Randall the Mix-Man is the highlight! Great vibes, food, and drinks--but his service and mixology are next level. Worth the visit! read more

Sidewalk Cafe - Randall the Mix-Man is the highlight! Great vibes, food, and drinks--but his service and mixology are next level. Worth the visit! - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California

This food was so darn good. And I've eaten here before when I mostly come to Venice Beach for about almost 10 years now and the food never misses! The view is always amazing! I sit where you can see the people walk by and it's just such a real sidewalk vibe. I'll be back forsure as usual since summer is almost HEEERRRRREEEEE!!!! read more

Love coming here for Friday karaoke 6-10pm, such a fun crowd, amazing sound, and the Venice overlook makes it even better!

You get here by scooter, pedal-taxi, by foot or by skateboard. And "here", is right smack on the famous Venice Boardwalk where the people are trippin' and the views are priceless. The Sidewalk Cafe is in the heart of it all. If you're lucky enough to score a window booth (we were) your people-watching experience is better than any airport (save Amsterdam and sometimes Albuquerque). The food is spot-on. After a couple of decades of pleasing people, these cats have it dialed. Straight up egg dishes? Check. Killer potatoes? Check. Flavorful Mexican breakfasts? Arriba. Benedicts? Sí. Ice cold draught and bottled beer? CHECK. What we had: KONA LONGBOARD 22 OZ. / DRAFT GEORGIA O'KEEFE OMELETTE w/ VENICE POTATOES BOARDWALK BURRITO w/ BLACK BEANS Why we had that: BECAUSE BREAKFAST AT THE SIDEWALK INN EFFIN ROCKS. All selections were fire and that frosty Longboard to start it off was extra special. Fire...and frosty. Get here however you must - then EAT HERE. read more

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Food was really good. It came out super fast. I would say be aware these are big portions so come hungry! I came early the staff was very attentive and professional. The restaurant was clean and I absolutely enjoyed the view to people watch as in dine. I really love that you can pay without needing the server to come back. You scan the QR code in the receipt you can pay and tip then dip whenever you're ready. read more

Sidewalk Cafe - Menu - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California

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Such a good experience! Took my family here and we all loved it! The bartender Ollie was really friendly and he made good drinks. Our server Dave was also good and I will be reccomending this spot to friends when they come to visit! Really great experience. read more

Love sidewalk cafe! Bartender Alli will take care of you!!! Amber helped us with food love this staff! Great food and vibes right at the beach! read more

April & July 2023 The Sidewalk Cafe is a fun place to be while dining on the oceanfront & watching the excitement of Venice Beach flow by! With a variety of dishes & drinks to choose from, as well as often live entertainment playing out front on the Boardwalk, it's a popular place for tourists as well! Bonus: friendly customer service! Greek Salad: My absolute favorite, as it's hearty, as well as delicious and hard-hitting flavor that I love! If you love salad, I highly recommend this one! Fish Tacos w/beans & rice: Light flavor! Plentiful for sure, alongside beans, rice & guacamole! It's also easily shareable; depends on how hungry you are! Vibe: Beachy, as it's on the oceanfront; near the Skate Park & Roller-skater area! Piano player & other Musicians are fantastic to hear, while they're playing right out front! It's a great place for people watching & feeling the energy & fun of the very popular Venice Beach! Local Favorite: I'm a local & the Greek Salad has my heart! It was also fun watching a friend in town enjoy the food & scene, as well as 2 roller skating friends visiting in the area find the restaurant & vibe exciting! Overall: I love walking over; up the Boardwalk, & truly enjoy the Greek Salad, it's my absolute favorite! The Sidewalk Cafe is a winner for me, plus Small World Books is right next door! Score! read more

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Incredible spot--get the cheeseburger. Even when the place is packed, service is lightning fast. We came during a huge soccer event and still had our food in 15 minutes. Super impressed. Have gone back multiple times and it's always good read more

I haven't been here in several years. It's nice to see it's still here and so is the little book store. Service and food is still good. The portions are still huge. It's definitely a great place to have lunch at on a warm sunny day in Venice Beach. read more

Sidewalk Cafe - Philly Cheese Steak with fries. - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California

