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The Galley

3.6 (604 reviews)
Closed • 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM
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The Galley Photos

Business Info

THE GALLEY ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - The Galley

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Reviews With Photos

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Bobby H.

Always love coming here good food fair prices and wonderful service! Old school vibe when things are this good it needs no more anything!

After dinner the pier
Ernanda H.

The wedge salad had our mouth watering amen we had an amazing experience during happy hour God bless you

Dave B.

The Galley is a legend. Always has been. Always will. Few establishments like it left.

Amber R.

First of all, the ambience here was so incredibly gorgeous as we were walking by that I immediately had to make reservations. On top of that, I found out that this is the oldest restaurant in Santa Monica. It has so much history and is so welcomed and beautiful. I was actually really shocked at how much my children loved the restaurant. It's not marketed as a family restaurant, but my children loved the atmosphere. We had to go all around the restaurant and look at everything. On top of that, even though they didn't have a children's menu, we ordered family style, and my daughter, a six-year-old, loved the chicken Parmesan, which she had never had before. My son said it was the best burger he ever had, he is four years old and he really is a little burger connoisseur. I had the breaded halibut and the loaded baked potato, which was really yummy too. Our waitress was really wonderful and attentive, and she could really pour her wine like the fine dining experience requires. Overall, it was just a really fun and wonderful learning experience. I also loved the history provided by the owner and the Lord behind this beautiful place. Definitely a cool stop that I never knew about in Santa Monica after all these years.

Dirty martini
Maria S.

Great place, the servers were all so nice, pasta was delicious. Will be back for a happy hour

Salty Wench
Pepper B.

This is a solid 3 star restaurant. It's Santa Monica's oldest restaurant which says something about its consistency since 1934 with its customers. You know what to expect. The food is going to be okay. It's nothing amazing but it's still good. It's like your favorite comfort Mexican food restaurant only this one is surf and turf. I thought the chowder was pretty bland and too big. Would have liked a cup. Even the baked potatoes were butter and sour cream. Pretty basic. The cocktails were good as well and the servers were very nice. The selling point is the vibe. This is just an old school joint that you can tell the older customers have been coming here since they were kids.

Cool fish decoration
Jan_Ry Adventures T.

We came across The Galey by accident, and I'm glad we did! We were actually playing a game where we only eat from food trucks, but funny enough, we couldn't find any that day (even though we usually see them all the time). So we decided to give this place a try instead and it ended up being a win. The vibe of this spot is really cool, with a fun atmosphere that makes you want to stay a while. Seating is limited the place looks a bit small but luckily we didn't have to wait long to get a table. The food was great overall, and we're definitely planning to come back. Our server recommended the clam chowder, and while it was good, I wouldn't say it was the best I've ever had. Still enjoyable, though! We also ordered the shrimp scampi, crab cakes, and calamari everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. My adventure partner especially loved the crab cakes and calamari, and said they were fantastic. All in all, this place was a pleasant surprise, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for good seafood and a great vibe. We'll be back for sure!

Steamed Clams

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1 month ago

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14 days ago

Old time feel with amazing food. Feels like home!!! Servers are very friendly and accommodating !!!!

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

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29 days ago

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6 months ago

Business owner information

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Ron S.

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7 months ago

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7 months ago

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Ron S.

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5 months ago

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6 months ago

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Ron S.

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9 months ago

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6 months ago

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Ron S.

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6 months ago

Good food, friendly servers, and friendly atmosphere! It is a fun night whenever I go here!

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9 months ago

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10 months ago

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10 months ago

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4 months ago

Anna was a sweetheart! 10/10 service from her. She guided us to our table and had a great personality.

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2 years ago

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10 months ago

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5 months ago

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3 years ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Food service price are all perfect. Order from screen for fast service. Convenient for the craving without going to their steakhouse

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10 months ago

Went Christmas Eve. It was lively and fun. The food - NY Steak, was cooked perfectly. The service was great.

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The Galley Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Galley

Is there valet parking?

Nope ample parking behind the restaurant ( metered)

Do they still have a rockin Happy Hour? Did not see the menu online.

Yes

Are the steamers real new england soft shell and do they rinse out the sand so they are not gritty?

Is this the place with the famous homemade Thousand Island Dressing?

Yes, and there's a whole story about how the Owner, Capt. Ron asked for the recipe, and was told by a waitress that if he wanted the recipe so badly, he'd have to buy the restaurant!!!… 

Dining Alone Can You Order Full Dinner sitting At the Bar?

Yes. At the bar during Happy Hour, you can get both the full menu or the happy hour menu, after which the full menu is available.… 

View All 6 Questions

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Chelsea - Best Rib eye I've ever had

Chelsea

4.6(214 reviews)
2.2 mi

We came here for a birthday celebration and truly had a great experience! Our server, Ty, made sure…read morewe were taken care of in every way and made the night feel extra special. We started with their cocktails, which were great, and had the albacore ceviche as an appetizer. It was fresh and incredibly flavorful. For our mains, we had the steak frites and sea bass. I'm very picky when it comes to both fish and meat, and honestly, both exceeded my expectations. Definitely recommend this spot for a nice date night, birthday dinner, or just a fun night out. It won't disappoint. Looking forward to coming back!

