I love love love love loooooove this place! The waiter was SO pleasant and patient. We sat in the sunset room and I thought it would glow in golden hour, but the sun was shaded between the trees so it didn't happen. We got the following: - Eggplant dip - the way the bread's texture is taste is with this...we INHALED this. - margherita pizza - so pleasant - pesto pasta - this had pistachio cream in it which made it more creamy and delicious - tiramisu - literally threw us up to the heavens, amazing - free mango dessert for my husband's birthday! We literally inhaled all the food and it didn't leave us bloated, which tells you it was healthy and nice food. Cant wait to go back. read more

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The best part of Elephante is definitely the beautiful rooftop view of Santa Monica, especially at sunset. If possible, try to get a table near the edge. It seems a little easier if you're a party of two. We arrived early for our reservation but still had to wait at the bar to be seated, which was a little annoying. The service was friendly, though. The food was good overall, but nothing particularly special. The vodka pasta was probably the standout. I also liked the fries, especially the sweet chili dipping sauce. The branzino was good but could have used more seasoning. The octopus was disappointing. It was burnt and pretty bland. Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere and would go back, but I think the food is overpriced for what it is. You're really paying for the view. read more

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This place was sooo yummy and also beautiful!! We got a bunch of items to share for brunch - Whipped Eggplant, Octopus, Broccolini, Branzino, Soppressata Pizza, Vodka Pasta and Ragu Bianco Pasta. Everything was delicious but my favorites were the vodka pasta, soppressata pizza (so crispy) and broccolini. I't such a nice view/vibe by the beach. Only complaint was that service was kind of slow. read more

Élephante - Octopous - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

It's a vibey, club atmosphere. I felt like I was in Miami. It's such a fun spot on a summer night. However the drinks were ok. I sent back the branzino. Ik no it can be full of bones. Most of the time when I have it it's not. It's def not a spot for food. It's when you want you look good & be seen. I'd definitely try the brunch or come back for the sunset. read more

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Honestly, some of the best food I have ever had, but some of the worst service I have ever had. My friend and I put our name down to be on the waitlist and kept checking and we're consistently at fourth in the line but then randomly got a text that our table was ready so we booked it back to the restaurant. when we arrived, our table was not actually ready, but they sent us up and we had to stand waiting upstairs by the host table until people left and their table was cleared. Our server got our drink order and we immediately ordered food and he did not check on us for the entire rest of the night. The only person who remotely assisted us were the people running the food and clearing our table. As for the food, props to the chefs because everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and was also satiating. I loved the citrus and bite with the octopus dish. The artichoke pizza was phenomenal- crust was perfection. The cacio e pepe had the perfectttt amount of pepper and the bite on the pasta was just right! The restaurant itself is located in a gorgeous area that has beautiful rooftop. Perfect for celebrations or date nights. read more

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About eight of us went to Elephante I'm and sat in a booth upstairs on 2nd Street in Santa Monica. Revising, we ordered a number of different dishes with me being the only one who was gluten intolerant so I could not share in the various dishes that we ordered, including a pizza, shrimp appetizer my dish: social media BURRATA stonefruit, heirloom tomato, golden balsamic, fennel pollen, allepo, almonds, basil and additional dishes along with an excellent cocktail: WATERMELON MEZCAL MARGARITA ilegal mezcal, watermelon liquor, lime. Excellent atmosphere with nice views and great service. Everyone enjoyed the food and the atmosphere made for a lively pre-film dinner. read more

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Loved this beautiful restaurant in Santa Monica! It starts when you walk in to a beautiful indoor/ outdoor patio with ocean views - perfect spot to enjoy the weather and the stunning sunset. We were here for a work dinner so it was a prefixed menu that absolutely hit the spot with excellent service all night! We began with the steaming hot flatbread which is delicious and was served alongside whipped eggplant - that I thought I would love but I was not a fan of the texture! We also had the freshest crudités, and salad alongside the arancini which is a dish I normally don't like but these were small, light and delicious! We then enjoyed the pasta with vodka sauce and branzino - both so so good but the star for me was actually the broccolini which had a selfies char taste with a cashew pesto and crispy shallots! Everything was delicious and made better by the ocean views! Loved it read more

Élephante - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This place definitely gets hyped up, but for good reason. The food is incredible, the atmosphere is great, and the setting is hard to beat. It can get a little loud at times, but I'd highly recommend going around sunset when you can take in the views of the water. The whipped eggplant is an absolute must order - yes, it's really that good. Definitely get one of the pizzas as well. The cocktails are always great here too. Overall, a spot that lives up to the hype and is definitely worth a visit. read more

