Disclosure: This post contains references to inKind, a dining rewards platform I personally use. All opinions are entirely my own. I dined at Shoreside as a paying guest and was not compensated by the restaurant for this review.
After a long nursing shift, my husband and I took the kids to Shoreside Restaurant and Bar in Santa Monica, a spot we found through inKind, the dining rewards platform that gives you real money back for eating at restaurants you’d already visit. We were hoping for coastal patio vibes. What we got was a mostly great meal with two real problems worth knowing about before you go.
The Wind Problem at Shoreside
We wanted to eat outside, and the patio itself is lovely – relaxed but polished, the kind of place that works in jeans or a blazer. What we hadn’t planned for was Santa Monica’s coastal wind deciding to show up in full force that evening. This wasn’t a gentle breeze; it was the kind of wind that sends napkins flying and makes menus feel like a hazard. The staff were great about it – they brought blankets, cranked the outdoor heaters, and did everything they could to keep the patio comfortable. We stuck it out wrapped in blankets, but if you’re planning an outdoor dinner here, check the wind forecast first.
What We Loved at Shoreside
The mocktails. The kids’ non-alcoholic drinks (grenadine, ginger ale, a cherry on top) were simple classics done well, and the kids were thrilled with them.
The Roasted Garlic Hummus. Silky, well-seasoned, served with warm grilled pita and fresh seasonal vegetables – a good starter, not an afterthought.
The crudo. Fresh yellowtail over a bright ginger ponzu, with Persian cucumber, watermelon radish, pickled red onion, and a little heat from serrano peppers. Light, well-balanced, and the best dish on the table. If you order one thing here, order this.
The ribeye. The Coffee Spice Rubbed Ribeye is a 14 oz. boneless prime Harris Ranch cut – Harris Ranch beef meets USDA prime grading, the highest quality designation for beef in the US – with a dark, smoky coffee-spice crust and honey-glazed heirloom carrots on the side. Excellent, and easily shareable.
The chocolate cake. Dense, deeply chocolatey, beautifully plated. Worth ordering even if you think you’re too full.
The inKind savings. Booking through inKind got us 20% back on the bill, which took a real edge off the final total given the prices below.
What Didn’t Work
The kids’ pasta. Our daughters ordered the kids’ pasta with meatballs, and it just didn’t land – the pasta and meatballs were both fine, but noticeably less thought-out than the rest of the menu. Adventurous kid eaters might be better off ordering off the regular menu.
The price gap between the website and the actual menu. This is the bigger issue. The ribeye is listed at $58 on Shoreside’s website; at the table, it was $90 – a $32 difference, a 55% increase. It wasn’t an isolated case either – prices across the menu ran higher than what’s posted online, with the ribeye showing the widest gap. The food is worth a premium price, but the online menu should reflect what you’ll actually be charged. Go in with a revised budget.
Shoreside Restaurant and Bar – Need to Know Details
| Address | 1515 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401 |
| Phone | (310) 458-1515 |
| Hours | Mon–Thu & Sun: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM Fri–Sat: 6:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Reservations | Book via OpenTable or shoresidesantamonica.com |
| Parking | Street parking and nearby structures on Ocean Ave. They also have hotel self-parking with restaurant validation (approx: $17.50) and valet as well. We were informed that Valet is $10 more than the self-park option. You don’t need to valet here (believe me). |
| Best For | Date nights, family dinners, coastal celebrations |
Great content! Keep up the good work!