Darren's Restaurant & Bar

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Address:
1141 Manhattan Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Neighborhood:
Manhattan Beach / Hermosa Beach

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Cuisine:
Californian

Price: $31 to $50

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Darren's Restaurant & Bar Details

Dining Style: Fine Dining
Website: http://www.darrensrestaurant.com
Phone: (310) 802-1973
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 5:00pm - 10:00pm; Closed Sundays
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Californian
Executive Chef: Darren Weiss
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Smoking Area, Takeout, Wine
Catering: Private Parties and Off-site catering are available. Contact Bart Thompson for details.
Private Party Facilities: Private party booking is available.
Private Party Contact: Bart Thompson (310) 686-9069

Getting there

Cross Street: Manhattan Beach Blvd
Parking: Street Parking
Parking Details: Valet available Thurs, Fri, Sat

A word from Darren's Restaurant & Bar

Inspired cooking presented by friendly, attentive servers rewards dedicated foodies and wine aficionados at this beautifully designed, comfortable space located in the heart of charming Manhattan Beach, just steps away from famous picturesgue Manhattan Beach pier. Executive Chef and owner, Darren… Weiss, classically trained graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and finest restaurants and hotels, uses the finest ingredients, mainly locally grown and organic. Our knowledge staff proudly serves an award-winning, extensive wine list selected from reowned and boutique wineries. In addition, our full service bar offers popular brand name and craft beers and some of the most creative and exciting cocktails in L.A. County, created by Manager Bart Thompson and his staff.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
Diners' Choice WinnerCalifornian

