Lunetta

Lunetta has a very cute and quaint vibe, with the indoor and outdoor seating both having their own lovely aesthetic. The ingredients used to make all meals feel very fresh and sourced from organic sources(confirmed by our server). The green eye matcha was fantastic, while not sweet it was perfectly tart and had a great dash of matcha taste. The 12. Oz steak and eggs were very delightful with the side of vegetable crouton mix serving almost as a gremolata or a chinichurri. It was perfect for brunch and the flavors were just so rich and enlightening. The pancakes and eggs were very nicely done and pair beautifully with the maple syrup. The maple syrup itself was such an amazing experience, it was delicate , light and not too sticky, indicating a homemade saucy syrup which was a great experience! If you are searching for a cute brunch experience with light vibes and great service then this spot is definitely a must!

The atmosphere at Lunetta is absolutely incredible. I’m genuinely surprised more people aren’t flocking to this place! The ambiance strikes a perfect balance between trendy and relaxed, making it a great spot to enjoy a leisurely meal. The food? Incredible. Every dish was full of flavor and beautifully presented. You can tell the kitchen puts real care into what they’re serving. The service was warm and attentive, though admittedly on the slower side. If you’re thinking of going for Sunday brunch, be prepared to take your time. It’s not the best option if you’re in a rush. That said, if you’re someone who enjoys a laid-back dining experience and doesn’t mind a slower pace, Lunetta is absolutely worth a visit.

We came here on a busy Mother’s Day for brunch. We were seated in the outdoor area, which was airy and very comfortable on a warm day in May. The food here are fairly typical American fares. We had the Eggs Benedict, deviled egg with smoke salmon and a fried chicken sandwich. The Eggs Benedict was above average with fresh ingredients. The deviled eggs were quite tasty, but he salmon was on the meh side. The fired chicken sandwich with fries were decent as the breast meat was really deep fried, which was decent, and the fries were just okay. The salad was the best dish with fresh ingredients. The service was excellent and friendly. There was a free parking lot where the outdoor seating area was located. It was a very pleasant experience for a Mother’s Day Brunch here.

Lunetta is hard to define as it is a nice place for lunch with a diverse menu and indoor outdoor areas (with a wonderful patio), as well as a very romantic place at night with a speak easy vibe and last but not least a to/go service available. Food wise the menu offers some revisited classic like their mussels or their burger. Personally I really enjoyed their chopped salad and the flourless caked - gluten-free friendly but also a great taste and texture. The wine list is also interesting as I had the opportunity to taste a Merlot from Mexico (and it rhymes!). Service was good even at peak.

This was our second time back for brunch at Lunetta. We love all their seating options so can sit inside or outside if you’d like. We sat in the front dinning room and it was so cute! It’s hard to pick why you want because everything sounds so good, but we tried the rock shrimp ceviche, the fried chicken sandwich, and the polenta and eggs. All cooked to perfection! P.s. to the restaurant- your pathos plants need some water 😅 otherwise your spaces are stunning!

My family and I checked out Lunetta for Mother's Day, and while the ambience was great on a sunny day, the food and service left us disappointed. Lunetta is one of those places you try once, and you know you will not return. The prices are typical of brunch spots in LA, but for the portions and quality, I would suggest going to another spot! We paid $26 for a singular crab cake that our waiter said was "big" enough to share, and when he brought it to the table even he had to caveat he was actually referring to the dinner size crab cake as being larger. The crab cake was maybe 2 inches in diameter? If we had know we would have just gotten another entrée to share. Similarly, we ordered the chips and guacamole, and I would have thought the guacamole was going to be bigger for the price of $18. Instead they served it with pico and salsa which were actually pretty tasty, but we had ran out of chips so quickly - that when we asked for a refill, our server forgot until we were ready for the check. The service was slow, but I don't fault our waiter as he seemed to be the only one manning the section of around 10+ tables by himself. It was hard to get a hold of him for our order, refills, etc. I had ordered the steak (medium rare) and eggs and when the dish arrived it was completely well done. I had to wait over 10 minutes to inform my waiter, and waited another 10 minutes to get my remade dish. It was worth the wait because it was cooked better, but overall the food and service was disappointing. If you are looking for brunch I would suggest going to Great White or the Strand House.

Such a wonderful dinner in an unassuming spot. The restaurant was busy, but we still felt like we had an intimate dinner. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, omnivore friendly. Andrew, our server has obviously been in this business a long time. He really added to the upscale experience, helping us through the menu and even being kind and patient with the children at the table. Great place for out-of-town guests that want a guaranteed wonderful meal.

Lunetta is that rare LA spot that pulls off both brunch and dinner with equal brilliance—like a band that nails both the Sunday acoustic set and the Friday night headliner. Brunch is a standout: sunny, effortlessly cool, and filled with dishes that straddle California freshness and French technique. (The lemon ricotta pancakes? Borderline unfair.) Then, as the day fades, Lunetta leans into its nighttime persona—moody, low-lit, atmospheric, and vibey without trying too hard. Chef Raphael Lunetta, who I first knew from Giraffe—still one of my all-time favorite French restaurants—brings that same intuitive balance here. Giraffe was this beautiful tension between laid-back and haute cuisine, and that balance is carried forward at Lunetta. With partners like Michael Garrett, they’ve created something that doesn’t follow food trends so much as refine them. The plates surprise, the cocktails impress, and the whole experience feels deeply considered yet never fussy. Years in, Lunetta continues to feel fresh, grounded, and quietly exceptional.

