Citrin is a californian fine-dining restaurant in Downtown, Santa Monica.
Editorially verified August 18, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
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Address: 1104 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Melisse is the 14-seat tasting counter hidden behind Citrin in Santa Monica, a two-Michelin-star room from Josiah Citrin and chef partner Ken Takayama.
OrderThe full tasting menu; the kitchen builds it around the week's market
TipAround 800 dollars for two before wine, with a strict no-cancellation policy; book two to three weeks out.
Michael's Santa Monica has run since 1979, Michael McCarty's garden dining room on 3rd Street where a long line of famous chefs cooked market-first food.
OrderWhatever the market plates are that week; the garden room is the point
TipAlumni include Jonathan Waxman and Nancy Silverton; chef Job Carder now runs the hyper-seasonal menu. Book on Resy.
Melisse is the 14-seat tasting counter hidden behind Citrin in Santa Monica, a two-Michelin-star room from Josiah Citrin and chef partner Ken Takayama.
OrderThe full tasting menu; the kitchen builds it around the week's market
TipAround 800 dollars for two before wine, with a strict no-cancellation policy; book two to three weeks out.
Pasjoli on Main Street is Santa Monica's French bistro benchmark, lately loosened up with a bigger bar menu and its famous tableside pressed duck restored.
OrderTableside canard a la presse, or the cordon bleu chicken wings at the bar
TipThe pressed duck is a 350 dollar whole-bird production for the table; order it when you book, not on arrival.
Seline is Dave Beran's Michelin-starred tasting room on Main Street in Santa Monica, a cerebral 295 dollar procession from the Californian landscape.
OrderThe seasonal tasting menu; courses change constantly
TipPlan around two and a half hours for the full menu; reservations open by the month and the counter seats sell first.
Shunji on Ocean Park Boulevard is Santa Monica's serious omakase counter, a chef-led 295 dollar procession of aged and marinated fish booked via Tock.
OrderOmakase only; the aged marinated tuna nigiri is the anchor
TipThe room is tiny and reservations go through Tock; aged marinated tuna nigiri is the signature move.
Michael's Santa Monica has run since 1979, Michael McCarty's garden dining room on 3rd Street where a long line of famous chefs cooked market-first food.
OrderWhatever the market plates are that week; the garden room is the point
TipAlumni include Jonathan Waxman and Nancy Silverton; chef Job Carder now runs the hyper-seasonal menu. Book on Resy.
Capo is Bruce Marder's almond-wood-fired Italian room on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, open since 1998 with a cellar of more than 2,500 wine selections.
OrderRigatoni with white truffle meat sauce and something off the wood fire
TipThe wine list has held Wine Spectator's Grand Award every year since 2015; budget accordingly.
