What a fun spot! One of my friends took me and some other friends here and we had a blast. I ended up talking to many people at the bar, which is such a friendly space. I had a bartender who was really witty and cranky, but never rude. Reminded me of my grandfather's personality (god bless). The burger I got here was phenomenal and I don't prefer eating just any burger... Drinks pretty good. Just great vibes. I'll eventually return. read more

My friend and I paid a visit to the Galley after a long absence. I have been to the Galley many times but not in recent years. The vibe and service were great. I love the nautical decor and all the strings of lights and the nets, blowfish and bamboo that add so much to the room. The food wasn't as good as memory served. We started with the garlic bread. The server suggested adding marinara which was a great call. The garlic bread was probably the highlight. I had the clam chowder which was a generous portion and loaded with clams. Then I had the salad because I had to revisit the famous salad dressing. Both were ok overall. My companion had the burger and steak fries which he said were good but that he'd try something else next time. The cocktails were good and strong. There is a metered lot behind the restaurant but it was full but we were able to find metered parking on the street on a Wednesday night. The vibe and room are outstanding, service was well timed and the drinks were good but I thought the food fell a little short. read more

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I was really disappointed by this experience. The ambiance is lovely, but unfortunately the food and drinks were not. Four medium shrimp with a small side of buttered spinach was $33 dollars (!!!) and tasted very mediocre. The seafood pasta was equally disappointing--the fish was dry and had a strange flavor. Even the tequila tasted unusually bitter, and ordering a different brand didn't help. I barely ate or drank anything, yet still ended up with a very expensive bill. I don't mind paying premium prices for great food, but this simply wasn't worth it :/ read more

Had no idea what the vibes would be like when I walked in, but it definitely wasn't Christmas lights. It was perfect. Service was great. Clam chowder was really really good?!?!! read more

What happened to The Galley??? Server and host pretty much couldn't care less. We had a woman wait on us, she seemed totally spaced out and actually reached into my plate as I was eating! I had to tell her I wasnt done yet! Gross. This used to be our favorite restaurant. Too expensive for crappy service, food was rather bland. I reached out to restaurant about our experience...they never responded. We probably won't go back. read more

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

The Galley - Food menu - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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

The Galley - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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. read more

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

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

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A friend suggested we meet here when I was recently in town. The surf and turf menu doesn't have much to offer a vegetarian, but the drinks and the vibe were great. Strong pours, dim and festive lighting, comfortable and private booths, and staff with good intuition about when to check in and when to leave us be. I'd definitely come back for another round. read more

Super cute, kitschy steakhouse! Service here is attentive and friendly. I really enjoyed the spicy pineapple margarita and crab cakes. For my main dish I got the sea bass special which was incredible. Super tasty and melted in your mouth. read more

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

The Galley - Dirty martini - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Seriously completely totally honestly the definition of old school. And I mean that in the best possible way. If you're looking for that, it's right here. The food, the menu, the decor, the music, the bar & the vibe are all classics. After having eaten here a few times in the last few months, I hafta say I've thoroughly enjoyed all of the above and have not a single bad word about anything at this place. In case you can't tell I'm picky as f*** too, but this spot earns all 5! read more

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. read more

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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! read more

The Galley - Cool fish decoration - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The many times I have been here, I always order the same thing because it's delicious. I didn't order a steak and clam chowder even though I know it's yummy. I tried their Shrimp Scampi Over Pasta. It was yummy. I am one of those that likes the pasta a bit al dente and they don't cook it that way here but I am okay with that. As long as it wasn't over cooked. The shrimp was cooked perfectly. I also got the garlic bread appetizer. Crispy and yummy. I loved it. My fiance ordered the steamed clams. He used to share them with my mom. My mom used to say the best part was the broth they serve with it. It was good. My fiance really likes it. read more

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The Galley is a legendary spot for steaks, chops and other grill fare. I personally think the steaks to be the best in the city, but I haven't dinned at the uber expensive (and douchey) steak bro spots. Everything on the menu here is solid. Dinner for two with drinks and tip will set you back north of 200.00, as the drinks are 18.00 each. read more

the food is great! I love the atmosphere, & the galley girls are always amazing. I've been there several times and they've never disappointed me read more