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Delicious food, great ambiance, and attentive service. I've been here twice so far and have been happy with all of the above. I've gone once for a weekday brunch, the next on a weekend dinner and didn't have an issue getting a table quickly both times. read more

Élephante - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Visited for brunch last Friday and I was impressed with the space which had healthy plants everywhere, the service which was quick and attentive, and was particularly infatuated with the food and drinks which was spectacular. Everything we had to eat including the octopus salad, the breakfast sandwich, the eggs Benedict, the steak and eggs and avocado toast was flavorful and well cooked. The banana bread in particular was a table favorite. We had people with different preferences who all tried each dish and were impressed with the attention to detail and quality. The most impressive thing, in my opinion as someone who lives for a dirty vodka martini, was the blue cheese stuffed martini. I'm still debating calling the restaurant for the recipe, extra kudos to the bartender. All in all, a wonderful experience, view, and meal. Will visit (and hope for the same bartender) next time I'm in the area. read more

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The food is not good and not tasty! The service is kind of poor because they seem busy but nothing out of normal for other restaurants ! The ambiance is fine. We ordered to different pizzas and non were good! The Peosi drink definitely don't waste your money or even try it, terrible! Even the water was served warm at 85 degrees afternoon! The menu switched to dinner menu AT 3 PM Pizza1# artichoke Pizza2# Bianco read more

Élephante - Pizza Bianco - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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My friend and I made a reservation early on a weekday evening. While it was bright and sunny, we loved the view we got of the beach sitting outside. We tried their prosciutto and melon, vodka sauce pasta, and wild mushroom pizza. The prosciutto and melon was a refreshing start, and the salty prosciutto paired well with the sweet honeydew and canteloupe. The vodka sauce pasta was creamy, rich, and comforting without feeling too heavy. My personal favorite was the wild mushroom pizza, which had a crisp crust, was not too oily, and had plenty of earthy mushroom flavor. Delicious meal and was a great place to share food with a friend! read more

Élephante - Wild Mushroom Pizza (left), Vodka Pasta (right) - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Celebrated my birthday here and definitely enjoyed my time at Élephante! I loved the rooftop dining concept and the gorgeous views of Santa Monica Beach. Such a beautiful setting for a birthday dinner. The Whipped Eggplant was absolutely worth the hype. It was super creamy, and the pita was served hot and fresh straight from the pizza oven. The Tuna Tartare was also delicious and seasoned really well. It did take quite a while to come out, though. I just wish there was more carta di musica to pair with the tartare because we ran out pretty early on. I ordered the famous Vodka Pasta, and it did not disappoint. The noodles were perfectly al dente and the dish was super flavorful. My partner ordered the Diver Scallops, which were light and tasty, and paired really well with the citrus butter. My only concern would be the service time. I understand dinner is a busy and peak dining time, but we waited over 25 minutes just for the tartare to come out, and it took even longer for our entrées. Despite that, we still had a great time and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. read more

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All food was excellent. Nice views from the outdoor seating Breakfast pizza was really tasty and the branzino was decent Great ambiance and fast service read more

Élephante - Branzino - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Whipped stracchino cheese was off the chain-- that honey with the fig in the middle was crazy. Little salt flakes on the fresh bread was nice touch Asked waiter if he thought Cacio e Pepe or vodka and he FIRMLY said vodka-- it was pretty damn good Got to try to kale pesto as well... absolutely bussin kind of wish I got that instead it was crazy Arugula and pear salad was mid. Wasn't bad but other stuff was way better Views were epic. Ambience was elite. Rly wanted to give this place 4.5 stars but I couldn't. Just didn't feel like a true 5. Don't get me wrong it was fire and our waiter was awesome but 5 is crazy read more

Élephante - Spicy Calabrian Vodka Pasta - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The food is good I got the pasta thing. It is actually really good. Drinks are great too. Don't need a reservation if you're going to the bar. Which is a steal to know. read more

