Matt B. and I drove to Santa Monica last Wednesday for a lovely midweek date night at Pasjoli. It was a charming place, an attractive neighborhood restaurant in the heart of Main Street, where we were able to park in a large, cheap municipal lot with a confusing machine. Pasjoli seems to enjoy that ideal level of popularity where it's easy to book without planning in advance but also pleasantly busy on a random weeknight. Attractive interior, despite a name that translates to "not pretty," with two adjoining dining areas decorated with art and floral wallpaper, as well as a tres joli centerpiece bar. Some of the tables for two seemed small and close together, but we got a good one by a window and enjoyed a leisurely dinner. Our waiter Kaelen took great care of us, and we also got help from the sommelier, who recommended a nice Spanish Tempranillo to go with our food. In retrospect, everything we ordered was on the heavy side, but that's what happens when your husband doesn't eat his vegetables. And I have no regrets about the lush, creamy chicken liver mousse, finished with a thin layer of tart cherry aspic and served with perfect golden slices of baguette. I also quite liked the crêpes, warm and supple with beurre blanc, aged parmesan, chives, and caviar. Apparently Pasjoli is known for their burger--Kaelen mentioned it had been voted the best in Los Angeles. I can't find a source for this, but I believe it. The burger was exceptional, reminiscent of the renowned Big Mec at Petite Trois (and I give the edge here to Pasjoli). A thick, juicy, flavorful patty served on fluffy brioche with cheddar, grilled and fried onion, and marrow aioli. (My husband hates mayonnaise and we were pleasantly surprised that we could get it on the side, along with some humble ketchup.) It cost $28 with an extra $8 for an order of frites, which were also fantastic. We got the pork chop for our other entree, and this was solid, if less of a standout. The pork was tender, served with roasted market carrots and pork jus. For dessert, we shared the PJ sundae, a cup of vanilla ice cream cloaked in duck fat caramel and candied almond. Absolutely delicious. Santa Monica is a bit of a trek for us, but we very much intend to go back to Pasjoli. I'm interested in the pressed duck dinner, but would also love to revisit the chicken liver and burger and ice cream sundae, with perhaps a green vegetable and another good bottle of wine. read more

Pasjoli was a very hidden gem spot that I discovered on social media for the limited reservation only pressed duck. We did not have a reservation for the pressed duck, but asked if they had any anyway - and they did! So we went for it. And it's a very fun/interesting experience because the chef comes to your tableside and talks you through the story and process while he's making the sauce. I loved the duck confit salad, the duck breast was good, but I was truly blown away by the creamy polenta that was served with the duck legs. My duck leg was pretty overcooked though and the duck breast was a hair too raw for me. For the price, I wouldn't get it again - especially given that it just wasn't a very perfect meal - but it was a fun dinner nonetheless! read more

My actual rating would be 3.5 stars after visiting for weekend lunch. Let's start with Pros. The ambiance is cool, and the setup is really nice with the view of open kitchen. Ordered burger and it was good. Particularly enjoyed frites with their homemade aioli. Service was good and all the staff that I encountered were polite and friendly. Now, let's talk about Cons. The biggest pet peeves would be their 'order' system. So when you walk in, a hostess gives you a menu then you need to place an order for food/drink while you are still standing at the entrance. It reminded me of food court at amusement park or shopping mall. The hostess explained they just started lunch service recently and this 'system' only applies to lunch. Wondering how other guests would feel the experience. I was not expecting food court experience when a burger costs you $36. ;) I could have another beverage, but did not feel like going back to the hostess stand to order/pay instead of ordering a bartender directly at the bar while sitting, so I decided to move on... read more

Pasjoli - Lunch menu - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I was craving for French food again and ended up here. Interior decoration and kitchen setup was very modern. Street parking was easy. There is a public pay parking lot near by and convenient. I was craving for beef bourguignon but they took it off of the menu. They normally change their menu often. So I ordered steak and fries & fish with veggies. All the dishes tasted amazing. I felt it was a bit overpriced but their kitchen concept, presentation and service made up for it. Paul was the server and he made the whole experience enjoyable. read more

