the curious palate is a hidden gem!! i love supporting farm-to-table restaurants, and this place has great staff and food to back it up. i started with the raspberry vanilla spritzer, which was delicious and not so sweet, definitely tasted like a more natural soda. i had to try the diablo garlic fries, and i am so glad i did. it comes with a house made aioli and harissa sauce, so depending on how spicy you want it, you can adjust with the sauce itself. the squash blossom tacos were the most fun looking vegetarian entree, and i thought they were really well done! the tacos are filled UP with toppings and they all complement each other well. the salsa was slightly sweet and spicy, i didn't care too much for it, but it was good regardless. staff was very attentive throughout, i will definitely be back to support! read more

See all

Stumbled on this place after hanging out at the Promenade and the mall. It was the closest to us so why not? I felt kinda weird after being denied a table. Waiter said it was reserved for handicap, but it said "handicap accessible", meaning it had enough room but it wasn't exclusively for handicap persons. She said we can take a smaller 2-seat table but also said she can put 2 of those together if we wanted. But then, wouldn't that be the same as the original table we wanted? Strange. But we declined and just took the smaller table. Already the vibe wasn't great. But whatever. We were in the mood for burgers so I got the Acropolis Burger and my BF got the Curious Burger. I think the patty is a little on the dry side. The buns are kinda puffy, so with the patty and veggies, everything made the burger too high to eat easily and cleanly. I had to use a fork and knife to cut everything. I mean, no burgers should be so high you can't fit in your mouth. The fries were good. My watermelon salad was interesting in a good way. I've never had green watermelon before so that was cool. Overall, food is decent but the service could use some improvement. read more

The Curious Palate - Acropolis Burger | IG @moniquedao - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Wanted to rate this place 5 stars so badly. Food was excellent, our server was excellent. But there was a small mistake in our order (we ordered fish tacos and they brought out fish & chips), which was not an issue at all, but the owner was the one bringing out the dishes to us and, when I told him one of the items was wrong, he was dismissive and passive aggressive. I've been thinking about it all day, since it was so unnecessary and off-putting. He went around chatting up every other table but kept glaring in our direction for the remainder of the meal. Really felt like I was getting blamed for the order hiccup. Baffling and disappointing. We were having such a great time until that point. I figured he'd come by and maybe even apologize for his disposition, but only grumpy face. Again, the food was so good: cheese steak sandwich, peach & burrata salad, fish tacos, fries, and the kids pasta - and the Normandie & Western beer was ice cold and refreshing. And our server was super helpful and kind (and brought out the correct order quickly). But given the bad vibe (from only that person, everyone else was fantastic) we won't be returning, sadly. read more

The Curious Palate - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

We adore this wonderful family owned restaurant. The ambiance is great, a really nice bar area, tons of different beers and wines, and such a great menu it was really hard for us to choose among the many yummy items. We went with gazpacho - delicious - and a walnut and blue cheese and a bunch more veggies salad. We added shrimp. All was simply delicious and we finished every bite. Next time we will try something different because we are "curious" to try everything. Go there! You won't be disappointed! read more

This was a fantastic experience. Absolutely fresh and delicious meals. We had 2 different burgers and a pasta meal - it was outstanding! We can definitely recommend this restaurant. The owner is such a great person taking care of his guests and preparing the food with an extra portion of love. You can see it, smell it, and especially taste it. Just go to the 3rd floor and you will find The Curious Palate right up there. Enjoy your fresh food and if you want a real phenomenal burger, don't hesitate to choose the "Acropolis" with its fantastic yogurt sauce - wow ! read more

See all

This place is absolutely PHENOMENAL GHE SERVICE WAS SO WONDERFUL Katelyn was so sweet and she suggested options in the menu ! I will be back their burgers are so delicious I'm gonna think about them all week read more

The Curious Palate - Amazing service and stablishman - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

The steak frites was possibly the best meal I've had in a few decades. Omg it was so good! The blackberry lemonade was amazing too! Service was friendly and the prices weren't outrageous. read more