Sad to say disappointed by how this place has changed. Charged over 40 dollars for a tiny pitcher that was mostly ice with a splash of juice and smaller splash of tequila. Paid 10 extra dollars to have beef added to the nachos, but there was barely any meat on them. Definitely not 10 dollars worth. Our waiter was very nice though. read more

First time here and overall a very good experience. We had a very short five minute wait before we were able to get in for lunch on this most recent Saturday afternoon. I got the BLT with french fries as well as a cocktail and everything was very good. Really no complaints about this place, and our service was very good as well. Went back. I would definitely eat here again and try something else on the menu. read more

Sidewalk Cafe - Blt - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California

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Very nice place to have a drink/food right by the water at Venice beach! Good a couple beers and then tried their John Irving bruger. The food wasn't anything special just like any other burgers you get. They have both indoor and outdoor dinning. They have TVs indoor for sport lovers. Five star. read more

Sidewalk Cafe - John Irving - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California

Road tripping to LA so we stopped at Venice beach for food and an ocean fix. This restaurant Is right on the boardwalk and has a beach view. When we walked up it was busy. Very busy but we were able to get seated. Serve was good and the food was delicious read more

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Such a horrible experience. We went to this place for first time. We were starving and this was the first place we found. I gotta say about our server she was amazing but I didn't get utensils and napkins so I had to get them from the other table next to ours. The food was completely gross, I ordered the wings and the celery was disgusting. How can they serve this? Basically like trash on my plate. My bf ordered the turkey sandwich and it was horrible, bred was old the turkey tasted weird. And also was a fly around our food. So we will never come back to this place where the quality of food is so poor for the price . read more

Sidewalk Cafe - Celery was completely gross - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California

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I sense they overcharge or double charge guests that are visiting from out of town. Did meet a couple friendly people that live in the area. read more

AMAZING!!! The service was top tier! The entire staff from the host, to the busser, and the servers were all SO NICE! I think this has been the best service I've ever received, hands down. The menu was simple, and the food was delicious! The portions were humongous! Its mostly outside seating with an inside bar. Its sort of next to the beach which really adds to the ambiance. My family and I were more than satisfied! This place really rocks! read more

Sidewalk Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California

Well I do go here a least once a month. The hostess daytime should smile a little bit,somewhat rude.The waiter never checked up with us ,had to wave him over for second beer.The food is ok the location is great.And not real busy this was a Friday round 11a till 1230 read more

As a family of four we sat outside. The drinks from the bar were delicious. And I never really drink. The music coming from the pianos was great. Food and a show!!! Our service was fast and very informative about the menu. Portions are huge. Food was good! The view and the people walking by really gives it that Cali vibe! The kids liked watching ppl walk/skate by. read more

We went here on Thursday, Aug 15th, 2024. It was my girlfriend's family's last day in LA so we decided to go to Santa Monica Pier and then to Venice beach to have a relaxing day. When it came to lunch, there were too many options but not enough formal sit down restaurants. Eventually we came across "The Sidewalk Cafe, at Venice Beach. The overall ratings of this place were mediocre, around mid 3s which isn't bad... but maybe I thought it was an overpriced tourist trap. It was busy though, which was a good sign. Even for 2pm in the afternoon it was decently busy! Anyway, there is seating inside or outside. We chose outside. But it's not really outside as it's in an enclosed space. It is very airy and somewhat spacious in there though! The vibes of the place were pretty cool too! Nice background music. The service was also very good too. We got a table immediately and our waiter was prompt with everything. The menu is also pretty big, with reasonable prices, especially for the area. So they have a lot to choose from. I ended up getting a burger. With a burger too, you get to choose from a variety of options for the type of cheese if you want it! The burger was called "..." and it came with lettuce, bacon, onions, avocado, (I went with Jack cheese) and a special sauce. I did add ketchup tho, as it was just a little dry without it. The fries it came with were also very delish too! Sometimes if you go to restaurants, you can tell if their fries are frozen, but I couldn't tell with this place, which is nice! Although they didn't seem hand cut, to be straight up. Regardless, it was a solid burger! If you're looking for a casual, not too expensive sit down restaurant in Venice Beach, I highly suggest you give The Sidewalk Cafe on Venice Beach a try! read more

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Great staff all around, Maya is an excellent server - very accommodating hard worker. Appreciate the care.

