Michael's

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1147 Third St. Santa Monica, CA 90403

310-451-0843

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Critics'
Pick
Best High-Art Patio (1979)
Award Winner 2010

Cuisine(s): California

Hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-2:30pm, Mon-Sat 5pm-10pm

Price: $$$
Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards

Features: Business Dining, Catering, Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Private Party, Takeout

Serving: Dinner, Lunch
Alcohol: Full bar

Reservations: Accepted, Recommended

Parking: Street, Valet

Description

Back in its Nouvelle Cuisine days, Michael's may have been the first market-oriented restaurant in Southern California, a showcase not just of glorious art, Rauschenberg, Stella, Graham, Hockney, but of tiny vegetables, local meats, California wines and luxury foodstuffs identified by port of origin. There still may be no better afternoons in Los Angeles than those spent on Michael's garden patio, hefting Christofle silver, inhaling diver scallops, house-made gravlax, and an oaky, buttery Napa Chardonnay with just enough bottle age. Michael's still feels a little like an exclusive party that somebody forgot to invite us to.

All Night Happy Hour

Every Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri.

Offered every Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to close, Michael's new all-night happy hour kicks off today with a menu of $6 small plates meant t...

2010 | Best High-Art Patio (1979)

There was a time when art in restaurants signified more than the $3,000 ceramic dildo for sale at the gift shop of Bazaar. We have fond memories of the downtown art bar dominated by John Chamberlain's crumpled-automobile sculpture, the big Jonathan Borofsky at the original Katsu, and the rolling art installations at the old West Beach Caf�. But Michael's -- art, the real stuff, Rauschenberg, Stella, Graham, Hockney, all those guys, even in the men's room upstairs -- the exuberance of the 1970s.... More »

Top 3 Weekend Food Events: Vegan Beer Festival, Foie Gras Battle + Michael McCarty's Farmer's Market Tour

By Daina Beth Solomon | Wed, May 9, 2012

L.A. Vegan Beer Festival Sample beers from more than a dozen breweries, including Anchor, Epic, Fireman's Brew, Golden Road Brewing, Green Flash, Hangar 24, Karl Strauss and Smog City at this vegan-f... More »
5 L.A. Restaurants with the Best Bargain California-centric Wine Lists

By Kathy A. McDonald | Thu, December 8, 2011

There is no shortage of fine California wine, and no way to drink or even taste it all before its time. Los Angeles restaurateurs are at a distinct advantage with winemakers as close as Topanga Canyon... More »
Classic, With A Twist: Michael's Debuts Guest Bartender Series

By Ben Mesirow | Mon, January 17, 2011

Like a six deuce Impala with an electric engine, the 30+ year-old Santa Monica restaurant Michael's is getting a serious infusion of the hot new thing. This Thursday, January 20th, Michael's will kic... More »
The Artful Diner

By Jonathan Gold | Thu, April 12, 2007

Dear Mr. Gold:My girlfriend is an artist, and she’s working hard to teach her love of art to children. She has a birthday coming up, and I’ve been racking my brain for a great romantic dinner location that would complement her artistic interests.... More »
Digest to Impress

By Jonathan Gold | Thu, March 08, 2007

Dear Mr. Gold,My dad’s in town, and he and his wife are famously “anti-L.A.” They want to take me to a special-occasion restaurant, “someplace you’d never go to or couldn’t afford on your own.” Any suggestions? I want them to have a great meal, po... More »

Dinner Menu

Starters

Half Dozen $18.00

Seasonal Oysters
on the half shell, seasonal mignonette

$18.00

Spring Vegetable Soup
crispy penne, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon

$19.00

House-cured Gravlax
toasted brioche, mustard-dill sauce

$21.00

Ahi Tuna Tartare
avocado puree, piquillo pepper salad, marcona almonds, nori

$19.00

Maryann Farms Beet Salad
warm goat cheese, pickled onions, candied walnuts, curry vinaigrette

$18.00

Maryann Farms Green Salad
fines herbes, shallot-and-dijon vinaigrette

$21.00

Snake River Farms Kurobuta Fresh Bacon
frisée, pickled onions, fried egg, cilantro vinaigrette

