very unassuming under a hotel, but i almost want to gatekeep this happy hour next to the pier because we enjoyed it so much... "sunset hour" is every monday-friday from 3-6 pm and the food is delicious and all vegetarian!! :) drink prices are okay, but i would come back for a snack. the patio is also dog friendly! the crispy brussel sprouts were to die for! they added some nuts on top for a nice crunch, and who doesn't love manchego. the fox fries were also great, and had a nice crunch to them, as well as a good kick of spice! the chips and guac with the togarashi spice was something i didn't know i needed on my tortilla chips, we had to ask for more! the staff was very friendly and accommodating to our dietary preferences!! can't wait to come back read more

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Great option to come with your dog! They have outdoor seating and a dog menu. We brought our dog here for her birthday and she had a blast. We ordered, for two: Fish Tacos $25 Pea Falafel $26 NA Honeydew Cocktail $14 Pup Bowl $13 Prices were a bit high but fair for Santa Monica. It's walking distance to the beach which is nice. Staff is also nice and service was fast. There was also plenty of seating. read more

Dined here on a Wednesday afternoon. Since it was the middle of the day on a weekday, there was no wait...no crowd. It was pretty empty. It's very cute inside with indoor and outdoor seating as well as bar seating. The server was very attentive and seated us right away. Once we placed our order, the food came out pretty quick. I started with the ceviche which was absolutely delicious and full of flavor. The sauce was so yummy! For my main course I kept going back and forth between the Branzino with arugula and the fish tacos. The server told me that the tacos are more popular so I went with the fish tacos. Glad I did! The grilled fish tacos is a must try! My mom ordered the fish and chips... sadly she was disappointed. The first was under cooked and kind of slimy. So she didn't finish her meal. Overall, I would dine here again and next time I will try the branzino and some cocktails! read more

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My friends and I booked brunch here for a Friday morning and when we came in, it wasn't very busy. Maybe 4 tables and 2 couples at the indoor bar. We probably waited 5-7 minutes before someone acknowledged our presence and came to seat us and check us in for our reservation. Not one server would make eye contact and even going up to the bar to try to get help did not work. When we were finally seated we had to ask for menus once we could catch a server a few minutes later. Some of us ordered drinks and we put in our food orders right away in case our waiter wouldn't come back, since everything had taken so much time already. Our coffees did come but no creamer as discussed, so again we had to flag down a waiter (always took a few attempts) before we could enjoy our coffees. Luckily, our food came out so fast! Our food was in front of us in about 10 minutes from ordering which was insane compared to the rest of the service. Our meals were delicious too! I had the breakfast burrito and did need more salsa for the other half (we had to flag down a server again). My husband gave up waiting for more salsa for his last half of his burrito and just ate it without. My friends had the smoked salmon bagel, avocado toast, and American breakfast. Everyone's meals were honestly fantastic. Finally at the end of our meal, we had to flag down our server to get our check. We ended up just paying with him as soon as he brought the check so we didn't have to wait any longer. The food is worth it but we wouldn't go back intentionally just due to lack of service. read more

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The breakfast burrito with bacon was yummy. This restaurant is located inside the Wyhdam Hotel at 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Given its location, the prices are higher. We also got the avocado toast. The red chili pepper seasoning at the beginning was really flavorful but it got a bit much (too rich and oily) half-way through. Service was good. Great ambiance: very beautiful space with couches, swings and a nice bar. read more

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The Surfing Fox was a hidden gem. It is located in the Pierside Hotel. Nicely decorated with a calm relaxing ambiance. It was never too crowded for us during breakfast and lunch hours. The staff are friendly and the food is delicious. It is right across the street from the Santa Monica Peir and only a couple minutes walk from the 3rd street promenade. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try. Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Food: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Total: 4/5 Price: $ Rating Criteria: Based on comparisons to other establishments in the area 1/5: Terrible, would not recommend 2/5: Might be worth it depending on price and other factors. 3/5: Solid option. Average in this category for the area. 4/5: Above average and excels in this area. 5/5: Excellent, needs no improvement Pricing Criteria: Based on what we spent $: $0 - $50 per person $$: $50 - $100 per person $$$: $100 - $200 per person $$$$: $200 - $500 per person $$$$$: $500+ per person Please be mindful that reviews are based on personal experience which may differ from person to person based upon a multitude of factors (individual/specific workers, time of day, personal preferences, etc). Pricing may also differ and is reflected here based on what we paid for our meal. We typically enjoy multiple courses with our meals including appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts, and sometimes drinks or tasting menus when available. Please do your own research if concerned about potential pricing. read more

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We came here for lunch and everything was delicious. I had the grilled Mahi fish tacos and they were phenomenal. The Cucumber "Foxtail" is light and tasty. read more