The Curious Palate - Steak frites - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We had dinner here and happily had time to chat with Eliot Rubin the owner and chef and his son Alex. I can tell you they serve farm to table, an amazing variety of creative dishes all made with in house prepared ingredients that just look and taste delicious. The portions are generous and the atmosphere familial and accommodating. Don't think twice about coming here. read more

The Curious Palate - Spicy Seafood Red Coconut Curry - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Curious Palate was such a pleasant surprise! Tucked way up on the third floor in the corner, this casual cafe does the impossible: serves high quality food with a fusion/international themed menu, and has reasonable prices. My salad was excellent. The greens tasted SO fresh and the sauces were delicious. Fries were so tasty. The burger was just right and full of flavor. Sauces are all made in house. The menu has so much to offer it made me want to go back and try everything. I usually get nervous when I go to fusion/international restaurants, but this place was truly excellent. The food is just such high quality you can really taste that they take pride in the food and nothing is frozen/ premade. read more

We had lunch there years ago and had some good memories of it so after a walk in Santa Monica we stopped there for lunch again. They have a great selection of beer on tap and the lunch menu is extensive. We shared a florentine sandwich and a farmer market BLT. Both were excellent. They also offer as an alternative to fries a Kale Caesar salad which is great. It says 'spicy' but it really isn't. Service was great - attentive but not over the top. Overall a great choice if you are near the Santa Monica Promenade. We will be back. read more

See all

Chicken Satay sandwich was good, I loved the fresh multigrain bread. Sadly the drunken noodles have oyster sauce (shellfish allergy) but the waitress was super friendly and made sure I got something I could eat. The blackberry spritzer had kind of a weird sweet taste for me. The restaurant is at the top of a mall which I didn't realize read more

The Curious Palate - Spicy Thai Chicken Satay Sandwich - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

We were early and sat inside at the booth. 5 different things to eat and we ate from each others plate to taste the different flavors. Too bad it's our last night in Santa Monica. It's a hidden gem on the 3rd floor. Nice service. Different meals and ingredients bought at farmers market. So supporting the locals. If you sleep near the pier just go there!!! read more

See all

Curious Palate is my favorite hidden gem of Santa Monica. The place is pleasant and calm, the staff are friendly and attentive. The seasonal menu items are always a hit! Whatever seasonal salad is available, the mexican style corn, and the steak skewers are plates we always clean off easily. I highly recommend coming here, especially for the strawberry jam and cream cake. read more

Food here is great!! Everything tasted so fresh and flavorful. Absolutely loved the house made sauces and fresh fries. Chimichurri aioli, tangy ranch, house made ketchup all were fantastic. Squash blossom tacos were a little messy to eat, but perfectly cooked and so flavorful. Would love to eat here again sometime. read more

The Curious Palate - House Fries, Housemade Ketchup, Chimichurri Aioli, Ranch - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Had a nice dinner at this eclectic restaurant which takes reservations, located on the third floor of the Santa Monica Place mall. Free parking for two hours. It was a good place for us because we had a young child with us. I enjoyed my fresh pea soup topped with bacon and a swizzle of chili oil. My companions enjoyed their dinners, including a Philadelphia cheesesteak and fries, a steak dinner with a spicy sauce, a dinner salad with lots of Mediterranean ingredients, and a hamburger freshly ground with a salad. I think the hamburger is the thing to get here so next time I will have to have that. It was really quite large and looked really delicious. The menu has a lot of spicy items on it, noted with the little red pepper next to them, often times with added harissa, which is great for people who enjoy food with heat. Me, not so much. So I had to work harder to find a dish that I wanted. All produce is bought from the Santa Monica farmers market, and was very high-quality. Service was excellent. They have lots of great beers on tap and are known for that, too. read more

See all

Had lunch here on Sunday late morning. Nice server and good food, very filling. The pasta however was undercooked and some of it hard. read more

The Curious Palate - Pasta - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Small hidden gem on the 3rd floor of Santa Monica Place. Specializes in farm to table food. Nice variety and great service. Fat asparagus salad is my favorite but today it's Judy a quick snack of onion rings while waiting for a friend to finish a class at Gourmandise School next door. Indoor and outdoor seating, comfortable vibe, great staff read more

