This place is always a treat to visit! They treat you like a long time regular even if it's your first time! I came here to celebrate my 21st birthday about a year ago and have since been coming for the wonderful atmosphere, delicious food, and great prices ever since. The bartender Jackson was incredibly kind and helpful at our visit, even giving us complementary items after striking up wonderful conversation! One of my favorite neighborhood treats and I can't wait to come back. read more

This place was amazing! Daniela was such a sweet heart! She gave us such service! Definitely recommend coming back!

I loved it here!!! The hospitality was great. Our waiter was so kind ! I will definitely be coming here again

Bacari PDR has been a staple for me for years. The food is consistently amazing every single time, and the service is always exceptional. Even during their busiest dinner rush, they never compromise on quality, which says a lot. One piece of advice please please please make a reservation for dinner because they stay busy for a reason. And if you're lucky enough to have Daniella as your server, you're in for a treat. She always has the best recommendations, is incredibly attentive, and truly elevates the entire dining experience. The bartender is exceptional too. I moved to Las Vegas a few years ago, but every time I'm back in Los Angeles, Bakari PDR is one of my first stops. The food is just that good. As an LA native, this will always be on my list of restaurants I recommend to friends and visitors. If you haven't been yet, do yourself a favor and give it a try you won't be disappointed read more

NOT EVERYONE SHOULD WORK IN HOSPITALITY/CUSTOMER SERVICE! A gf and I had a pretty terrible experience here over the weekend. Not everything was terrible, but the hostess was extremely rude and petty for no reason at all, which really put a damper on the whole thing. Upon arriving for our reservation and checking in, the hostess gave a look of disapproval as she observed we had dared to apparently personally ruin her day by bringing our dog. Mind you that this is allegedly a dog-friendly restaurant (that offers a DOG MENU) and has ample outside seating. There was also numerous open tables on the patio when we arrived, but nonetheless, she felt the need to vocalize to paying customers with a reservation how she now needed to find a suitable table for two people with a dog, which apparently was just such a difficult request. After the unnecessary comments, she sat us at a table in the middle of the outdoor dining area. While seated, she proceeded to knock into my chair a few times while she walked past us, to seat other patrons, as they arrived. Although annoying and seemingly unnecessary for someone whose sole job is to walk back and forth from the hostess stand to various tables in a dining area (i.e. one would think a host would be practiced in navigating the area), we chalked it up to the tight quarters and let it go. However, what really caused the environment to turn sour was when she felt the need to loudly exclaim in earshot of us, while seating another paying couple, something to the effect of "I don't want to have to step over the dog" (while looking at our table, just in case we didn't feel unwelcome enough already by her attitude) as she proceeded to walk the couple the long way around the dining area (rather than through the small path between our table and another, where my dog was calmly minding his own business and laying down). What was odd about this exchange is that there was actually a much shorter route that she could have taken and avoided the dog situation (AND passive aggressive comment) altogether...it was almost as if she took them on that longer route just to be able to make another comment about how inconvenienced she was by us having the audacity to bring our dog to a reportedly "dog-friendly" restaurant. She also was observed going to the side of the dining area, where serving staff wait, to gossip with coworkers about our table (since she was obviously staring at us during her gossip session, as she was throughout much of our time there), which was extremely uncomfortable and awkward since we had literally done nothing to her but mind our business and bring our dog. Sometimes you go out and pay for a service only for the whole experience to be ruined by someone who works in customer service that clearly should not be in a position where they interface with people!!! Not everyone has the personal constitution to work in hospitality or customer service positions! I know this, because I have also been a hostess and would NEVER have treated anyone (let alone a paying customer) how she treated our table! Regardless, the reason I'm giving 3/5 (instead of negative) stars is because everyone else who worked there seemed to genuinely care about the customers and were good at their jobs. Also, the food was good; other than one dish (Brussels sprouts), which although good was just bordering on the side of too salty to be palatable. When this was mentioned to our waitress, she quickly offered to replace it with another item and removed it from the bill...clearly someone practiced in good customer service! Unfortunately, that cannot be said for everyone working there. ...needless to say, if you want to have an enjoyable experience here, I'd encourage you to avoid when this hostess is working OR for the love of god DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG if she is there. That's the only thing I can think of that spurned her rudeness and inappropriateness for the whole two hours or so that we were there. read more