Élephante - Pasta - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Wow! What an experience elephante was! I was walking around with the friend where we decided that we were long overdue for some yummy cocktails, and a bite to eat. We walked into the house and they told us that there's no open tables, but the bar is open seating. We got lucky enough to be able to grab a seat at the bar where you can also experience the entire food menu with cocktails, so it worked out perfectly. We landed on the whipped eggplant, Earl Grey, martini, a Paloma and a few pasta to share. The whipped eggplant is something that's definitely a must when you go to elephantE! This was a perfectly whipped smooth, tasty dip with freshly warmed pita, it's the perfect app. I landed on the spicy vodka pasta. My friend landed on the pesto. Both were absolutely cooked to perfection with great spices, great flavor and portions that were perfect for sharing. I cannot wait to be able to land a table over overlooking the ocean to enjoy elephante again read more

Élephante - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The food was delectable!! 10 out of 10! I made a reservation at 5:45pm for my husband and I for his birthday. I noted on the reservation that we were celebrating a birthday and the staff confirmed this when we arrived. The gifted him a dessert with a candle. We started with the recommended whipped eggplant with focaccia. It was incredible and I don't often eat eggplant. For dinner we had the vodka sauce pasta and bolognese, these were also awesome! The only downside was that despite noting we were celebrating a birthday, we did not get a table near the view. In fact, I saw multiple tables get moved closer when requested. I would have thought a place if this caliber would have done the same for us. Parking: paid lot and street parking. read more

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I really do love Elephante. The menu is fantastic and the venue is beautiful. I chose it for my birthday dinner, and we were so lucky to get a reservation just one day before in the Sunset Room for 7pm. We ordered a lot, and everything was wonderful. My absolute favorite is the whipped eggplant dip. It's an absolute must order, and I love it so much that I order one to go every single time I visit. Since we don't live nearby, I hadn't been back in quite a while, so I was excited to celebrate my birthday here. We were seated on time and while it was a little loud at first, it was manageable. We got to enjoy the sunset, which was gorgeous. Within about an hour, everything changed... Once the sun went down, the restaurant became unbelievably dark. I'm all for mood lighting, but this was the kind of darkness where the lights are dimmed so low that you genuinely start questioning whether your eyes are playing tricks on you. It wasn't quite pitch black, but it was so dark that it became difficult to even see the people at the bar. The lighting wasn't even the worst part. The noise level became absolutely unbearable. For some reason, as the sun went down, the volume in the room just kept increasing. It got to the point where I had to literally yell just to have a conversation with the friend sitting next to me. The four of us couldn't have a conversation together. We could only lean over and shout to the person beside us. After a while, I was exhausted from yelling. When it came time to order dessert instead of a birthday cake, I couldn't even do it. I absolutely love their passion fruit pavlova and had been looking forward to it, but between the overwhelming noise and how incredibly dark it was, I honestly felt like I was losing my mind. I kept asking myself if I could make it through dessert, and eventually I realized I couldn't. Everyone at the table was clearly suffering too, and I didn't want them to stay just because it was my birthday. So we skipped dessert, the whipped eggplant dipped togo, asked for the check as quickly as possible, and got out of there. I'll be back because the food is genuinely great, but only for an earlier reservation. read more

Élephante - Truffle pasta - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I'm not going to say anything about the food that you haven't already read in 30 previous posts! Quit scrolling and go order the whipped eggplant & vodka pasta. BTW. I'll think more highly of you if you add the Little Gem Caesar. And I may even respect you a little if you enjoy the luscious Passion Fruit Pavlova bathing in a decadent pool of ice cream! I said what I said. Vibes were high but turn down your hearing aids because it's loud as hell. Oh and JONATHAN is an absolute ALL STAR waiter! Tip him well or ..... well, I won't lay my threats out in public. Let's just say "or ELSE" read more

Elephante offers an incredible atmosphere with its perfect jungle-themed ambiance that sets the scene for a fantastic evening. We started with the dirty martini, which was made to absolute perfection. The food is just as impressive as the drinks. We tried the whipped eggplant, the meatballs, and the shrimp, and every single one of them was a ten out of ten. We also shared the Bianco pizza and the pasta, which were both amazing, and the broccoli was equally delicious. The service was perfect, with a team that was attentive and ensured everything ran smoothly. I highly recommend this place as it does not disappoint. read more

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Excellent food, I had the breakfast sandwich and the grilled octopus salad. they were delicious. The view from the sunset room is great. Tip: Make sure you make reservations in advance. Service was great, I'll be back next time I'm in Santa Monica. read more

Élephante - Egg muffin Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Elephante is a great spot in Santa Monica for drinks with a view. We sat along the railing and had a beautiful view of the beach. The whipped feta dip was one of our favorite things we ordered and a must-try if you're sharing appetizers. Such a fun spot for a sunset drink or a casual night out. read more