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The 5 stars are for Miss Almond, who truly made our experience. She was sweet, attentive, and genuinely warm . The kind of service that makes you want to come back. Pasjoli is undeniably a cute date-night spot. I was torn between Beethoven and Pasjoli, and while Beethoven would've been my safe choice (because pasta rarely lets me down), I decided to be adventurous. Almond recommended the pork chop, and in hindsight, I should have listened. I chose the steak frites instead, and it just didn't quite meet my expectations. Looking back, it probably should have been my sign when the gentleman updating us on our dishes joked that I was "brave" for claiming the steak frites. My husband ordered the burger and really enjoyed it. I tried a bite, and while it wasn't my favorite, I'm also not much of a burger person. What truly stood out were the asparagus and cordon bleu chicken wings both were excellent and definitely worth ordering. Moral of the story: trust Almond. She clearly knew what she was talking about. Next time, I'll be skipping the steak frites, ordering the pork chop, and getting the asparagus and cordon bleu chicken wings again without hesitation. read more

Pasjoli - Cordon Bleu Wings - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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My parents raved about this place to me many times and finally got the chance to visit! | F O O D | Carrots 6/10- Indian curry flavors Burger 6/10- rich, juicy, and lots of onion Chocolate Tart 7/10- silky just prefer it more sweet Cheesecake 6/10- decadent, just wanted to try but cheesecake not my favorite | O V E R A L L | The service was amazing! Our server was so kind and helped my father get the drink he wanted. When you walk you straight ahead you get a full view of the kitchen which I love! The food just didn't live up to the hype my parents set, but still a good restaurant. read more

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Burger was 10/10. It was simple in its ingredients, but the layers of flavor were incredible. The soft brioche bun was well toasted, and it remained firm when handled. The aioli hit first followed by the grilled onions then the toastiness of the bun before finishing with a peppery aftertaste. Would have again. read more

Pasjoli - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We were so excited to try this restaurant on our 1st wedding anniversary and we were pretty disappointed. Because Pasjoli is rated highly, we were expecting everything to be excellent. It feels very overpriced for what you are getting. I ordered a glass of wine that was $18 and it was an extremely small pour I almost asked the waiter to measure how many oz it was. The little gem salad was good and the French onion soup was okay. I would not order it again for the price compared to the size of the dish. I understand it's a souplette but it should not be $16 in my opinion. We got the cordon bleu chicken wings and they were lacking so much flavor. The burger was the best thing we had. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice, I liked the overall vibe. Unfortunately we will definitely not be coming back to Pasjoli. We had high hopes but felt let down after our experience :( We spent around $200 total (for two people) and ordered small plates/ appetizers, one glass of wine and one entree. read more

Pasjoli - Burger and frites - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I love the ambience, the service, and general vibe. Would be an easy 5 star but for 3 things: limited vegetarian menu, menu doesn't include all ingredients/ flavors in certain dishes (wouldn't have ordered the cabbage if I'd known it had a pepper sauce) and too salty for my particular palate. But if you really like salt, you're going to love eating here. read more