We have been here several times and again we were not disappointed. We were there before closing time and Charlie was our server. What a doll. She kept checking on us. Tyler also came around and made sure to tell us they were a team and so everyone was making sure we were taken care of. We had bottomless drinks. The watermelon margarita was my favorite although they do charge an up charge for specialty drinks. We also had the mushroom pizza. Great flavors. We also did the ceviche which was delicious and fresh. We also ordered the tacos and the fish. No complaints all were very tasty. The following day we came in for Brunch. Liz greeted us and again we had Charlie as our server. Everyone here is constantly moving making sure you have everything. We had the Crab Benedict which is really a crab cake with and egg. So yummy. Also we ordered the French toast which was so so good. This place is a win win if you don't want boring food and great service. The ambiance outdoors is a nice touch. At night they have heaters so you're not too cold. We ate our food before I could snap any more pics. read more

Bacari PDR - French Toast - Italian Near Me - Playa Del Rey, California

Sit outside during happy hour -- the atmosphere & views are perfect! For dessert, I highly highly highly recommend the date cake!! I've gotten it to-go sometimes when I'm craving it read more

Found Bacari PDR thanks to Yelp when I was looking for restaurants that would be on the way to the airport. Love the concept of small dishes so this place suited me perfectly. Tons of outdoor seating. The biggest downsides to this place are the parking (practically nonexistent, but the host will keep any eye out for you if you disregard the no parking signs and park on the hill by the restaurant) and the restrooms (tiny, dark, smelly, and feel like an outhouse). As for the food, there were hits and misses but overall it was quite good. Our favorites were the Asian pear and brie pizza (an unusual combo but it really worked), the glazed pork belly (practically melted in your mouth and so flavorful), the mac and cheese plus bacon (trust me, the bacon adds flavor and texture so it really shouldn't be optional), and the best cake plus ice cream (like a superb sticky toffee pudding). We loved how extensive their mocktail menu was, and they were quite accommodating in making changes that we requested. Dishes that were just ok for me were the fried chicken sliders and street corn. Nothing wrong with them, just not exceptional. The bread pudding and malabi were both good but paled in comparison to the best cake. The rainbow beets were a bit too vinegary/acidic for our taste. The scallop medallions and the sea bass both tasted a little fishy and not fresh, so I would probably recommend staying away from the seafood. Service was friendly and attentive at least in the beginning before they got busy. Once the place filled up, it could be difficult to get someone's attention, and I ended up having to ask a manager to expedite things for us so we could get my mom to the airport in time. All in all, though, I consider this a great find and would happily come here again to try more dishes. read more

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We came here today in a reservation 5/30 and were quickly seated. It was insanely busy. We put in our order and got our drinks very quickly. Super delicious the Love Letter with Iwai 42 whiskey was sooo good. We got the chicken sliders, schwarma tacos, barrumundi. They offered to add another taco since it came with 3 for a total of 4 to split which was a nice addition/offering, We also got the lamb pizza to go which I've had before but we had to run and looking forward to eating that. Such a great vibe and great service. Shout out to my favorite, Liz, but everyone that served us (since they all share and serve all tables) were very nice, informative, and checked on us frequently. Can't wait to go back. Thank you! read more

Bacari is always soooo yummy! We got the pear and Brie pizza, the steak, the schnitzel, the mushrooms, and the sea bass. The pizza got cold kinda fast since we were outside, but was still really good! The love letter drink is delicious I need marshmallows in all my drinks. read more

