuated with grilled shishoto peppers. It was tofu extraordinaire.
More like a deep resonant chord on the piano, which included bass and treble clefs. All taste buds were on the right keys, this dish exquisitely tuned. After having eaten more tofu in my many years of being a vegetarian than I care to think about, I was pleased to find a new take on tofu. Leave it to Wilshire to come up with this splendid tofu dish in a most relaxed, picturesque setting.
The service still needs a little work on the synchronicity side. There were 4 different staff who… Read more »
This review is for the bar, not for the restaurant.
A large group of us were here to celebrate a upcoming wedding. Bartenders were friendly, which is good, because the drinks were NOT cheap! 2 Ketel rocks and a Hendricks and Tonic were 35 bucks! There was some music playing in the background, which was nice. We sampled a little bit of nibbles:
-Oysters; 6 for 18 dollars. Now, to be fair, the oysters weren't bad, but you can get oysters for 3 bucks each at Providence. These oysters dont come close to the quality of Providence, so, here's a hint, drop the price a bit!
-Pizza with prosciutto (and some other stuff, can't remember); this was pretty tasty with some good quality prosciutto
-Calamari; Pretty good. Lightly battered with good flavor.
Overall, we had a fun night, but that was due to the company and not really the place. It was fine, but it didnt blow me away and I'm really left with the memory of the super high prices. I guess this is what you get on the Westside.
Review on the bar only.
Fun atmosphere with music later in the night. We had multiple drinks through the night, mainly basics like vodka rocks. So I can't comment on drink expertise. Bartenders were fine, nothing special or chatty.
We had a prosciutto pizza which was REALLY good. The prosciutto was high quality and cut extremely thin, as it should be. We also had oysters and calamari. The oysters were basic and you didn't get a choice between east or west coast, or different types. Pretty expensive $3/ea for not getting some sort of variety. Calamari were really good. Lightly breaded with the perfect amount of salt to add that zing.
Valet was $6. Restaurant portion looked very busy so a reservation looked necessary. Their overall menu sounds tasty so we will have to return for dinner.
This place is beautiful, from the bar to the back patio. The menu is full and well rounded. Everything is delicious and the portions are actually substantial. Their cocktail list is decent and the Happy Hour (both regular and late night) is awesome.
It's a great place for birthdays or special occasions or just a nice dinner out with friends.
The $1 martini special may be over but the late night happy hour is pretty tempting, and now without the crowds it is much more comfortable. Great atmosphere on the patio for late night drinks. I'm yet to try the food, but it looks pretty tasty.
So I quit smoking cigarettes this past December, but I still like to smoke cigars. One problem, however, is that most bars won't let you smoke them. Not so at The Wilshire. And that's why I like it. Almost as much as I do your mom.
There are two bars for your convenience, one inside at the front of the restaurant, and one outside in the rear. I prefer the rear, and here's why. You can saunter up some little steps above the bar to a gazebo-style seating area... where...you...can...smoke...CIGARS! Woohoo!
The first time that I was introduced to the Wilshire was a sad day that will live on in infamy... no silly, not the day that I stopped dating your mom... but the day that the Lakers lost the NBA Finals to the Celtics in 2008. Game 6. I remember it well. So how did we try to clear our minds? Commiserating over a couple of cubans and some ridiculously pricey scotch (my drink of preference... and your mom's too, sniff sniff) at the Wilshire. Other than the devastating loss, it was actually a very nice and pleasant night.
I will say that I've never eaten at the Wilshire, but I've heard it's okay. I will say that they have a fantastic selection of fine scotches, as well as whatever else might be your poison of choice.
As for the rest, you can keep it. A bunch of cougars, and a lot of superficial greaseballs, so the clientele is questionable. But the ambiance is very nice, so go and get a table outside with a group of friends, some stogies, and a full wallet so you can shell out $70 for a glass of deliciously woody scotch... you won't be disappointed. 4 stars.
This review is for the bar...first, the waitress was crabby....then the food came out cold...the pricey ($14) kobe sliders were bland and tasteless...and then the waitress complained to the manager in front of us when we returned the stale cold french fries...did we really need to do that? I had heard differently...maybe a bad night...but will probably not return.