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Great service, fun and relaxing atmosphere, and the food was solid. It's walkable from the Santa Monica pier and good people watching. read more

The Surfing Fox - Breakfast Burrito - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Yum!!! This place was so fun for brunch, we highly recommend you make a reservation. This was Valentine's Day so there were lots of people enjoying the great weather. They have a beautiful outdoor area as well as as a sufficient indoor space. The nonalcoholic drinks, the strawberry spritzer, and the honeydew refresher. We're both amazing not too sweet just very refreshing. We enjoyed so many great dishes their hamburgers with the Portuguese bun very very good. Their breakfast burrito burritos are great their hangers steak you cannot go wrong with any of your choices from the menu. There is parking here and there however we found out as we were sitting down that they do offer a $15 valet Next time surfing fox.... read more

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The service at the bar was really bad. Don't know if management sees or actually cares about what is going on. It took them 10 minutes to even acknowledge me & my wife at the bar. The bartender saw us and didn't even say Hi or even say give me a min . " I'll be back " She just gave us the menu and walked away. Number 1 thing in restaurants is treating the customers with kindness & making sure they get the best service, so they could keep coming back. ( And believe me when I say it wasn't even busy ) It took me to get up from the bar and get somebody else to help us.... This is already 20 min in. The server helped the bartender get our drinks, the bartender at this time was cleaning glasses. Don't know if someone pissed her off and was taking it on us , or she was just having a bad day . After 30 min in she finally comes and says " what could I get you" Not even apologizing for the wait or even small talk. This place is great , food , ambiance and the drinks the server got us. Don't know what is going on with the bartender, but that attitude has to change or you're going to lose a lot of business fast. And in Santa Monica- you see how restaurants are closing down. Change is good...... make some to stay in Santa Monica read more

It was my first time there but not the last time. Food is unique and very delicious. I stay away from ordering any chicken dish as it's always dry. This one was very different and chicken was very moist. Rise was also amazing. Be patient when you order as it's made fresh and takes around 30 mins. Everything else we tried was amazing. We are outside on the patio which is just a block from the famous Santa Monica Pier. Service was 5 stars too. Nightly recommend read more

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It was fine? Nothing crazy nothing special. Way overpriced but I guess you're in Santa Monica and it's a hotel restaurant. I won't be coming back but the decor and ambiance was nice and service was jsut ok too read more

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I liked it. It's too expensive, but our server George was great! The sweet potatoes were delicious. The brussel sprouts were tasty but not crispy. The poke is good, but the cucumbers were under-seasoned, or maybe there were just too many as filler for something that was too expensive and small. The fish was delicious though. It's confusing. I think it's so expensive because it's close to the SM Pier. Plus, you have to pay so much for parking, too. read more

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I came here for a company party where they rented out the beautiful patio space. The service was excellent! The staff consistently came around to serve us a variety of small bites, and everything we tried was absolutely delicious! The drinks were great as well. It's a fantastic spot for a small private event! read more

I am writing to share feedback regarding my recent dining experience, which unfortunately did not live up to expectations given our $212 total bill. While the crispy sweet potato fries were excellent, the rest of the food was disappointing. The Hangar steak was dry and bland, the hot chicken sandwich lacked flavor, and the ceviche portion was remarkably small for its $22 price tag. Furthermore, the service was entirely inattentive, as no staff members checked in on our meal. I hope you find this constructive for improving future guest experiences. read more

Stopped in for a quick brunch and was pleasantly surprised. The menu had a good variety of options to choose from. I ordered the avocado toast, which was fresh and delicious, while my mother had the breakfast burrito and said it was excellent. Service was friendly and attentive, and overall we were very happy with our meal. Would definitely come back. read more

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Cute place to eat by the Santa Monica Pier! I like how they have different types of tables set up. Drinks (4/5): ordered 4 cocktails and we enjoyed most of them, my favorite was the espresso martini. Food (3/5): we tried a variety of appetizers, entrees, and sides and while the presentation was great, most of the dishes lacked flavor. The shrimp bao, lobster roll, and sweet potatoes were our favorites. Overall would be a good spot to grab drinks, they have a patio outside that seems nice to hang out in. read more

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This place was empty. Three people saw me sat down. Still had to ask for a menu. Looked at the menu, no one asked for my order. Not even a water served on a hot day. Eff this place. read more

The Surfing Fox is located on the first floor of the Pierside Hotel, which is literally by the Santa Monica pier. The restaurant is trendy, clean, and felt very much like a vacation. Service was friendly. Food, however, was just okay. The American breakfast was disappointing in terms of flavor and presentation. I requested for scrambled eggs but got a large piece of dry egg crepe lol (see picture). As for the potatoes, they were so bland and lacked seasoning. Breakfast plates usually come with a piece of toast but not at Surfing Fox. I had to order a side of sourdough to eat with the avocado slices that I substituted for meats. read more