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Actually I love Bacari HH!! This location was actually the best experience I've had so far!! We went to celebrate a birthday and they had some champagne brought out for us which was so cute and special!! There was also warm dessert too which I think went above and beyond!! We sat underneath the tent and it was perfect at 5:15pm for the $2 off food and drinks! Very cute ambiance overall as there are lights and heaters too. Chicken schnitzel, mushroom pizza, steak, and burrata are some of my favorites! read more

Bacari PDR - Champagne - Italian Near Me - Playa Del Rey, California

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Our servers were great. When they learned it was my birthday, they went out of their way to add to celebration my daughter planned. So many good plates. Beets, cigars, sea bass, salad, chicken Schwarma tacos. Fun tent by the beach. A plus Bacari PDR. May all who celebrate go. read more

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Maria was wonderful, attentive service! Love the tapas plates. The date cake is my absolute fave! Always a vibe sitting outside. Love the brunch too read more

Bacari PDR - Bacari Pancakes - Italian Near Me - Playa Del Rey, California

Brunch vibes in Playa Del Rey. Went for a Sunday brunch - parking is a bit tough - street parking if you can find it. It was pretty packed - had an rsvp but still needed to wait another 10 minutes or so. Was eventually sat in the patio area - big issue we had was we were alongside the wall near the big street and there's no sun cover there. We were absolutely destroyed in the heat within the first 15 minutes. Not only was the sun bearing down, the glass railing felt like a magnifying glass. Ordered a few things: chilaquiles, cauliflower, shakshuka, French toast, and the beef bureka. Opted with just water as drinking any alcohol in the sun would have drained us a bit more. The chilaqquiles weren't very saucy - definitely more of a regular tortilla chip with some flavoring vibe. The cauliflower was tasty - a little bit of a kick - but was oversauced, probably needed to be a little less heavy handed with it. The shakshuka was pretty good - the spices along with well made eggs and fresh tomatoes hit well. The French toast was probably my fav - wasn't too heavy, had the crunch and was moist. The fruits on top gave it a fresh feel too. Def would recommend. The beef bureka was spot on as well - this is ground beef pastry with cabbage inside. Was on the lighter side but still had good flavor. Lightness preferred over the burek I'd have in the Balkans that are also delicious, but weighs you down a bunch. There was an issue with the egg however, there was a bit of the shell left on it. Overall - the food is a 4 but I think they need to remove the seating along the far wall unless it's a cloudy day - someone's going to get a heat stroke. read more

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I finally got to try "The Best Cake" and it was fantastic, definitely the highlight of the night! The service was a little slow even though they weren't super busy, but the ambience is always nice, and the food was a little hit or miss (it really depends on what you order). The sea bass was good, but the Pear and Brie pizza was not very flavorful and pretty disappointing. The stuffed mushrooms were tasty, but they're a pretty small serving size. The dessert was the one truly great dish. Side note: parking can be tricky here, he usually you have to drive up the hill and park in the neighborhood and walk down a bit back to the restaurant. read more

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It was a terrific experience overall. It was a busy Friday night, which added to the celebratory vibe and the food and drinks were delicious. The service kept up with demands of the evening, especially our server, who they referred to as "Mags," who combined a great winning attitude with her remarkable memory. Everything was great but don't miss the Asian Pear and Brie pizza, which is as good as it sounds. A grand time was had by all. read more

This was my second visit in a few years. Just so happened to be in the same area, so decided to run it back based on distant but fond memories. I really like the staff- unique group with good energy. The plates were nice, too. Good plating; good flavors. We got many: ceviche, falafel, bass, fries, steak and cake. Bests: bass and date cake. Not bests: ceviche and steak. Would recommend if you're in town. Two word review: Date Cake read more

