I loved it here! Didn’t have any expectations going in but service was excellent, and each menu item was so delicious and flavorful. Some portions maybe even too large lol. I swear the mussel dish came with like 25 mussels at least. The burrata and peaches came with the most delicious and soft sourdough which also paired well with the mussels and butter. Also loved the artichoke hearts. We got the mushroom pizza and tagliatelle, but were so full by then but it was great for leftovers the next day. We also got two desserts, an affogato and chocolate budino w/ mascarpone (which was like a chocolate pudding thing), not too sweet which I liked. I’ll definitely be back to try more things
Taylor
.
25 Settembre 2025
10,0
Wonderful local restaurant, GREAT food & the atmosphere is just perfect. Service is always outstanding as well. We have yet to be disappointed with any dish, & consistently enjoy our dining experience. Great cocktails, mocktails & wine list too :). This local gem should be on your restaurant bucket list if you live anywhere on the westside, are visiting the westside- & especially if you live IN Santa Monica. You won’t be disappointed!
V M
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28 Agosto 2025
10,0
Great food and drinks! Fast and friendly service. The seafood is super fresh. Everything was well prepared. Awesome place!
Chris King
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14 Agosto 2025
10,0
Neighborhood gem! Everyone who works here is also very friendly. I love the ricotta cavatelli and chicken Milanese
Gerard Padilla
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06 Agosto 2025
10,0
Update: 7/27/2025. I am a local. I live 2-3 blocks from this restaurant. My wife and have been walking over and eating here for years since its inception. And yet, no one seems to know us, nor remember us. It's weird.
Compared to other places that we frequent regularly, we often receive a warm smile upon our return, or even a "welcome back" or "good to see you again" by our servers and wait staff. We hoped LOCAL would be our local hangout. Nope. I realize now, after years, that we've never really felt welcomed. Not warm. Yet, we'd still come back time after time for our favorite dishes: But now they've changed this too. Frustrated, I've changed my ratings. They've changed my favorite mushroom truffle pizza (it came cold) and the mussels "lost its chili flakes bite" (plus super tiny tiny mussels this time.) At least the manager removed the mushroom pizza from our bill. That's good service.
On top of this, one of the hostesses is not very friendly, depends which one you get. I always expect that a hostess should make you feel welcome. A warm smile and greeting. Nope.
Our waitress was friendly, but new.
Not my local favorite anymore. I'm hoping they'll improve. I was routing for Local to be my favorite local restaurant.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
One of my favorites new restaurants on Ocean Park, only a few blocks away from my house. It's great to have such a nice restaurant within walking distance. Not only convenient but excellent food, cocktails and wines.
One of my favorites is the mussels with sourdough bread. Great for sharing, but you must pay extra for the toasted sourdough bread which you must have to dip into the wonderful seafood broth (perfectly spiced and seasoned.)
The second is the mushroom truffle pizza. Ghisallo, known for their pizza, is a block or 2 away, but i think Local's pizza is better. Better cheeses, less oily, crispier, thinner crust. The best IMO.
Lastly, the 24 oz bone-in aged ribeye. This is a great dish to share. I love the chef's version of this classic dish. Again, other places can serve bone-in ribeye steak, but the smoky, grilled flavor is amazing. The only negative is that sometimes the ribeye may have a lot of fat. Sometimes, I'm cutting away 20% of the steak. I'll have to search back and find a picture of their ribeye and post it.
Overall, as a local, I enjoy eating here and trying their different dishes. They're all pretty good. Coming out of the pandemic, they had the best outdoor patio seating arrangement: cozy, front patio and a large parking lot patio, all with ample patio heaters. I prefer the indoor seating but it can get really loud when busy. I also gave only 4-stars for service, because sometimes, they seem understaffed. The service staff are good and friendly, but can be overwhelmed during peak hours. Thus we eat early and leave early, often taking our leftovers and walking back home. It's great to take a nice walk after dinner.
Henry Ting
.
30 Luglio 2025
6,0
First of all, Casey was such a wonderful server. Knowledgeable, kind, helpful and genuine—a rare treat in Santa Monica! Highly recommend the scallop dish!
becca Bernstein
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13 Maggio 2025
10,0
Great atmosphere and wonderful food excellently prepared
Keith Kirk
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25 Aprile 2025
10,0
First time here was great, I'll definitely be back ❤️
Chelsie Gray
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23 Aprile 2025
10,0
This is always a great spot on Ocean Park Blvd. Food is always spot on, cocktails and wine are great - and the service is always extremely helpful. And the spot is very relaxing!
Guthrie Paterson
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22 Aprile 2025
10,0
This place is the hands down best kept secret in Santa Monica . The food is fresh ,service is a 10 and ambience is delightful .Wine list and drinks are premium!!!!!!!!
Lelia Beach
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20 Aprile 2025
10,0