The Upper West

I had an absolutely unforgettable experience at Upper West! I visited last week to celebrate a friend's birthday, and we came as a large group—about 15 of us. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming. The staff were not only incredibly friendly but also impressively knowledgeable, accommodating and flexible. . It's clear they take pride in what they serve. I ordered the Veggie Burger and it was hands down the best veggie burger I’ve ever had. It even came with house-made ketchup that took it to another level. Every bite was pure satisfaction. chef’s kiss To complement it, I had the Strawberry Fields cocktail. Refreshing, just the right amount of sweet, and tasted just as amazing as it looked. One of the highlights? Our server surprised us with a generous tray featuring every dessert on the menu— ON THE HOUSE!!! Talk about next-level hospitality! I’ll definitely be coming back. Highly, highly recommend!

I've been a loyal guest at Upper West since it first opened over fifteen years ago, and it continues to exceed expectations year after year. My go-to dish is the short ribs with mashed potatoes! A true standout thanks to its rich, flavorful, and subtly sweet sauce that never disappoints. The appetizers are consistently impressive, but the tuna on crispy rice is a personal favorite. The tuna is incredibly fresh and tender, practically melting in your mouth, while the rice delivers the perfect crunch for a satisfying contrast. I wish I had a photo but I ate it too quickly to take one! To top it off, the Strawberry Fields cocktail strikes an ideal balance — refreshingly light and not overly sweet, making it a perfect pairing with any meal. Upper West remains one of my top dining destinations in the city. Highly recommended!

We came on a Saturday evening looking for a cozy dinner, and The Upper West delivered beyond expectations. The vibe is warm and inviting, with just the right background music and soft lighting. We started with the Spicy Ahi Tuna Crunchy Rice, crispy, flavorful, and beautifully balanced with avocado and chili sauce. For the main course, I had the Braised Short Rib, which literally melted off the bone and paired so well with creamy mashed potatoes. From start to finish, it was one of those nights where everything just worked, food, atmosphere, and service. Alfonso, Chris and Alfredo were specially nice. Fred the owner welcomes you at the Door and Aldo will always make sure to give you the best smiles. We'll be back soon. :))

Upper West is an absolute gem. From the moment you step inside, the moody, romantic atmosphere sets the tone: dim lighting, cozy corners, and classic old films flickering on a projector make it feel both timeless and effortlessly cool. I came here for a large birthday party, and the staff could not have been more accommodating. They were attentive without being overbearing, seamlessly taking care of everyone and making the night feel special. Every detail feels thought through, which makes the whole experience seamless. The staff truly makes this restaurant magical. The cocktails alone are worth the trip. The espresso martini was flawless. It was smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. Pair that with their food, and you’re in for a treat. The spicy ahi tuna over crispy rice is a standout. It was fresh, flavorful, with just the right amount of heat. I would order this again and again, every time! The grilled octopus was another highlight, tender and perfectly charred with a depth of flavor that shows real finesse in the kitchen. You can't miss with the way this seafood is prepared. Happy hour here is also incredible, being so well priced, with delicious bites and cocktails that pair perfectly together. It’s rare to find that kind of quality at such a value. I can’t wait to go back and try more of the entrées. If you’re looking for a place with delicious food, beautifully made cocktails, and an atmosphere that makes you want to linger, Upper West delivers on all fronts.

Amazing food!!! Started off with a frosty cold glass of an IPA. We had incredible service and the sausage flatbread was the perfect mix of sweetness in a balsamic vinaigrette with spicy heat from the red peppers. Crunchy, fresh dough like it was pizza straight from Napoli. Coming back here for my birthday party!!!!

Warning: Don't look for a happy hour menu. This restaurant doesn't have one. The happy hour menu is simply a discount on some drinks. Our drinks were $11 each which is good, but I would not pay the regular price for them. The first drink was super weak on the vodka, but the second one was much stronger. The food here is good but the portions are small, and quite pricey. We tried the chocolate pie dessert but didn't like it because it tasted too pre-made. Our server gave good service. Overall, not a bad place.