First time here. Never would have though this place was so amazing. Where do I start! I had a whole new experience at this restaurant. Thanks Michael L. Food: I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with the food. - Chicken Liver Mousse - its rich in flavor and has a smooth texture and its served with butter toasted baguettes. Great appetizer - Beef Tartare - raw beef grounded with an egg yoke on top also served with butter toasted baguettes. Great appetizer for the table however it dosent serve many people and the amount of baguettes they give per serving is only 4-5 pieces so you may have to order more - Cordon Bleu Chicken Wings - you get 4 wings but they taste great and are served with a buffalo sauce that has a mild kick to it. Great option for the table. - Perisian Gnoochi - this was the softest gnocchi I have ever had and the mushrooms, red kuri quash was so amazingly delicious I only wish they served more of it per serving. Loved it! - Sole Meuniere - this was my friend's plate the presentation was great, he had a nice portion of sole and he also said the taste was good. Comes with Spigarello and brown butter. - Burger - This burger is a well known item at the restaurant and my other two friends ordered this. Let's just say they both gave the thumbs up on presentation and taste. You can choose how you want your meat cooked and it comes with a pickle spear on the side. I will be ordering this on my next trip to Pasjoli. Drinks are well made and they have specialty drinks as well. They have a full bar and seating at the bar as well. Service: Our server was Johanna and she did an amazing job going over the menu, she was welcoming and provided great feedback on our questions. Thanks Johanna, Atmosphere: Loved the small quiant space. The decor and restaurant layout gives a really cool and cozy vibe. It's such a great space with little gems like a couch to sit on while you wait for your table. It has single spin cushioned chairs near the bar you can use for a more relaxed experience. They have a bar top and stools connected to the window facing the street or you can sit at the full sized bar. You can have so many different experiences depending on where you sit. It's a great space. Location: It's in Santa Monica on Main St. Small restaurant with greenish blue color surrounding the outside entrance. Can't miss it. The name of the restaurant is very small so the color will help locate this gem. Price: Great prices especially for the quality of food you recieve. Price to portion is slightly unbalanced but you won't be disappointed with the food. So so good!! Parking: If your lucky you can park curbside but if not they have a parking lot one block down behind the restaurant. It's a 5 minute walk to Pasjoli's and it is a pay to park lot. read more

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My first time here! I was blown away by their beautiful interior design and decors. While I was sitting down at the table, I felt relaxed and cozy. I also loved their open kitchen concept that I can watch them cook. How cool is that! Everyone in the kitchen was professional. The kitchen was also clean and organized which made it a great experience dinning there. Watching the chefs cook our meals was exciting and interesting at the same time. They also have a bar which I got the espresso martini from. Martini was sweetened to the maximum level for me. But I didn't mind at all because i treated it as a drink option for sweet dessert. We ordered crepe and onion soup: classic French cuisines. Crepe was soft and perfectly cooked with a delicate texture that paired well with a cheese sauce on top. Onion soup was light with a balanced flavors of tangy, sweetness from onions and cheese. Fried bread sticks made it perfect for dipping into the soup. Rockfish was moist, fresh, and delicate dish that people should get at this restaurant. I squeezed the fresh lemon on the fish and its juice made the sauce delicious. Summer squash was deliciously seasoned. We ordered the steak -medium- and it was tender as well as moist with peppery au jus sauce. All the dishes that I tried there were 5 out of 5. Thank you Paul- for your hospitality and friendly service- which added a huge plus to my experience of dining here as my first visit. I will definitely come back here to try their duck dishes that they are specialized in. Highly recommend this restaurant if you want to try French cuisines without having to travel to France. read more

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Cute little place! Went here on a Sunday night. The service was fine and nothing to complain about. I would say the food was a bit disappointing for me. It was good but definitely not mind blowing or worth the price. We got for appetizer: 1. Onion soup: the soup was good and had a nice balance of onion and cheese on top. It was on the thicker side but overall good! Portion is very small. $16 rating: 4/5 2. Crepes: probably my least favorite dish of the night. I was expecting it to be more thin but it kinda tasted like a bland pancake. Almost like when I try the DIY pancakes and accidentally put too much batter and made a flat pancake. Paid around ~$26 rating: 1/5 (I would skip) 3. Chicken Liver Mousse: one of my favorite from the appetizer. It was nice and creamy with the bread. Nothing special though. I give it a 4.5/5 Entree: 1. Pork chops: I was really excites about this at first. The portion was big but unfortunately it was salty and hard to eat more than 4-5 pieces. I think if it was less salty I would have enjoyed it more. The pork was cooked well not too dry and had a nice pink to it. The carrot that accompanied it was also delicious. Just wish the sauce wasn't so salty. Paid around $58. Rating: 3/5 (I would skip it) 2. Rockfish: my favorite dish of the night. The sauce was good and we ordered a side of bread to eat with it. The fish was soft and not fishy at all. My favorite part was the crispy skin. I would recommend this dish a 5/5! We paid around $48 for it. Over good but nothing mind blowing it was about a little over $210 for 2 ppl. I don't think I will back anytime soon just cause I felt the food was a bit salty for me. read more