Élephante - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Celebrated my birthday here a couple of years ago, I was able to get a table for 13 of us with a pre fixed lunch menu for $45 pp I believe. I had to call in advance and book this reservation via email with a no show fee of the full per head amount. All of the food was absolutely amazing! Tapas style. The ambiance was top notch, with beach views, and a boho vibe, it doesn't get any better. We had a dedicated server, who was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our meal! read more

Élephante - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I love it so much. Pasta was BOMB. View is incredible. Drinks are great. Service on top. read more

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With a stellar view of the Pacific Ocean and the famous Santa Monica Pier from this rooftop restaurant, Élephante did not disappoint! It was recommended by friends and well worth the effort. Several parking garages are nearby with affordable rates. In a boisterous dining room, the open-air eatery enjoys sea breezes with a menu filled with brunch foods and Italian dishes. Despite a reservation, we were seated at the bar temporarily, but they quickly moved us to a proper table within 10 minutes. And we lucked out with the most charming waitress!! For starters, please get the calamari!! I've never had it fried in tapioca and rice flour, which was a bonus for our gluten-free table mate. It's so light and airy but rivals any other calamari I've ever eaten. I've consumed who knows how many tons of squid in my lifetime, and I'd probably rank this the second best calamari I've ever eaten! Leave it to the Angelenos to make healthy food that tastes amazing! Torn between the cacio e pepe and vodka sauce pasta, our server unflinchingly recommended the vodka pasta for which Élephante is kind of famous. And yes, it's an incredible dish! High-quality calamarata pasta meets expertly crafted vodka sauce with a sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano. And the pavlova dessert is spectacular, a heap of meringue topped with a white chocolate mousse and tres leches ice cream. The server pours a passion fruit glaze over the dessert when it arrives at the table. Wow, the textures and flavors!! This restaurant is a magnificent experience all around. read more

Élephante - Calamari Fritti - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I didn't know this restaurant was here with such a great view! Glad we went. The restaurant is a vibe, staff is great and professional. Food was good and just a great location to meet up , enjoy the views and food. You can park right across from it for a fee. read more

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The vodka pasta was probably my favorite thing of the night. The pasta was tasty and was cooked just right. Had plenty of flavor and was creamy. Can't ever go wrong with the eggplant dip and the artichoke pizza was good too. This place has a nice ambiance and the employees are very kind. Getting reservations here is relatively easy and plenty of parking in nearby structures or the street. read more

Élephante - Eggplant Dip - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Came here again recently. This time during the day so the pictures aren't so dark! LOL! read more

Élephante - Big Eye Tuna Tartare and Whipped Eggplant - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Really flashy, trendy spot in Santa Monica with a great view of the ocean (depending on where you're sitting). Making reservations was pretty simple and luckily Santa Monica has parking structures everywhere so parking was pretty easy (lot literally across the street). Service and staff were friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. It's a bit loud for my taste but we were still able to hold conversations fine. We ordered the following: - Whipped Eggplant: not a fan of eggplants but this was delicious. I see why this is a signature item. - Calamari Fritti - Meatballs: it was a bit sweet? Kids enjoyed it. - Vodka Sauce Pasta - Ragu Bianco - Prosciutto Scramble - Polenta & Mushrooms - 10 oz Prime Skirt Steak Everything was cooked well, delicious and was enough food for 7 of us (including 2 kids). I saw some items I think I would want to try so I will defintiely be back. We came for brunch and for the price, quality and location...I would definitely recommend. read more

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This place was a real showstopper! It was very crowded on a Friday night but I understand why, the views and the whole vibe of the restaurant was chic and classy. We really enjoyed our meals: a vegan pizza and cacio e Pepe. Simple but very tasty and we enjoyed our drinks as well. Great place for a date night or drinks with friends! read more

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We had a 4pm Sat reservation and were glad to beat the crowd. Entire staff was hospitable and friendly from the greeters at the door, server and when we left. Best view is on the left side of the room. The left side has a better view than the right where I sat by the railing last time. Our servers were efficient. We had the whipped eggplant dip, suppresata pizza, vodka sauce pasta and gemelli pasta: squid ink pasta with prawns. Everything was delicious. We shared a complimentary generous piece of tiramisu topped with a lit candle for my bday which was very kind of the restaurant. The view of the Santa Monica Bay, sailboats and palm trees was beautiful on this sunny day. Avoid the outside rail tables which are small and the sun bears down (hot). I paid with InKind dollars. Beautiful setting and ambiance, great service and pricey - you're paying for the view. A drawback for me is that it gets noisy. Go early to avoid the crowd, reduced noise level and have more staff availability. Reduced fee parking in the lot across the street or street parking if you're lucky. read more

