I've been to Meat on Ocean several times and always come back, so this positive review is well…read moreoverdue. Their service is one of the main reasons I come here - they always accommodate your seat preference, be it request to be by the window, or in the shade, or in a booth. The staff is always attentive and friendly. Food: steak is great, but they also have other excellent options such as beef carpaccio, street tacos, and charcuterie. They also have one of the best kids menus which even includes filet mignon for little ones! Drinks: great selection of wines by the glass and bottle; they also have a wide selection of draft beer which I enjoyed. I believe they have a special cocktail that is suggested by the bartender as well. Last time I was there on Saturday with my 4 year old daughter and suddenly didn't feel well and was dizzy. Staff helped me tremendously by sitting me in a booth in the shade and accommodating my cold water requests. I truly appreciated how much attention they provided, thank you very much to every member of staff that worked at Meat on Ocean last Saturday over lunch. I will be definitely returning here.

We came here to celebrate my mother's birthday, but we were running late on our reservations, and I…read morewas worried that they would give our a table away. We called ahead to let the staff know we were running late and they responded with yeah that's no problem when we got there the restaurant was just about empty and we immediately knew why. On one of the most hottest days this restaurant has no central air. While the food and drinks were great, it was really hard to enjoy it being surrounded by heat. We were sitting in the middle of the restaurant so not close to where the patio is but we were all still really hot.

How to introduce friends to Brazilian food? Take them to Pampas! They offer 35+ hot and cold…read morehome-style dishes alongside an excellent meat selection. Best of all, it's pay-by-weight, so everyone can try exactly what they want at their own comfort level. Located in a plaza one block from Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, the restaurant is quite spacious, with inside seating for 60+ guests and a covered patio for 70 more. The food selection was phenomenal, featuring everything from garlic rice, pasta, cassava, pão de queijo (cheese balls), and salads to stroganoff and the famous feijoada. For meats, they offer the iconic Picanha, plus garlic chicken, sausage, lamb leg and more. The price was reasonable, the service was friendly, and food was great. Highly recommended.

We came here after a successful shift at work and really craved the mouthwatering selections they…read morehad. After waiting in line with others who were anxious to dive in to what this glorious place had to offer, we got several meats and were able to sit in an area where we could listen to both the beautiful live music and the exciting Dodger game. We sat at a table that was in the middle of all the entertainment and we did not regret it. As everything else was drowned out while we conversed with each other, we continued to share our thoughts after tasting the different items. We stayed till it got dark outside and enjoyed our time there while experiencing another Dodgers victory! Thinking about it makes me want to go back to grab another plate, but it will be worth the wait once again prior to our next visit.

My favorite Santa Monica restaurant!!! Great ambience and staff ... and amazing food…read more Whenever I bring a friend they rave about their meal. My go to is the Chicken Enchiladas...the crispy potatos are excellent app or snack. My only critique is the shortened hours (they used be open 1:00am, hopefully that'll return with Summer!). ...and the back area has a very cozy/rustic vibe with a small bar/lounge area & additional seating. Can't recommend enough for the entire dining experience! * honor your posted hours please ... 8:30 last call?!

Writing a review in remembrance of this wonderful wonderful place. I dream of your mushrooms all…read morethe time.

We have been going to Empanada's Place every year or so, but it has gotten too expensive for us so…read moremaybe every 2 years or so. The food in this little storefront to just great and it is family owned. You will love it. It is cute and super clean inside and there are a few tables and sometimes out door tables which are really nice. The service is just so great. I think the owner's grandson runs the place now. They have a huge selection. Be careful as some are spicy to me. Just ask and they will tell you what is spicy and what is not. We love their chicken empanadas and their potato ones, but we always get enough for the whole family. They do heat up well, but don't freeze them or let them sit in the frig for a week. They have vegetarian ones and so many meat ones to try. I don't think they have any for vegans, you would need to ask. It is a great place and we will be back and just order less. Have an empanada.

