Los Angeles is a place of constant change, and yet, that isn’t necessarily the case in Santa Monica. While recent transformations have altered this city, part of its appeal is that its most popular attraction – the pier and boardwalk – have remained the same. At Water Grill, the balance between consistency and cutting-edge is comfortably similar. For the past 20 years, this restaurant has been a staple for fresh seafood in an upscale setting. And at its oceanfront Santa Monica location, menu items are sourced from the best waters, even if those locations are in a perpetual shift. Walk past the oversized bar at the center of a dark-wooded dining room and sit at a table overlooking a wall of windows. At dusk, shadowed palm trees line the view and a sea breeze will fill the air. Start with a cool Pimm’s cup or an apt sunset mimosa, and then order the crudo sampler with wild Eastern sea scallops and a Japanese mustard sauce. Later, squeeze lemon over a selection of oysters – which are sourced from Baja to Canada, New York to New Zealand, and beyond – and try a few with a kick of freshly grated horseradish. For the main dish, cut into the farmed Greek black bream of the snapper family, and enjoy it with a side of mashed potatoes. If change could always be this cozy, it would never be a bad thing. Photo courtesy of Water Grill.
More Recommendations
Go With The Flow At Water Grill
Los Angeles is a place of constant change, and yet, that isn’t necessarily the case in Santa Monica. While recent transformations have altered this city, part of its appeal is that its most popular attraction – the pier and boardwalk – have remained the same. At Water Grill, the balance between consistency and cutting-edge is comfortably similar. For the past 20 years, this restaurant has been a staple for fresh seafood in an upscale setting. And at its oceanfront Santa Monica location, menu items are sourced from the best waters, even if those locations are in a perpetual shift. Walk past the oversized bar at the center of a dark-wooded dining room and sit at a table overlooking a wall of windows. At dusk, shadowed palm trees line the view and a sea breeze will fill the air. Start with a cool Pimm’s cup or an apt sunset mimosa, and then order the crudo sampler with wild Eastern sea scallops and a Japanese mustard sauce. Later, squeeze lemon over a selection of oysters – which are sourced from Baja to Canada, New York to New Zealand, and beyond – and try a few with a kick of freshly grated horseradish. For the main dish, cut into the farmed Greek black bream of the snapper family, and enjoy it with a side of mashed potatoes. If change could always be this cozy, it would never be a bad thing. Photo courtesy of Water Grill.
The Familiar Satisfaction of Water Grill
A golden spring light pours through the windows of the Water Grill in Santa Monica at the start of dinnertime. Fog begins to descend on the boardwalk outside, softening the sunlight and casting a gray haze on the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Inside, a crowd of cozy groups dines in a setting punctuated by dark woods and nautical designs that surround a bar of glittering bottles. It’s a scene of comforts, a place where the menu changes with the tides but the sentiment remains the same: this is a gathering place that revels in its setting by the sea. Peruse the restaurant’s famed raw bar as you sip on a classic Pimm’s cup made with fresh lemonade. Start with an oyster tier of the kumamoto, fanny bay, and naked cowboy – a selection fetched from Washington, British Columbia, and New York – and then dig into a crudo sampler lined with Bigeye tuna, sea scallops, and Atlantic salmon. After, order the wild eastern sea scallops with seasonal vegetables as candles are lit at every table and windows are closed to a cool breeze. Finally, scoop up the caramel bread pudding for dessert, and feel at ease in a moment that remains blissfully the same. Photo courtesy of Water Grill.