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I'm only in town for a week, but I want to come back tomorrow and try the whole menu! Food is served tapas style and brought out as prepared. ORDER THE SEABASS!!!! Matter of fact order 2! Crispy skin, flaky fish on a bed of tarragon aioli ! 10/5 Tripoline pasta: I'm not a high pasta girly. But the server kept saying it was his favorite when I would ask about others. So let's do it! 5/5. Not traditional flavor. The almond and cilantro with a tiny hint of spicy! Tuscan kale salad: 5/5 good! That's it that's all. Order it all! Heard another table telling another table they had to order the bread pudding. I was already busting out of my pants. Sooooo "Can I get it to go?" ...after getting back to my hotel, snuggled into bed to eat my dessert. I found a bowl of undercooked soggy white bread, not even a brioche, challah. This had to be made from wonder bread and regular milk not even condensed sweetened. Awful. Coziest patio with lots of heaters and smooth pop playing! read more

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JESSICA IS THE BEST. I frequent Bacari, and I LOVE this location. Jessica is the best, she took the best care of us, request for her when you come here. read more

Everything here is delicious. I wish I could eat here all day. The service is always good and you can't go wrong for brunch, lunch, or dinner. read more

This was my second time visiting Bacari in Playa Del Rey and I was once again blown away! The atmosphere in this place is outstanding, from the gas fire lamps and string lights, to the throwback songs playing over the speakers and unbelievably accommodating waitstaff that brought us complimentary champagne with floating rose petals. You can't find a better spot to eat walking distance from the beach here! For the most memorable experience, I recommend arriving just before sunset to enjoy both the golden hour glow and the night time lighting in this outdoor space. Dishes are best split between a group of people so you can enjoy multiple items since they serve a more tapas style instead of a full meal per plate. We ordered the crudo to start, which was a significant amount of fish, thinly sliced and covered in a tart, lemon salsa that reminded me of the chunky texture of chimichurri, though not as oily. The thin slices of lemon on top added an extra pop of acidity with each bite that wasn't overpowering. We also enjoyed the crispy pork belly that was cooked in a savory, umami sauce until caramelized. The flavor went deep into the meat, so it was probably marinated for a long time as opposed to just tossed in a sauce at the end. It paired well with the large portion of mujadara lentil and basmati rice pilaf we ordered, though keep in mind this dish is extremely filling. The crispy shallots on top added a great contrast to the warm, creamy texture of the pilaf, and the lemon's bright flavor lightened the flavor palette despite the hardy ingredients. We even mixed some of the leftover pork belly sauce with the rice and it was delicious! For our veggie, we ordered the brussels sprouts, which were perfectly crispy all the way to the center, almost as if they were able to separate all of the layers for maximum crisp. The chipotle sauce on top was creamy and slightly spicy, but not overbearing. Sometimes restaurants make the mistake of drenching charred vegetables like this with too much sauce, but they nailed the proportions. Lastly for dessert we ordered the malabi, a rosewater custard with coconut, hibiscus, and pistachios. The custard wasn't overpowered by the floral flavor and the raw flakes were candied, so the coconut flavor really came out without needing to toast them. I also loved that the pistachios were whole instead of tiny pieces because it added a textural bite the dessert needed. My only note is that it would be even better if it had a wafer in it, whether a roll or pistachio wafers. read more

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Great food, amazing atmosphere, and excellent service without forgetting the cocktails !! Every dish was fresh and delicious, and the staff made us feel very welcome. Definitely one of my favorite spots--I'll be back! Thanks Magali you made the night with your smile . read more

We ate at Bacari and usually go to the silver lake location. Bacari PDR is next level! Bacari is already good but our host, Bridger, made it one of the best restaurants we've ever gone to. His service and attention to detail is next level! We will be back to see Bridger and enjoy the great food soon! read more

If I lived close, this would be my weekly bar and restaurant. The drink menu is expansive and the two drinks I had were really good. Gio the bartender is really nice and made me a drink from scratch using the earl-grey infused gin. I also had the Scarlett oddessey that was probably one of the best drinks I've had in LIFE. Also the food is delicious. I highly recommend the Asian pear and Brie pizza. It works so well together. We also got the sea bass which was good, the open faced burger, the bcn fries (which reminded me of curry chips in the UK) and the charred broccoli. We didn't have one bad bite but I would rank the pizza up there as the best and most tasty bite. Service was great too. Micah saw I had a long day and offered me some champagne immediately. So thoughtful! And our waitress Selah was really attentive. Overall a great experience. read more