This place is phenomenal!!! I’ve tried so many things on their menu and you can’t go wrong really! Mark our server was awesome and fun! Favorite dishes right now are the Steak fajitas tacos!!! Spicy tuna crispy rice!!! Cauliflower with yogurt sauce!!! This was such a delicious dinner, I’ve been here many time with my family and friends and we are always treated well! Beautiful atmosphere! Thank you and see you soon to try more things!

ah man i went over there with my girl we had a blast. great ambience, great staff, great food!! Also was her birthday- they gave us a free dessert it very hospitable. DEFINITELY suggest coming by for a great food, service and a nice time. THANKS TO EVERYONE AT THE UPPER WEST FOR A GREAT EVENING

Feel welcomed, went with a local, he show me the place, was fun easy going place, relax ambiance. Food was delicious had aSpicy Ahi Tuna over crispy Rice with Avocado yummy

Came here during happy hour (weekday) after work, and this place is okay? Their drink choices on HH are limited. Are ok. They're dog friendly and let you sit in this porch area that's half inside half outside Not sure id come back unless someone suggested (for a group thing)

Great food, great cocktails, great service! The vibe inside is a lot less casual than I was anticipating based on the exterior, but overall a nice spot for dinner and drinks.

Casual vibe in a lowkey area. The serving sizes are generous, but some dishes, like the chopped salad, lacked variety and felt underwhelming. On the other hand, standout items like the short rib and mashed potatoes were flavorful and satisfying. The coffee ice cream and chocolate cake were highlights for dessert lovers. Service was friendly, but there were moments of disorganization with multiple servers attending, which made things feel a bit scattered. Overall, it's a good place for groups, especially coworkers, but it could use a bit more polish in both food variety and service flow.

Holiday get together Dinner with the usual suspects , What a great time we had and last night movie showing was An American In Paris . Loved it!! We indulged in Paloma's , Pinot Noir the chargrilled avocado, blue cheese chips , Hamachi carpaccio , My husband had the pork loin which was amazing , two of us ladies had the short rib always tender and delicious the sauce on the short rib is a silky smooth not salty just perfect wine reduction and the other husband had the salmon, all plates cleaned and boxes for the ladies, key lime pie, bread pudding , coconut basil gelato , cafe afogoto for me . We realized that we've had every appetizer on the menu except for the mussels due to my garlic sensitivity , it's extensive at least 10 different items and some of the items make great "small plates " for small eaters . Oh... they use goat cheese also in their mashed AMAZING flavor and smooth as silk texture , We loved the blue cheese chips so much the husbands are asking me to make at home ! What type of blue do you use? See you soon Fred and Upper West Staff! Happy Thanksgiving Bonnie & crew

I've come here twice for work events and the service has been incredible. We've sat in the main dining room or in a side party room that they have that has clear glass, and you can still see the rest of the restaurant. The staff are incredible and attentive. They have a good wine selection and they have delicious food. Very large shareable plates that are really tasty. It's also very pretty inside. It looks like a cabin. It's very beautiful lighting pretty romantic actually.

One of the best restaurants I've been to in LA! The atmosphere is perfect for a date night, family dinner, or girls night out. We sat at the bar and enjoyed cocktails and then grabbed some dinner to go. The bartender was attentive and the cocktails were amazing. Absolutely loved the prime rib, chicken, salmon, spicy tuna crispy rice, and so much more. I can't wait to go back again!

This is my new love spot!! The staff is amazing, the food is top notched. When you go you have to have the short ribs and the blue cheese chips.

We were celebrating a graduation and chose to have an early dinner. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted very warmly by our host as well as all of our servers. They paid special attention to congratulate our graduate too. The restaurant is spacious and very comfortable with lovely lighting and adequate noise levels. Everything we ordered was superbly delicious and well seasoned. The servings were perfectly proportioned. I enjoyed that there was a variety of dishes to try for everyone. I would like to mention that if you have room for dessert, the bread pudding with popcorn ice cream was fantastic and a must to try.