I am always satisfied and content when I bring guests for lunch or dinner here!! Experienced Dine-LA for dinner yesterday- what a fantastic price point for the dishes we (party of 6) experienced. The Duck Confit was crispy and moist with beautiful al dente green beans. My NY steak dish was tender with a pineapple/bell pepper relish. The seabass and shrimp entrees were devoured. Both desert choices were delicious. Downside: I think they were understaffed. I had to ask to have the bottle of tap water refilled. The melon balls in the crab salad had no flavor. No horseradish in the kitchen for those that want it with steak- WHAT????? The banquette sofa seats are too soft. Note- as a party of 6, tip was already included in the bill. Corkage $30.

Love the decor inside and realized the breakfast section is now all combined with the dinner room so there's just one entrance. The outdoors light greet you in and the floral draperies make the space more open. Food was served quickly and the waiter made sure we got our orders. Though I find the food a bit salty and missing some element of the ingredients especially the mushroom pasta. Presentation was alright and wish it could be plated better. Toffee pudding is great served hot with the ice cream Overall it was good for a dinner with friends.

Great version of a dirty shirley, definitely enjoyed!! A DJ was in house and playing some great mixes, plus the room is intimate but also very dimly lit, so it really adds to the overall ambiance. Great drinks, tasty food, and a definite solid recommendation from me when planning on dining and/or drinking in Santa Monica.

One thing about this place is that it has tons of space for seating! Each seating area has different decor and I absolutely enjoyed sitting in the dining room + bar area. Such a beautiful and intimate setting. For appetizers we ordered the bread and also their delicious fries, both were perfect to share! My main course, I decided to order the salmon, which was part with amazing flavors. I have never had salmon like I did that night. I tried a piece of my friends chicken plate and it was so flavorful+ tender. This is now, officially one of my favorite restaurants in the Santa Monica area.

Good food, decent service, and a sophisticated type of ambiance. It was my first time at Lunetta after a long time of it being on my list of places to try. I liked it, but didn't love it personally, it's worth checking out yourself though. 5/5 - Sticky Toffee Pudding: so good! I always like getting a good dessert at the end of the menu and this was definitely my favorite thing here. 4/5 - Sourdough and Olive Breads: warm, fluffy, and pretty delicious. 3.5/5 - Chocolate Fudge Cake: very chocolate forward (which is good), but didn't taste all that amazing, especially compared to the Sticky Toffee Pudding. 3.5/5 - Mushroom Fettuccine: simple and light sauce, not a ton of flavor, the mushrooms were delicious though. 4/5 - Various drinks: decent drinks, most people seemed to like what they ordered. Food: 4/5 Drinks: 4/5 Service: 4/5 (a little on the slower side, but generally good) Ambiance: 4/5 Value: 3/5 Overall: 4/5

Once in a blue moon I try out a Michelin spot, and I was lucky enough to be able to check out the Michelin guide approved Lunetta, which is headed by Chef Raphael Lunetta. Honestly, I was impressed by how affordable it was compared to many other Michelin spots, and I definitely recommend checking out this little gem if you're in the Santa Monica area. We decided to go with their limited time seafood x sake pairing menu, and every New American inspired dish was impressively well-executed, with thoughtful flavors and locally sourced ingredients that complimented the primary protein of the dish and surprisingly paired beautifully with their two sake choices. I wasn't the biggest fan of their dessert choice for the tasting menu, which was a chocolate flan with a berry compote and one of the hardest (and most indigestible) pieces of caramelized sugar on top. I also thought plate pacing could've been better, as there were times where we were definitely waiting over 15 minutes for our next dish to come out. Featured here: Roasted Mushroom Arancini Hamachi Hokkaido Seared Scallops Herb roasted petite filet Chocolate flan

My friend recommended this restaurant to me and I'm so glad she did. The dimly-lit and intimate setting makes this place the perfect spot for a date night! We came on a Wednesday night so it wasn't too crowded and the food came out fairly fast. Here's what we ordered (ranked from favorite to least favorite): Madeira Roasted Mushrooms ($12) What started out as a side dish ended up becoming the star of the meal! The roasted mushrooms were left whole so they had a nice bite and they bathed in the most delicious sauce. The sauce had so much depth of flavor with the shaved black truffle, parsley, and fresh reggiano and was elevated by the Madeira. This is definitely a must get! Mushroom Fettucine ($31) Delicate strips of fettucine coated in a creamy white wine based sauce and loaded with slices of roasted shitake mushrooms and fresh shaved black truffle on top. Each bite had a strong truffle flavor and the mushrooms soaked up all the flavors in the sauce. If you love mushrooms and truffle, you'd love this! Crispy Calamari ($17) Tender pieces of calamari that was fried, yet they tasted light and crispy! The calamari came with two sauces: marinara and black garlic plum aioli. The latter sauce was very unique - it was a bit tangy which went well with the calamari. Hand Cut Pepperosa Gnocchi ($22) Soft and pillowy gnocchi in a creamy sauce. The gnocchi was delicious and I love the herb breadcrumbs on top. However, the dish ended up being more squash and tomatoes and I didn't taste much of the NZ red crab. Herb-Roasted Bone-In Filet of Beef ($48) Stunning presentation, but the overall dish didn't have as much complexity in flavor as the other dishes. The steak was cooked slightly under than what we had asked for, though it was still tender and had a thin crust on top. The fries that it came with was decent, but not memorable. I feel like for $48, I expected more of a wow factor. Overall, this is a solid spot for date night or even with a small group of friends. Although there were a few misses in the food, I think the dishes that we loved really stood out. We would come back again to try their other dishes!

