Michael's
New American restaurant · Santa Monica ·
Upscale Californian cuisine in an art-filled room
Upscale Californian cuisine in an art-filled room
"The patio at Michael’s in Santa Monica is a great choice for someone who wants to experience the Westside. It's a bit jungle-like (if you brought white tablecloths and did away with all the bugs). Half the crowd has been coming here since they opened 35 years ago, and you might see the owner making the rounds before holding court at his regular table. The California-inspired menu isn’t going to change your life—the burger, roast chicken, pork chop, and vegetable sides are solid enough, though." - brant cox, arden shore, sylvio martins, cathy park
"Matthew Kang noted attending this restaurant’s 45th‑anniversary party, using that milestone to underscore its longevity and continued presence in Santa Monica’s dining life." - Eater Staff
"If there’s a better place to get pork than Peads & Barnetts, we’re not sure we know about it. They’ve got every pig part imaginable, from shoulder roasts and belly to pork toro and multiple kinds of bacon and porchetta. They’re at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Wednesdays, or you can order for delivery ($75 minimum with a $12 fee, free delivery on orders over $150) through their website." - brett keating
"Michael’s is more than just a Santa Monica institution with a great art collection and a nice patio. It’s a decades-old icon, a precursor to the modern California cuisine movement, and a place that has helped make countless careers over the years. Stop by for a drink, some of the freshest produce sourced from the famed Santa Monica farmers market, and to see what all the fuss is still about after all these years." - Eater Staff, Matthew Kang
"To celebrate its 45th anniversary on April 21, 2024, Michael’s in Santa Monica will host a party bringing together many of its chefs from over the decades—including Jonathan Waxman, Sang Yoon, Brooke Williamson, Nancy Silverton, Miles Thompson, Brian Bornemann, and Kazuto Matsusaka—who will cook from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; tickets cost $250 with a portion of proceeds benefiting No Kid Hungry and are available on Resy." - Matthew Kang