Love, love, love Upper West! This was my favorite neighborhood bar and restaurant when I lived in Santa Monica in 2015-16. I've been there many times, and it's always great. When I arrived tonight at 5:30, the owner/manager warmly greeted me, and found me the perfect seat at the bar. My friend joined me, and we spent the next two hours laughing and catching up on everything. We both had the refreshing cucumber martinis. I had the excellent Vegetable Coconut Curry with Forbidden Rice, and she had the Veggie Burger with Fries. Metered street parking is plentiful nearby. You only need to pay for parking until 6 pm; after that, it's free. Give it a try. The service, food, drinks and ambiance can't be beat. Affordable menu prices, too.

I think this place has been around throughout my time living in California. it's always a great choice for a slightly fancier dinner, but one to that is still approachable for families. We decided to come here for Christmas, and bring our two-year-old. The restaurant was decorated beautifully, the staff and front of house were five star. The menu is easy to navigate, and has plenty of choices for any picky eater. We didn't have a dish we didn't like. Flatbread, pork, short rib. It was all really good. Our waiter was nice enough to give some suggestions as well as drink pairings. Overall great experience, and would love to come back and taste more of the menu on other nights, where we are feeling like dressing up a bit.

I had a great experience at Upper West. I planned a work happy hour here, and everyone loved it! Amazing decor with Christmas decorations and a beautifully adorned Christmas tree. The servers were very attentive and checked in frequently. The food was delicious! I recommend the barbecue ribs and the mussels. Cocktails were well-crafted and potent. I will definitely be back again!

We came for Valentines, and it was great. Based on the reviews, we got a lot of the things that were suggested. The burrata, the grilled artichoke hearts, the ahi tuna, and the bread pudding. We wanted to have a main course, but we were so full from these items, we didn't have room. The prices are extremely reasonable. They have very good prices on the very large liquor selection. We were very pleased. The whole vibe is great. The owner and manager were fabulous. They checked on us multiple times to make sure our evening was great. I am stoked to have found this place. We will be back!

Great spot for adults. The owner and staff are very friendly, the food is delicious, and great drinks. Lovely ambiance and no sports or 20-somethings in sight.

Pretty decent place in a lowkey random area. I was not a fan of the chopped salad - it was the same few ingredients (heavy on the celery) chopped so small you didn't have to chew it before swallowing. The serving sizes are huge, but it was a bit much since there was not a lot going on in this salad. The Arnold Palmers were refreshing and there were ample refills. Our servers were super friendly and attentive! This seems like a cool place to hang out with a big group of coworkers as opposed to one on one.

Dined here last night for the first time. The ambiance is a vibe. It was busy we never felt rushed. The food is good, healthy and decent portions. I had a jalapeño margarita and loved it. It has spice but it's not overwhelming. We ordered the chopped salad and grilled avocado as appetizers and enjoyed both. I liked my salmon but it was a touch over cooked in the middle and my boyfriend enjoyed his flatiron steak but said it wasn't out of this world. Still we'll be back to try out the other options on the menu u.

Festive ambiance. Beautifully decorated holiday tree. Lovely meal. Quality company. Professional and well- mannered staff. Our dining table of approx. 12 dinner guests was located in a private space. The evening's menu was designed by our phenomenal host; neatly crafted and folded within the dinner cloth. The film "Elf" was projected on the large wall in our private area. Several bottles of quality wine were present and champagne; the dessert wine in particular was delicious! Our gracious host gave a wonderful toast. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves for Christmas Eve. * The vintage photos from the 1950's - 60's of Hollywood's Glamorous Stars Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe in the ladies room was a nice touch.