Food: 4.5 stars Drinks: 5 stars Service: 3.5 stars Ambiance: 5 stars Value: 4 stars They got close to a 5 star review this time around, but service was a little lacking at points, hence the 4 stars. While I've been in for brunch and lunch many times over the years, I haven't been to the Lunetta dining room since 2020. Since it was DineLA, we decided to check it out and see if it had changed. Overall, we LOVED the drinks and thought the food was very good. The crispy zucchini starter was incredible - very flavorful and perfectly cooked. Off to a great start! Next, I had the crudo while my husband had the French onion soup - we loved both. I was on the fence about the crudo, as I dislike olives, but they worked perfectly in the fish. My husband rated the soup as being in the top 1% that he's had - high praise! For our mains, I had the crispy jidori chicken and my husband had the marinated hanger steak. Unexpectedly, the chicken was the star here. The steak was just ok, and a bit overpowered by the sauce and gremolata. For dessert, we had the sticky toffee pudding and flourless chocolate cake. The sticky toffee pudding was the clear winner - it was fantastic. Unfortunately the flourless chocolate cake didn't impress us much and was quite dry. We ended up leaving it mostly uneaten. Altogether, we had a fantastic meal and loved the ambiance and food/cocktails. However, we had quite a bit of waiting - once seated, we waited at least 8 minutes for our server, and also waited quite a bit to be able to order drinks etc each time we needed something. We also requested more water near the end of our meal, which we didn't receive (despite there only being 2 other customers in the restaurant) until we reminded them again. Given the quality of the food/ambiance and the price point, that was a bit disappointing. Also highly recommend the cocktails - these were some of the best I've had in LA, though the price matches the quality!

I can only reminisce about this meal until the next time I'm able to get it . But that will have to do. When I read the reviews it had me in awe and I honestly thought people were just hyping it up, so I decided to and try it, to see what the talk was about. I have never , been proven wrong faster than that night. I had a feeling that It would be good, but this was just in another world. The ambiance and overall feeling of this establishment is was very warm, inviting , and comfoI started off with the snake river meatballs that came with rustic bread. The meatballs were soft and very flavorful especially with the delicious sauce they top them with. Honestly a great appetizer. Then I ordered a drink that I forgot the name of but it was very refreshing and it was mixed very well. In some places the alcohol - chaser ratio can be off resulting in a drink that's either too strong or not strong enough, this was just right. Then for my entree I ordered the pork chop which to this day I still have dreams about. The crust was, well, crusty. Beautiful crispy exterior but very juicy and moist in the middle. Cooked to perfection. But what really pushes this over the edge is the sauce or demi glaze that this chop sits in'. I could eat this plate 7 days a week and never get tired. I miss this place already and I can't wait for my next visit .

We swung by during dineLA restaurant week, excited to explore this spot. First off, the service felt a bit short-staffed. We had to ask for fresh plates after the appetizers, which was a bit of a miss. There was a constant need to ask our waiters for refill on waters, to take our orders, etc. On the upside, the ambiance is great, though that is a norm for West LA restaurants. Parking is a breeze as they've got a lot right next to the restaurant. Food was generally underwhelming: Zucchini blossoms 1/5 - supposed to be deep-fried but it was soggy, possibly sitting out for too long. Pork Chops 3/5 - the flavors were on point (4/5), but the texture missed the mark. It lacked the crispy skin on the outside and the juicy tenderness inside that I was hoping for. Salmon 2/5 - a tad overcooked (inside was dryyyy) and lacking that standout seasoning that makes a dish memorable. Drinks 2/5 - Unfortunately, I can't recall which cocktails we ordered, but they sported a strong artificial coloring and taste, almost like they came straight from a manufacturers bottle rather than being freshly mixed at the bar. (something you might get from a dive bar) Overall, we were hoping for a higher quality of service and cooking.

First time, and have zero clue how this overall rating isn't closer to a 3.5 or 3.8. Bottom line -- nothing overly offensive besides the price. $31 mushroom fettuccine? More like pasta drowning in a flavorless soup (it's not a proper sauce, clear technical errors for charging $$ - wine wasn't burned off). We were excited to look at the happy hour for food - which by the way you cannot enjoy the nice outdoor patio as happy hour isn't offered out there...only inside? Strange. $6 for one piece of pan con tomate (which was just chopped up tomatoes bruschetta rather than the traditional Spanish tapas). Not the biggest deal but come on, if I ordered 3 to match the full price appetizer I save $1? Salad was nothing to write home about -- cheaped out on limited dressing and like 6 croutons for $18. Saving grace were the meatballs, 3 tiny balls for $19, yet in tasty sauce on polenta. Surprised the polenta was actually creamy. Overall -- I could see the allure as a good cocktail happy hour place, but damn this is expensive for what it is if you're only looking for food at a good value. Was excited to come here yet experience fell very short. Nothing to write home about.

Surprisingly amazing. Came in for dinner on a Saturday night and was seated in the beautiful moon room. The dining room was dimly lit with a fireplace and candles. It set a great mood for dinner. We started off with the calamari which was perfectly crispy and tender. The garlic plum aioli was so unique and delicious. The sourdough bread with the truffle butter was also incredible. Grilled pieces of sourdough so crisp and soft on the inside. For entrees we had the gnocchi and bone in filet. Both were outstanding and cooked perfectly. The gnocchi had chunks of crab and came in a iron skillet. Good portion size for the price! The filet was also well made and seasoned perfectly. Super tender! To finish off, we had the sticky toffee pudding. Perfect ending to the meal. Not too sweet and super moist. Excellent! Overall, service was great and the servers were very attentive. They cleaned the table often and made sure everything was good. Will definitely be back!

