pasjoli
French restaurant · Ocean Park ·
Refined French bistro with theatrical dishes & tableside service
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Refined French bistro with theatrical dishes & tableside service
"Santa Monica’s Pasjoli is back in a big way. In 2025, chef Dave Beran’s French restaurant updated its dining room and transformed its menu from prix fixe to a la carte. Now, the restaurant feels less geared to only special occasions and more like a neighborhood bistro with popular dishes borrowed from the bar menu, like the burger, alongside approachable classics like steak frites, roast chicken, and a baguette topped with ham and cheese. The French onion souplette, a miniature version of the iconic dish, is an indulgent iteration with more cheese than soup. A thick, bubbly layer of cheese obscures the sweet braised onions immersed in rich vegetable broth just beneath. Instead of the bread being baked into the soup, two tiny breadsticks sit on the side for dipping. The soup comes in a small ceramic pot, which arrives hot to touch. Beran has curated the ideal lineup of tiny vessels for the restaurant, whether it be a tiny soup pot or a small glass chalice for the chicken cordon bleu wings. Save room for the excellent sundae, drizzled with a sweet and salty duck fat caramel. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest" - Matthew Kang
"Pasjoli chef Dave Beran’s Thanksgiving reheat-at-home dinner is $125 per person. Pick up roasted turkey breast with a turkey leg confit, a black truffle gravy, herbs de Provence stuffing, cranberry relish, haricot vert, cornbread casserole, and what will be one of the creamiest pommes puree on Wednesday, November 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The restaurant’s classic burnt Basque cheesecake swings in for dessert (it’s a crowd-pleaser, so don’t think twice). Order on Pasjoli’s website." - Eater Staff
"The latest iteration of Dave Beran’s Santa Monica French bistro may be his best one yet. After a brief closure in mid-2025, the Main Street restaurant reopened with a decidedly more laid-back a la carte menu featuring steak frites, the popular cheese-laden bar burger, and French onion souplettes that have as much cheese as broth. Where French cooking can often be constrained by tradition, Beran breaks out of the mold within deboned chicken cordon bleu wings, stuffed with ham and cheese and served with a buffalo beurre blanc. A simple roast chicken, dotted with olives and flanked by charred lemon, may be the unexpected menu standout right now—the simplicity works in its favor, with just the right cook on the bird and a deep, acidic flavor from the caramelized lemon accoutrement. Always end with the duck fat sundae, a dessert that will enrapture even those who say they don’t need a post-dinner sweet treat." - Eater Staff
"Pasjoli closed for two weeks for a revamp, but now the Westside French spot is back with expanded bar seating, more greenery, and a more casual menu. New additions include a mini french onion soup, grilled ham and cheese, ratatouille risotto, and steak frites, among others. The signature pressed duck? It’s still around, but it now costs $350 (gulp). We recently visited Pasjoli. Read our thoughts. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - cathy park
"Pasjoli was always one of the fancier restaurants in Santa Monica with tableside pressed duck and a multi-course tasting menu. But after a quick closure, it’s returned with a new, more laidback personality. The space now has more hanging plants, an expanded bar, and a menu that makes it clear that Pasjoli is trying to let its hair down. New dishes lean in the direction of decadent bar food, like cordon bleu chicken wings deboned and stuffed with prosciutto and molten cheese, a gooey burger with marrow aioli and fried shallots, and a mini french onion soup capped with bubbling gruyère that explodes when your spoon pokes in. The prices are a little less daunting for a random Tuesday night dinner, but even with its pivot to casual, Pasjoli is still plenty fancy. It’s still the kind of place where you might overhear a business deal or spot a celebrity couple on a discreet date. Oh, and the pressed duck remains on the menu—for $350." - team infatuation