Fantastic flavors and the portions are generous; at least by my observation of LA standards. I had…read morethe Criolla and spicy pollo. Both make me wish they had a spot at home. We have unrivaled Latin cuisines at home, including Colombian, Cuban, and Puerto Rican, but Argentinian seems less prominent. The owner Roque is a really genuine and thoughtful guy. He lit up when I told him my first and probably last (for a while) visit was delicious. That's how you know you're in for a treat; when someone who's been in this business 30+ years is just as excited as the first time when you commend their craft. If you're lucky enough to try here, enjoy!

Grand Casino is truly a neighborhood gem. Whether you're just casually popping by the bakery to…read moregrab a few empanadas and pastries, or sitting down to enjoy a lively dinner and beer with friends, Grand Casino makes you feel right at home. Everyone raves about their happy hour which is awesome, but definitely check out their regular menu if you have the chance. The Parillada was delicious! It comes out steaming hot on a grill and contains a great mix of perfectly cooked meats and veggies. On top of all the service is incredible! The employees are always warm and inviting. I cannot recommend this place enough for anyone in the area.

The ambience was okay. Service was interesting, one seemed quiet, the other more approachable…read more When it was my turn, another customer walked up to the counter and was helped while my items were left sitting out in the open. The cheesecake looked beautiful, but tasted like an old refrigerator and was not edible. The palmiers were good, about the same quality as the ones I get from Costco.

Fogo de Chao feels like family! The entire staff makes myself, and every guest I bring feel like…read morethe only person in the building. Upon meeting Moises, it was clear to me why the restaurant excels in customer service, what a sweet man and excellent example of a leader. And of course the food is to die for!!

The food at Fogo de Chão was very good, but the outstanding hospitality made our visit truly…read morespecial. We were welcomed by Seveni R. Girard, the General Manager of the Beverly Hills location, and he made us feel valued from the moment we arrived. Seveni is a remarkable manager: warm, professional, attentive, and clearly passionate about giving guests an exceptional experience. The restaurant is already wonderful, but his kindness and leadership take it to another level. Without him, our visit simply would not have been the same. Thank you, Seveni, for making us feel so welcome. You are a real credit to Fogo de Chão, and we'll definitely be back!

Santa Monica has a special gem…read more On a random Thursday night a few weeks ago, I stumbled in with a friend. We had a few drinks and one pasta--the Cavatelli. I just wanted something to close the night out. I LOVE PASTA! We were put on notice about their new menu, so I definitely had to come back and try it out! The Cavatelli was sweet and savory... the BEST combination! I love sweet and savory dishes, and they did that to perfection! Now let's fast-forward to this week... I was committed. After having the Cavatelli, I was ready to indulge and see what else FIA Steak had to offer! A few things I'd like to highlight before I get into the food... Ambience: It's candlelit, romantic, and gives a speakeasy, swanky, private-club feel. Whether you're there with friends or a lover, FIA Steak complements any occasion. Perfect for date nights. Decor: Iconic photography is framed perfectly against sultry, well-lit walls. Paired with the rich red tufted booths and seating, it gives that plush, rockstar look! The industrial wall sconces are so fabulous! Hospitality & Service: Everyone--including the chef--was so nice! My past two experiences have been great. Everyone seems genuinely happy, and it feels like they love working there. Sometimes a little small talk with the staff is enough to break the ice, and both visits felt so welcoming. Cocktails: I had the Mamba Mentality. It was sweet and smoky because of the mezcal! I love tequila, and I love mezcal, so if you like sweet drinks that are balanced to perfection, the Mamba Mentality is for you. They have a brand-new mixologist, and he definitely knows what he's doing. He's super creative, and you can taste the passion in the drinks! The cocktail menu is thoughtful, creative, and worth every PENNY! My husband really liked the Toma Tini with Belvedere, tomato, Dolin Blanc, and verjus. Culinary Experience: The new menu at FIA reads very well. There are about 10 different appetizers. We had the Bread & Butter along with the Miso Cured Hamachi. I don't typically eat raw fish, but it was so delicious and fresh! I would absolutely order it again. It comes with caviar, lemon, and olive oil... YUM!!!! The pastas are handmade... As I mentioned before, the Cavatelli is hands down my favorite pasta! It's topped with black truffle shavings. Of course, I ordered it again. For the steak, we had the American Wagyu cooked medium, and it was made just right! I'm not an expert at grading steak, but I'd happily order the Wagyu again on my third visit! Juicy and delicious! My husband really liked the duck. It wasn't gamey at all! That definitely encouraged more than one slice. The Japanese sweet potatoes came in clutch and really balanced everything we had. They were the perfect transition (I THINK!) into dessert. We finished with the brown butter cake, with vanilla ice cream slowly melting all over it, making every bite even softer and richer. That was one of the BEST desserts I've had in a very long time! I really have to ration out my visits because... I LOVE REALLY GOOD FOOD! As a picky eater, I fully give FIA Steak 5*'s across the board in every category Overall Culinary Experience Ambience Decor Hospitality & Service Cocktails I will definitely be back very soon!