A decent place with medium-high priced food items on the ocean park southern side of Santa Monica. Experience will vary depending on the dish you ordered. I ordered the following: Marinated flak iron steak with napa cabbage red onion smoked bacon and gorgonzola sauce Fried Chicken Sandwich blue cheese cole slaw , hot sauce mayo , bread & butter pickles SWEET & SPICY SPARE RIBS sambal-honey glaze fresno pepper cilantro sesame FLANNERY BEEF CHEESEBURGER american cheese worcestershire-caramelized onions pickles arugula/ so-cal sauce add thick-cut nueski's bacon Dud: Sweet and spicy spare ribs. Way too sweet. The contrast with the fresno pepper and cilantro didn't help. Don't think any peppers should be added to any ribs. Fired Chicken sandwich. Not a fan of the blue cheese cole slaw. Bread was a little soggy. Not worth the amount you pay. Winners: Marinated flak iron steal: Fantastic marinade. Criss-cross zags of the grill marks just like how an expert would do justice. The napa cabbage red onion, smoked bacon blends well to the marinated steak. Pricey, but definitely a cut- above the others. Flannery beef cheeseburger. Without the bacon. Excellent. The highlight of the meal. Look at the hue of the pink of the cut. It's perfectly medium rare. Don't necessarily like worcestershire sauce, but it worked for this one. Has a sharper complexion.

Love Upper West! Always wonderful to gather there with a group of friends for dinner. Saturday night the place was full of people and good vibes. The girls got white wine and the men beer and hard liquor. We started with several different appetizers, well portioned and delicious. We continued with several dinner plates to share for the table. The steak fajita, burger, and fish were so good. Really had no room for dessert, but couldn't resist. The manager and owner are warm and welcoming. The waiter was friendly and attentive. Always feel good and satisfied after our meal there. Thank you.

Exceptional food and ambiance. Wonderful service. A true gem! I will definitely go back to The Upper West!

Had dinner here for the first time and I was completely wowed. The flavors were practically jumping out of the dishes. This place is going to be one of my new favorites.

We discovered Upper West while looking for a place to hold a party to celebrate my daughter's graduation from law school. I wanted it to be special, so we went to check it out and talk with the owner, Fred. Fred is amazing. He is friendly and helpful and he worked with us very closely to set up an amazing night. We took over the main part of the restaurant and the bar. He worked with the DJ and helped make the night very special. The restaurant is spectacular. Very nicely decorated with art from local artists that Fred rotates periodically. The bar is huge and inviting and well stocked. The tables are comfortable and the atmosphere is also warm and inviting. The staff are friendly and attentive and it feels like you're eating in your favorite local place. (For some people, it really is their local favorite!) The food for the party was buffet with passed appetizers. The food was spectacular and perfectly cooked. Beef perfect, salmon perfect....Nothing like the buffet dinner you would expect at a graduation party. Apps: mini burgers, spicy ahi tuna crunchy rice, lamb & fennel sausage Flat bread, and burrata toast. Main: Chopped salad, spring veggie fusilli pesto, marinated flank steak, blackened salmon, pan roasted Pittman farms chicken, and roasted cauliflower, grilled artichoke hearts. Everything we had is on the regular menu. I would recommend every one of those and more. There were mini desserts with & berries, all delicious. It was an open bar and all of their drinks were amazing. Go there! Enjoy yourself! (We're going there tonight! LOL!)

The menu is just wonderful. It was so difficult to choose between the small plates and the large. The menu has so many choices... We had Burrata, mussels, chicken curry, lamb flatbread and a tuna spread on an amazing rice concoction. The service was great. The place was packed but it felt like we had plenty of space. We are excited to try more items... Check this place out!

Love Love Love this place! Everything I've ever ordered there has been amazing but a special shout out for their Blue Cheese Chips! The owner and staff are always so welcoming!

This has been one of the few "go to" restaurants in the LA area for my wife and me. Last night we celebrated our anniversary there and while we always loved the food, it seemed even more delicious than before! The staff, beginning with Fred and the rest of the servers is excellent. All in all a "perfect" evening!

Came for dinela, and the place definitely did not disappoint. The wedge salad was deliciously refreshing and one of the best salads I've had, while the spicy ahi tuna crispy rice was solid, although the extreme spice covered up most of the other tastes and textures so that was unfortunate. The short rib was amazing -- well flavored and tender, and the mashed potatoes was great as well. Then came two scoops of ice cream -- the coffee flavor was definitely a new experience for me and both flavors were tasty. Chocolate cake again? Yes please! The only thing was that the although the service was good, it felt a little disorganized as there were multiple people checking in on the table, sometimes within a minute of each other. But I guess that's better than the reverse where your table is ignored! Ambiance was interesting with the large, open space.

