Water Grill - Santa Monica

Review summary

1. A

   Alejandro

   San Francisco

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Always great service. Wish there were more options food wise but great food overall.
   

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2. H

   Hicham

   VIP

   Los Angeles

   60 reviews

   5.0

   60 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   2nd visit this time to water grill. NYE 2025 🎉 Pleasant atmosphere, the service was excellent The food does not disappoint Will definitely do again Highly recommend
   

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3. M

   Marisela

   VIP

   Los Angeles

   8 reviews

   3.0

   8 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Our New Year's Eve experience at Water Grill in Santa Monica started with high expectations, especially after receiving their email about a special four-course dinner event. Excited, I made a reservation, secured it with a credit card, and looked forward to a memorable evening. Upon our prompt arrival, the hostess greeted us and left to check on our table. Shortly after, another hostess escorted us in the opposite direction—outside. It was a cold evening, and no one else was seated outdoors. We were told indoor seating was not guaranteed when we inquired about why we were being seated outside. Adding to our frustration, she mentioned we were "lucky" to have a table, as others had been waiting for two hours. I politely pointed out that this condition was never disclosed when I made the reservation. Had I known indoor seating wasn't guaranteed, I might have reconsidered. The hostess simplged her shoulders and walked away. Unwilling to settle for an outdoor table in the cold, my son returned to speak with staff. Fortunately, a high table with stools was large enough to accommodate our party of seven. We gladly took it and finally began our dining experience. Our waitress was exceptional, providing attentive service throughout the evening. The food and wine pairing were also delicious, meeting our anticipated high standards. However, another oversight dampened the evening. I noted we were also celebrating a special birthday when making our reservation. My son was the first baby born in Santa Monica on New Year's Day 24 years ago. A few days before the reservation, a staff member even called to confirm our booking and asked about the occasion, to which I reiterated the significance of the birthday celebration. Despite this, no birthday acknowledgment had been made when our bill arrived. After some time, we asked about it, and eventually, someone delivered a dessert with a candle. The gesture felt impersonal as no one said, "Happy Birthday."
   

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4. R

   Ronald

   Los Angeles

   23 reviews

   5.0

   23 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   New Year’s Eve at Water Grill was memorable. The staff were all very friendly and attentive. They seated us in a private room, which made it special. The NYE four course menu had numerous options that my group of 7 were each able to find excellent choices. Everyone raved about their courses. The meats and seafood were cooked perfectly. The portion sizes were enough that several people had leftovers. The final desert course topped off the evening. The chef stopped in to also check on us, which was a nice touch. Thank you Water Grill! for an amazing evening!
   

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5. AD

   AntonioD

   Houston

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   I have never experienced a restaurant that added seasoning to the dessert and not seasoning to the food. The ambience is nice and it’s in a nice area. If you want to go to a place for a look. This would be it. However, if you’re going for good food… the food in this establishment is tasteless and not worth it.
   

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6. WA

   WAYS

   Indiana

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Our dining experience was outstanding. I hadn’t been to The Water Grill in over 30 years and they are still a great restaurant to dine in
   

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7. t

   tobi

   Los Angeles

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This was a wonderful dinner and way to celebrate the new year! One issue we had was the valet never came back to help us park, so park your own car around the corner! Except for the parking, the salad the oysters the Seabass the cheesecake the bread the wine everything was so exquisitely delicious and we had wonderful staff who made sure we were taken care of. We highly recommend this for a romantic dinner out. 
   

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8. L

   Lori

   VIP

   Seattle

   12 reviews

   5.0

   12 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Always outstanding. Food, service, ambience, wonderful once again. Octopus appetizer was cooked perfectly, black cod & Chilean sea bass mains were amazing. No room for dessert. Service-top notch. If you’re in LA, check them out.
   

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9. S

   Sheila

   Los Angeles

   4 reviews

   4.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We celebrated a birthday there. We had a nice time. Would have preferred 2 options for a birthday dessert. The cookie dessert was tasty, but we aren’t a “cookies-for-dessert” family.
   

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10. C

    Christopher

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    We've gotten to love Water Grill! Meals at both Santa Monica and DTLA have been top-notch for seafood lovers. Today's Chilean Sea Bass and Bigeye Tuna entrees were wonderful, as were the sides of toasted butternut squash, broccolini and caesar salad. My son won't touch fish but he loved the cheeseburger and the squash as well. We've never been anything other than delighted with a meal here. good value when you consider the high qualilty seafood that is served.
    

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