The Curious Palate - Onion rings 10/10 - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Stopped here for a quick lunch, and was pleasantly surprised. Ordered the Chinese Chicken Salad ... it was good and just enough spice! Located on the top level of the Santa Monica Place shopping center with lots of tables inside and on their patio. Also a nice bar area if you are eating solo or want to grab a glass of wine/beer. Service was top notch! read more

See all

Always wonderful. Diablo fries are always a must! When they have the burrata salad on the menu I always get that, if not the blue cheese burger. read more

Went here for lunch after a morning walk at the pier and I can't say enough good things. It's tucked way in the back on the top floor near the Children's Museum and it's very unassuming. Our waitress Lincoln (sp?) was so friendly and helpful from the moment we arrived and provided all around great service. On top of this, the food was great! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. It was hard for us to choose items bc the menu is so extensive and I hope to return to try some other dishes I was eyeing. The menu is creative, with items from many different cuisines and you can taste that ingredients are from local farms and many items are made in house. I highly recommend this place. read more

See all

Love this place!! Located at the top floor at the Santa Monica place mall, it's located near the Gourmand cooking school. We were trying to go to Cheesecake Factory but it had a 45 minute wait so stumbled upon this place and my hubs pointed out how they had an extensive kids menu - grilled cheese, pasta, pizza, burger, tenders, etc anything u would expect from a kids menu. They also make their pasta fresh on site. My toddler got a kids pasta with tagliatelle and she LOVED it. The sauce was light butter and cheese. I got the spicy shrimp tacos and they were so tasty and fresh. They also have a really refreshing nonalcoholic golden ale beer which was unique. read more

See all

This is a Good option to consider for dinner in santa monica third street area. This restaurant is located on third floor of the santa monica place. So also conveniently connected to the city parking structure which is free for the first 90 mins. It has a fusion menu and pretty interesting on their food ingredients combinations. -The persimmon and burrata salad is highly recommended. So fresh and sweet. You can also add protein to any salad. - The pan roasted salmon has a good amount of vegetables (zucchini, spinach, cauliflower). Salmon fillet has crispy skin and tender. - The burgers all taste good and of good quality (grass fed beef), - curry is very spicy. Be aware! Service is friendly and attentive! read more

See all

I love restaurants with simple and plan decor but great food. Makes me feel I'm not paying for the furniture or wallpaper. It was a great joy to try this local (13th years here) farm to table type of restaurant!! Owner Elliot sources from the Santa Monica farmers market and creates novel fusion dishes , as well as some of the good old comfort foods! Two of my friends come here every Wednesday (yes, they love it so much) so I got to try some of their favorites. We started with the curry cauliflower and balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts - both delicious... I texted my vegan friends right away about them! For main dish we ordered the Pea Pasta, Kale and Walnut Salad, the butternut squash soup, and PB&J. The salad was tasty and the portion size was great. The shrimps were great addition to the pasta. The soup was filling. But our favorite was the PB&J!! First of all, the fries that came with it were marvelous- everyone loved them. They made their own peanut butter and jelly and the result was super great taste! Service was beyond friendly! Elliot chatted with us warmly about his foods and other staff members helped made our dining experience fun and enjoyable! This place has been in Santa Monica Place for over 10 years- it looks simple but the dedicated staff adds a lot of charm to it. And in my humble opinion, the foods would most certainly satisfy any curious palate. read more

See all

I was in Santa Monica Place and super hungry, so I decided to duck into the Curious Palate for lunch. I didn't have to wait for a table at all and got seated right away. It was pretty quiet on the day I went. My server was super nice and had great recommendations. I ordered the BLT and it was pretty good, but not great. A decent casual, last-minute lunch. read more

See all

Have been going here for years and this place never disappoints. Great food, solid selection of beers, etc. My family is vegetarian and always lots of options. read more

Far exceeded my expectations. We got the squash blossom and shrimp tacos as well as the asparagus salad. Super fresh and tasty. Elliot, the owner was really friendly, "I'm the cook, the dishwasher, little bit of everything." read more