The food,service and ambiance were 5Star. This is a local establishment we will continue to visit.

Clean , and Staci was very attentive. This place is well worth it on a Rainy day I highly recommend for everyone to come and support small businesses

Date night at Lunetta! Loved the aesthetic, very cozy and comfy. Service was great, waiter gave us all the options for food and drinks and she helped us decide on our order. It was a great recommendation.

Solid Westside choice for a date night. It's harder and harder to find a place like this that is fairly priced with good higher end food and ambiance plus a welcoming staff. Lots of places have some of these but surprisingly few have them all. Extra bonus is a large free parking lot behind the restaurant. Can't remember the last time anything other than a chain restaurant had one of these on the Westside.

Came for Dine LA and was told lunch is not served with Dine LA. Waiter is quite rude and manager keep insisting they have noted on Dine LA website. Overall very disappointing experience since this is the first time for a restaurant that does not serve Dine LA menu for weekend. Poorly positioned disclosures make this a terrible experience.

Amazing place from the time I entered this amazing place to the time I left. Ambiance, Host, Waitress and Food! Btw order the chicken parm!! You'll thank me..

I came here for Thanksgiving Day dinner! It was good. Loved the ambiance, so quiet, relaxing, and good food. I opted to sit on the OG patio. I am not sure I would come here for the regular menu as nothing really stands out to me. They have a huge parking lot. And they have a wooden structure in the parking lot for outdoor seating. It's very bright and not as charming. My friend and I got the same food - scallops, Turkey Dinner, and pumpkin pie. They had fish and beef as entree options too tho. Plus other options for apps and desserts. It was $95/pp. Would def come again for Turkey Day!

Food was good. My friend & I wanted to try different things so we ordered & shared 2 dishes. It was more than enough. Cozy atmosphere & waiter was attentive.

Had brunch and pancakes were very dry. Service was very slow and had to get my own syrup. Waters were never refilled. I guess that's what happens when there's only one server in the restaurant. Overall would not recommend this place.

Lunetta Dining Room & Bar is located at former Josie Le Balch's eponymous restaurant whose father, Gregoire Le Balch, established a French restaurant & cookIng school, Gregoire, in the SFV. One day a line chef called in sick so Josie at 14 took his place so the rest is history. Now Lunetta has taken over, and by looks of a Friday evening, it is a happening place full of happy diners making happy sounds. I had been to Jiraffe in my preYelp days as well as writing a glowing review 10 years later, having  had an excellent meal there. Now another DineLA, which informed me of its new reincarnation as Lunetta Dining Room & Bar is the siren call that has lured me back for a reprise.  https://www.yelp.com/biz/jiraffe-santa-monica?hrid=VHZaHsh62t4XC2hqnFV5OA&utm_source=ashare&ref=yelp-android I was lucky to get the limited 4 bar stool seating in front of the open kitchen where all the action is, and while I was eating Carpaccio, a kind gentleman handed me a cup of Hollandaise to augment to the raw beef dish. I was most fortunate to rub elbows with Emilio Cuyuch, Executive Chef-Partner. He is a hands on chef expediting food to make sure the plating, composition, right ingredients are present. He even proactively jumps into the kitchen when a problem arises to mitigate the situation. Emilio & his crew are in perpetual motion during peak dining hours. Bravo! 1)  Amuse Gueule:  tiny Demitasse of puréed foresty mushroom, earthy garlic, bone brothy cream soup topped w/ chives & "cappuccino" foam.  Nice appetite teaser that had the taste & scent of good, sweet buttery dairy cream. 2) Seared Carpaccio, named after an Italian artist known for using rich reddish brown tones, Tataki style, ultra thin, plush, velvety slices of crimsom beef dotted w/ eggy, tarragon scented, vinegary Sauce Béarnaise, tIny sprigs of green minty parsley like green herbal Chervil, crunchy garlic bread crumbs added a contrasting texture. A side of sweet port w/ green stick, high quality peppery olive oil, and the small cup of Hollandaise egg-butter emulsion sprinkled w/ red chile powder were condiments to vary the flavours to pair w/ the beef. 3) Sweetpea Wild Mushroom Agnolotti (not part of my 3 course DineLA menu): Magnificent, chewy, al dente, thick, mouth filling pasta. Open the Agnolotti & a jade spring green mashed sweetpea purée w/ subtle, fresh grassy, sweetness attacks the nose. Shucking for the small peas must have been a tedious, Sisyphean task. Rich, thick, brothy Velouté butter sauce w/ sheep milk Pecorino cheese has a gastrique to counter the fattiness. Meaty, earthy, wrinkly skinned Morel mushrooms. Julienned snippets of the raw sweetpea shell were a watery, crunchy, green herbal, refreshing delight to clear the palate. 4) Pan Roasted Duck: Chunk of breast is high fire cooked, thick skin side down for good toasty, caramelized chewiness. Meat w/ an aged meaty, lightly gamey, blood minerality is medium rare closer to medium. Confit of agrodolce, strong citrus fragrant kumquat fruit, Gremolata of highly puréed chestnut, parsley, kumquat adds an herby green juxtaposition to sweetness & meatiness. A watery au jus lookIng vanllla bean sauce is almost subliminal. Refreshing feathery Frisée salad, seedless, ruby pomegranate seed, long bean, deep animal fat fried potato nuggets, found a wayward minty, musky, fennel like tarragon leaf. 1-4a) Reed, amiable, personable, knowledgeable, empathetic manager, came by to suggest a northern California Côte du Rhône style red wine to pair w/ the meal. Dark purple black from the Syrah w/ big dark fruit: plummy, blackberry. Smooth, lush but balanced by svelte acidity, astringency, touch of woody tannins. Finish that is black peppery, green bell pepper. 5) Pistachio Profiteroles: Classic, old fashion dessert where pâte à chox cream puff pastry is filled w/ vanilla ice cream faintly flavoured w/ nutty, woody pistachio (pees tah kee oh). Chocolate drizzles, powdered white confectioners' sugar for effect. Food here at Lunetta is excellent performing a fine balance between haute cuisine & casual California nouvelle that appeals to a broad range of people. Chef Emilio & Reed created a friendly, positive, sharing, warm camaraderie that is so rare in a high end restaurant, especially in a restaurant as busy as Lunetta. I can only think of long standing manager, Kevin of Patina and Yōsukè, manager of Château Hanarè presidIng w/ such kindness. 5 stars for a stellar meal that not only fills the stomach but also fills the soul.