Maybe it was me but I was already having a bad day. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the theme of the place but my food and drink were not on par for what I expected, especially for the price. The steak I ordered was not bad but it was okay. Which is pretty disappointing for the price tag of $71. My Mai tai was unbalanced and a bit too strong for the taste. I had a local tell me a bit about the place but told me that it's gives off dive bar but doesn't have dive bar pricing. I think it was my mistake for thinking I could get a great quality meal and drink at a dive bar. read more

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

A classy joint full of character, good drinks, great food and really lovely people. When you eat here it feels like you stepped into a an old fishing trawler from the 1930's, with an awesome Captain and all. Very good steaks here and the garlic bread is amazing. We come back here quite often. read more

RATS EVERYWHERE!!!! went to this place about 2 months ago and saw 2 rats. Thought it was a fluke. Went back recently and saw 3 more rats. This is out on the patio. They are infested. The rats are so brazen too. They are everywhere. It's disgusting. Been going here for years but I'm done. DISGUSTING!! read more

Man - I hate to leave a great review for this place because - well frankly - we don't need more people coming here and taking up space. This is one of my favorite places in all of the West coast and I visit it every chance I get - sometimes several days in a row. The people that work here are amongst my favorite people anywhere and they are the reason I will literally fly to LA for a Galley visit. Sure the food is good - some of the best extra spicy chicken parm I've ever had - and literally the best fried shrimp on the planet. But Santa Monica/Venice has some pretty amazing food spots so I'm not making the special trip just to eat. It is a little pricey - but again - not for Santa Monica. I'd say the prices are better than Chez Jay and the food is twice as good if we are comparing the two neighborhood dive foodie places to one-another. Come in, have fun, tip well, be kind to one another. read more

Steak, heavy handed drinks, and great clam chowder. Can't go wrong with that. The service is friendly and very tentative! The ambiance is very tiki bar ish, Christmas lights year round! And don't forget the thousand island! You'll end up getting some fries to dip it in! read more

they don't make 'em like this anymore! Pure magic! CHRISTMAS LIGHTS year-round, impeccable lighting. The food is totally solid and the drinks are strong! Love the shrimp and linguine with clams! Great service. A gem. read more

Thank you for helping make Mark's birthday celebration a magical and memorable experience. Your hospitality exceeded our expectations and filled our hearts with joy and gratitude. From our delectable appetizers to our sumptuous entrees, your top-tier service and fine-dining experience fulfilled our desires more than sufficiently. Allow us to tip our hearts to our wonderful server, Kimberly, who's a great asset to this fine establishment. We appreciate Chloe more than she knows. Thank you, Ron Schur, for running an exceptional Santa Monica landmark. Your outstanding food, fabulous service and exquisite ambiance receive five stars from us for a job performed perfectly! read more

The Galley - Journalist Sharon Dahlonega | Atty. Mark Kalmansohn | Hollywood actor Grand L. Bush - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Christmas decor all year round! This place is super festive. And fun fact- it is the oldest restaurant in Santa Monica! Popular among the locals. I loved how each booth is different. The food is great, but a little on the pricey side. read more

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Great place great atmosphere Nice dive Great decor. Waitresses are friendly -good food. read more

Really great old school restaurant/ bar. Part of the history of Santa Monica. Last time we visited it was Happy Hour and had both food and drinks. Love their fish and chips and fried calamari! Margaritas are always good. Found the Bloody Marys a little too spicy for my taste. Nice atmosphere and good service. Every time we've been we enjoyed it all. Recommend! I'll try to add photos later. read more

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

Great atmosphere, excellent food, super service! This place won the triple crown! Our second time here and the second time was as great (or even better) than the first! We ordered the calamari to start. It came with three dipping sauces and they were all yummy. For our main entrees, we got the halibut, rib eye and diabla seafood pasta. It was actually my second time eating their diabla and it was oh so good. Unlike other seafood pastas (where it's watery), this one was perfectly cooked. It was very flavorful- you can choose how spicy you'd like it to be. The ribeye didn't disappoint - No steak sauce needed. The halibut was great as well. Perfectly cooked and moist. read more

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I'm so happy the galley is still in business I'm doing so well. And these times that's a big challenge. The food is always wonderful and the service it's always great. it's a neighborhood gem that serves amazing steaks and great baked potatoes and salads. everything is good there. read more

Service was good, and so was the ambiance, but I'm sorry to say that the food has taken a turn for the worse, my wife and I have been there many times throughout the years and were expecting to have a nice dinner, we were very disappointed . read more