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Excellent! best food best atmosphere. The food was so yummy and the drinks was amazing! The decor is beautiful! The service amazing! The sound was perfect to keep our conversation going without having to scream-loved it be back. PS We saw the restaurant have tables for big gathering for birthday etc. too read more

I was nervous about a place so close to the pier - often the location near popular spots is great but the food is subpar. We stopped in for brunch and were delighted to find both a great location and awesome, fresh food. Family had lobster rolls and fish tacos that they enjoyed. I had the ceviche and sweet potatoes, which were fresh and flavorful. Was only shocked to find, given the location and great food, it wasn't more crowded at brunch on a Sunday! Check it out if you're visiting the Santa Monica Pier area! read more

The Surfing Fox - Ceviche* gf - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The event at the SURFING FOX is outstanding. It's great to be an elite and enjoy meeting such nice people in such a super nice restaurant environment. I'll definitely come back to this restaurant after the event to patronize them because the food is very good. Sarah did an outstanding job with organizing this event.! Thanks Richard L read more

The Surfing Fox - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Great location, just steps away from the pier. We sat outside to take advantage of the beautiful weather, which made the experience even better. We started with the peppers as an appetizer--delicious! For mains, we had the spicy chicken sandwich and the burger. The chicken sandwich was flavorful with just the right amount of heat. Unfortunately, the burger was a bit overcooked, which was a letdown. For drinks, we had the cucumber cocktail and an Old Fashioned--both were well-crafted. Overall, it was a solid lunch spot. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking to enjoy a meal outdoors. read more

The Surfing Fox - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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While the cocktails were decent, and the vibe was wonderful, the service was questionable, it was very slow and we felt like we were being a bother in all honesty. We're not in Santa Monica often so I most likely wouldn't come back here. read more

Really odd to see the good reviews considering our experience. Service was...odd. Four of us came for a late lunch to an almost empty restaurant and our dishes were brought to us one at a time with a long interval between each. All were lunch entrees (not appetizers), so it made no sense and was pretty awkward, like we all had our own eating schedule. Super weird. Also zero check-in from our server. Food was whatever. Tiny poke bowl, fine fish and chips, meh burger, bland Caesar salad. And it was expensive. read more

If you're around Santa Monica Pier you NEED to stop by The Surfing Fox & ask for JAHIR!! We ordered the mouthwatering Hot chicken sandwich , the rich and flavorful Fish Tacos that had a sauce that elevated the dish! , the crunchy and satisfying shrimp toast appetizer and the refreshing hibiscus agua fresca! The flavors worked perfectly together! Prices were worth the price for the size of the dishes. You can choose from sitting at the bar, a nice and cozy booth, a high top or just a nice table. I wouldn't want to miss this gem while you're around. Check it out! Thank you Jahir and Chef Irene for the amazing experience! We will be back! read more

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Fun place to watch Egypt-Iran, made a few friends. Good, strong wine, decent burger and fair service.

This place is super cute. We came here after a beach workout. The vibes are very mellow and the staff is very sweet from the waitress (Katherine) to the servers and busboys. The food was amazing We had chilaquiles and a cheeseburger. We expected the chilaquiles to be bland but surprisingly they had a good kick and sazón. Will definitely be back. read more

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Food was 10/10 excellent portions and price Service was great no complaints from me keep up the good work team Ambiance was luxury and great vibes - very much beach themed and appropriate for the venue read more

Nice location. Pleasant decor inside. Hanger steak was really good. But the staff isn't great - many of them looked like they wished they had some other job. Don't order the Fish and Chips - the fish doesn't come with a crispy crust and it's oddly chewy. fish tacos can use more flavor. read more

The space is airy and well-ventilated. I found it a little cavernous and the live music too loud when I arrived. But once the space filled up a bit, the sound was dampened enough for me to hear my dinner companions. Our server was friendly and graciously offered to take our orders separately so we could each receive individual checks. The food and drinks were only OK. I had the Honeydew Refresher (N/A) and the pea falafel with green curry sauce. The falafel was a bit mushy, but it was surprisingly filling for there only being 4 pieces. I liked the flavor of the curry. read more

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We're having a birthday experience for my nephew and my husband. Manny, our server, was the absolute best. Thank you for allowing us to have a memorable experience. read more