This is such a cute little restaurant with great decor and awesome menu items. It's a bit on the pricier side, but the flavors of everything we ordered were worth it. Their lychee martini is a must-have and their charred avocado with whipped goat cheese...??? *Chef's kiss!!!* They get very booked, so make sure to use OpenTable to make a reservation in advance and they have metered street parking all around the area. I believe it ends at 8pm. Worth the visit!

Amazing food and great ambiance. Staff were kind and respectful. They make sure you are well taken care of.

My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night. The vibe is great, a nice bar, with high tables and also a dining area with local artwork on the walls. We started with the Burrata, it was fresh and delicious. We also had the fried sweet potatoes with strawberries also very delicious. We shared the sea bass it was excellently seasoned with a little crisp and very tasty. We had the Bramble and Sunset Smoke for cocktails and they were both delicious. The staff were friendly and the food and drinks were tasty with a great vibe. Definitely recommend checking this place out!

I came for a graduation celebration dinner. The ambiance and interior were nice, classy. The bathroom was so clean. The staff were very attentive and friendly, this includes the bar tenders and the wait staff. All of them were warm and welcoming. The food was amazing. I've been eating some of the leftovers and it's so good that I came to write a review. The flat iron steak, 10 out of 10, so tender and flavorful, perfect done-ness. Blackened salmon, very tasty, the salmon was also cooked to perfect done-ness, which is crucial for the salmon to not be dry. My favorite is the grilled artichokes. I cannot describe how delicious they are, I took some leftovers home, and they still taste so good. I will definitely be back.

The food was okay but, the servers constantly rushed us at our table. I have eaten at a countless number of restaurants and have never experienced such rude behavior. I highly recommend not coming here because the service is atrocious.

Best bar on West Side. Awesome drinks, food, bartender, and ambiance. Tip o the hat to the best or the best at the bar, Christopher and Alfonzo!

This is my go to place! The owner is always right there and does so much to make us feel special and appreciated for any special event! Thank you for the amazing service and the food is also amazing! There's such a variety of dishes and it's all tasty! I love the octopus and corn the most! It's super cozy and comfortable as well! We will be back soon!

5/5 food. 5/5 service. 5/5 ambiance. Owners are always present and ensuring all customers leave satisfied. I'm not sure I've ever been to a restaurant with so many regulars. I think that says everything you need to know about the place.

I ordered the seabass and the sauce was amazing. However, the potato's weee overly salted and I had to choose to eat between potato and the olives. I also got the spicy tuna with crispy rice and it was good but not spicy. If you are a sushi fan this would disappoint you! The ambiance was good overall but it was crowded and we could barely hear each other.

Upper West has been bookmarked for years. I'm very disappointed that I waited this long to finally pay a visit. My close friends knew that this restaurant was on my list, so they threw a surprise dinner for me on my birthday. We sat in the room with "Some like it hot" playing on the wall. From the service to the food, everything was absolutely phenomenal. I ordered the Pan Roasted Pittman Farms Chicken and the flavors meshed beautifully. One friend ordered the Seared Baja Striped Bass. Another ordered the Thai Peanut Noodles which was also delicious but threw me off because they were cold. Our server was awesome as well. He brought out a warm bread pudding with ice cream on top and we also ordered a key lime pie. The frosting on it was light and fluffy with hints of lavender. The coconut basil sorbet was very refreshing that came with the key lime pie. 10/10 will visit again.

I love Upper West! From the moment you enter, you're welcomed with a very warm hello from the owners. The service is impeccable (thanks, Mark) and the food is delicious! Try the spicy tuna on crispy rice and the octopus... Absolutely a crowd favorite!! I have introduced this place to many friends and co-workers - they all agree, yummy food! great service! excellent vibe! You will be very happy, check it out!

