Ivy at the Shore - Santa Monica (CA)

5 /5 Ana Salt: We went for a Christmas Eve Dinner. It was full. Everything was really great! We had Cesar salad, oysters, seafood spaghetti, pork ribs, Marry Mimosa & Amaretto sour - everything was just perfect.

5 /5 Denis C: The Ivy in Santa Monica is a wonderful spot, especially if you can sit on the patio with a view of the pier and sunset. The crab cakes are easily top three I have ever had, rich, fresh and full of flavor. The oysters were fresh and tasty, the lobster ravioli with Ivy pink sauce was creamy and delicious, and the sea bass with ginger coconut curry was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The service was warm and attentive, making the whole experience even better. I highly recommend it for both the food and the view.

3 /5 Connor Kamp: I so badly wanna give this place a higher review, but slow service and inattentive waiters dampened the experience for me. I stumbled into this lovely spot at 1PM because I thought it was a different restaurant that I had entered into my GPS. At that point it was too late to turn back so I asked for a solo table on the outdoor patio. The atmosphere outside was fantastic; I loved the fresh flowers and vintage artwork. It took almost 10 minutes before I was given a food menu and a then another 10 minutes before I was given an opportunity to order. I noticed groups around me who had been seated when I arrived had still not had an opportunity to order their food. I even overheard a table next to me expressing great dissatisfaction with the service. Even more surprising, it was a full 20 minutes from seating before I got the complimentary bread delivered to my table. Albeit, this was the first indication that the food here was on another level of delicious. I ordered the lobster sandwich for lunch and was thoroughly impressed. The bread was fantastic, lobster fresh and juicy, and the dressings top notch; This was among the best lobster sandwiches I can remember having. The side of chips were clearly homemade, and perfectly fried to a satisfying crisp. Additionally, the Gimlet I ordered was superb, with plenty of fresh mint. The food here is truly delicious, which is to be expected for the price and history of the venue. Frankly, the service I got was not all bad. In fact, I had received and finished my food before many of the tables around me had even received their entrees, despite being seated before me. I got the feeling the waitstaff may have been offering me preferential treatment. This experience was nice, and I always appreciate dining so close to the ocean. However, the service was clearly not up to par, perhaps they were down a server today.

5 /5 Jacquelyn Pruet: The Ivy by the Shore is a sister restaurant to the original Ivy, and it upholds the same high standards beautifully. The food, service, and atmosphere were all perfection. I have dietary restrictions and did not want to feel rushed. I was taken care of impeccably on all fronts. I was seated on the terrace overlooking the shore, which made the experience even more special. The food was delicious, and the service was as lovely as the setting. From the valet and the host to the servers and even the bus staff, everything was handled flawlessly. In a part of town where the boardwalk can feel chaotic, with vendors and the occasional wandering passerby, The Ivy offers a true respite a place of good taste, care, and calm. My Americano was perfectly prepared, and the tuna tartare was excellent. An absolute gem in Santa Monica.