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Great restaurant and Sunday brunch experience at Bacari. The service was excellent, the outdoor patio atmosphere was amazing, and the tapas style food was tasty. There were four of us and we each got a couple of items and shared. And we really enjoyed all of it. Solid 4.5 stars read more

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Good food but the staff is what sells them! They were so kind, so attentive, so engaging! And then one of them noticed we didn't touch much of one of the dishes and she took it off the bill. That was so kind?! Definitely try this place out but DEFINITELY meet the staff! The outdoor seating is also very cute!! read more

Bacari PDR - Watermelon - Italian Near Me - Playa Del Rey, California

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Sea bass on the menu 10/10 . Loved it and of course had bacarita . Best watermelon margarita in town . Must try if you stop by . Can I say they have a really good tequila selections.Gio is a great bartender and had great knowledge on drinks and alcohol. He was very pleasant. read more

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Close by to the beach so you still can feel the fresh air and breeze but not close enough for any nice view, the bathroom was extremely tiny but whatever the food was greattt! Literally everything was good the Mac n cheese I wasn't the biggest fan of kinda flavorless and and the only flavor I could rlly taste is bread but service was amazing I love the area and yesss read more

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I ordered one drink (Bacarito) that should have been $15 for happy hour and usually the bread is complimentary at other Bacari's (Silverlake, Beverly, etc).... Not here. They up charged me for the tequila that I did not order.... $35 with tip. LOL. Never again. read more

The food is really excellent especially the weekend. I love the platters they make they make a Chilaquiles with an egg. The crabcake with an egg bacon cheese pizza with an egg. It's amazing my favorite the stuffed French toast. I just love that place. I always go once a month and enjoy everything and the service is beautiful. I love the ambience. You can see the beach. You should go check it out. I recommend it and give it not five stars but 10 stars. read more

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Awesome food, awesome service, great vibe. I love this place. Their schnitzel is my favorite dish but there's really nothing in the menu that isn't solid or better. Recommended. One and only one potential drawback: the outdoor seating out back is not flat. Tables towards the upper side of the hill are sloped enough to be uncomfortable for some, so it's worth getting there early beside those are there only tables remaining. read more

Ok....this is the strangest review because I'm giving five stars despite my friend getting violently ill afterward and vomiting for hours. She has a very sensitive stomach to spicy food.... And yet this place was super charming and amazing. Our server was amazing (if you want a real test of a restaurant, search reviews for the word "server"...this place its all over because they hire great people). So chill, so cool...I wish I was as cool as he is. Made some recommendations, we made some picks which he approved of. Cool. Food shows up (as it is ready...its tapas). Halfway thru I say "that's great but we didn't order this amazing looking charred broccoli, we ordered the sea bass" and our server (Makai?) says "well that's because its on the house and the sea bass is coming". ;) And then we finish, we get the bill, and then my company says "what about dessert". Makai quickly says "you should really try the best cake ever" and we did....and its seriously so dang good...I would go back just for that. When I say "aren't you adding it to the bill?" the response was "no, Makai knows what he's doing". So...the only thing I recommend is that if you have a sensitive stomach to spicy food, tell them. Its not clear the level of spiciness on the menu but it was all so good my friend ate all the spicy and paid the consequences....gladly. read more

Came here for brunch. Food was good and tapas style so small portions. My friend and I ordered 4 dishes to share and it was enough. We did a double take on the French toast plate because it was only 1 toast. Service was good and love the outdoor patio. They are so dog friendly so there were a few doggies there. read more