We celebrated my friend's birthday here last night and I'm so glad we decided to come here! I think…read morethe gentleman who seated us might have been the owner, he was very kind and welcoming. Our server, Murray, was so patient with us and was amazing all around. We were very indecisive and he gave us great recommendations, and was attentive, welcoming, and when needed, gave us our space to enjoy the meal. Thank you, Murray! We started with the Rye me a River cocktail and the Mezcal cocktail which were both perfect for our tastes. My mezcal drink was beautiful with a black salt rim and beautiful Smokey flavor (along with the word Chelsea spelled out on my ice cube). My friend loved his Rye me a River cocktail. For food, we started with the oysters and lobster sliders which I don't get a picture of, but they were both great!!! The lobster sliders were actually my favorite bite of the whole meal. My friend devoured the oysters, he loved them so much. We then had the boar ragu tagliatelle which was excellent. It was sweeter than most ragus that I've had, but that was my friend's favorite dish of the whole night. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly, absolutely perfectly, and the pistachio crust was delicious. We ordered steak frites and asked that the fries be truffle fries, which they kindly accommodated. So glad we asked because the truffle fries were delicious, they came with a cilantro dipping sauce that was delectable! The steak itself was cooked perfectly, and the gravy accompaniment was an excellent complement to the steak. We also got the peanut butter and chocolate turnover for my friend's birthday. Yall, it was SO good! It really exceeded my expectations. We will definitely be back! My friend was so happy with his birthday meal!! We found street parking, but they do have valet if you need it as well. The interior of the restaurant is lovely, great for a date night. They have dimmer lighting, and great booths and tables throughout the space. The bar is beautiful and has a small tv screen in case you want to watch something but it's small enough and out of the way that it's not distracting at all if you don't want to watch any sporting event.

Photos
Chelsea - Interior is stunning

Interior is stunning

Chelsea - Escargot mushrooms

Escargot mushrooms

Chelsea - Steak frites

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Steak frites

BOA Steakhouse - Cajun Cowboy Ribeye

BOA Steakhouse

4.0(1.8k reviews)
1.1 mi
•$$$$

Unforgettable Dinner Night at BOA Steakhouse…read more I went to BOA Steakhouse with my friends, and if I could give it 10 stars, I absolutely would! The vibrant, upscale atmosphere and sleek, modern aesthetic set the ultimate mood for a high-energy group dinner and an unforgettable night out together. around our table was smooth, attentive, and flawless throughout the night. The steaks were phenomenal, both the juicy Center Cut Filet and the rich New York Steak were seared and seasoned to perfection, while the Marinated Skirt Steak brought incredible depth of flavor. To complete the feast, the creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes proved to be the ultimate side dish.

Went to Boa with my friend for a girls night! We really enjoyed the atmosphere. We got seated at a…read moreround booth which was comfy and cute. My friend is vegan which was a major reason we wanted to try this spot due to Boa having a vegan steak on the menu. Our waiter mentioned it had gotten taken off the menu then re added so if you're going for the vegan steak I would definitely call to make sure it's still on the menu when you're trying to go. I got the NY strip steak cooked medium. It was good but I wasn't WOW'd. I do think I had high expectations with all of the hype around Boa. Mashed potatoes were soooooo good and I enjoyed the tempura cauliflower. There's a paid parking outdoor lot right next to the restaurant.

Photos
BOA Steakhouse - Truffle Mac N Cheese

Truffle Mac N Cheese

BOA Steakhouse - Friśee salad with: soft boiled egg, lardons, warm bacon vinaigrette

Friśee salad with: soft boiled egg, lardons, warm bacon vinaigrette

BOA Steakhouse - Oysters by the half shell

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Oysters by the half shell

Massilia

Massilia

4.3(1k reviews)
1.0 mi
•$$

Wonderful indoor/outdoor patio adjacent to cool dark-ish dining room and large bar. (Looks like…read moreit wud be awesome place to rent out for a special event!) -- They have a great happy hour drink+food menu and the full dinner menu has several dishes I really enjoy. (There's 1 main dish I didn't care for -- but can't even remember what was.) The wonderful ambiance, enhanced by friendly, attentive & fun servers (+ enticing happy hour prices) are the driving reasons I continue to return. Sometimes I bring my laptop and can do my work while comfortably enjoying happy hour....... and then I'll stay for dinner too. I live in the neighborhood and I'm appreciative of Massilia's delicious hospitality.

When mom is in town, she puts my love of LA restaurants to good use and has me book a trendy place…read morefor her and her sisters. Today, I got to join the fun and enjoy a lovely dinner at Massillia! Surprised the relatives for their 5:30 reservation. I was supposed to stay for just a drink, but I was having such a great time, I had to crash the entire dinner! 5:30 on a Friday night was the perfect time. It was chill and quiet. The restaurant itself is super relaxing and had a nice ambiance. To start, I asked the waitress to bring me a fruity cocktail and what she handed me was delicious. I totally forgot to snag the name, but it was refreshing and yummy. For food, my aunts ordered EVERYTHING! we are a vegetable loving family and definitely got lots of yum yum that reflected that: ratatouille, salad, mushrooms, calamari, mashed potatoes, broccoli, salmon flatbread, and so much more. Everything was so flavorful! I really enjoyed every dish we got! If I had to choose some absolute favorites it would be the salad and the ratatouille! Both were incredible ( along with everything else). Finished the meal off with the pear dessert and a glass of port. Yummy! Great meal with family! I'll happily be back in Massilia to have another lovely dinner.