Pasjoli - Onion soup - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Came to Pasjoli on a Monday evening with a friend. The space is really cute and cozy, and I loved the decor. Our waiter was very friendly, and I appreciated the thoughtful touch of a purse hook at the table so my bag didn't have to be on the floor. Food-wise, it was hit or miss. The chicken liver pâté was light and refreshing with a cherry reduction on top. At first we ate it layered, but our server recommended mixing it -- which made a big difference and brought out the cherry flavor much more. The crêpe, however, was disappointing for the price. It was basically just crêpe and cheese, and at $30 it felt very overpriced. The croque monsieur (grilled cheese) was okay, but it didn't have the gooey cheese factor I personally love. The roasted cabbage was also pretty underwhelming. I did enjoy the burger, but it was quite small for $30. The basque cheesecake was yummy though -- I liked the slightly burnt flavor to it. Overall, maybe I'm just not a huge French food person, but even with a pretty diverse palate, I wasn't very impressed for the price. Nice atmosphere and good service, but it felt overpriced for what we got. read more

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Cute French restaurant with delicious food and great service (shout out to our server Julian; he was very knowledgeable of the menu and accommodating)! Also, for all the people who wear dark colors, they have dark cloth napkins! Here's what we ordered -- ~HAVE TO GET beef tartare $24 - not beefy at all; if you didn't tell me it was beef, I would have thought I was eating raw fish; it just melts in your mouth and of course, the egg yolk takes the cake! The bread is super buttered and crisp-ily toasted, smells hands down heavenly. I honestly could have eaten this as a main dish scallop $40 fondant potato, orange beurre blanc - came with 3 pieces of scallop, perfectly cooked, and 2 pieces of potato. the sauce was lightly acidic, foamy, and the potatoes also just melted in your mouth. the spinach was delicious and added some much needed color burger $26 cheddar, marrow aioli - just divine; rich, juicy and creamy; covered in caramelized onion, cheese and fried onions between a brioche bun. can't remember the last time I had a burger this good ~GOOD, BUT NOT STANDOUT endive salad $23 pear, parmesan, hazelnut - solid salad, pear was refreshing, but an overall anemic looking plating escargot tart $21 herbed butter, frisée - tart shell was very sturdy, held up against very liquidy filling, which was surprisingly filled with broccoli; the greens on top were dressed well too PARISIAN gnocchi $28 chanterelle - so we didn't notice the menu specified PARISIAN gnocchi, which we learned is made with flour (not potato, which is Italian gnocchi). ChatGBT told us Parisian gnocchi is light and pillowy, which it was, but it was no potato gnocchi. Julian offered to take it back, and we tried the burger instead, and it honestly saved the night! read more

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Pasjoli looks like a Parisian bistro with its tiger drawings, wall plants, and gentle lighting. Today I'm here for their notable burger, but as I look around, I'm developing a mild case of fomo. Fortunately, the burger is amazing. I'll have to return soon to sample more of the impressive menu. Burger and frites: The beef is thick and tender. Cooked rare, it's juicy and plump on the inside, yet kind of crispy outside. The first bite releases the meaty flavors with a bold black pepper punch. Then, the marrow aioli kicks in. It oozes with sublime savory and tangy levels. The potato bun is spongy and dense, which easily absorbs a blend of butter and marrow. Crispy and soft and chewy inside, the fries have both great texture and delicious flavors like everything else here. Parking: Really a few blocks for street parking. read more

