My sisters and I visited Rosemary Grill to try some lesser known restaurants and for fresh…read moreMediterranean food. I found Rosemary Grill in West LA online! This place is fairly small, tucked away, but it's actually been around for over a decade! Inside, Rosemary Grill has plenty of seating around the front counter where you order, admire the cooking process in the back, inspect the menu, and even see their hot sauce that has been featured on Hot Ones! Jacquee treated us so well there--her team works very hard to cook everything! There were quite a lot of takeout orders before ours, so we waited a bit of a while, but it was all worth it! We ordered a chicken kebab wrap, a veggie skewer, a mixed combo plate, and a falafel plate! We didn't have a favorite--we loved everything; we dipped everything edible in the hummus and adored the quality of the vegetables (the eggplant being a favorite) and meat (all of them were a 10/10). Nothing is too oily or too salty, plus the pita bread was solid! The falafel wasn't too dry or spicy either!

So yummy and the portions are pretty big!…read more They gave us their spicy sauces and it was so spicy but so flavorful. The workers were also very sweet when I asked for extra sauce.

We came to Crimson to meet some friends, and it was a great experience from start to finish. The…read morefood was absolutely delicious, full of flavor and clearly made with care. I ordered the chicken with salad and a side of sweet potato fries, which were OMG so good and definitely a must-try! The ordering process is simple: you order and pay at the cashier, receive a number, and the staff brings the food directly to your table. It was smooth and efficient, even for our group of eight. They were very accommodating and made sure we were comfortable, which we really appreciated. There's street parking available, which made it convenient as well. Overall, a great spot for both small and larger groups. I'd definitely come back!

Food: - BBQ chicken wrap: good flavor, more american -…read moremiddle eastern fusion - Ground sirloin kabob plate: similar to beef koobideh, good flavor but small portion size; comes with rice, pita, and garlic sauce; you can order additional sides for $2 a piece Ambiance: - great location in santa monica with relaxed seating inside and outside - parking is easily accessible on the street or in the neighborhoods - order at the counter and servers will bring your food to the table

I always go to the crimson on ocean park but I needed a sit down place with outlets so I could get…read moresome journaling in so I ran into this location. sooo yummy as always, their sweet potato fries are eliteeee, a must try side. I also got an iced coffee which was delicious. the server was really nice and the food cake out quick. love it here

Where do I begin?…read more This was my last day in the beautiful land of California, and before heading out to catch my flight back to the South, I was craving Mediterranean food. I've been on a bit of a Mediterranean kick lately, thank you Cava for that. First impressions? The environment was beautiful. Seriously photo worthy. As a photographer, I couldn't help but admire the architecture inside and around the area. It had that visual vibe that made me excited to be there. There was no line when we walked in, so I quickly landed on my order: the Crimson Chicken Wrap (white meat) with a side of babaganoush, and the Chicken Shawarma (dark meat) with a side of fries. Everything sounded solid. But then... we waited. And waited. Over 30 minutes passed. In that time, about 3 to 4 other customers came in, placed their orders, got their food, and left. Meanwhile, we were still waiting on two of their more popular items. I tried to be patient, gave them the benefit of the doubt, until I saw someone who arrived 25 minutes after us get their Chicken Shawarma within 10 minutes of walking in. Given that we were on a time crunch with other places to be, the delay was beyond frustrating. We ended up speaking with the manager and shared our concerns, but by that point, the experience was already soured. Now for the food. I wanted to like it. The first bite had promise, but after that, it just felt like I was eating out of obligation. For the price point, the service delays, and the lackluster flavor, I honestly can't recommend the entrées I tried. The coffee? It seemed to be good, but not enough to bring me back just for that. I wish I could give Crimson a stronger review, especially because the space itself is stunning. But in the end, it was a case of style over substance. I'd give it a 2.5 out of 5, though I did walk away with some great photos, at least.

Amazing food !! Super home vibes …read more. got the sabich pita & small matza ball soup and they where delicious!!!

It was in. I prefer my falafel sandwich with salad as well as cucumber salad but maybe that's not…read more"authentic". It was good, just not amazing. I prefer more filling less wrap. I'd return, advise you to try it, but not go out of my way to go back. Prefer Hungry Pocket up the street close to SMC. Though that's Lebanese and not Israeli and I think the proprietor may have retired. It's still good, still imo better than this but it's possible there are sauces you could add to this to make it tastier...

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.

Reservation: not needed unless particular preference for seating and cancellation fee applies if…read moreno-show Parking: free 90 min in Santa Monica parking structures Service: immediately seated, great recommendations provided, and full explanations of specials Vibes: GORGEOUS patio with pastel colors, plants, and string lights - cute for girls' night or romantic date night; inside restaurant atmosphere classy Food: one of my most memorable meals in Santa Monica - every dish I had was well cooked, seasoned, balanced, and nicely plated Other: InKind app had good deal

Phenomenal restaurant all around -- delicious food, beautiful ambiance and incredible location…read morenestled on Ocean Ave. right by Santa Monica Pier, and fantastic service. Lobster alla catalana pasta 5/5 - Lives up to the hype, so delicious with a bit of a spicy kick, strong lobster flavor with lobster pieces throughout and fresh basil Chicken tagine 5/5 - delicious flavors and well balanced, the serving size is huge and served in a traditional tagine! Can likely serve 3 comfortably, may be nice to also order a side of carbs to soak up the scrumptious sauce Perfect for a date night; offers both indoor with bar and outdoor seating with heat lamps so can be dog friendly. Beautifully decorated and themed both inside and outside with overarching vines and lights in the outdoor patio area. Access right on Ocean Ave with the restaurant tucked at the end of the pathway around other restaurants; there is a hostess and podium with the restaurant sign right on Ocean Ave. to direct you in. For some reason, Google Maps suggested entering from the back of the restaurant, which is not the best way to enter. A bit on the pricier side but reasonable for this prime location and with hearty portion sizes. Overall highly recommended!

Hungry Pocket makes the best falafel I've ever eaten…read more I started going here in 2009 while attending SMC. It was the first falafel I'd ever tried. Since that time, I have eaten falafel not only in different LA locations but also at locations across the country while living in NYC. Verdict: from coast to coast, Hungry Pocket makes the best falafel I can find. All other falafels seem to taste like dirt in my mouth in comparison. If you don't like falafel, you just haven't tried Hungry Pocket yet. I will edit this review if I find better falafel or if Hungry Pocket has changed/changes their recipe (will be visiting tomorrow for quality assessment purposes). The ambiance is that of a hole in the wall that you only know about if you went to SMC or know someone who went to SMC. You don't want anything to change because the whole point is that it feels like a hole in the wall that no one knows about. The service is direct. You order, they make your food right in front of you, you get it when it's ready, you eat it, and you are grateful. The baklava is also the best baklava. You should get a piece for dessert. Thank you, Jeff!!!

I enjoyed my meal here! We got the lamb gyro plate and it was fresh and light. I enjoyed the baba…read moreghanoush and tabbouli especially. We also got the showafel with chicken - the chicken had a nice char on it. Overall, good for a light lunch. But the ambiance is nothing fancy, it's pretty minimal and bare. 3% surcharge on credit card transactions so bring cash!

Great service from Melanie O. This evening... good food, great service, excellent ambiance!!!read more

PKG accessible, healthy dining for any palette, & complemented by earnest staff. Melanie & team…read morekeep it real & personable. Good spot*