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.
What We Paid
Dinner here comes with a warning, which is kind of the point of this post: the prices at the table were higher than the prices on Shoreside’s website. This is what we actually paid at that dinner, from our bill:
| Dish | What we paid |
|---|---|
| Yellowtail Crudo | $27 |
| Roasted Garlic Hummus | $21 |
| Coffee Spice Rubbed Ribeye (14 oz) | $90 |
| Kids’ Spaghetti & Meatball | $18 each |
| Shirley Temples (2) | $14 |
| Chocolate Opera Cake | $12 |
Our food and drinks came to $200 before tax. With tax, tip, and fees, the bill total was $273.18 — and a $50 Father’s Day Treat credit through inKind covered part of it. The ribeye is the headline: listed at $58 on the restaurant’s website, it was $90 on our bill. Details on that gap are below.
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. Two Shirley Temples came to $14 on our bill, $7 each.
The Roasted Garlic Hummus. Silky, well-seasoned, served with warm grilled pita and fresh seasonal vegetables – a good starter, not an afterthought. It was $21 on our bill.
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. It was $27 on our bill — and worth every cent.
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. It was $90 on our bill. More on that price below, because the website says something very different.
The chocolate cake. Dense, deeply chocolatey, beautifully plated. Worth ordering even if you think you’re too full. On the bill it’s the Chocolate Opera Cake, $12.
The inKind savings. Booking through inKind also put a $50 Father’s Day Treat credit toward this 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. Each kids’ spaghetti and meatball was $18 — $36 for two — which makes the letdown sting a bit more.
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 | Sun–Thu: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM · Fri–Sat: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Reservations | Book via OpenTable or shoresidesantamonica.com |
| Parking | Valet $15 with restaurant validation (up to 3 hours). Hotel self-parking also available, plus street parking and nearby structures on Ocean Ave. You don’t need to valet here (believe me). |
| Best For | Date nights, family dinners, coastal celebrations |
Quick Answers
What does dinner at Shoreside cost?
For our family of four in June 2026: $200 in food and drinks, $225.38 with tax, and $273.18 all-in with tip and fees — before a $50 inKind credit. Budget more than the website menu suggests; in-house prices ran higher.
How much is the ribeye?
$90 on our bill. Shoreside’s website listed the Coffee Spice Rubbed Ribeye at $58 — a $32 gap. It’s a 14 oz prime Harris Ranch cut and it’s excellent, but confirm the price when you order.
What’s the one dish to order?
The Yellowtail Crudo ($27) — fresh yellowtail over ginger ponzu with Persian cucumber, watermelon radish, pickled red onion, and serrano. It was the best dish on our table.
Is Shoreside good for kids?
Mostly yes. The kids loved their Shirley Temples ($7 each), and the staff were wonderful. But the kids’ spaghetti and meatball ($18 each) was the weakest food we ordered — adventurous eaters will do better ordering off the regular menu.
What about the wind on the patio?
Real issue. Santa Monica’s coastal wind sent napkins flying at our dinner; the staff brought blankets and cranked the heaters. Check the wind forecast before booking the patio, or sit inside on gusty evenings.
Where do you park?
Valet is $15 with dining validation for up to 3 hours, per the restaurant’s site. There’s also hotel self-parking and street parking on Ocean Ave — you don’t need to valet.
Is there a happy hour?
Yes — Golden Hour at the bar and lobby lounge, Monday to Friday, 3pm to 6pm.