It's worth the effort to find this place. Everything made from scratch and delicious. I had the bahn mi, with chicken. Loved it, though not too traditional. The side of spicy kale ceasar was fantastic! I'd order a full with chicken for lunch. Yum. My other had the turkey sandwich on country white bread. It was big and he ate every bite (except for removing some of the onion... too much onion). He liked the balsamic dressing on his side salad. Though again took off some of the onions. Wish ww lived closer - I could eat here often! read more

The Curious Palate - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

We needed a reservation for 10 people on a Saturday and it couldn't have been more perfect! Loved the staff. Vibes are down to earth, owner-run. Great beer & wine selection. LOVED their style of farm-to-table food. One of those places you crave. Absolutely delicious! Check out my pictures. We wanted everything on the menu. The large portion of shared nachos was insane - fantastic. The fried seasonal squash blossom tacos - wonderful. We did equal ordering of vegan, vegetarian, and meat dishes. The salads couldn't be more flavorful & filling. Burgers looked so good, too. Random, but I was SO excited they used pickled watermellon radish in some of their dishes. I cant find watermellon radish anywhere! The setting was clean & straight forward. It was actually really cool to eat at a space like this, so close to other shops and entertainment. Parking is conveniently located in the same building. Next time i'll plan to spend more time around the mall, and go to the Children's Museum with my kiddos. Pricing was fair for the quality ingredients and how they prepare them. Definitely would recommend, and will search it out next time i'm in town. read more

See all

Thai salad with chicken chewers - chicken was tender and juicy, and the bell peppers added a nice touch to the salad. However, salad itself fell short - overly saucy, with soggy lettuce, making it less appealing, especially given the $21 price. While the peanut sauce was the highlight, pairing well with the avocado, its thick texture made it better suited for dipping rather than dressing the salad. Lemon tiramisu - as my waiter mentioned, it's "not your typical tiramisu," with a dominant lemon cheesecake flavor. Bread layer was dense and had the texture of a wet pound cake loaded with frosting, which made the dessert feel heavier than expected. Overall, not my favorite but glad to have tried it! Located on the third floor of Santa Monica mall. Casual and comforting dining experience, there's seating indoor and outdoor! I was drawn to the diverse menu options here, staff were quick and super friendly! read more

The Curious Palate - Lemon tiramisu - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

This place must be protected at all costs. It's amazing, staff is amazing, food amazing, I met the owners and they're amazing! Great music, good vibes, just love it. I'm still sitting at the bar writing this, couldn't wait or forget to leave the 5 stars. Gem of SM, love it! read more

First time here and recommended by a friend. What a pleasant surprise to see the variety of food options for dinner. Had an opportunity to sit at the bar and my server, Abigail, give me a few ideas based on my likings. I went with a chicken wrap and watermelon salad. All their dishes are made fresh to order. If you're in the Santa Monica area, you must visit them on the third floor. The owner Elliot was present and we had a good conversation. Get it to go or enjoy a bite there. read more

The Curious Palate - Tonkatsu Wrap with watermelon salad - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

I was fortunate enough to join a group that selected The Curious Palete as the evening's dining destination. In all honesty, my knowledge of the eateries in Santa Monica was limited as it's been years since making it to town. The good news is that this is a solid destination for those in town and looking for something tasty and unique. If you are so inclined to have something with loads of flavor and something for just about anyone, you should stop in and give it some attention. Don't be hesitant because of its location as it sits atop the mall, is easy to reach and is nicely arranged to provide patrons with outdoor and indoor seating with a restaurant vibe that you would find in downtown Santa Monica. In reviewing the menu, it is very impressive. There is an abundance of appetizer options with unique twists with the infusion of spices and worldly flavors. On this occasion, I had a chance to sample a Garlic Humus plate, Curry Cauliflower, and Hot Popcorn Chicken. The Humus was rich with flavor and was served with a generous serving of Pita wedges. Very tasty and something that I recommend. The Curry Cauliflower was tasty as well and was accompanied with a cilantro yogurt sauce. Great combination of flavors and accented the cauliflower well. The Popcorn Chicken was loaded with spices and a favorite of mine. Great on their own, but it was served with a ranch dressing. For the entrée, I chose the Shrimp Tacos. They are served with three that are loaded with shrimp and taco goodness. They are served with great Japanese pickles, harissa and the cilantro yogurt that was a great combination of flavors. This was a solid restaurant. The services was simply outstanding with glasses topped with great frequency, a very friendly staff and regular visits to ensure we had what we needed. If you are a fan of spices and looking for something unique and tasty and in the neighborhood, I encourage you to stop by. It's a winner! Bon Appetite! read more

