Water Grill - Santa Monica

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1. b

   behnoodm

   Orange County

   2 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined today

   overall4food4service3ambience4

   Mediocre overall!

   Report
2. D

   Daekus

   Los Angeles

   7 reviews

   4.0

   7 reviews

   Dined today

   overall4food5service5ambience5

   Terrific seafood, superb selections and friendly, helpful staff. The sea breeze and the view of the ocean want bad either!

   Report
3. JM

   JaniceM

   Philadelphia

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Outstandinng place for fish and seafood, fun ambience, excellent service. A great dinner for us!

   Report
4. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Washington DC

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Always amazed of my dishes and w feet of the employees.

   Report
5. J

   Jude

   Los Angeles

   11 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Water Grill us everything a restaurant should be. Food superb. Setting beautiful by the ocean. Wait staff attentive. I go there a lot and they never let me down.

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6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Los Angeles

   3 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   The food was EXCELLENT! I had the strip steak, my wife had the scallops, and my friends had the seafood platter.

   Report
7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Orlando

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Our server, Corey was excellent & food was amazing.

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8. JZ

   JewelZ

   Los Angeles

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall5food4service4ambience5

   Good improvement from last visit. We arrived couple minutes early to our reservation time and were seated soon after arrival (we waited 20 minutes past our reservation slot last time, so good job this time). Decent food with good service. Would recommend sitting on the patio around 8pm, so you can enjoy the beautiful sunset. As for food, it is on par with similar price range restaurants in Santa Monica. Suggestion for the soft-shell crab, it would taste much better if served with smaller crab or had crab lungs removed before frying them.

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9. j

   juliettef

   New York Area

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Très bon accueil et excellent repas produits frais je le recommande fortement

   Report
10. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Horrible food ,service and it smells there

    Report
11. WC

    WinstonC

    Los Angeles

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Awesome!!! We celebrated our 20 year anniversary! Everything was perfect ♥️♥️♥️

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12. NC

    NadiC

    Los Angeles

    4 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall3food2service3ambience3

    Food overpriced. Oysters ok. ran out of desert we wanted. busy location and not enough servers.

    Report
13. C

    Chowhound

    Chicago

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    A definite must do eatery in Santa Monica. Food is fresh and tasty. View of the ocean from the front patio is grand.

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14. r

    radman

    Los Angeles

    128 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    128 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience2

    Outstanding selection and excellent food. Very very good service. Comfortable seating. But much too noisy. Seemed like every other table was throwing a party. And the bar area, set right in the middle of the restaurant, rather than off to one side, just compounded that problem. Big screens playing one of those mixed martial arts fights. Management is trying to have its cake and eat it too: fine dining (at least with respect to the service and the food) while also maintaining the atmosphere of a sports bar, with shouting patrons and two thuggish men on the big screens relentlessly kicking and punching each other until they are swollen, bleeding zombies. Oh, and I love the free corkage!

    Report
15. LA

    LADiner

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great food, service and ambience.

    Report
16. JM

    JenniferM

    Los Angeles

    16 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2022

    overall1food2service1ambience2

    AWFUL. Depressing vibe, servers more interested in talking to each other than waiting on our table when the restaurant was 1/4 full. Ordered the swordfish well done, came out raw. Sent it back - the rest of the plate came out cold with 1/2 the fish missing and still not cooked through. Fish & chips didn't arrive with the first plates, our servers said the kitchen was making it crispy and then came out so coated it was hard to find the fish inside. The halibut dish was good. What a painful 2 hours and a sad reflection of a once great restaurant. Never again.

    Report
17. BA

    BillA

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2022

    overall3food5service4ambience2

    Waaaaay too loud. Like Gladstone’s for people with money to burn - but louder. The shellfish were fresh and well-prepared, and the oysters Rockefeller were good. Fried Calamari was not very special, and is much better at most Cal-Asian fusion restaurants in So Cal. Ok for tourists with a lot to spend, but waaay too much for locals who just want decent seafood.

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18. AB

    AliB

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 23, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience5

    It was a good experience. Not great. I requested it for a special occasion. It was my girlfriends birthday but there was no dessert or extra service even though it was. The fish n chips i got was ok, fries were kind of stale but the fish was good. My girlfriends shrimp scampi was good. And the Caesar salad was also ok. Overall it was a good experience because of the view. Thanks

    Report
19. AM

    AprilM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our server was truly EXCELLENT, never had to look for her, she was very customer friendly & service.

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20. R

    Rashida

    New York Area

    24 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The seafood is very fresh and very well prepared. My partner had cod which was amazing. Very flaky and delicious. I had one and half pound lobster which was very sweet. The waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable. We had a very good meal and I am sure next time we are in LA we will definitely go back.

    Report
21. JM

    JulieM

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 21, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience5

    Over priced. Food not as good as in the past. John, our waiter was entertaining and tried to get our order right but multiple times it was not. Fish was not deboned and very hard to eat.