Pasjoli - Burger - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Pasjoli has been bookmarked by me for a few years and I've always wanted to try it. My wife booked us a reservation for a birthday dinner so we had the opportunity to drive over. Upon arriving we were greeted by the hosts and shown to the table. It doesn't seem like a huge restaurant but rather intimate and it's pretty dark inside. Food: Overall I would say my favorite items were the tartare, crepe, and the scallops. Tartare was melt in your mouth good and paired with the buttery baguettes, it was pretty epic. Crepe had a nice, light cream sauce and the cheese stuffing gave it a fragrant kick. The scallops were perfectly cooked in a tangy beurre blanc sauce topped with some caviar. I was let down because although the cordon bleu chicken was tasty, the chicken was soggy and the cheese/ham combo they used was not fragrant enough. The French onion souplette was tiny for $15, and the steak frites as described in other reviews is incredibly salty and personally I eat pretty salty and thought it was not enjoyable. Service was pretty quick and attentive, the only complaint I had was that they didn't serve any complimentary drinks or desserts knowing that it was a celebration. Most higher end restaurants will at least give a free dessert to share, but for the price paid that was disappointing. read more

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Great evening at Pasjoli. Very charming interior with beautiful bar and nicely spread tables in 2 rooms. Ambiance with warm and perfect mood lighting. The endive and pear salad was light and refreshing. The crepe with caviar, recommended by our wonderful server Paul, was something I would never have ordered but it was a best bite of the year. I would go back for just that one dish. The burger was delicious but not significantly more so than some other fabulous burgers I have had around town. But the fries were not to be missed. Deceivingly light, piping hot and with a magic aoli ... they also come with the steak frites which I would try next time. Hubby had the fish covered in potato scales in an orange beurre blanc. He loved it. Definitely a keeper. I did not have a chance to go before the big makeover of the menu, but I like it as is. The table next to us was getting the duck, which I kept waiting to see but it was taking too long. Next time I would love to see what $350 duck looks like! read more

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I had been wanting to try the canard à la presse here for years and years but could never afford it or couldn't get confirmation on if it was gluten free and celiac safe. This year a friend was going so I asked her to check for me. When she confirmed the duck was gluten free my husband took me for my birthday. It was a once in a lifetime experience and not for the faint of heart. If you love duck and you can get passed the tableside pressed duck, it was one of the best food experiences of my life. I am so thankful to the staff who made me feel safe about gluten free options and it's always a plus when I can get French fries that don't have cross contamination in the fryer. I'm grateful to the Pasjoli team that I got to safely experience and enjoy this meal. I mean just look at Tommy's face enjoying the sauce! read more

Pasjoli - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I was blown away by their crepe. We were not going to order but our server recommended it and I was happy we listened to her. The endive, beef tartare, scallops were all great as well. We decided to add the burger when we have started eating and I'm glad we did because it was delicious! One disappointment though is their rib eye. It was a bit rough and "gummy". I wasn't a big fan and will definitely skip it the next time we go back. The restaurant is trendy. They revamped the place this past summer. I really like the vibe! read more

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I went here with a group of 5 for an early dinner. we had a reservation so our table was ready when we all arrived. They have an open concept kitchen, which is pretty cool and adds to the vibes of the restaurant. We ordered 5 dishes + fries + dessert to share between us. This place is NOT great for sharing as the portions are quite small (for example the agnolotti we each got 2 pieces of pasta). My favorite dish was actually the broccoli. It had a creamy sauce and crispy pieces (maybe cheese?) on top. The burger was also quite good but difficult to share. The food overall tasted good, but portions were small and prices were high. We spent ~$40 each with tax and tip (only ordered waters). I would come again but either get my own dish or order way more food and be prepared to pay. Street parking only but quite easy to find metered parking on the street. read more