Huge selection of items. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Great people watching spot!

You will definitely not find anything "gourmet"on this restaurant's menu. However, service is prompt and our server was awesome! Super friendly! It was one of the very few open options for us as we strolled down Venice beach! So we gave it a try. My hubby ordered the chorizo and eggs breakfast plate. I tried it and it was ok. Definitely not authentic Mexican taste but it wasn't terrible. I had the lox and bagel and it was actually really tasty! The lox was fresh and the portion was pretty big! Also, it's a great spot for people watching! Lol ! We sat outside and just relaxed. It was a beautiful, sunny, breezy CA day! Definitely recommend if you're looking for something quick and uncomplicated read more

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If you are a tourist, please skip this spot. There are so many other places to eat. This is a great spot to people watch. The water cups are ridiculously small. Service was pretty fast so I gotta give them that and their menu is huge. It was really hot inside we were all sweating, fans were at the lowest settings. We got a classic cheese burger which wasn't bad it was original and a safe choice. Overall it's a safe choice if you are going down the path but not the best choice. read more

Sidewalk Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California

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Food was definitely average. presentation with seven out of 10. but definitely did not deliver. The atmosphere was very nice. But did not compete with the food. read more

I come here alone every time i go to Venice Beach and the women that work here are so amazing! I have had a couple of different servers and each and every time they are attentive, kind, and have such a warm energy. They are the reason I come back! I decided today of all days to write this as I was just there and the table next to me just kept talking to me, when I clearly was not interested in conversation. This gentleman was asking me if i was "a trumper", where i'm from, etc. When my server brought my bill she said "Your drink is on the house, thank you so much for being so patient". She absolutely did not have to do this but it is so genuinely kind that she did! And this is not the only time this has happened! It feels like every time they are thanking me for my patience and it made me realize how many people, like the table next to me, are probably so rude or disrespectful to these women. So i just had to say, they are magnificent servers and deserve everything good coming their way. Thank you ladies! read more

Have been here many many times. I can stop bragging that we always have a good time. Try the burgers or their breakfast bowl. Delicious! Already posted but still valid: If you are looking for the best ... whatever food .... in town, don't bother to go. This place is about atmosphere and having a good time. The food is good, and we had an amazing time with our waiter Shilly yesterday - and left well fed and with $100 for the four of us fairly priced - given the location I would have expected more. Wow - five stars for OK food? Absolutely. In my very own rating scheme, it is mandatory for five stars that I would be willing to do a 30+ min detour just to go to this particular place. And I did. Many times. And will do it again. We've been to the Ivy's in Beverly Hills the night before. It would be unfair to compare on a mere culinary basis. Go here - prepared to have a good time - and you will. read more

Used to love this place, but my last experience made sure I'd never go back. Absolutely trash service. Took over an hour to get any food which was staggered for my party and then was told that they won't be making what were ordered because the kitchen shut it down. I've never had service this bad before. It was crazy. read more

Great hang in Venice, the ambiance is a great classic Venice feel. And the food is always good, especially happy hour for sunset. Best cafe on the boardwalk! read more

Sidewalk Cafe - Great hang in Venice, the food is great, and Kristen the GM is very sweet. - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California

Fenton (I hope I'm spelling that right, haha) was such an awesome server! Super funny and helpful. I had the smoked beef per her recommendation, and she definitely picked right. My partner got the shrimp pasta, which she also recommended, which was also great. (And thank you for refilling our water glasses 100 times, it was so hot out!) read more

Group of 12? No reservation? No problem! Lunch after a walking tour of Venice - nice to sit, be served, AND be out of the sun. Diverse menu offered something for everyone in the group, and too many choices for a couple of folks. Everyone was satisfied with their meals and the service. Come for a great atmosphere and plenty of people watching opportunity. read more