Five stars from start to finish! Our waiter, manager, and servers were incredibly attentive. They…read moremade great recommendations from the wine, to the dishes. Our meal was delicious- cigars, bread, Caesar, ribeye cap steak, ny strip, truffle pasta, spicy pasta and the chocolate soufflé. Haven't been spoiled like this in a long time! Customer service and food were exceptional !

This place deserved all the love from the crowd, from taste to service! All the store attendants…read morehave been so welcoming as if I have been their long-time regulars. Highly recommended to pre-order online the arepas as you could skip the long line and waiting time! We did ours 15 mins ahead of arrival and we could easily dig in straight away. The one last tricky piece was finding seats as they only had 4 shaded tables at the front patio by the curbside. I got The Inglewood, serving lusciously flavorful bbq shredded pork paired to their signature cheese that probably reminded me of burrata or straciatella, texture wise. The dining experience was bit messy as the liquid kinda dripped from the bottom of the wrapper, but totally worthed LOL. Doubtlessly go for their fried cheese rolls as well!! I am already drooling over my own pics now. Would certainly be back for trying out The Red Queen and East LA.

I'll start with they an extremely nice staff! We were immediately greeted with such great energy-…read morethe first opportunity to meet customer experience but can be forgotten in many restaurants. I ordered the Red Chilli Queen (red chilli tendered chicken with red pickled onions, avocado & cheese) and the 405 (shredded beef with black beans and avocado- taste to me was a bit sweet in the beef almost like a mole flavor but not chocolatey. I really loved the Red Chilli Queen- must try! They are fully packed with protein especially the 405. Hard to find arepas where the masa is cooked to perfection- crispy and a good amount of masa so it's not so thick which can be extremely filling. I would give this place 5/5 however the outdoor seating was filled with flies . There was droppings from previous customers that appeared had been sitting there since opening. The flies were bad, I would have preferred to takeout- this may have been a unique situation but still my overall experience.

This may be the best paella you'll ever eat in Los Angeles. The paella marinara is a muuuust, it's…read morea seafood paella with so much good seafood all cooked perfectly with the perfect rice We shared a bunch of tapas before the paella and my favorite from our spread was the croquettas. But the paella was the real star. The smallest paella dish serves 2 but honestly next time I want the whole thing to myself with a pitcher of their delicious sangria

Last minute dinner with my boyfriend & his family, & we had such a great experience! The service…read morewas amazing...the staff was kind, funny, & very welcoming. There were seven of us, & we shared appetizers & split the food, which worked out perfectly. The portions were generous, everything was delicious, & we finished every plate. The sangria pitchers were also perfect for sharing! The cozy, family style atmosphere makes this place feel like a hidden gem. They were so sweet to let us enjoy our dinner until closing. Definitely recommend for a date night or family meal!

DELICIOUS food! We had the shrimp Pizza which was absolutely delicious, thin crust. Their Mojitos…read moreare the best Mojitos I've ever tasted. We also had their flan which also was the best flan we have ever tasted, along with their French caramelized apple tart served a la mode! EXCELLENT customer service too! Beautiful ambiance. We will definitely be coming back.

such a great restaurant. delicious caribbean food. Great food and service! the ambience is also…read moregreat. could not say enough good things.