This is a review of the bar only and on $1 martini night to boot. I mean I think that says it all. The drinks were strong but it was a mad house. I was able to get 2 martinis but my poor guys were only able to get 1. Note that the happy hour is over the second it turns 11pm, so beware because after that the martinis are $12.
Sadly I'm afraid to eat here because a friend of mine had food poisoning from here. Maybe it'll happen after 3 $1 martinis!
Love the grown and sexy vibe here.
Not cheap, but can be a good place to start (or end) a night out.
I have only been here once, a few months ago.
It is such a beautiful place with an amazing outdoor patio.
I remember it being kind of dead but it was a weekday night and most places are these days.
After my BF and I ate we hung out at the bar with is also beautiful!
The staff is all super friendly and helpful.
I dont remember the food.
Which means it was not great and not horrible.
I think anyone in the area should check this place out, it is a wonderful place to dine.
Food: food really a 3.5 but overall experience was about a 4. i had the duck breast which was very tasty and just a tad salty. the flavors were really good and cooked perfectly and it was one of the best ducks ive ever had. the pork loin was also really yummy.. tasted like honey baked ham. the portions however was pretty small. i mean it was like.. 5 tiny pieces of duck and 3 pieces of pork. well i guess the small portions are good so i wont overeat and become a fat beached whale. i also had the ly ching (you KNOW i had to get a lychee cocktail) and it was really good and strong!
Ambiance: very very dim. the lounge and bar area was nice with lots of seating. the dining area has booth and table seating. the patio was very pretty with all the lights out and heat lamps. i would recommend sitting out in the patio area. the place was EXTREMELY loud.. wayyyy too loud for a restaurant.
Staff: super nice! was greeted warmly by the host and the staff was fantastic. our waiter came to check up on us several times however i was kinda annoyed that she didnt ask for our drink orders at all and i had to order it with my food. i prefer to have my cocktail before my food comes out. water glass was never empty and our plates were cleared quickly once we were all finished.. fantastic!
Price: $$$ actually i dont think the prices are that high. the pork loin and the duck was $28 but for the portions yeah a bit high. my friend noticed their steak prices were higher than mastro's.. i never noticed how much i paid at mastro's so i wouldnt know.
Went here for our anniversary, and it was lovely. We started out at the happy hour, which is great - lots of good stuff for reasonable prices. We had dinner on the patio, which was lovely with lights and a fountain. We both had the prixe fixe dinner - a great deal on until the end of Nov. Appetizer/salad + entree + dessert = $39. On mondays their entire wine list is half priced. The food was superb, service excellent. The only complaint I have is that when my entree arrived, the sauces on the plate had a congealed skin on them, meaning it had been sitting for a while. I got over it and enjoyed my lamb leg. The hamachi appetizer was melt in your mouth delicious, so was the asian inspired lobster bisque. You must have the donuts for desert. It was a nice place to spend an anniversary.
We came here for happy hour a while ago. Typical bar food. I got some Thai skewers and a lotus martini of some sort.
I am pretty sure our waitress was buzzed, high, zoning, offf her caboose, whatever you kids call it these days.
Not only did she take 30 minutes to bring out the wrong food [not really worth mentioning, it was like 2 chicken skewers for 15 bucks], but she looked really confused when I told her it was wrong. More so, as she started to take the food away in anger she started to take my drink away too! :-/ I had to tell her. Umm i havent' even started drinking it. Then she stormed away. Yea, I was weary of that chunky 'peanut' sauce that came out with my skewers. Hell, she probably banged herself with my chicken skewers for all i know. But I'm chinese. and they were 15 dollars so i ate it anyway.
Questionable I know.
Given that there are so many bars/lounges/restaurants on the westside, i have no desire to partake or witness anyone's acid trip ever again.
Came here for lunch with a small group. We were seated at a table outdoors where most of their seating is. It's really the way to go; it's way too dark inside.
First, let's talk about the food/drinks. I had the belgian ale marinated skirt steak. It was sooo, sooo good. Best skirt steak I've ever had. Came with french fries, but they were nothing special (doesn't mean I didn't eat them though). We also had a side of the mac and cheese with English peas and bacon. This is worth trying. For my drink I had their special-of-the-day blood orange mint lemonade. You've got to try this if you're a fan at all of anything that tastes great!
