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    Brightside California Kitchen

    4.7 (38 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 3:00 pm

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    Brown Butter Benedict, delicious!
    Tasha L.

    I never got to try this place back when it was Jinky's, but I'm so happy to have a solid brunch spot in downtown Santa Monica! Parking is easy with the P6 public garage on 2nd Street - it's free for the first 90 minutes. My coworkers and I stopped by for brunch and were all impressed with our experience. I ordered the Brown Butter Benedict with an iced latte on the side. I have a weak spot for hearty, savory breakfasts, and this Benedict really hit the spot. The combination of Canadian bacon, pulled pork, runny egg yolks, English muffin, and hollandaise resulted in the perfectly decadent bite every time. The staff were able to accommodate my request to sub out half of the potatoes for some arugula instead, which made me feel marginally better about devouring such a hearty meal. I don't always expect restaurant coffee drinks to be that great, but I really enjoyed my iced latte as well. I look forward to visiting this spot again!

    House coffee (free refills)
    Aileen H.

    We came on a rainy Saturday morning and stumbled upon live jazz day! The ambiance could not have been more perfect - cozy, relaxing and full with melody. Service was good. We ordered: 1. House coffee (free refills) 4/5 Decent. 2. Brioche French toast : 3.5/5 Too much cream on top. Couldn't taste the brioche texture. Felt mushy. 3. Southwestern burrito 4/5 Tasty but the fried chicken was a bit much flavor wise. It overpowered the rest of the ingredients. The food could use more finesse in terms of flavor and texture. Ambiance was excellent!

    Benedict
    Irina N.

    Amazing breakfast in Santa Monica! We got the Benedict with salmon, omelette, cappuccino and OJ. The food was absolutely delicious, great portions with a yummy arugula side salad that comes with both dishes. Our server was kind and attentive. Highly recommend this place for a great meal with great service!

    Olivia C.

    Can't go wrong with Brightside California Kitchen! Came with two friends for brunch around noon on a Saturday. We were seated immediately and given menus. I ordered a mimosa ($9) and one of my friends got the mega size mimosa which was $4 extra. My other friend got a beer on tap. The menu is big enough where there's something for everyone. I ended up deciding on the steak and eggs only because picanha is my favorite steak. I have only seen this cut at Brazilian steakhouses. Can I say that this dish was cooked perfectly. The steak was medium rare and the chimichurri and butter sauce on top was perfect. The potatoes were also flavorful with their seasoning and were lightly fried. The over easy eggs were runny and perfect. The service was excellent. The tables and bathrooms are clean. Paid street parking but there's also a paid parking garage connected to Santa Monica Place that people can park in.

    Bloody Mary
    Greg I.

    Such a cute place, service was great and quick. I stopped as a random place with no plans but was hungry. My Bloody Mary was AMAZING I had to have 2. Food was good, could've used more potatoes but it was worth it. I ate my food too fast to take a picture lol

    Delicious drinks
    Tarena Z.

    This is a rebranded cafe that used to be called Jinky's cafe. The waffles were filling and tasty, more country style than light and fluffy. French toast was cooked just right. The fruit that came with it was fresh and high quality. The SaMo sandwich was a great Vegan option. Tasty and very filling! The vibe is relaxed and casual, feel free to wander in right off the beach. The music adds to the chill vibe; classic rock! The service was pretty quick, the staff were all attentive and happy to help all the customers.

    Breakfast

    The amazing food was served as deliciousness accompanied with incredible live jazz ambiance - and then outperformed once again by all the amazing staff that made my wife's special birthday lunch memorable. Special shout out to Cindy for going above and beyond for us in service, and all the other staff who who made this first visit a a one of a kind joyful experience. Thank you Brightside crew & may God bless!

    Sunshine smoothie, Brightside Burger

    We had a super enjoyable time here! Food was delicious and our server, Juan, was super kind and welcoming. The music played also really adds to the whole vibe! I would recommend the place to anyone looking to enjoy good food and have a good time.

    I love already loved Brightside for brunch/lunch, but I recently had my 50th birthday party there and they absolutely knocked it out of the park! The food was amazing. My guests were raving about the steak with chimichuri. And the cocktails were perfect. If you're looking for a location for your next event you should definitely consider Brightside.

    Wendy A.

    Came here for a run club event, food was delicious and staff were amazing!! Highly recommend.

    Bloody Mary from scratch! Made by Juan

    Back again!! Juan created a beautiful hand- crafted Bloody Mary, no mixer! It is the right balance of acidity & perfect ratio of vodka. Don't forget to ask for him:)

    Eggs Benedict
    Marco V.

    I was pleasantly blown away by the quality and taste of the dishes here. For being a newer joint everything was dialed in. The service was awesome, the restaurant is cute, and the food was fantastic. All eggs Benedict's should come with pulled pork. I don't think I'll ever find another benedict as good as the one at Brightside. The brown butter hollandaise was exquisite. Across the table my friend ordered the Monte Christo. Luckily for me, we're close, and willing to share bites of our orders. The Monte Christo was a perfect combination of sweet and savory. Truly the quintessential breakfast sandwich for someone that can't decide between French toast or an egg dish. 10/10 would recommend, and am already planning my return for lunch.