See all

Delightful! Healthy and tasty food offerings in a spacious setting with very friendly and helpful staff. Away from the noise of the beach crowd. A real find. We will return on our next trip to this area! Bravo! read more

This place is incredible. Everything made in house! Great portions! Try the nachos! Our server Lincoln was a doll. She gave us suggestions and each one of them was so tasty and original. Most cheerful server I've had in too long. Steak Frites with aioli. Finally a restaurant that cares about their frying oil! Fries are fried in rice bran oil. Not bad! Prices are good and portions are large. Quality is excellent. read more

See all

What a lovely little spot! My three year old daughter and I enjoyed a delicious lunch after a fun morning at the nearby children's museum. The server was so lovely and we felt super welcome there. My daughter chose Mac and cheese plus a side of veggies and fruits. I opted for the shrimp wrap with the side kale salad. Everything was so tasty and super fresh. The Mac and cheese was so good omg. A great place to check out if you're in the mood for something different yet healthy. read more

The Curious Palate - Wasabi Shrimp Wrap, Kale and Maple Candled Pecan Salad, Mac and Cheese, - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Food was phenomenal! Great spot to hit before a movie at SM place. The waitress was also incredibly helpful with all sorts of recommendations. read more

We loved our meal here! The food was fantastic, we had the steak sandwich, the turkey club, and the short rib miso wrap. They make their own bread, sauces, and house ketchup, In addition to loving their sandwiches the kids said the fries were the best they've ever had. It's a family business. The owner and his son (our server) were both friendly, gracious and helpful with menu choices. The service was quick, thorough, and thoughtful. The owner Elliot even offered to send us recipes of any dishes we were curious about. We would come here again and again in a heartbeat! read more

Been going to Curious Palate for well over a year now and am always delighted by how satisfying and tasty the food is! Love the seasonal salads, the big asparagus salad and the burrata and nectarine salad being my favorites. I look forward to the summer season when the Mexican style corn cob is available. The steak skewers are my go to protein dish, I always, ALWAYS get the strawberry and cream cake as a dessert, and the service is so lovely and friendly. The place is pleasant and quiet, sitting in the corner of the mall. Out of all the eats in the area, Curious is what I crave most of the time. read more

They have an awesome chef, who ever he or she is...he/she is a 5 star chef...every plate that was served looked exquisite and elegantly presented and the taste was delicious too, ingredients tasted fresh. The garlic fries was crispy and taste was extraordinary. The burger that our daughter ordered was juicy at every bite, and the Brussel vinaigrette was absolutely pleasant to the eyes and palate. The restaurant seems clean and airy. A great place to have a quick lunch while shopping. For the service team who served us, thank you for sharing your experience with us in regards of the recent fire and so thankful to God that you guys were safe. read more

See all

What a great find! This restaurant is tucked away a bit, 3rd floor of the mall, but once you find it, you'll be happy you did. :) Came on a Wed. evening, not too busy yet, ordered the veggie sandwich with a watermelon salad for the side--AWESOME! The best w'melon salad ever. I had the Curious salad w/no added protein and goat cheese instead of feta--so delish and filling! The best part is that everything seemed SO fresh and I love that they source locally. Hubby had a local beer I can't recall but said it was great. Service really stunk, but I'll write it off to a bad night and won't dock the review! Maybe she was new to serving (older lady w/longish blonde hair) and was normally a host/owner, but the food made up for it! read more