The Surfing Fox - Manny, our waiter, was the best. He made the experience so much better. Felt like home. Thank you for making a memorable experience. - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I ordered the hanger steak and asked about the portion size before ordering. I was told it starts at 8 ounces and shrinks to about 6 ounces when cooked. What arrived was, at best, around 3 ounces of meat, which was disappointing given the price. I swapped the regular potato (listed at $8) for a sweet potato (listed at $9 on the menu), so a $1 difference. However, I was charged $4 for the substitution, even though no upcharge amount is listed on the menu. Adding avocado was another $4. By the end, the hanger steak with sweet potatoes came out to around $38. The food itself tasted incredible, and the service was genuinely good. Unfortunately, the portion size combined with the unexpected upcharges made the overall value feel way off. I left feeling surprised by how much I paid for how little food I received. read more

Came here to catch up with a good friend. Everyone was great--though the bearded greeter seemed a bit off. Maybe just an off day. Overall: - Chill atmosphere - Good service (Heidi was awesome) - Roomie with comfy seats - Good food read more

The Surfing Fox - Cheeseburger. Lobster RollLobster. Ceviche. Kale Salad. Cucumber Yuzu Spritz - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We enjoyed the NYE short rib with pomegranate here, Korean mac and cheese, and the live jazz and ambiance, but what really stood out was the service. Our server Sesai really made our night and was so kind, and not only provided a great experience but gave us wonderful recommendations and the coolest New Year's Eve headbands that made all our pictures that night special. Such a great memory! read more

The Surfing Fox - Champagne / Gambino Cuvee - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The food and vibe are great but the restaurant is consistently understaffed and the poor service ruins the experience. Guests waiting to be seated are ignored with no host or hostess at the desk. Once seated, guests wait an unreasonable amount of time for a server and nobody checks back because they don't have enough staff to service their customers. That said, it is a nice menu, food is fresh and good. just pack a lot of patience, you'll need it. read more

Just an absolutely mediocre time here, from service to food, for a late Sunday lunch. Perhaps we were less attended to as we were a touch later than the rush, coming at 2pm, but wouldn't that make it easier for our server to give us some attention? She was lackadaisical and disinterested. As in, when she brought us two iced teas with ZERO ice in it, and when I asked for ice on the side, turned and went to get it with no expression, left so fast that she then got to go back to the bar for straws (the icky paper kind), because she ran off so quickly - oh and didn't offer lemon nor sweetener. She only checked on us once, and we had to wave her down for the check, and to pay. And we were her only table by 1/2 way through our meal. Food itself was just okay. Mac and cheese got cold and glob like very fast, so unless you will wolf it down, skip it. The fish tacos were tasteless. Kale salad was made with kale leaves so fibrous that it was like grazing in a field. This and the two "iced" teas ran just over $80 with tip. Ridiculous. A plus is that doggos are allowed in the restaurant, as well as the patio. Minus is that the patio is just a railed off area on a pretty busy street. Oh and the bathroom is inside the hotel, but that's not too far, just a few steps past the back restaurant door. Decor is fun beach vibe with Cali flare. TL/dr: Better places to dine in touristy SM than this, especially if you want service. read more

Just a few steps from the Santa Monica Pier, The Surfing Fox offers an indoor and outdoor beach vibe. Although the restaurant is connected to the Pier Side Hotel, it has its dedicated space. A large parking structure is across the street. The ambiance is excellent, and the decor has a beachy vibe. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating offers large couches and tables. We decided to sit inside and enjoy the beautiful couch swings. Food: We started with the ceviche, it was so good! What makes this ceviche unique is the mandarin-coconut leche de tigre. I don't think I've ever had a ceviche like this. After our ceviche, my boyfriend ordered the lobster roll, which he was pleased with. His order came with Cajun fries, which had a spicy kick. I ordered the fantastic hot chicken sandwich! It's one of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had. I finished all of it. Lol. My son had the kid's cheeseburger. Drinks: I ordered their famous Prickly Pear 9/10, which was refreshing. I also ordered the NA Mint Fizz, which was so-so. Our waitress was great, and the food took a bit longer, but it was ok. The food made up for the wait time. If you are in the Santa Monica area and looking for a great place to eat and have drinks, I recommend this place. Skip the other pier restaurants! read more

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Did not know this pace existed until a friend found it for after a movie. Fresh interior space, pleasant service and we were pleasantly surprised with the level of quality of the food. Expected just a serviceable simple place but they reached and grabbed a higher bar. Halibut special was delicious and had interesting seasoning. Corn focaccia started was a treat. Roast chicken with an herbed jasmine rice was crisp and moist. Very intriguing cocktail selection. All in all a win and not break the bank. Kept on eyeing the. Others rut were flying by to other tables. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Would give it 4-1/2 stars if that was available. Almost no one gets a 5. One note. Most of the four tops are oval shaped tables which don't really work comfortably. They look nice but form folks function. read more

The roasted chicken and avocado toast were really good. The burrito was average compared to the other dishes. We ordered a simple butter and cheese pasta for our baby, and it turned out great. read more

The Surfing Fox - New American Near Me - Santa Monica, California