    Report
22. EO

    EpicuriousOne

    London

    10 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on June 21, 2022

    overall2food2service4ambience2

    A swing and a miss, I’m afraid. I’d dined at the WG downtown long ago and thought it was exceptional so was really looking forward to trying the one in SM. We got a lovely table by a window, but the din of the ill-suited sports bar-like music put an immediate and long-lasting pall on the experience. We enjoyed a delicious salmon roll starter, but our main courses were very disappointing. I ordered the Eastern Scallops thinking I’d get lovely broiled or seared plain scallops with a bit of a crispiness atop a purée of cauliflower with a bit of curried cauliflower on the side , but what arrived were scallops & semi-charred cauliflower drenched in a curry sauce with a barely discernible teaspoon of purée beneath them. My dinner companion ordered the large filet mignon (12 oz, $69) “medium”, but even the server said, “oh…that’s not even rare…that’s purple!!”. They tried again; still raw in the middle. We asked if they would mind trying to butterfly it, which they kindly did and that seemed to make “medium” achievable.. The good news is, the more senior of our two servers (sorry I did not get his name when I thanked him later) was extremely cordial, professional and apologetic and took the steak off our bill and provided two lovely desserts on the house. Based on those gracious actions, I would try WG again…but sit outside and ask more questions about whatever I hope to order.

    Report
23. JR

    JulieR

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Celebrating my dad for Fathers Day

    Report
24. KH

    KimH

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 20, 2022

    overall1food2service1ambience4

    $500 for four people for what we received is outrageous. The sides and salad are extremely overpriced. $16 for a Wedge salad with 4 tiny pieces of bacon?! It took over 45 minutes to get anything to the table. One tiny butter for the table of four, we asked for more twice. It was barely enough for one person. The noise level is very high. Getting a waitstaff person is hard work even when half the tables are empty. Wouldn't go back or recommend going.

    Report
25. GW

    GihanW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    I toke my family on Father’s Day to water grill. Service was amazing . Food was great and customer service was 100 💯 . I will be going a k again .

    Report
26. A

    Anonymous

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 19, 2022

    overall3food4service4ambience3

    Not my first time here and I also go to the Costa Mesa outpost sometimes... Food was great (as usual), but prices were relatively high compared to last year or 2 years ago (inflation?). Table was unnecessarily cramped - basically Sat 6 of us in what its typically a 4-person table... barely had room for my water glass! Noise from the bar area kind of ruined the nice scenery and sunny day (had to shout at times for my fellow diners to hear me even though it's a tiny table).. Servers were super nice, but as with many places these days (tough to hire servers) they seemed stretched. Overall you feel they don't come around enough even though your meal is $100+/person and your tip is 3-figures (don't screw over the servers just because their managers can't hire enough staff!). Hopefully management figures out these pain points or long time customers will be forced to not come back despite the excellent food.

    Report
27. BF

    BruceF

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 19, 2022

    overall3food2service4ambience5

    Good was average and way overpriced. Atmosphere was great. Service above average-

    Report
28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 19, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Father’s Day filet and lobster brought out late. Steak overcooked lobster room temp and limp at best. Family received their food on time. Asked me what I wanted I said NY steak came out fine but didn’t eat at same time as family. Tried to charge me for steak which was unacceptable. Last time at your restaurant paid $175 for Chardonnay and it was warm. Waiter told me that’s normal temp!

    Report
29. HM

    HuseyinM

    New England

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 19, 2022

    overall3food4service3ambience3

    Seating and table service were slow. Outside seating too close to sidewalk with people waiting very near to table. Food was good but prices on the higher side.

    Report
30. MC

    MalibuCouple

    Los Angeles

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on June 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Still one of the best places to go eat for brunch, lunch or dinner.

    Report
31. KI

    KathyI

    Los Angeles

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on June 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent seafood, excellent service! Stacy is lovely. Outdoor dining was perfect, inside was noisy and dark and crowded.

    Report
32. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wonderful. Our server, Nick was superb.

    Report
33. R

    Rick

    Los Angeles

    17 reviews

    4.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Watergrill in Santa Monica is a busy place. You can sit outside on the patio or near to west side of the restaurant and have a view and the soft breeze of the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, we were seated further back and didn't benefit from the Ocean ambiance. That was a bummer. There is a longer story behind that, that I won't go into. Great food, great serve staff, convenient parking.

    Report
34. MJ

    MikeJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food and Service were excellent. Great place for a special occasion.

    Report
35. MN

    MNLA

    New York Area

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall3food2service3ambience3

    Dine at Water Grill fairly often. A favorite for out-of-town visitors. Food was really off tonight. Had to send two entrees back--overcooked, poorly prepared. Second time around on these entrees, preparations were extremely salty. Beyond a matter of personal taste, excessive salt ruined expensive dishes. Very disappointing for a restaurant that is usually good. Won't be back for a while.

    Report
36. M

    Mark

    Las Vegas

    21 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The homemade bread was delightful and the clam chowder was the best I have ever been served. The Crabcake made this eastern shore of Maryland native remember his childhood. The Chilean Sea was the highlight of the evening and the roasted nuts just added another level of flavor.

    Report
37. T

    Todd

    Orange County

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Always been good! We have eaten all their locations and never been disappointed. Would recommend the place.

    Report
38. M

    Madona

    Los Angeles

    28 reviews

    3.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on June 16, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience1

    Thinking that they just had an off day!

    Report
39. MW

    MaryW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 16, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food is absolutely superb!! Service & staff are comparable to 5 star eateries. Highly recommend

    Report
40. DG

    DarrylG

    San Francisco

    16 reviews

    4.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on June 16, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Open waterfront dining experience. Highly recommended for date night or special occasion. Great lively bar. Excellent mix cocktails and wine / beer selections. Very good quality foods and healthy choices. Special shout out to Kelly our server and Ashley (I think) the GM, for top notch service and attention to customer needs. Thank you will return for sure! Darryl.

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