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Super cute girls dinner! Exploring the area while in town and heard great reviews, so stopped in hoping to just grab a seat at the bar but luckily they had a table! Endive Salad: anticipated a little more leafy endive but the salad was majority shaved pear. Still very good! 4/5 Maitake: take on fish and chips! Lightly battered and perfectly fried. 5/5 Steak frites: delicious! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. The sauce au poivre, chefs kiss. I could have another order with fries to dip! Great drinks and service! Perfect date night or girls nice. Intimate space! read more

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Wow this burger was sooo delicious, one of the best I've had where I can't stop thinking about it. The fries need some improvement and the drinks here are also just okay we had two rounds so I tried two different drinks and neither really stood out to me. I want to come back to try other menu items soon I'm sure the other food items are just as delicious! The inside is pretty cute and our waitress was really nice. Will be dreaming of this burger. read more

Pasjoli - Burger - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

While the food is decent, the service was subpar. There is no way this place would get a Michelin star with service like this. I asked for napkins, never got it. My table wasn't attended to. Dirty dishes sat on my table for far too long. No refills of water. I sat around waiting for to go boxes, or much less anyone to ask me if I was done. Then come to find out they need a physical credit card to pay the bill and don't do tap/ApplePay. Most restaurants are equipped with a modern POS system. When you're paying $500 for dinner for 2, you expect higher quality service than this. read more

After previous date nights here, we've been wanting to come and try the duck dinner. Hubby and I love to try as much as possible, so limiting ourselves to just a couple of dishes based on duck wasn't as appealing. A friend's birthday was a good excuse. The space is intimate, dark and moody, as a bistro should be. Friendly staff and service. Good cocktails and you can do special orders for mocktails as well. The four of us ordered quite a few appetizers, the duck and the steak frites with a side of green beans. The duck is large enough for 3, especially if you do order a few appetizers. The 4 of us couldn't finish the meal and had a good amount of left over food to take home. The duck dinner is a special occasion thing IMO. read more

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Went to Pasjoli for my birthday dinner, and very much enjoyed it!! Standouts were definitely the chicken liver mouse and the agnolotti. The ribeye was also excellent and the peppercorn sauce really made it worthwhile. Service was great, and it was a nice place to celebrate during the week. Definitely a bit on the pricier side but well worth it! read more

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A contender for best restaurant in Santa Monica. The vibe is perfect for a date night, trendy but not pretentious. Love the Euro Disco playing on the sound system. We did the pressed duck dinner and all three dishes were home runs, particularly the duck breast. The table-side preparation was a fun touch and the chef, Brendan, did an amazing job. It felt like dinner and a show but not in a gimmicky Benihana sort of way. They have an extensive cocktail program courtesy of the head bartender, Tom, and the manager, Candy, took excellent care of us as well. Can't wait to come back and try the burger. read more

Pasjoli - Table-side duck preparation. - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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My dining experience at Pasjoli could not have been better. The service was OUTSTANDING! Anne Marie and Ty took such great care of us. They made us feel like family. And the food...absolutely delicious! We ordered: Chicken Liver Mousse Crêpes Caviar Duck Poutine Burger with Marrow Aioli Steamed Mussels PJ Sundae with Duck Fat Caramel Everything was well prepared and tasted great, but the standouts were the crêpes caviar and the steamed mussels. Make sure you get extra baguette for that incredible sauce with the mussels! I truly cannot wait to go back and try the pressed duck! read more