Photos
Massilia - Rolling fresh pita bread

Rolling fresh pita bread

Massilia - Shrimp Aguachile - Avocado

Shrimp Aguachile - Avocado

Massilia - Fresh Homemade pasta with Kale and Squash

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Fresh Homemade pasta with Kale and Squash

The Red Fish - Sushi rolls

The Red Fish

4.8(91 reviews)
8.4 mi

Some of the best service I've ever had. Great food, too…read more I went there for an event. They picked a perfect place. It's pretty quiet. There's a TV at the bar, and the bar is also in the main room, but it works. A huge shoutout to our server, Levi. One of the best in the business. He really made this an extra special experience for us. We all had various rolls, and they were all works of art....and yes, they were delicious. I had cheesecake for dessert. Probably the best cheesecake I've ever had. Nice 'n light. Perfect!! There's a social hour, which I'm guessing is another name for happy hour, daily from 5-7 pm with a nice variety of food and drink specials. They have parking on the side of the building. That's a huge plus in that area. Worth checking out.

If I could give The Red Fish more than 5 stars, I absolutely would! My partner and I dined here in…read morecelebration of our anniversary, and we could not have had a better experience. The hostess was super kind and led us to a table right next to a beautiful olive tree in the main seating area, which made for a very comfortable vibe and a lovely view. Our server, Levi, provided outstanding service throughout the night and was super knowledgeable and attentive. He was honestly the main reason we had such a lovely time, as his energy was great and he was constantly checking in on us and making sure we were satisfied with everything. To drink, we had the Yuzu Whiskey Sour and the Melrose Passionfruit Martini, both of which were refreshing, delicious, and paired well with our food selection. I also had a Raspberry Breeze mocktail, which was sweet, tart, and bubbly! To eat, we started with the Rock Shrimp, which had a great spicy flavor and crunch to it. We also tried the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, which I liked, but I think the price on this item is a little steep, and you might be better off ordering another roll or menu item. For rolls, we ordered the Crunchy, the Tiger, the Lemon, and the Killer. Of these, my favorite had to be the Killer, as it was super fresh and had a great kick to it. Chef Salvador graciously sent over some Bluefin Tuna and Yellowtail nigiri for my partner and me to try, and it was such a thoughtful gesture and delicious treat for us. We were also kindly given a key lime pie to end our meal and celebration on a sweet note. The presentation for everything was lovely, and I really enjoyed the little radish stars! Overall, the fish is among the best and freshest I've had, the drinks are great, and the service is unmatched; I truly felt catered to and cannot wait for my next experience here! Thank you, Levi, Chef Salvador, and everyone at the Red Fish for an unforgettable anniversary dinner!

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The Red Fish - Sushi bar

Sushi bar

The Red Fish - Cheesecake

Cheesecake

The Red Fish - Steak

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Steak

Hillstone - Hawaiian Ribeye- such a sweet Teriyaki flavor so good.

Hillstone

4.0(1.6k reviews)
1.3 mi
•$$$

Had an early dinner reservation on Sunday night. It's always crowded even at 4:30 so plan on making…read morea reservation. The service was excellent. To drink we tried their version of a martini. I never order martinis, but this one is more of a cocktail and is surprisingly sweet. For an appetizer we tried the cheesy bread. So yummy and the perfect amount to not fill up on bread. For mains, we ordered the classics, Ding's crispy chicken sandwich and the prime rib. Ding's sandwich never misses it's always consistent. The prime rib was tasty, but very salty. The only item I didn't enjoy was the Tabbouleh. It was strange to me it contained corn and chickpea. Hard pass next time. We finished with the key lime pie which is exceptional. Very tangy and it is made fresh daily.

Very disappointing experience at Hillstone Santa Monica…read more I came in for an early dinner around 4pm on a 98-degree day wearing a simple black baseball cap. Before being seated in the dining room, I was told I had to remove it because of their dress code. That would have been completely reasonable if the dress code were enforced consistently. Once seated, I saw other patrons in the same dining room wearing baseball caps. I also saw guests wearing gym/running shorts, which Hillstone's own published dress code says are not permitted. What made the experience especially uncomfortable was that the other patrons I saw wearing caps appeared to be white, while I was the one asked to remove mine. A restaurant is entitled to have a dress code. But selectively enforcing it against some guests while allowing others to ignore the same rules is unacceptable. For a restaurant that emphasizes "respect and quality," this was a very poor experience.

Photos
Hillstone - Inside

Inside

Hillstone
Hillstone - Caesar Salad

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Caesar Salad

The Galley - seafood - Updated October 2026

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