    French Toast

    What a great spot! Chill vibes for breakfast, brunch, lunch and the staff told me that soon they will have dinner!! They do have coffee, soft drinks and alcohol. Food is gorgeous and delicious. Coffee is solid. Service is very friendly and fast. I've been several times now and have always had a lovely experience. There is parking in the garage around the corner that has 1st 90 minutes free. Just a block from the Santa Monica Pier.

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    2 months ago

    We got the Monte Cristo, Brioche Breakfast Sandwich, and Salmon Benedict. All were DELICIOUS. Service was prompt, courteous, and thorough.

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    5 months ago

    Had a great experience the food was amazing. The Benedict with pulled pork was the best I have had!!

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

    I LOVE this place! Coffee, service, food and ambience is top tier! Great place to brunch! I will definitely be returning!

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    6 months ago

    We had strawberry Margs! Juan was the best! The apps were great as well. Definitely would get deviled eggs again.

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    7 months ago

    Highly recommend! Awesome place to get lunch and breakfast! Juan is awesome and makes amazing drinks from scratch!

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    Ask the Community - Brightside California Kitchen

    La Monique

    La Monique

    4.4(44 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    Takes reservations
    Romantic vibe

    We arrived on time for our reservation and were warmly greeted then promptly seated at a very nice…read moretable inside a very cozy and super stylish facility nested in the hotel. Greeted by our very kind waiter, we were served the most delicious toasted bread, butter(s) and rock salt from La Boulangerie. As a film nut, of course I ordered the Cinema Paradiso, this is a very imaginative cocktail recipe, like a an Old Fashioned but with a movie theater twist, kindly served with a pinch of candy kettle-corn at our table by the mixologist herself; what a playful and tasty delight! For starters, we are ordered the Mini-French-Onion Grilled Cheese and Hamachi Crudo. Both absolutely delicious. The Hamachi Crudo Leche de Tigre sauce is beyond perfect. The balance of flavors between charriness of the bread and melted cheeses, and tangy onion soup dip...just wow. Then the steak! Accompanied by a delicious Châteauneuf-du-Pape, we shared between two, a perfectly cooked (medium rare of course, don't be basic) N.Y. Strip (au poivre sauce on the side) with au gratin, and it came with nice little on the vine roasted tomatoes and a little leafy salad...like I told Chef when he came to our table post meal: "INCROYABLE!". Every-Single-Bite!! But, aside every dish being perfect and the service being above and beyond, what literally brought me to tears was the dessert. I haven't had "floating islands" since my mom used to make it many, many moons ago (unfortunately ma is now at early dementia), and when I tasted my first spoonful here, I couldn't hold back the tears, memories flooded and complimented by the preceding meal which was perfect...too many feels. Merci Beaucoup! For a VERY special culinary experience to all at La Monique. Please don't change a thing. I rarely ever make the effort to write a review, but this is very much worth every second. We'll be coming back for sure. Feel like I just discovered fire.

    I am absolutely shocked. After we left, they added $100 in tips to my bill without my authorization…read more-- I only discovered it later on my bank statement. This is completely unacceptable and feels like fraud. To make things worse, the food was completely average -- nothing special at all and definitely not worth the prices they charge. I've never experienced anything like this, even at the most basic places. This is beyond unprofessional and extremely disappointing. I would strongly advise others to double-check their receipts and statements after visiting this restaurant.

    Photos
    La Monique - La Monique Dining Room

    La Monique Dining Room

    La Monique - Escargot Poppers with garlic herb crème fraîche

    Escargot Poppers with garlic herb crème fraîche

    La Monique - Miss Monique cocktail

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    Miss Monique cocktail

    The Mulberry - Cheesecake

    The Mulberry

    4.1(104 reviews)
    3.5 miSawtelle

    What went well? EVERYTHING. Food, service, ambiance, all fabulous! Not one bad bite, not one…read moreflaw. Well, I guess the only flaw is that I don't have two stomachs. Oh well, I'll have to come back bc there are still things I want to try. This time, the highlight was the fried chicken wings. Wow, that crisp! Loved the Caesar, the kimchi pancake, the acorn noodles, the short rib, and the hotteok for dessert. What a meal.