Pleasantly surprised at how they've kept their quality up, and can pivot from serving good burgers and fries at lunch to upscale dining at dinner. Good, rich pastas, love the fresh seafood, and the brick chicken was remarkably tasty. They do the basics right, and can do some fasty stuff, too. Happy they didn't keep us shunted off to the bar, and allowed us into the main dining room, I guess we'll need to dress to impress more often!

I LOVE everything about Lunetta. From the gorgeous bar to the beautiful hand crafted cocktails, to the unique and inspired menu. Plus, they have a parking lot out back! What a find in Santa Monica! This place can get packed for dinner so be sure to make a reservation. The Dining Room and Bar is a separate restaurant located next to Lunetta All Day. The lighting is moody, the interior feels swank which is a totally different vibe to the sunny patio next door. The cocktails here are beautiful and fabulous! The menu is also eclectic and everything I have tried has been executed well. Stand out dishes are the octopus, loup de mer and kansas city steak. I love a restaurant that can nail the cook on an octopus. Service is very friendly and attentive! The servers are very knowledgeable about the menu. All around, this is a solid spot for a great dining experience.

Great place to meet friends in the neighborhood! Food and ambience were wonderful and our server was delightful. A fun and tasty night out!

DineLA experience. The food was okay but it was definitely not worth 68 per person. Service was attentive and the outdoor seating atmosphere was nice. Our party tried everything except the carbonara. The dishes were nicely presented. Mushroom Cappuccino: I thought it was coffee when I read cappcucino. Instead, it was a very nice creamy mushroom soup served in an espresso glass and topped with foam. This dish was nice, creamy, and earthy. Honestly, best dish for this experience. Starters The heirloom beet salad was the best executed starter. The flavors of beets, tomatoes, goat cheese, and vinaigrette were very nicely balanced. The ahi tuna had great texture however the sauce was a bit on the salty side for our party. The duck confit was nicely cooked but it did not seem as "gamey" as duck normally is. The cherry compote nicely complemented the flavor of the duck. Entrees We tried the Cabillaud (cod) and short rib. I believe the cod was cooked nicely and eating it with white beans, shrimp, and escargot butter was delicious. However, I believe the notes of escargot were not present in the butter. The bacon tended to overpower the cod itself. The short rib was very tender however the sauce was a little too salty while the flavor of the short rib was unable to stand for itself. The horseradish cream did not seem to have any spiciness from the horseradish. There was a very hard balance of having enough sauce and/or cream on the short rib without having the sauce overwhelm the bite. Dessert Sticky toffee pudding was the best dessert. Crunchy toffee pieces are to die for. The profiteroles were disappointing. The pastry shell was very stale which made it felt like it was either store bought or on the older side. This feeling did not pair well with the ice cream. Lemon chiffon had an interesting flavor. There was the issue of balance again. The compote was delicious, but very sweet. It was not exactly what we expected either as the chiffon was saturated when we got it. This was not particularly bad, just different from our expectations. Overall, balancing flavors seemed to be the issue for this experience. The flavors were very strong so possibly less in quantity or stretching out the sauces/compotes to have them more mellow to keep the the volume for presenting purposes could help.

While the food is absolutely amazing at Lunetta especially because they call out items that might affect people with allergies, it's the staff that make this place so special. Our server Andres made our evening particularly wonderful--he gave us plenty of suggestions on what we should try, what popular dishes are, which wines were best, etc! He checked on us constantly and honestly, just made us want to come back and share Lunetta with friends. I want to also call out the lovely manager that rescued our evening by moving us to a more suitable table and gifting us some yummies to make up for an early evening snafu. She made us feel special despite us being first timers. We cant wait to come back!!!!

