Best Hot Spot Restaurants in Playa del Rey

The mushroom calamari and Cauliflower cacio e pepe were the standouts. But everything we ordered was delicious.

Food & drinks (both boozy and non-boozy) were delicious. We had a large table of 10 people and one person canceled - they had no issue with this and didn't require a deposit, but they did include a service charge which was totally sensible. A bit dark in the covered patio area, so you may need your phones to read the menus, but otherwise very lovely, large, airy setting and nicely heated. We had an early reservation, so it wasn't as noisy/bustling as I've seen it before. They were out of a couple of things on the drink menu - maybe not as stocked up due to the less busy holiday weekend? We had the seafood tower, multiple starters and sides, in addition to a variety of their mains and everything had really balanced flavors and textures. I even really enjoyed the lamb and I'm normally not that into lamb. Highly recommend for a large group for dinner. They do have a dessert menu that looked interesting but we did not try it (my favorite Wanderlust ice cream shop is nearby so we did that instead). Wait staff was very patient despite some of our indecisive guests, lol. Everyone was able to find street parking close by (but it was an early dinner on a holiday weekend).

Inventive food, wonderful flavors and a menu few retardants can match in its breakfast to dinner offerings - always a pleasure coming here.

Thanksgiving dinner was excellent. Both the soup and salad were well done, The dinner entree was just right. As usual, the staff were attentive and friendly.

Having grown up in the restaurant biz and after running one of the most successful joints in town, I must say, THIS might be one of the most quintessential places in all of Southern CA. Makai (sp?)greeted us like we were family. Can’t wait to come back.