Now, that was all good, but what really stood out for me was the service. I've read about their service being hit or miss, so maybe this was one of their greatest hits. Our server was the perfect mix of friendly and attentive, without hovering. The restaurant wasn't crowded though so I would be interested to see what it's like when it's busy.
Like many have said before me, the atmosphere is just beautiful. Most of the seating is outdoors - with lots of trees, heat lamps and a gorgeous long firepit. I would LOVE a patio like this!
There's a definite scene at the bar (probably leftover from Happy Hour) which was fine. We were able to find some seats and enjoy drinks before dinner.
I had the filet mignon (perfectly prepared), yukon mashed potatoes (divinely buttery and smooth), and cauliflower (delish). Others had the miso cod or thai snapper (an entire fish which our friend pointed out that you could practically get at any asian market for a few bucks). Apparently, the mussels were outstanding. I don't eat mussels but most of the group loved them.
I recommend staying away from the thai snapper (not because it didn't taste good but because it isn't a good value) and the desserts (tiny tiny tiny).
One cool detail - our server offered us white or black napkins (so that those wearing black wouldn't get white thread or fuzzies on our clothing)! Even our foodie fashionista friend from NYC had never heard of this before!!!
It rained, it poured, but that didn't stop me from having fun.
Came as a part of DineLA, and glad I did. These set menus are pretty amazing stuff. Three course meal of house salad, duck curry, and a brownie, and yeah, money well spent. Each exposed my taste buds to some of the finest moments it has seen yet. If I could make an analogy, its like the entree was like a girl that is out of your league, but suddenly wants to go on a date on you, and so you get to experience that bliss.... if just for a night.
Atmosphere was cozy and dark.... but nice for a restaurant. So can't complain.
If someone asked me back, sure I'd go.
Very beautiful restaurant has a gorgeous outdoor patio. There are actually two levels--a ground level with several tables as well as an elevated level with more intimate tables for two. The only problem--the seating is predominately outdoors. And it was February, so we froze. They did bring a portable heater, which helped. Other guests received blankets to wrap themselves in, like you were sitting on an airplane or at home in front of the television.
Overall, the food was good, and the prices were right. I started with a ricotta gnocchi, which was a light dish. It was good. It did not wow me, but I enjoyed it. For my entree, I had a duck breast (very good; perfectly cooked) with a huckleberry sauce (also good). It was accompanied by a medley of minced farro and bok choy (bland and didn't really do much for me). The dessert was very good--pain perdu (which is basically french toast). The pain perdu was paired with ice cream, a lemony custard and a tart fruit coulis.
I would like to come back--but probably in the summer when the temperature is a little more appropriate for outdoor dining.
By the way, a 3 course dinner here (without drinks, tax, or tip) will run you about $45-$60. If you are buying one of their steaks, expect to pay about $75 for a 3 course dinner.
My 100th review goes to the Wilshire.
I came here for an informal bachelorette dinner with some girlfriends and it served a very sophisticated dining experience.
We were seating promptly and were taken to their back patio. I was a little concerned because it was a chillier night, but they strategically placed their lamps and I was toasty all night.
I ordered their sangria and it was the most tropical I've ever had, garnished with a sliced starfruit and everything. We ordered the mac n cheese side as an appetizer, don't let its soupiness fool you because it's one homey dish. For entrees I opted for scallops, my company ordered miso black cod and the pork tenderloins. All were fantastic, my scallops were tender and seared perfectly. The cod was flaky and had just right amount of sweet. And the pork, well I don't eat pork, but I was told it was delicious. I'm all about simple flavors that aren't drenched in sauces, the food was good and the service great as well. Portions were on the smaller side so if you're hungry, get an appetizer. They do serve loads of breads, that always helps.
It's got great ambiance and I totally recommend it for dinner get togethers or private parties.
Places like Wilshire are part of the reason why I love working in Santa Monica!
As part of my New Year's Resolution I decided to make the most of the fact that I work in Santa Monica and once a week indulge in a fabulous lunch. This week's fab lunch was at Wilshire for extended Dine LA!
I loved the bar area upon walking in and I hear they have a great Happy Hour here. There were a couple indoor dining areas that seemed a bit dark for a midday meal but the hostess kept leading us back and all of a sudden there it was! I think the Wilshire has one of the most chic outdoor patios in all of Santa Monica!
