Best Modern European Restaurants in Santa Monica

I love food so I don't discriminate on food. Simple dish as the Ceasar salad was fresh and delicous to a richer, decadent, Beef Bourguignon that literally melted in your mouth were all delicous. Be daring. If too cautious the staff is more than willing to help.

Food was great. I love their pasta and we really enjoyed all of our appetizers as well. Service was meh. We had to wait in the cold until our whole party had arrived - not even got offered to sit at the bar in a completely empty place. Also at a $400 tab, I expect not getting the check handed in a machine like ordering a $5 latte...

Not sure how I missed chef Mairinger having a restaurant opened up again since January. I loved his “Bierbeisl” restaurant back in the day. “Lustig” was absolutely fabulous! We started with the “Bigeye Tuna Canoli”, and we had a veal “Wiener Schnitzel” and a Sausage Sampler as mains. Absolutely excellent food. We finished with the “Strudel Cigars” and added a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream to it. Icing on the cake. Service was also top notch, and Chef Mairinger came out at the end to ask for our opinion. While it is on the pricier side, it is worth every penny, and we definitely will be back! Glad to see he’s back on the map, so to speak!

This was, without a doubt, one of the top 5 dining experiences of my life; I told the waiter it was the USA's answer to Noma. Unbelievably creative, visually stunning, absolutely delicious food with exquisite service; it should be on everyone's bucket list.

The food is amazing but very pricey for how big the portion is. The restaurant is so tiny that you can’t accommodate large group inside. Parking garage is ample.