Lunetta is a great lively neighborhood restaurant serving New American food. Reservations are highly recommended as the restaurant gets fairly full on a weekend night. We selected a nice array of items offered on their dineLA menu which included some their signature and popular dishes. The amuse starter of a heirloom tomato tart with point reyes blue cheese was very nice. Their gnocchi appetizer was absolutely wonderfully prepared and tasty. The crispy squash blossoms, though, were not crispy and disappointingly a bit soggy. The highlights for the entrees included the filet of beef and pan roasted duck breast with a great citrus peach chutney. Both were cooked and presented well and delicious. Unfortunately, the grilled wild Alaskan halibut was served overcooked. For dessert, the berry cobbler and whisky chocolate cake were heavenly to help finished the meal on a higher note. Overall, the food was good but they did have a few misses. The dining room was also too dimly lit with the dark color walls while the noise level was a bit uncomfortably high. They don't accommodate large parties very well with tables on the smaller side to more comfortably seat 2, 4 or 6. Service was generally attentive and very friendly. If the chefs tightened up and tweaked the consistency in their cooking, Lunetta has the potential of being a much better restaurant.

Went here for Dine LA. Food was okay. Not bad, but not amazing. Service was very lackluster at best for what their price point is. We made a reservation for inside, but the hostess kept insisting that we take a seat outside. Once we obliged to take the outdoor seating, she said it was crowded inside, implying they probably overbooked the indoor seating. When it came to receiving our food, it was almost like it was their first day there and everyone looked confused about bring food out to the different tables. They took 30-40 minutes to give us our first dishes but forgot to give us our starters and sent us the entrees first. The waitress and server did not even notice until we had to point it out to them, which appeared that they could not have possibly cared less throughout the night or even acknowledged it. They proceeded to bring out starters in middle of eating the entrees and crowded the table with too many plates at once. Then it took another 25 minutes for them to bring out dessert after they cleared the dishes. It was just poor execution on organization and timing. The best dish was probably their amuse-bouche, which was the mushroom cappuccino. The lamb point was cooked well had a nice light flavor. The halibut was cooked perfectly with a nice sear and they used the same champignon sauce in their mushroom cappuccino. The duck confit and seared tuna were cooked well, but was not amazing. It didn't help with the organization and timing that dishes were getting cold. The deserts were nice. I really enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding but felt indifferent about the chocolate ganache tart. Overall food was good, but doesn't align with their price point. Would rate food 3.5 for what it is. Service and execution was a real bummer, especially at this setting, which really dragged down the experience.

We had a 14 person reservation and the staff went above and BEYOND to make it an incredible experience. Andres took so much time to ensure we were well taken care of. Beyond the great service the food was amazing!!! Highly recommend for both small and big parties! Amazing cocktails, service, and food. Will be coming back soon

We dined at Lunetta for their special New Years Eve event. They feature a truncated menu, with a handful of appetizers and entrees. Even though choices were somewhat limited, they featured at least two choices of meat and seafood. I started with the clam and lobster chowder. It was excellent, with whole clams and lobster in a light broth. The freshness of the seafood was exceptional. For my entree, I had the filet, which was served with potatoes au gratin and Swiss chard. The vegetables and meat were cooked perfectly, and every piece on the plate went together perfectly. For dessert, we had the chocolate moose and it was also splendid. Lunetta features a long list of moderately priced wines and the service was excellent. You could tell the staff was proud of their menu and our waitress was eager to explain each dish. Overall a great spot for high end meat and seafood.

Chef Raphael has been my favorite special occasion spot since his Giraffe days. When he opened Lunetta, I was an early customer as Lunetta All Day was really good, and I know what the Chef is capable of. Dial the clock forward to the pandemic. Everything is closed and eventually restaurants begin to open for delivery or take-out. Having had one experiment with Doordash and another with Uber Eats, I opt for take out. Because, I'm a regular diner @ Lunetta, I've opted in for email updates. It's rare to see a gourmet chef like Raphael "go off the reservation" and offer BBQ ribs. What a great "to go item". Twice, I've had the baby backs and just enjoyed the rare beef ribs. All are incredible. If he wanted to, he could turn "all day" into a rib shack. But, I'd be remiss without describing the sides. The potatoes and macaroni & cheese have been awesome. Salads are the typical "Lunetta-style, fresh farm to table which he is know for". And, deserts crumbles are extraordinary. As with dining in the restaurant, there's always something extra, like the famous Giraffe amuse. You will receive a lot of food and likely "something extra". Maybe, this rib idea has legs. I may have to surface the idea the next time I see Raphael. Last, this is a guy who always gives back. The Santa Monica Ed Foundation and other local non-profits are a great place to meet Raphael. I really appreciate the community work!

Met a colleague here for lunch last week. Walked in the front doors and immediately felt a good vibe that made me wish it was we were there for dinner. We ate in one of the outdoor dining patios. Loved the patios they created in the parking area--sure hope they get to keep them in the post pandemic world as they were nicely done with cinder block walls, artificial grass, and plenty of heat lamps. The food was excellent! I had the salmon plate. Perfectly cooked: flaky with a crispy skin! Just how I like it! The veggies were so good, I had an order to go for a later snack. Appetizer was Chips and a trio of guacamole, salsa, and spicy chili sauce. The guacamole and salsa were my favs! I love lumpy guac...let's you know it was made with real avocados not from powder!! My colleague ate the salmon sandwich. Generously portioned because he only ate half and had no qualms about taking the other half with him. A great business lunch. Must be a neighborhood fav as I saw another colleague enjoying a steak (filet mignon) sandwich when I came in. Most def will be back.

This place is... fine. At best. Which is just not good enough at the price point. The desserts are good though, and the portions are big. And its sort of the perfect rich old person restaurant. Maybe take your grandparents if thats their deal? But everything is just sort of mediocre. The different things that make up the dishes just don't taste very good together. For example, I ordered fish and got some chunks of what tasted like very gamey pork around the bottom.