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After a great experience at Bacari in Culver City, we decided to try dinner here in Playa del Rey. Most of the tables are outdoors under a canvas canopy -- which by the way is off-putting and needs de-molding. Indoor seating is very limited in the bar area. There were about five dishes on the Culver City menu that aren't available here. Oh well. For dinner, we shared three dishes: Shawarma Tacos (4/5 $15.50), Ricotta & Beet Gnocchi (4/5 $14.50), and an excellent grilled Sea Bass (5/5 $16.50). For beverages, we had the House Red (3/5 $13.00 per glass). Service was very good. Parking is on neighborhood streets -- we parked about 5 minutes up the hill behind the restaurant. read more

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Returned to Bacari PDR and had an amazing experience with my mom and sister. My sister and I both have dietary restrictions and they made it so easy to order and find things for everyone. My sister is gluten free and dairy free and I'm vegetarian. Our waitress, Selah L., had all the best recommendations and made sure all our dietary restrictions were taken care of. She had the best energy. We ordered a couple drinks (always good), plus my favorites - Bacari fries, brussies, and Asian pear and Brie pizza. My sister and mom also ordered a burger and scallops. It was their first time at this location and they were blown away by the food. read more

Bacari PDR - Vegan Vegan Double Chocolate Cake - Italian Near Me - Playa Del Rey, California

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We had a great experience. We have been coming for years. Mags and Kira were amazing. Such good food and service from these staff. Please ask for them. Liz is an amazing manager and cares about her staff and customers. B read more

Finally made it to Bacari PDR. I say finally because I've tried more than a handful of times but wasn't able to find parking. On those instances where I ended up somewhere else - it was during peak times and if you know the area, you know why parking can be a little challenging. So, already mentioned parking. It's street parking. Free but if you park up the hill, be ready for the uphill climb getting back to your ride. I haven't been lucky finding street parking on the main drag or across the street so I don't know what the costs or restrictions are. Service was excellent. From the host to the team who worked like a well oiled machine. I was really indecisive as to the food yet the team didn't skip a beat. Orders taken. Served quickly and followed up. See pics. There's both indoor and outdoor seating. I opted to be outside. Vehicular traffic noise wasn't so bad and it was nice to have watch the sun go down. Not that you can see the beach but the colors of the sky was something to enjoy. As for the food - enjoyed the dishes - see pics. Small plates which worked for me. Sat enjoying the outdoors while watching a game on my mobile device - WIFI is offered! Anyway, it's close to home. With good food and service, if I can find parking without doing laps around the area, I can say I'll definitely go back. read more

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Friendly staff, lots of seasonal dishes, and exceptional accommodation to allergies. Highly recommended!

Bacari PDR is a very cute spot for a relaxed brunch with friends. My group opted to sit inside, which is much quieter and cooler compared to the outdoor seating. I'd recommend if you like a quieter setting. The food was amazing. It is tapas style so they recommend 2-3 plates per person. I'd recommend the French toast, Shakshuka, and the Crab Cake. The cocktails were all very yummy and very cute. I'd recommend the Bacarita or a glass of Fernlands. Service was good for how busy it was. Our server Makai took really good care of us and made sure we had everything we needed multiple times. Will definitely be returning! read more

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I've loved other Bacari locations, but this one truly went above and beyond in making my friend feel special on their birthday. the manager mikai was incredibly warm and welcoming and the entire wait staff was attentive, patient, and helpful - there are so many amazing things to try, it's so difficult to decide! we truly loved everything we ate - I especially loved the sea bass (the sauce, the corn ), the pork ribs (perfectly marinated delectable bites), and the brie and pear pizza (surprisingly sweet and refreshing!). for dessert we got the best cake (literally that is what it's called, and true to its name! medjool dates, brown sugar caramel, crispy bacon - but don't let the ingredients fool you, a delicious balanced treat!), bread pudding, and the vegan double chocolate cake and all made a perfect end to an absolutely wonderful evening. this is a sweet and special small plate spot that's perfect for an elevated birthday celebration - cannot recommend enough! oh and it's near the water so i recommend bringing a sweater if you often run cold for an evening meal. can't wait to come back to try everything we missed! read more

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