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My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at Élephante, and as always, the food was amazing! The calamari is honestly the best in this whole world -- I said what I said . We also had the whipped eggplant, branzino, and soppressata pizza, and everything was SO good. You really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. We've been here before and the food is consistently delicious every single time. They were also so sweet to bring out a dessert for our anniversary -- their house-made passion fruit ice cream. It was such a nice surprise and SO delicious! The perfect way to end our anniversary dinner. Such a great spot for a special occasion, date night, or just an excuse to have really good food. Definitely one of our favorites! read more

Élephante - Branzino - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This place was extremely recommended by a friend and he was right, the food was incredibly delicious! The atmosphere and service were great as well. Definitely a spot to check out! read more

Élephante - Italian Near Me - Santa Monica, California

If you're looking for gorgeous views and delicious food, I highly recommend coming to Elephante. The servers are very helpful and attentive, and the food and cocktails are very enjoyable. I personally love the Gemelli Scampi, which includes squid ink pasta with chopped shrimp, chilli, and tomatoes. It's very flavorful, but not too heavy like most pastas tend to be. Their signature vodka pasta is tasty as well, but I still prefer the balanced flavor of the Gemelli Scampi since I don't typically enjoy creamy pastas as much. I'm also not a huge fan of the pizza here, as I find it to be far too oily for me. For cocktails, I recommend Bird of a Feather, but bear in mind that the alcohol content is quite low and it might not do anything for you. On the weekends, this restaurant is extremely difficult to book unless you make a reservation several weeks ahead. read more

Was in the area and had never been to Elephante, for some reason, so finally decided to stop in for brunch and check it out. Very cute restaurant with great ambiance and views of the beach. Sat against the railing overlooking the ocean, so the vibes were right. Restaurant was just but things moved along quickly enough. First we put in our drink orders. The Elephante cocktail is delightful. We tried one with rum and one with mezcal. Mezcal was the definitive winner here and I would recommend that. For food, we tried a variety of items. Presentation for each dish was great, since we eat with our eyes first. The steak and eggs was good, stay was cooked well, nice and tender, but the dish wasn't anything you're going to necessarily remember. The Tagliatelle Tartufo was ok as well, a good amount of truffle on the dish, though I feel truffle can be an overpowering flavor and really dominate a dish. If I were to go back, I wouldn't get this pasta dish again, probably try something like the cacio e pepe or the vodka sauce pasta. The breakfast pizza was good, plenty of seasoning and cheese on it. The best item, in our opinions, was probably the ricotta pancakes with the caramelized bananas, at least the top layer. A little pancakes, a little banana with some pistachio and syrup made for a great bite. Overall, cute restaurant with great vibes. Food was decent but not necessarily memorable. The Elephante with mezcal was a must though. Go for the vibes and drinks and maybe grab a breakfast pizza and ricotta pancakes. read more

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Great place but only if you are seated with the view of the sunset. Pastas are amazing and highly recommend ordering. Veggies were also delicious, honestly all good here is amazing. Esperesso martinis were also pretty good. A must visit place. read more

I was in Santa Monica and decided to give Élephante a try. I really love good Italian food and I wasn't disappointed. Parking was a bit of a challenge, today as traffic was terrible.. I managed to find a parking garage very nearby. I dined alone and was greeted upon arrival. I opted for a relatively small lunch and had the linguini with clams. It was excellent. Perfect seasoning and a very healthy portion. Tasted great and looked great. Not too heavy but still very filling. This was really a short visit for me since I was dining alone. Service was very good and made me feel like an honored guest. I'll definitely return next time I'm in Santa Monica. It's a vibrant location, well attended and comfortable. That plus the excellent food won me over. read more

Wonderful restaurant, amazing food and service! The pizza was a highlight!. Thank you!!

The food was pretty good, and I really liked the ambiance. However, the service was a bit disappointing. There were several empty tables, but even after waiting for about two hours, I never received a text or any kind of notification. It seems like my number may not have been properly added to the waitlist, so I ended up eating at the bar instead. The bartender also seemed more focused on chatting and hanging out with friends who were visiting than attending to customers. Overall, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food wasn't bad, but the service could definitely use some improvement. read more

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