This is such a reliable restaurant. The food is delicious. Had the flatbread chopped salad and veggie curry. Plus a key lime tart for dessert. It was all fantastic. The owner and staff are very attentive . The bar is great too.

Poor service, food only fair, very noisy, We really did not have a waiter. I guess we did not have a large enough dinner order to merit being treated with respect. W will not be returning.

My favorite neighborhood place for food and drinks. The bartenders, especially Alfonso and Chris are amazing, attentive and so engaging, we love coming here! The food is delicious, and even though I come almost every week, the menu is so eclectic I can find something new and delicious every time. You won't be disappointed!

It is a lovely lovely place. Parking is quite a bit of headache. But once you are inside, it is warm and fuzzy. The vibe is very chill, and boy they have a lot of whiskeys. The food is very yummy. Easily one of the top spots for happy hour in SM

Everything here was amazing. I came here for dinner with a few friends and the vibe was impeccable. It was like a cozy hole in a wall that was also elegant. I got the sea bass which was amazing and I devoured the whole thing because it was that good. One of my friend got the veggie burger which she said was really good. Another friend got the same thing as me haha. The service was also great and I'll definitely be back to check out more food in the future.

They have an absolute SLEEPER on their menu-- surprisingly one of the best burgers in los angeles. Incredibly juicy with a jus that I would gladly replace water with for the rest of my life. Consistently great food, friendly staff, and fun atmosphere!

I'm updating my review to the 5 stars it deserves, the manager and owner contacted me and went em over everything. It was a misunderstanding by all but now it's understood and smoothed out. Everything from the food to the atmosphere to the wait staff was impeccable and far exceeded all my expectations. This is definitely a new favorite for me and I can't wait to bring my family here.

We went to the Upper West due to its proximity to parking and our ultimate destination as well. We arrived as the restaurant opened and snagged some great seats at the bar. Thereafter, the restaurant otherwise almost filled up quickly due largely to the presence of two big groups with concurrent events. The decor/ambiance is quite pleasing as a result of natural light and the beautiful large bar back. The staff with whom we dealt was excellent across the board, especially Chris at the bar. The food and drinks that we had were outstanding. We almost never go to the area in which the Upper West is located. However, we would very gladly return to this establishment, if we returned to the area.

Let's talk about how amazing the staff and management is. They are very friendly, and Fred is very personable. Came here last night for my mother's and sister's birthday and the food was incredible. We had the chopped salad, octopus, chicken and few additional dishes. Delicious. Love the ambiance and art work installations. A must try, you gonna be a regular for life.

What a fabulous restaurant! Fred and staff went above and beyond for our daughter's engagement party. The venue had the perfect private room with romantic ambiance. Our party of 30 were pleasantly surprised by the speed of our food coming out and the delicious flavors presented. Everyone had a great time.

Upper West is super nice and well decorated inside. They have a pretty nice menu keeping it simple yet modern. After we sat down, I was greeted instantly by our server. I told him I was waiting for my girlfriend to start ordering. Once she did arrive, it took forever to get the attention of the server to come back so we can officially order. The server was nice, I just wish he checked in once my GF got there. Later into the meal the owner checked in frequently to make sure everything is okay which I did appreciate. Food wise.. The burrata was a huge hit, but the other dishes like the corn and flatbread was just only 'OK'. Key Lime Tart was different but quite delectable. Overall, Upper West is much better than a 3 star, but hard to give it a 5. If I come back I'll probably limit it to having a cocktail at the nice looking bar.

My sister and I came here for restaurant week. We tried to order different items so that we can share and in the end, we both had enough for a meal to take home! For the appetizer, I got the Salmon on Crispy Rice and she got the Burrata. Both were delicious and done well. I loved the spicy touch of jalapeno on the salmon. For the main, I tried the Pork and she got the Beef. I would say the beef was definitely wayyy better. I felt like the pork dish was a little too sweet for me. The beef flavor was amazing and really melted in your mouth. For the dessert, I got the Bread Pudding and she got the Chocolate Pie. Both were yummy, but weren't anything super special. Overall, they had great service and the food came fairly quickly!