Went here for dinner. The food was alright. But the service was honestly really bad . From the hostess, to the waiter to the busboy whom I asked if they had an extra bathroom ( and he lied to me), all were really rude !! Ambiance was ok. I overheard one of the patrons that the restaurant was on curb your enthusiasm, which is one of my favorite shows, but honestly not a reason to go here . Not recommended

This place is one of our Favorite places to go eat Great Food Relax & Unwind from the Pressures Of life ! Every time we come here it feels like Home the Owner & the Staff that work here just make you feel so Welcomed ! The Decor here is just Fantastic it really feels like you are coming Home for dinner ! But the Food is what makes Lunetta come all together as one of the Best Restaurants To Eat In all of L. A. ! The Chef & Owner really creates magic in the kitchen with his staff ! Last night I had probably the best bouillabaisse dish of my life & I have eaten bouillabaisse all over the world ! I urge to come here & enjoy a Great Meal & unwind from the busy life we all lead ! Enjoy !!!!!!

Eek! I would really, really love to give this place a better review. Went there last night for Valentine's day. We got the prefix menu with wine pairings. First course: Tuna tartar- tasty, but needs to be served with some sort of vehicle to put it on- a chip, piece of toast, wonton, anything! Marinated fish salad- this was surprisingly delicious and was one of our favorite dishes of the night. The acidity was perfect- it was fresh and flavorful Second course: Crab gnocchi- not overly heavy with the crab flavor, but the texture of the gnocchi was perfect. Light and fluffy, and sauced well. Quail with pistachio pancake- a play on "chicken and waffles". It was yummy! Not overly sweet, like I was worried about. Skin was crisp- I'm a connoisseur! Intercourse (Main)- this is where wah wah, things fell flat. Our mains were soo bad. Major disappointment- I was hungry! Filet:-We got the filet, as suggested by our server. We had to send it back- it was sooo overdone. When they brought it back out, it seemed like the same steak. Once again, not cooked well at all. We literally took it home to the dog. Lobster Thermadore- I was so excited for this, and man was it just underwhelming....I would even dare to say "gross." Lobster was terrible! And the noodles that it was served with were all stuck together in a clump. It was not edible. I take my calories very seriously and would not waste them on something that didn't taste at all enjoyable. It was an expensive meal, plus they made you pay 20% gratuity. I expect my main course (the star of the show) to be delicious. It wouldn't be so bad if at least one of our mains was good. We left hungry and let down. The atmosphere was fabulous, and our server was nice. Still pretty up in the air about whether or not we'll be back.

Free parking on Pico, metered during certain windows and free lot parking the back. I was utterly confused making a reservation for what i thought was Lunetta all day and it seems they have a sister venue next door thats a bit more posh for the dinner time which I actually made the reservation for. Food was pretty good while we celebrated a belated birthday dinner for a homegirl. We had the bolognese with fresh housemade pasta (love), the octopus, and the meatballs. Lunetta is a nice spot in Santa Monica that isn't overly crowded and intimate. I would want to definitely try next door for brunch if I'm ever in that neck of the woods.

My family and I came here to try their Dine LA menu. It was NOT a disappointment! Front of the house staff was a bit shaky in the beginning but the food makes it all worth while! My husband and I ordered from the prix fixe menu (Dine LA) Black Truffle Mushroom soup, Crispy Vermont Quail, Pan-roasted Duck Breast, Creekstone Farm Filet of Beef and for our dessert Sticky Toffee Pudding and Pistachio Profiteroles. Plus our 2 children shared the Charred BBQ Scottish Salmon from their regular menu. Every thing was delicious and well seasoned. This place is now in our top 5 favorite restaurant in LA. The servers were very attentive in a good, non-over crowding kind of way. They have a good amount of wine list, beer selections and cocktails. My husband and I ordered an Old Fashioned, which is becoming my favorite drink lately. I like the flavors and playfulness of the Mushroom soup, served in a coffee cup with lots of foam on top! The Crispy Vermont Quail is a MUST TRY coz it's a very delicious take on "chicken and waffles" flavor profile. My Pan-roasted Duck Breast is perfectly cooked and I enjoyed the flavors. Kudos to you chef Rafael Lunetta for our delicious meal and we appreciate you coming out and greeting your guests personally...it really adds a positive note to our dining experience! We will definitely come back and try other yummy food in the menu.

I went to Lunetta this last weekend for the first time with a friend to take advantage of restaurant week in LA. Not only was the service, experience and care amazing from the moment we walked in, but they went above and beyond to cater to us and ensure that our entire evening was lovely. They very kindly made sure that my entire meal was gluten-free for me too and were attentive to my friends food allergy as well. And, the food was delicious! I definitely will be returning to Lunetta on a regular basis now and have already highly recommended it to friends and family.