We came for happy hour but the sat us in the back patio that was empty kinda weird . I had a beer and a espresso martini it was good but it didn't have the 3 coffee beans I guess it's bad luck for me idk read more

The Galley - Front - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The Galley on Main Street is purported to be the oldest restaurant in Santa Monica, providing sturdy beverages and year-round Christmas lighting that makes everyone feel festive. Ralph Stephan ran The Galley for 54 years, from the time it first opened in 1934. The current owner, impresario, and (ahem) masthead of The Galley, Captain Ron Schur, became such in 1989 with a desire to solidify a love affair not only with the restaurant itself, but with the globally famous house-made salad dressing....? Between that, the crispy fish & slaw tacos + spicy pineapple margarita on happy hour, you've got yourself a winner! Deee-lish! read more

The Galley - Street entrance - Seafood Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This place is awesome! I took my mom and dad here and they absolutely loved it! The decor, the vibe , the food. It's a must visit if you whether you live in LA or you're just visiting. The owner came up to our table and gave us a free dessert ( best Keylime pie ) he chatted with all of the customers. Wait staff was awesome . Super fun place and great food! read more

To begin with, the place is very nice, I won't deny that, but the food was horribly disgusting. I don't think the price of the food is justified because it's definitely not worth it. Second, that day the waitress demanded a $30 tip, as if she hadn't been paid enough. I was going to leave less, but she insisted on $30. She even had the audacity to tell me that with the tip I was going to leave, she wouldn't be able to support her children. That's not my fault--if she has that job and they don't pay her well, that's not on me. I'm not going to leave a tip for poor service, especially since she never attended to me the way she should have, and on top of that, I didn't enjoy the food. I do not recommend this place--the food is not worth what you pay. Now, if you're going just to take pictures and enjoy the atmosphere, then yes, I recommend you go, because the truth is the food is not worth it. They should change the chef; I think they could do much better. read more

My family and I came here for my mom's 60th birthday today and I hadn't been here in like five years. I had only been here one other time besides today and let me tell you if I would've known how disappointing my experience would've been, I would've gone somewhere else. I ordered the surf and turf meal which honestly is ridiculously priced for a filet mignon, It's like $61 for just the steak and they charge you $16 extra just for three shrimps that weren't even good. They tasted mid. Also since it was my mom's birthday, I asked the restaurant if we could bring a cake to cut and the woman over the phone told me yes but she never once mentioned that they charge a seven dollar fee for cutting the cake and then when we were eating and I told the waitress to bring out the cake, she told us that there would be a seven dollar charge because her manager said so and so we had offered to cut the cake ourselves to not pay the fee and she said that they still had to charge us because we brought in the cake and then on top of that, they kept the extra candles that the Bakery had given me for the cake and then didn't even bother to return them. Also, I understand that when there's groups of five or more that they include the tip, but my cousin was forced to give a $50 plus tip. Which honestly seem kind of ridiculous because the waitress wasn't always checking up on us. And also I have never heard of a restaurant that has free refills but only gives one refill for fountain drinks and that after that, they charge you per refill after that, it's ridiculous that they do that with fountain drinks. Also, my cousins wife ordered the shrimp scampi, and from what I know and a lot of people know is that the shrimp scampi is shrimp with pasta and the waitress failed to tell us that they have two different versions of shrimp scampi so they brought the wrong version and we just ended up keeping it because we don't like to waste food, but I feel like the waitress should explain that there's more than one option. This is the last time I'm going to this place because they honestly charge for everything. I'm surprised they didn't charge us to use the restroom. Another thing that bugged me is that I was so full that I wanted to take my soda for to go since they charged us for the refill. And one of the bus boys said that they don't have cups for to go for us to take sodas. I have never heard of a restaurant not having plastic cups or paper cups to take a soda for to go. The bus boy told us that people who go there don't take drinks to go, I thought that was such a rude thing to say. Also, the woman who answers the phone just says galley with such attitude when she picks up the phone and has such an attitude over the phone, it's so unpleasant. I believe her name is Sabora I don't know how it's spelled. read more

The service and atmosphere are great. But BE WARNED: the pricing has increased greatly. A piece of fish is forty to fifty bucks. That's right a piece. And steaks have increased to 50 to 70 bucks. A caesar salad with a piece of salmon is now is nearly **60 bucks**!! As a longtime patron, I'm so sad to see this very, very poor decision on the owners part. This will exclude a lot of people who have enjoyed this place for years. Including myself. read more