Darren's Restaurant & Bar - Best Restaurants in Manhattan Beach

Diner Reviews

"Top notch food and service always await at Darren's. We are proud of this local chef! Our sole complaint is the high mark ups on wine. Even by L.A. standards the mark ups are steep."
Dined on 6/27/2014
"In as few a words as possible so-so. The steak was great everything else was lacking. We had 3 appetizers and 3 desserts."
Dined on 6/26/2014
"Had the rock shrimp ravioli and the crispy quail. Both were excellent! Bottle of half price Cakebread Chardonnay which is the Monday special. While the patio is under construction the restaurant itself is working great."
Dined on 6/9/2014
"We chose this restaurant as our high end dinner on Fri evening and were disappointed on a few fronts. We sat on the patio which was nice and quiet but the way the table was situated all three of us were sitting in a row which made it hard for conservation. The food was ok for the price, nothing to write home about. The service was absolutely terrible. The server was rude and when delivering drinks dropped them on the table and had some of my drink spilled into a $25 appy we have just gotten! I am usually pretty easy going when it comes to busy restaurants etc but when you look at the overall experience compared to the cost of the food and the way the server treated us, its pathetic... Chose another restaurant if you can. "
Dined on 5/23/2014
"Great menu choices. From apps to dessert, you can't miss! My halibut melted in my mouth and my boyfriend's bone in filet (yes, bone in filet -- quite unique) was to die for. Both of our meals were the specials but the reg menu had great choices too. An added bonus is no corkage when you bring in wine from Friends of the Vine and a two other local places. Our waiter also helped make our dining experience enjoyable. "
Dined on 5/9/2014
"Bart welcomed my wife and I, Jonathan the bartender cam and said hello...food was amazing...we love Darren's...hands down our favorite dining experience in the South Bay! Cheers!"
Dined on 4/18/2014
"Tuesday Prix Fixe special was great! Wonderful service and menu. Great salads and apps as well. "
Dined on 4/15/2014
"I took my husband here for his birthday. He wanted fish. He had the Shetland Salmon. Let me tell you, my husband is a salmon snobe! He took one bite and closed his eyes in shear happiness! Everything was outstanding. I had the Chilean Sea Bass. Huge portion. I can never finish a meal, but not this time...I had to stay as long as it took to eat the whole thing. The presentation was also outstanding. The flavors were so vibrant. Each spice complemented the other. The salad was to die for! Beautiful ambience Highly recommend. My husband ordered a drink that he wasn't very happy with, they took it back immediately and made a recommendation that was spot on! It was a wonderful birthday dinner!"
Dined on 4/15/2014
"This was the first visit to Darren's after receiving a recommendation from a work friend. The chowder was unbelievable and the salmon was superb. Jessica was our server and she was really wonderful - cool, comfortable and smiling! I would say the people at Darren's just get it!"
Dined on 3/29/2014
"I live in MB and was taking a client and her husband out to dinner. Trying to decide where was a challenge... There are lots of great restaurants in town. I didn't want to go too trendy or loud. I just wanted great food. So I chose Darren's. Entrees can easily get in to the 30's and 40's. My husband had halibut (the special of the evening). It wasn't until the next day he said how disappointed he was - it was overcooked. The next day, my client mentioned that his halibut was also dry. (The wife had the scallops and she said they were awesome.) They said felt bad for me because they could see the menu prices…. We ordered 2 glasses of wine and 2 cocktails. The bill was 350.00. Sorta disappointed and won't be racing to go back."
Dined on 3/20/2014
"...with super service. The hostess/waitress gave us great advice without being pushy, really knew the wine list and menu. Food was all good, just a really nice meal. Quail appetizer especially good. Also the crime brûlée (basic but beautiful execution)."
Dined on 2/27/2014
"For months now I've been wanting to try Darren's. But, each time, the opportunity fell on a Sunday (they're closed on Sundays). Finally, given the chance, we visited on a Friday evening. The food and the service were wonderful. It was a little loud and the tables were a bit close together, but, overall, the experience was wonderful. We'll definitely return in the future. Oh, reservations are a must!"
Dined on 2/27/2014
"Especially the truffled baked potato gnocchi appetizer. That alone would bring me back. Also, our waitress was excellent. Really enjoyed her."
Dined on 2/26/2014
"The best food in Manhattan Beach. We are transplanted New York food snobs, and while we do enjoy some of the other local restaurants, Darren's is truly head and shoulders above the rest. It's not about the scene, it's about exquisite food. Perfection every time."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"We went to Darren's after the great Yelp reviews. It didn't let us down. Everything was wonderful and we can't wait to go again!"
Dined on 1/27/2014
"Fish is always good and the lobster chowder is the best!"
Dined on 1/17/2014
"We had New Year's Eve reservations, but after doing touristy things all day, we were beat. We stopped by early to see if we could get in a little earlier. We were told that as soon as the bar was set up and the kitchen prep was done, they could accomodate us. So we went back around 5:00 and we were treated like royalty. The manager, bar tender, wait staff and even Darren gave us special care and attention to make sure our dinner was the best New Year's Eve dinner ever."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"There were four of us. We ordered two crab cakes and the Ahi Poke for appetizers. These crab cakes are NOT your ordinary crab cakes. The are the MOST DELICIOUS crab cakes you may ever encounter. We had chicken, duck and pork. All three dishes were nothing less than outstanding. This chef is a true professional and at the top of his game. The atmosphere was loud because of the bar area. There is not much square footage in the place. The negative is the bar area is way too loud and it ruins the dining ambience and overall atmosphere."
Dined on 1/3/2014
"WE stumbled onto Darren's while driving from Hermosa Beach to Playa del Rey. The quality of the food was off the charts! All dishes has robust flavors. The service we received from Jessica was second to none. We will be back, and absolutely recommend Darren's."