WOW... great food, great service, great atmosphere, easy parking, there is absolutely NOTHING not to like at Lunetta. It's been on my list of places to try for over a year and now I'm disappointed I didn't get there sooner. It's located on a rather dismal stretch of Pico Blvd on the eastern edge of Santa Monica. Once you enter you are immediately transported to a swanky, dark, sexy space, with deep blue walls, an artificial garden on the ceiling, and an inviting fireplace. The front room has a smallish bar where you can have drinks and/or dine, and some dining tables, and there is a larger back room with tables and a "chefs counter" where you can dine while you watch the chefs in action. We preferred the atmosphere in the front room. We tried 4 dishes and all were good. We tried the special of the day which was line caught tuna with ponzu sauce and it was the winner. The tuna was top quality and came with shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and a super delicious ponzu ginger sauce. The albacore tuna appetizer was a close second. The rock shrimp ceviche had a light marinade that did not overwhelm the shrimp, and came with chips and guacamole. We also had the blue crab gnocchi, and the gnocchi was light and tasty, although it didn't have much of a crab flavor. Our waiter was perfectly attentive and informative. We parked in the large lot located behind the restaurant. FYI the entrance to the restaurant is in the back by the lot, there is no entrance off Pico. We will definitely return soon. It's a great place to impress a date, bring out of town company, or have a business dinner. I also have the more casual sister restaurant next door called Lunetta All Day on my list of places to try.

My daughter recommended this restaurant to me and I am so glad that she did! I came a few weeks ago for Dine LA. There was lots of street parking I found nearby. The duck I ordered was so ridiculously good I wish I was eating it again right now. The skin was nice and crispy and the sauce was magnificent. I also enjoyed the sides that came with it. The dessert was very creative and original. The flavors were delicious and I vey much enjoyed it. Highly recommend this place!

The Lunetta dining room is the first option that comes in mind when I want to have a nice dinner nearby! They changed the menu up a bit recently (not going to lie kind of miss the old one has it had more options), but it's still a solid menu and you can count on everything on there being delicious. I love that they always have a fresh pasta special, and yes I always order it. They use to have a delicious prime rib too, but theres another steak option available now that I have not tried. Their octopus is good as a shared appetizer in my opinion. The decor is great- I love the aptomosphere here. They have great drinks and also great dessert. its hard for me not to get the s'more dessert every single time!

We had dinner here last night, as we were craving for steak. Had their 22 oz Dry Aged New York Steak before and was looking forward to savoring it. We ordered Octopus, Meatballs, 22 oz Dry Aged New York Steak, 18 0z Kansas City Steak and Salmon. Mind you, there was only 3 of us, but we love to eat. 22 oz Dry Aged New York Steak met our expectations, perfectly cooked, melts in you mouth juiciness....The 18 oz Kansas City Steak was more to the tough side, though ordered it as medium (will stick with the 22 oz next time, price difference was only $10) Salmon was flaky and flavorful. I like it that they serve small veggie side with a hint of acid. Brings out the flavor of the main entree. While enjoying our meal, one of the servers handed us an empty cardboard box saying "your box to go". It caught us by surprise, as we were still enjoying our meal. Either he was trying to be efficient or he was rushing us out, but my guest was offended. She didn't like the idea that her $72 of New York Steak, was worth handing out a box to do it yourself without even consulting. Anyway, we brought the attention to Jose, our server and he mentioned it also to the Chef owner. They came to apologize and even gave us a free plate of dessert. We added Creme Brûlée and Bread Pudding to sweeten our night out.... Still, with all that has happened, am still coming back. I didn't even blinked twice to give Jose 20% tip, as I appreciated his quick response to our complaint. I love how fresh their ingredients are and how well balanced their flavors are....

This hole in the wall is so nice. The entrance is from the parking which gives it a special ambience. Love the food and the service is great. I have been there two times in a month and next week going again since the good is so good. The salmon was the best i have ever had. Their corkage fee is so reasonable too. Love everything about this place.

I really wanted to love this place. The decor is really quaint and cozy. However, it kind of fell flat... We ordered the meat ball and ceviche to start. There were like 3 meatballs and a lot of cheese. I wanted a few more meat balls. The tomato and cheese surrounding the meatballs were delicious, but the meatballs themselves were a bit bland. The ceviche just had shrimp. It tasted kind of bland. I wanted more of a vinegary kick to it. We then ordered veggies: brussel sprouts and shishito peppers. The Brussel sprouts were really not very good. It was described as "blistered", but it could have been roasted a bit more. Overall the dish was on the bland side. It was also strange that it came with grapes?? The shishito peppers were decent, albeit a bit on the oily side. I did enjoy the fact that it had a bit of crispy "stuff" on it. We split an entree: the wagu beef. It was decent. The beef was cooked medium rare as we wanted. It was nicely flavored, but I might have preferred it without the sweet drizzle.

Firstly, the menu they have on open table is not their current menu. Their current menu is significantly smaller. They should fix that. I liked the ambiance but the service was unbelievably slow and when our food came it was cold. Frustrating when you wait forever and then realize it was because your food was sitting there. Wouldn't go back.

I have never ate here at night time before and sitting in the dining room experience was great. Comfy , cozy, experience perfect setting for a date! Service was excellent and as always the food was delicious and is definitely my favorite restaurant to get my fried chicken sandwich on. Hannah is the best manager anyone can ask for, and y'all keep doing what you do!

We had dinner at Lunetta a week ago. We sat outside in their patio, which is romantic and very nice. While the chopped salad was a bit bland, the entrees (filet & salmon) were quite good. The service was excellent. So why only three stars? One complaint, however. After dinner, I ordered coffee. When I had finished the cup, the waiter walked by and I asked if I could get a refill. He informed me that in order to get a refill, I'd have to order another cup of coffee, which I then did. I've never been to a quality restaurant that charged for freshening a cup of coffee. If Lunetta was a low-end restaurant, I'd certainly understand, but it's not low-end. Our meal came to $180, so to me, having to pay for a coffee refill just felt like I was being nickel and dimed, which turned the restaurant from one I wanted to return to, into one I will skip in the future.