$21.00

Maine Lobster
pomegranate, oro blanco, and couscous salad, rosemary-coriander vinaigrette

$20.00

Baby Wild Arugula
gioia burrata cheese, serrano ham, parmigiano-reggiano, lemon vinaigrette

$20.00

Asparagus Risotto
zuckerman farms jumbo green asparagus, pickled white asparagus, salsa verde

Mains

$39.00

Maine Diver Scallops
celeriac puree, bloomsdale spinach, almond breadcrumbs, celery leaf salad, bacon vinaigrette

$40.00

Wild Alaskan Halibut
windrose farms carrot puree, roasted tomatoes, pea tendrils, haricots verts, lemon-caper vinaigrette

$37.00

Hawaiian Walu
chorizo, fennel, mussels, cavalo nero, garlic croutons, parmigiano-reggiano aioli, saffron broth

$38.00

Wild Washington Steelhead Trout
toasted farro, fines herbes, black trumpet mushrooms, manchego, fennel beurre blanc

$34.00

Petaluma Jidori Half-chicken
watercress, pommes frites, tarragon butter

$39.00

Sonoma Duck Breast
leg-and-thigh confit, frisée, stilton blue cheese, roasted potatoes, valencia orange, pistachios, pinot noir reduction

$37.00

Wisconsin Veal Ragu
hand-cut pappardelle, rainbow chard, shaved parmigiano-reggiano

$40.00

Snake River Farms Kurobuta Pork Chop
goat-cheese polenta, roasted nantes carrots, market apples, whole-grain mustard aioli

$42.00

Colorado Lamb Shank
lentils du puy, charred broccolini, cherry tomatoes, lamb reduction, garlic cream

$44.00

28-day Dry-aged Prime New York Steak
watercress, pommes frites, cabernet sauvignon-and-thyme sauce

Sides

$10.00

Farmers’ Market Spring Sauté
peewee potatoes, english peas, pea tendrils, shimeji mushrooms, green garlic

$10.00

Valdivia Farms Fava Beans And English Peas
manchego, garlic

$8.00

Charred Baby Sprouting Broccoli
feta, lemon, olive oil

$8.00

Smushed Potatoes Or Pommes Frites
parmigiano-reggiano aioli

$10.00

Weiser Family Farms Potato Puree
crème fraîche, chives

Desserts

$12.00

Flourless Chocolate Cake
wild bolivian chocolate, vanilla bean ice cream, raspberry sauce, fresh berries

$12.00

Garcia Citrus Lime Tart
candied marcona almonds, citrus reduction

$12.00

Harry’s Berries Strawberry Pavlova
guava sorbet, whipped cream

$12.00

Coconut Affogato
espresso shot, toasted coconut, brown-butter breadcrumbs, caramel

$12.00

Michael’s Famous Cookie Plate
an assortment of cookies and confections

$12.00

Trio of Sorbets and Ice Creams
assortment of pudwill farms berries

Cheese Selection
Selection Of Three: $15.00, Selection Of Five: $21.00

Landaff Creamery’s Landaff
new hampshire, cow’s milk, firm and creamy with distinct sharpness

Sini Fulvi’s Pecorino Romano
italy, sheep’s milk, semi-firm with distinct tang and salt

Bohemian Creamery’s Boho Belle
california, cow’s milk, semi-soft with creamy texture, similar to brie

Jasper Hill Farm’s Harbison
vermont, cow’s milk, creamy with woodsy, sweet, herbal, and bright flavors

Aydius’s Tomme de Chevre
france, goat’s milk, firm with fruity and distinct flavors of goat’s milk

Malvaros
spain, guirra sheep’s milk, firm with buttery and incredibly sweet and rich flavor

Rogue Creamery’s Caveman Blue
oregon, cow’s milk, firm with notes of bacon and nuts

Looking for another city?

Michael's

1147 Third St. Santa Monica, CA 90403

310-451-0843

Description

Every Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri.

2010 | Best High-Art Patio (1979)

By Daina Beth Solomon | Wed, May 9, 2012

By Kathy A. McDonald | Thu, December 8, 2011

By Ben Mesirow | Mon, January 17, 2011

By Jonathan Gold | Thu, April 12, 2007

By Jonathan Gold | Thu, March 08, 2007