For my first course I had the tarragon creme fraiche and fried fennel. This was fantastic. For my main course I wanted the panini with prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, basil, garlic aioli but since I've given up cheese for lent, instead I went with the yellow curry marinated half chicken with lemongrass risotto and baby broccoli. In hindsight I do realize I could have still had the panini sans the mozzarella, but I had already had two pieces of bread from the bread basket and didn't think I needed additional carbs (there was olive bread! I can never say no to olive bread! and I didn't want the white bread to feel left out so I had to eat one of them too) Since I'm not a fan of lemongrass I didn't eat the risotto but my dinning companion loved the risotto. I did enjoy the chicken and baby broccoli.
For dessert we had the chocolate s'more and that had graham cracker, marshmallow and honey ice cream and the passion fruit parfait with lemon puree, vanilla ice cream and pistachio crumble. I've seen Shrek and I agree with donkey... who doesn't like a parfait? Well... let's just say that although this parfait didn't look like a parfait.... I'll call it a parfait for argument's sake and say that it was a damn delicious parfait!
I recommend the Wilshire for an outdoor lunch in Santa Monica. I think it's one of the best places for an outdoor lunch or Happy Hour for that matter! Very impressive place with great staff, good service and quality food.
Rooms and spaces of various sizes, it got crowded later into the evening. Not super comfortable here, not sure exactly what they're going for with the ambiance and decor. Hamburger is quite good, generous portion, $16. Some of the staff are friendly but our waitress was aloof and distracted. 3.5 stars rounded down. I would have to try different things on the menu to rate this place higher. Valet parking, $6.
having been to Wilshire many times, i have to say the service has really gone downhill. The ambience, especially the back patio is fantastic. the service of the female bartender at the back patio was very good as well; HOwever, i would not recommend the service of the servers or the manager. They either don't understand or forget about what you ask for, and gets plain rude. When complained to the manager, i was told "ok, i will apologize because you just wanted to argue with me"....What kind of service is this???!?!?! I will never go back again.....
Pro: Amazing food, decor, service
Con: .... price?
I've been here multiple times for various work events, and i have to say this place is among my favorite destinations. The drinks come strong, the food comes delicious, and the atmosphere is delightful.
I've tried mostly everything (some off coworker's plates), and everything was at least above average.
Outdoor area is expansive AND gorgeous, with use of water and plants, with little private bar room in the back. I bet it would look gorgeous at night-- only been here for lunch.
a great patio for a summertime meal. and though this restaurant is on the upscale side, they have a sunday bbq menu, which is fun.
If you go on any day on the weekend it is packed. When you first walk you push right up against the beginning bar area which is narrow and dimly light.
Stay for dinner at this restaurant for their back patio, which is the shining gem of this place. It's lively, romantic, and pretty without being too ostentatious. Had the lamb which was small but savory. The vegetables did not have any fanfare (they tasted steamed) and were not memorable. Dining companion had the filet mignon, which was par in both preparation and cut.
Portion-wise they could up the ante to better match their prices, but you still leave feeling full. This isn't Lawrys style where you satiate your deepest carnivorous desires. How do you feel full then, you ask? Maybe it was that 2nd glass of wine, or dessert, or that pre-dinner cocktail or that cappuccino with their petite (but rich) desserts...this place does that to you.
Icing on the cake was that you don't feel as commercial stuffy going to Wilshire as you do when you go to say, Mortons.
I came here for Restaurant Week (since I definitely can't afford it regularly). The outside courtyard is absolutely beautiful. Definitely good for a date or a special occasion. Also, make sure to come here when you have plenty of time. They don't make you wait long, but the service is obviously designed to give you breathing space. The waiter was really nice, but was pushing the drinks menu pretty hard.
As appetizers we got the Gnocchi and the grilled octopus. Both were delicious. For entrees we got the spiced lamb stew and the black cod. This was the part of the meal that I liked least of all. Not to say that it wasn't good, but neither was anything that special (considering their regular prices). For dessert we got the Espresso Float with the donuts (which were awesome) and the apple tart. I personally didn't like the tart much just because the applies stuck together too much and it became a bit difficult to eat.
Overall, a really great experience, but one I won't be able to afford for a long time!