Dined on 1/2/2014
"excellent menu and monday night is 50% off wine ! the food is great. i enjoyed the chowder. the wine list is very solid. the service was almost as good as the food. but i would definitely go back"
Dined on 12/16/2013
"My wife and I had dinner at Darren's this past weekend and absolutely loved it. The menu is terrific and our choices were truly exceptional and the service couldn't have been better. The wine by the glass is good and reasonably priced. Unlike so many places with ridiculous noise levels (e.g., MB Post and Little Sister), the noise level at Darren's is just moderate and allows for normal conversation. We rate Darren's as among the top 3 restaurants in the South Bay, having lived and dined here for over 15 years. Bravo!"
Dined on 12/14/2013
"Quality ingredients, great preparation, attentive, non-intrusive service...Doesn't get much better! If dining in Manhattan Beach this is the best choice."
Dined on 12/13/2013
"I had a good dinner at Darren's, however it was over the top expensive for what they serve. We have so many great restuarants In Manhattan Beach, I doubt that I will go back there again."
Dined on 12/12/2013
"First time here. We arrived 45 minutes early and they were able to accommodate. The chef is the owner and he came out to check on us several times, even clearing our table. He was great, food was excellent. Loved the lobster soup. I am going back!"
Dined on 12/12/2013
"Been here many times...always an amazing food experience! Enjoy having a cocktail at the bar before dinner"
Dined on 12/4/2013
"So we were looking for a place to celebrate my birthday last minute in an area where I haven't dined in over 10 years.... Daunting. But we came across Darren's and I am so glad we did! Reviews on OpenTable were good so we went for it. We arrived early and were seated immediately. We found the wine list to be well stocked and cocktails were inventive and tasty! We started our mean with the sweet and spicy lobster bisque (WONDERFUL) and the Rock Shrimp Ravioli (Also wonderful). We went directly to main dishes where we had both the Braised Short Ribs (very nice but not as fantastic as the next dish) and the Brick-Cooked Chicken. The Chicken was to die for. We were comped a dessert but were too full, so we got a scoop of gelato. Go!"
Dined on 11/30/2013
"Dropped into Darren's restaurant to grab a nice dinner before catching a movie and we were blown away! The appetizers and salads were phenomenal and the main dishes were killer! We went with the salmon and the beef short ribs, couldn't go wrong there! Definitely worth dropping in on when the line at MBP is wrapped around the block!"
Dined on 11/22/2013
"Although I have been to Darren's several times over the years it had been a while since my last visit. The entire experience reminded me of why it continues to be my favorite restaurant in the South Bay. For starters the staff is very knowledgeable about both food and wine without any of the pretentiousness one could expect from such a gourmet establishment. A full bar with creative mixes rounds out the entire experience adding great spirits - pun intended. The food is the star here though. Obviously prepared delicately with care and attention to detail, every bite was truly savored. Much is said about the trendy neighbors across the street serving overpriced comfort food but I'll take Darren's any day."
Dined on 11/14/2013
"We started off our evening at Darren's by being greeted by an extremely rude hostess. We had a reservation and she was not pleasant. It put definitely changed our opinion of Darren's. The food was good, not spectacular like we were expecting. Next time we will visit Little Sister next door - great food and great employees."
Dined on 11/1/2013
"We always enjoy dining here & have for years. Great food with seasonal menu, wine selection & service. Highly recommend for special occasions, dates, or a nice night out."
Dined on 11/1/2013
"Prefixe Tuesday is a great deal. The food is extremely good and creative. Nice selection of wines by the half-bottle. Great staff."
Dined on 10/22/2013
"The scallops are amazing! Excellent service, beautiful restaurant. Thank you!"
Dined on 10/25/2013
"I took my wife to Darren's for our anniversary (It really was our anniversary). Honestly, I started out looking for 1000 points in Manhattan Beach, but after reading the reviews, this had to be the place. We were immediately seated in the best corner in the house. The Reisling went well with the seafood pasta and green & black mussels, which were each in a terrific sauce. The service was friendly and efficient all the way around. My jacket was hung up? Really? How nice! AND we received a very nice anniversary treat from Darren's. Thanks. Really. Yes, we will return. Soon."
Dined on 10/22/2013
"Gracious host, fantastic menu, delicious food, fabulous service, excellent cocktail and wine list. What more could you ask for?"
Dined on 10/19/2013
"We went to Darren's for my birthday dinner. The short ribs were the best I ever had. My son and husband had the ribeye, which was the most tender cut, delicious. Not inexpensive, but worth it! You may want to sit outside on the patio, it was much quieter. I hear the happy hour is also great and plan to try it."
Dined on 10/18/2013
"Even for 2 vegetarians, this restaurant was OUTSTANDING! We will definitely return!"
Dined on 10/18/2013
"Darren's special price fix was incredible! The hanger steak was cooked to perfection and the spicy stuffed pepper should be on the menu! Great bartender as well!"
Dined on 10/15/2013
"We have been to Darren's several times and each time we go we have a wonderful experience. The food is always outstanding, the service is great, and the chef/owner is always around making sure you have a wonderful time. I would highly recommend Darren's."
Dined on 10/11/2013
"Everything was delicious and exquisite! You can tell that the chef takes pride in his food. We love going here."
Dined on 10/11/2013
"Place is quaint with a romantic atmosphere. The service was great and the food came out in a timely manner. The lobster chowder is delicious...a must try!! The seared ahi tasted fresh and was packed with amazing flavors. The risotto was cooked perfectly, I truly enjoyed my meal. My friend's pork chop was a bit salty but the restaurant corrected that fairly quickly. Great birthday dinner!!"
Dined on 10/1/2013

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