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Everything about Pasjoli is exceptional. The ambiance and service is top notch. It's a very chic and cool place. But what is extraordinary is their food and drink. We all had a different cocktail, and everyone was positively raving about what they got. Someone in my party emphatically requested the recipe for the redacted. I personally had the countess and found it to be a wonderfully balanced cocktail which was accentuated by the rim coating of fennel pollen. I want to emphasize that everything we ate was great. We had a burger to share as an appetizer. I've had many great burgers. I'm sure most people have. This was noteworthy: the meat was decadent, the marrow aioli sweet and rich, and there was something crunchy that gave the whole burger another dimension. We also got the duck. Wow. Several people in my party commented that they loved it and they don't even like duck. I do like duck, and this was an impressive preparation. The legs were done confit and served over mushrooms seasoned with truffle. The breast was taken and pan seared to a perfect medium rare, then sliced into small pieces. It must've gone under the broiler as the skin was shattering-level crispy (like a Peking duck). The sauce, which was prepared by pressing the bones and organs (then fortified with a duck broth) had a tremendous depth of flavor. Now I would usually expect that after such a strong showing in appetizers, entrees, and cocktails that a restaurant could coast and offer up an adequate (but not exemplary) dessert. Uh uh. We got the burnt basque cheesecake which was creamy, tart, and a perfect consistency. We also got the chocolate mousse and I was delighted by the richness of the 70% valrhona chocolate. This place really fills me with envy for everyone who gets to live and eat in LA. read more

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This is a French restaurant with outstanding food, an incredibly beautiful interior, and a very strong bar menu. The service was excellent. Dinner was an absolute pleasure. read more

Pasjoli - Amazing beef tartar - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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"The best basque cheesecake ever"- my cheesecake loving boyfriend. The inside of the cake was gooey. He said he would go back just for the cheesecake. Overall, the food and service was great. We came at 5 pm so it wasn't that crowded and had a nice and dark ambiance. We ordered the crudo, French onion soupette (so much cheese) and the steak frites as well. Everything was good- just wished the steak wasn't as rare, but probably could have ordered it medium instead of medium rare. Would come back! The prices weren't too crazy for it being Michelin rated. read more

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Incredible, incredible, incredible burger! Never had anything like it. The marrow aoili turned the burger from a good burger into an experience. We sat at the bar and had two burgers, service was kind and attentive. Had a lovely gamay with the burger and left nothing on the place, incredibly delicious. So happy to have visited Pasjoli on a whim! read more

Pasjoli was phenomenal! Their service is top notch and part of the experience. We were grateful to our waiter who took really great care of us. The cocktails here are really special. I asked the waiter his recommendations and they did not disappoint. As for food we tried a few items. We started with a lovely fall salad. I tried a curry of some sort for my main entree. It was a unique recipe per a French restaurant. Lastly, we tried their soufflé which was fun. I'll definitely be back as it is one of the better restaurants in Santa Monica. read more

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My friends and I had huge expectations. This has been talked up as one of "the" restaurants in LA. In reality, the actual experience, while "fine,"- was kinda "meh" in my book. Service was good, attentive, and on point. No complaint, but it did feel a bit impersonal and rushed. Clearly, the restaurant is pretty focused on turning tables quickly. I get it, this is a business, but it felt very rushed. The starter of the Roasted Cabbage was interesting, but not exactly lip-smackingly good. Anyway, I will take the blame, as after all, it's CABBAGE! The mains were good, with the burger truly being the highlight. Your choices are very limited, as it is a surprisingly small menu. That was one damn tasty burger, but when the burger is the best thing the table ordered, it feels a bit disappointing. Add to that that the burger is $28, and you spend an extra $8 for the frites, you get the distinct feeling that this is the type of restaurant that is designed to run up your bill at every turn. My table also had the chicken (very good, but far from unforgettable) and the rockfish (slightly dry and mildly disappointing). The wine list and prices are just stupid. No wine BTG less than $18 a glass, and 3/4th of the bottles were in the triple digits. Most of the wines were from very esoteric producers. That's fine if this is priced to encourage "discovery," but clearly, it's not. I opted for a BTG offering. They poured a small sample of the Spanish Grenache (I appreciate that you gave a small sample first) that had a bit of volatile acidity on the nose and mouth, so I went with an Italian Barbera (I think) that was much better. The pour was paltry, 5 oz tops, and I am sure that the restaurant keeps track of every ounce to maximize margin. PS- I'm actually in the wine biz. While the somm knows what he/she is doing from a business perspective, they aren't helping their customers discover some cool and interesting stuff which encourages exploration. It's disappointing, but unfortunately, wine programs like pasjoli are probably more of the standard than the exception. The ambiance was smart, but it also felt rushed. It was polished, but lacked the conviviality and warmth that I was hoping for. All well and good if the restaurant is spectacular, but it is not. It's fine, but decidedly not worth the hype. Pretty much everything about pasjoli seemed planned and measured. From the serving sizes to the small BTG pour, it just lacked the friendliness and authenticity that I look for in a restaurant. Be ready to spend a LOT of money, get gouged on the booze prices, and be shuttled in and out quickly via an "efficient" staff that is motivated to turn your table over as quickly as they possibly can. But hey, this is a restaurant to "be seen" so if that's your jam, then you'll be a happy camper. read more