There are two sections, the inside bar where people socialize, have apps and drinks and then there is the outdoor patio seating area where you can enjoy a nice romantic dinner. The food was delicious but pricey.
Don't forget your Cozmo Card!
parking: street & valet
The ambiance here is sexy. The main bar area is dimly lit, romantic and a great place to meet for drinks. The bartender made me a delicious Cosmo. Not too strong and not too sweet. Just right! The restaurant has an upscale patio feel with lots of candles giving it that rustic but warm feel. The staff was professional, attentive and friendly. I would say the food is OK. Had dinner here twice. The first time a salmon dish, the second a Moroccan stew. I hate to say the food was not up to par with the atmosphere.
Saturday night after eleven or so, the DJ raises the volume on some good beats.
Okay I promised my cousins that I'd review this place, because we were all quite disappointed. We all met up here to meet my cousin's fiance's family before they got married in a few days.
They sat us outside, it was fairly quiet, nice ambiance, we had a decent amount of space to move around in. There were approximately 14 of us there. They did seat us like we were two groups, but we were right next to each other so it was cool. The accomodations were nice.
I'm from the boonies, so I'm already nervous about the prices I'm about to encounter eating in Santa Monica. And wondering what kind of food such a place serves. My other cousin and I make it to the restaurant early. We sit at the bar for a while and I look at the bar menu. Not bad. Its like 9 or 10 bucks a drink. Then everyone shows up. We move to the restaurant section. I look at the drinks, they shot up to like 15 to 16 bucks. I didn't know what was going on. Every dish was approximately $26-$30. Okay fine, whatever, I knew it wouldn't be a trip to Denny's. We joked that we'd have to go to the Jack in the Box across the street afterwards to fill us up. Little did we know that might actually have been an option.
The cousin I came with already knew that we weren't getting huge portions so we decided to dig into the bread. We ate like literally 4 pieces each. The bread wasn't bad. Luckily I started to feel full. We decided to share an entree, soup and a salad. The waiter described the ceasar salad and stated that the anchovies weren't blended into the dressing, but rather laid across the lettuce. I didn't really think about it, until I got the freakin salad. OMG three slivers of anchovies were laid across whole pieces of romaine lettuce. My mom joked that they were too lazy to cut the lettuce. I tried to tell her that it was the new style that I saw on food network, but I couldn't hold a straight face telling her that. I quickly took those suckers off, but the taste was still there. I don't know what I expected, but that surely wasn't it. The soup was some sort of creamy corn soup. It was awesome.
Okay our entree was pretty good. We got the braised short ribs. It was a small portioned meal, but we had bread, soup, and some smelly salad, so it filled us up enough. The meat was tender and sweet. The mashed potatoes were super creamy and delish. But I felt so bad for the rest of my table. My uncle got the petite filet mignon, and literally it was the size of a large boiled egg. For $42 bucks it looked very plain and unflavorful, I just couldn't believe it. Then my cousin (the one getting married) got the scallops and she had 3 medium sized scallops with sauce on the biggest plate ever. It looked so pathetic. I'm so thankful we filled up on bread.
Although I did enjoy our dinner, minus the salad, the price and portion were just too ridiculous. I really don't see how it was worth it. Of course you are reading a review from a fan of Claim Jumpers. I feel like my mouth should have an exploding orgasm for the price we paid and the portion we got.
OMG I almost forgot about dessert. We got the $10 sundae type dessert. I glanced at the description...I thought it said there was cake in there. We got the tiniest ice cream sundae glass, with the two tiniest scoops of ice cream, and cake crumbs sprinkled on top. WTH? At least make your stuff taste good! It was alright...if it had been free. Since it was 10 bucks, it was downright terrible.
I'm so not cut out for eating at higher end restaurants. Give me a carne asada burrito any day!
I was showing up for a dinner party for 10 people, and we got this wonderfully quiet private room on the other side of the patio. It felt like we were in someone's living room! Perfect for a group of friends who rarely get to see each other, as we were able to all hear each other, despite sitting at such a large table.
I had the hamachi appetizer at the insistence of a friend, and I was glad she insisted! The sauce was perfect, and fish just melt in my mouth.
Because I'm a Yelp-savvy foodie, I had the duck, as it was recommended in many of the reviews. It lived up to the descriptions - a slightly smoky taste melded nicely with the almonds, and both were cut elegantly by the huckleberries. A really nice, clean dish.
