Nestled steps from the Pacific Ocean at the beautiful Oceana Santa Monica hotel, La Monique restaurant brings French dining to the westside. The intimate French brasserie, designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, is lush and inviting with a design palette of emerald, rust and sapphire jewel tones; celebrity and French photographs; fresh flowers; a mirrored ceiling, a long backlit bar, cozy booths and intricate marquetry.
Top Chef finalist David Fricaud brings authentic French brasserie dishes with a contemporary twist to the menu, including a wide range of steak and seafood options.
Diners are greeted with a fresh warm delicious baguette paired with whipped regular and lavender flavored butter and Maldon sea salt. We also received a delicious mushroom croquette for our amuse bouche.
Starters include steak tartare, a very playful escargot popper with crème fraiche; a fun mini French Onion grilled cheese, burrata and heirloom tomato; tuna carpaccio; shrimp cocktail; Hamachi crudo, octopus with chorizo and crispy pork belly. There is also a caviar service with Beluga caviar, warm blinis and accoutrements.
Pastas include spaghetti with tomatoes, linguine with clams, butternut squash agnolotti, Bolognese tagliatelle and a daily risotto.
Steak lovers have a good selection to choose from including a dry aged ribeye, bone-in filet mignon, New York strip, A5 Wagyu Ichibo Cut, steak frites and a petit filet mignon.
There is also a great range of fish dishes including Dover sole, grilled branzino, halibut, salmon with forbidden rice; as well as chicken breast and duck options. Diners can also enjoy a decadent seafood tower with oysters, shrimp and lobster.
The brasserie also offers a variety of side dishes including potatoes mashed, fried, and in a gratin; roasted mushrooms; macaroni and cheese; grilled broccolini; sauteed and creamed spinach; roasted asparagus, and roasted carrots.
Cocktails are beautifully presented and French inspired, including the Miss Monique with Tito’s vodka, cherry nutmeg foam and rose water and the Message in The Bottle with coffee infused rum, Averna Amaro, banana liquor and chocolate bitters.
Perfect for a special celebration, intimate date night, or an evening in Santa Monica by the beach, La Monique sets a new standard for French dining in LA.
La Monique is open nightly for dinner from 6pm to 11pm. Reservations at 310.656.6000.