I am probably the wrong person to review this place. I think Taco Bell is high level cuisine. This place was epic. Went with a friend who was in town and they are a foodie so they were freaking out. I ate a whole duck apparently. It was over 5 courses. The salad was pretty average. The weird like tin thing tasted like thanksgiving. I really dug the main course which was the duck steak served medium rare. Melted in your mouth. Our server was awesome. On it and explained what we were having, Kinda cool they played Beastie Boys during fine French dining. Also I wish I could have seen the duck press in action. Maybe next time. read more

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Been here twice, and the food does not disappoint! It's hearty, filling, creative, and delicious! The hostess and waitresses were very friendly and welcoming (and you know of some places that have snobby hosts/wait staff etc., Thankfully, Pasjoli is not one of them!). The waitress was very careful about allergies, and great at explaining menu. And when benging the food, they explained what each dish was and the food came out well timed and fresh! The setting is also very romantic and cozy, great for friends or dates. read more

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This might be the best burger in LA. I loved how the menu has some fun items but with a lot of class, class, class. The frites with caviar dip and the cordon bleu chicken wings were some of my favorite. But the burger, wow. If you've ever eaten at Au Cheval in Chicago or NY, you would've thought you had the best burger, but then Pasjoli said, "wait a minute." Down to the buttery, crunchy but soft bun, quality of meat and cheese, the stewed onions. Omg I need it again. read more

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We went for the duck service and ordered many other things and we definitely order too much for the four of us. The duck course was phenomenal and recommended to everyone. Every dish was superb except for the dessert which we got for the birthday girl. This was the worst Basque cheesecake I have ever had in my life. It is one of my favorite desserts, and I order it in any restaurant that offers it. In size, in flavor, in texture, and all in all it was absolutely the worst. Otherwise this place would've gotten five stars from us. Amazing experience and we'll definitely be back minus the dessert. read more

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Steak and frites are by far the best ever! Can't wait to come back. The server was very nice and cute ambiance for date night or friends night. read more

Pasjoli - French Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Outstanding! I was here two years ago and really enjoyed the updates. I love all of the plants and decorations. The egg on egg was totally unexpected and delicious. Steak tar tar may be the best I've had. The Rockfish is outstanding. We tried the ice cream dessert with duck fat caramel - unbelievable. The service was initially not great, but a new waiter swapped in after our drink order and was outstanding after that. read more

We were glad to finally try Pasjoli, but unfortunately it was not a place we would return to. We sat at the bar, and one of the first things we noticed was that the neighbors to our left received their food before we did, even though we had arrived well before them. That immediately threw things off. The baguette was very good, and so was the butter. The French onion soup was delicious and very well seasoned, though just slightly too thick. The halibut was also very good and honestly one of the best parts of the meal. The wine was good as well. That said, the escargot did not feel particularly French or special. It was just very regular and not impressive. The biggest disappointment by far was the boeuf bourguignon, which was completely off. It was so tough that it could barely be cut and was essentially inedible. The beef was bad enough that they removed it from our bill, which was the right thing to do. The bar seats were also extremely uncomfortable, very high and not ideal for actually enjoying dinner. Overall, I'm glad we tried it and got to taste it for ourselves, but it did not live up to expectations, and it is not somewhere we would come back to. read more