The unfortunate downer to this delectable dining experience was the drinks offered. The mixed drinks tasted water-downed. There are the many other comments about having "neat" as an extra charge on their drink tab. In addition to this, the wine list leaves something to be desired.
With two drinks and two dishes, my total came to $91. Good place for a special date, or for a nice private party.
Note: this review is for Happy Hour only.
I was surprised that it wasn't more crowded for happy hour, since many other places we drove by on Wilshire were packed with people on a Friday night at 6pm. I guess it's because it's a bit pricier than most other happy hours, although during the month of March, they're honoring health care professionals and have special $3 cocktails: pisco sour, sidecar, and a margarita.
The pisco sour tasted like a lemon drop with foam on top, but it wasn't as strong as I'd expected. I've never had a pisco sour and was a little weirded out by the egg white and hot sauce, but it surprisingly didn't taste awkward. We also had a glass of verdejo, which was $6 - it was pretty light.
For food, we got the shrimp skewers, which are 6 small shrimp skewered individually. They were a bit overdone, and some stuck to the skewers, and the consistency of the meat was almost like chicken. The coriander dusting was strong and kind of bitter, but the rest of the seasoning was savory and complex.
The kobe beef sliders really were more reminiscent of pulled pork sandwiches, as mentioned by a previous reviewer. The brioche was very buttery, and the meat was tender but didn't taste anything like kobe beef. The truffled chips were crisp and thin but had no hints of truffle, either, and the accompanying aoili was nothing special.
The bartenders were nice, but the bar area was pretty empty. There are some nice lounge-like tables near the window, and the space is pretty dark. There was another patio area, but it was a bit cold for me. The inside of the restaurant looked nice, as well.
Valet is $6, but we found free metered parking right across the street. I was pretty disappointed in happy hour and hope that at those prices, the regular food is better.
We had reservations but arrived early (and still during happy hour), so we started at the bar and had drinks and a grilled artichoke starter. Service was friendly and prompt, and we lingered a past our reservation time, but they took it in stride.
We had a nice table outside with a great view of the patio, a beautiful outdoor space. The ambiance was warm and vibrant, the service was friendly, and the food was very good.
We liked the restaurant's focus on organic food. I was happy to find a free-range steak on the menu (dry-aged new york). Everything was uniformly very good. (The only down side was the creamed spinach, which was too buttery.)
Romantic, classy, and laid back. I'm a sucker for a high end restaurant, especially if it's romantic (what can I say) . The lighting and vibe here is perfect for a dinner date and the food and service where top notch.
The Wilshire is a wonderful restaurant. It's commitment to locally-sourced foods is outstanding, and the staff is very proud of that commitment.
I took a couple of team members here for lunch, and we had a very good meal. I enjoyed a delicious white bean soup, and one of my fellow coworkers had a simple, but delicious, greens salad that had beets on it. She didn't like beets and I was only too glad to have them!
I had lobster ravioli, which was four pillows of delectable ravioli stuffed with fresh lobster. YUM! A coworker had the burger, which he devoured, and the fries with it were perfectly cooked.
I highly recommend washing it all down (if one can use such an expression at The Wilshire) with one of their specialty flavored lemonades. I had the cucumber lemonade, and it was a fresh, tasty, crisp beverage. If only they'd added vodka!
While there is a great deal of comfortable seating indoors among the Wilshire's dark-paneled main dining room and bar and the cooler-toned side dining room, the main event is really outdoors (with lots of heat lamps). The candelabra light fixture in the outdoor bar is an artistic and sculptural feat, and is just a pleasure to look at. Would love to come back some time for a post-work drink and check it out in its full glory.
My only complaint (and I was with really good people, so it wasn't so noticeable) was that the service was a bit slow. The backwaiter and bus staff were very efficient, but our waiter was a bit slower to move - it took awhile to get our order placed and again to get our check. Thankfully, we had the time to wait all this out, so it didn't adversely affect anything.
I'm surprised to see so many negative reviews here because we had such a positive experience. The focus on local ingredients and sourcing was really key to me, and the freshness I found in the dishes really backed up their word. So, well done!
$4.00 Buffalo Trace
Los Angeles, CA
10% Discount Continues
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Category: Restaurants
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