Stopped in while out for a morning stroll. We wanted some coffee so we stopped here. Cool vibe inside! Amazing views outside. The service was excellent from everyone we interacted with. We got the spicy chorizo breakfast burrito and the Tsunami breakfast burrito. Both were very tasty. Hit the spot. Fueled us up for a big walk after breakfast. The coffee was excellent. Strong. Tasty. I would come here again. Even just for coffee. read more

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Beautiful view, great margaritas, tasty food, and super friendly service! Attached to a bookstore which I found super unique and quite quirky (in the best way!) read more

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I love this place but especially one of the super cool bartenders Randall. (And he's a cutie patootie to boot!) If you're looking for a bartender who knows how to turn a regular night into a memorable one, look no further than Randall at The Sidewalk. Not only are his cocktails rocking...perfectly balanced, creative, and seriously delicious, but his personality is just as impressive. (And I love his occasional...and not so occasional sarcasm!) He brings fun, energy, and a warm vibe that instantly makes everyone feel like a regular. Whether you're craving a classic vodka and soda or something like my favorite, a Cadillac margarita, he nails it every time. And the best part is that he makes the whole experience feel effortless and fun, like you're hanging out with a longtime friend who just happens to be a mixology genius. Great drinks. Great energy. Great time. Cheers to Randall! read more

On a family trip we decided to eat here as there weren't many places to choose from on the boardwalk. The hamburgers appeared to be the most popular item ordered so I gave the mushroom bacon grilled onion with avacado burger a try. It lacked flavor and the patty itself was not good quality meat. The fries were average and the ranch was not good as well. Over $22 for a burger and it was not worth it. Wish I had looked other places to eat. My waitress was ok but what I really found incredibly rude was I overheard her telling the table next to me that in United States customers tip waitresses. She was trying to secure the tip from these people. Overall it wasn't terrible but I wouldn't get a burger ever again. read more

my favorite local bar! i always sit at the bar for happy hour and watch the games ali is my favorite and makes the best drinks for me and my friends. i do miss when he hosted karaoke read more

To be fair, we didn't really eat here. Ordered the chips and guacamole which was actually really good. Great avocados and the salsa was spot on. Really we were there to use the restroom and order a drink. My wife finally found a decent coffee in the form of an espresso martini. And I got the Boardwalk Mai Tai. Because, well, it's not a vacation without a Mai Tai. Both were great drinks. Five stars. The best part about this place is sitting with your cocktail on the boardwalk and people watching. The guitarist playing for tips outside was on point and enjoyable, not distracting but adding to the experience. The service was fantastic. Best part of whole day was our server, Mariah, she's a hero of mine! Some guy came in with a "tour group" and acted like a total a** hat. Barking at the servers. Our hero of the day, Mariah, threw his a** out and his group fired him as tour guide on the spot. So entertaining we ordered another round. Way to go not putting up with BS, Mariah! Enjoyed our experience and will definitely be back next time we're down here. read more

You have a prime seat for watching the Venice Beach world stroll by, frequently accompanied by music. One of the few beachfront restaurants where the ocean plays second fiddle to land based activities. Good vegetarian options including vegetarian sausage, definitely something you don't see often. Food was good, not great. I would not order the Benedict again, not really sure why...not to my taste. I suspect I would not have trouble finding something I could enthusiastically recommend on the menu. Service was good and fairly quick on a fairly slow weekday morning. Side note, if you bicycle up to the restaurant (highly recommended, the bike path that runs from torrance to santa monica is adjacent) there is no ability to lock your bike at the restaurant. You can leave it next to the periodically staffed reception stand...so ask for a seat next to the storage area. Not sure why they don't have something you can use to secure your bike. read more

43 years. Been coming here since 1986. Always fun. Keep going Sidewalk! Good food, great view, some of my life has happened here. A Venice Beach staple, which is no small feat, as businesses come and go here frequently. Bookstore next door! Still open! Remember those? Worth a visit. Get the VB experience here. read more

Pros: I asked the bartender for extra cherries and by god he gave me extra cherries, a whole damn cup full, which I gladly ate because I'm a cherry addict. The drinks were delicious and the vibe was super chill, they had a great playlist. Cons: None, this is the perfect rest stop in Venice, have a good drink, enjoy good music and chill out! read more

Sidewalk Cafe - Tacos Near Me - Venice, California