    Parking: street parking can be rough to find during peak dinner time on weekends but not bad early…read moreevening on weekdays Reservations: Limited availability on Resy makes it seem harder to get though we were able to make one. Tables looked available around 5pm though so walk-ins could be possible. Ambiance: Outside was nice and inside looked dimly lit and romantic. We were seated promptly and service was good. Food: Rice slushy had a strangely strong cinnamon-like taste to it that traditional rice punch doesn't have which was so overpowering, it made it difficult to go back for more sips. Oysters - good though small, enjoyed the kelp mignonette Korean Aguachile - Delicate tilefish completely overwhelmed by cold kimchi broth with actual icy slush in it and small amounts of fish Steak Tartare - The hot stone bowl seemed to defeat the purpose of a tartare, as it cooked the steak once mixed. The perilla leaves were also cut in large strips relative to the beef. Chilled Acorn Noodle - The perilla oil was nonexistent in flavor though the dish didn't need it and was good without. Overall, portions were small for the price and dishes weren't well-executed so despite being excited for more Korean options in West LA, I'd much rather make the drive to Koreatown for better portions, prices, and flavors.

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    The Mulberry
    The Mulberry - Salad, had too much white lettuce which was very bitter 7/10

    Salad, had too much white lettuce which was very bitter 7/10

    The Mulberry - Acorn noodles

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    Acorn noodles

    Hermanito - BRUSSEL SPROUTS

    Hermanito

    4.3(49 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    We truly couldn't have had a better experience. The food, decor and cocktails were incredible, and…read morethe menu is the perfect mix of my favorite cuisines. But what really stood out was the hospitality. We were celebrating our Anniversary and Valentine's Day, and I had arranged to have flowers delivered to the restaurant earlier in the day so they'd be waiting on the table as a surprise for my wife. The staff was kind enough to accommodate the request and have them set up before we arrived. Unfortunately, the delivery driver accidentally dropped the flowers off at the other Hermanito location on Sawtelle! I assumed the surprise was ruined. Then the hostess came up to me and said, "Don't worry... our manager is driving over there now to pick them up and bring them back." I couldn't believe it. Sure enough, just as I was finishing my first Japanese Old Fashioned, Gilbert (the manager) walked in with the bouquet and completely surprised my wife. Absolute save. Huge thanks to Gilbert and the entire staff for going above and beyond to make the night so special. (I wish I remembered the names of our wonderful server and the incredible hostess who helped coordinate everything!) Thank you both too. As for the food: the Oaxacan Queso Fundido, Bao Buns and Pork Cutlet were five stars. We'll definitely be back to explore more of the raw bar and tacos. The menu is huge and I want to try it all. Highly recommend!

    Service excellence is found here Drinks that taste well and…read morethe good stuff given generously. Food portions is not.. ordered calamari it was mid. Not really shareable. Atmosphere is perfect real talum vibes with open wall windows bring in sunlight and fresh ocean area. Came on a Sunday with my wife and friends good vibes.

    Photos
    Hermanito
    Hermanito - BRUSSEL SPROUTS

    BRUSSEL SPROUTS

    Hermanito - Our Bar Dining Tables

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    Our Bar Dining Tables

    Calabra

    Calabra

    3.8(450 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$$
    Rooftop seating
    Romantic vibe

    Quite a beautiful rooftop restaurant located in the very fancy Santa Monica. Came here as part of a…read morework dinner, so I was in a large group (12 people almost!). The beauty of Mediterranean food is that it's perfect to share with large groups. Because I had some fellow vegetarians (and veg friendly people) with me, ordering was quite fun. We almost ordered every vegetarian mezze, which included: Mezze sampler: the Muhammara was my favorite of them all and the naan was amazing. Very soft, but flavorful. Sprouted cauliflower: interesting way they made it. Golden tahini had a nice touch. Pickled vegetables: loved them Greek fries: can't go wrong with that Roasted sweet potato: surprisingly quite good and a very different palate from the fries. Baked feta: interesting, but this wasn't a fan favorite amongst the group. While our non-vegetarian colleagues enjoyed the octopus, we were nearly full with just the mezze. We decided to go ahead and order the mushroom skewers while the other side enjoyed the tomahawk. Everyone was full after all this food. The cocktails kept flowing. I stuck with just one Urfa mezcalita while enjoying the views for the remainder of the night. This lasted until dessert where plenty were ordered. I got a chocolate gelato not realizing I'd get two scoops. Sadly I could only finish one scoop. Anyhow, there are heaters all over the rooftop so that people can enjoy throughout the year. They do have to crank it up as needed, but it's there. Can't mention price much because this was work sanctioned, but it was a great decision.

    Once we got our reservation, the fun began! Chelsea was our server and she was a pivotal part of…read moreour experience. We asked for recommendations and she nailed everything. We loved the hummus spread, so good! I opted for beer, but how to choose? Well she made me a mini flight - I opted for the hefe. And when another table mate ordered a round of house tequila shots, I wasn't expecting one of the smoothest tequilas I've ever had as the option. Plus it was a generous pour. The views were spectacular, and while we were basically outside, there are plenty of space heaters to make you feel cozy. I highly recommend making reservations as this is a popular spot. Overall one of my favorite evenings from service, to dining, and the drinks.

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    Calabra
    Calabra
    Calabra

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    Brightside California Kitchen - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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