MUSE Santa Monica — Restaurant in Los Angeles

A hot and new French restaurant on W. Channel Rd. right next to Giorgio Baldi. This is very close to the Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades border and it’s honestly one of the most beautiful parts of Los Angeles. The food taste and quality is very high, but the portion sizes are quite small. I love the design on the inside, it feels like the 1930s but in a really upscale way. Our server and the rest of the staff were extremely polite and very welcoming. The menu is à la carte and they do have a ton of options on it. They don’t have a dedicated parking lot and street parking is difficult to find in this part of town so the best option is valet for $15.

As mentioned the food is honestly delicious but the portion sizes are quite small. It’s a great place for a celebration or a date, but not someplace I would choose if my goal is to be as full as possible. We started off with the Roasted Beet Salad, Lobster Soufflé, And the Hamachi Crudo. Of the three the Hamachi Crudo was the star and had tremendously fresh flavors. The Beet Salad was also very nice and refreshing; it would make a great summer dish. The Lobster Soufflé was good in flavor but honestly super small. About the size of a quarter. It was three quick bites and then done. More so a finger food that you would get at a cocktail party. I would recommend the Beet Salad and the Hamachi, but I would skip on the Lobster Soufflé. For entrées, we chose the Rack of Lamb (most reviews mentioned this is a must and we agree) and the special for the evening which was Black Truffle Risotto. The risotto was absolutely fabulous and covered in black truffles. It was a bit expensive for $80, but the flavors were wonderful. The Rack of Lamb was probably my favorite dish of the night because it was cooked perfectly, and seasoned well. I wish it would’ve came with a side dish or salad, but I really enjoyed what I had. Finally for dessert we finished off with the Vanilla St. Honoré and we were big fans of it. The caramel and vanilla flavors really mixed well and we loved every part of it.

Overall a really delicious and trendy French restaurant in a beautiful part of town. It would perfect for a date or a celebration and I was honestly very impressed with the meal. Portion sizes are small and the pricing is steep, but I feel that it...

Nestled between Santa Monica and the Palisades, Muse is a culinary experience that captures the spirit of a charming, romantic restaurant while honoring the beauty of modern simplicity. The sleek, contemporary décor combined with warm lighting and carefully placed mirrors and accessories, create a sophisticated yet comfortable ambiance, making it an ideal spot for both casual dinners and special occasions.

As a USC alum, I had heard about Museum but never had the chance to try it so was pleased to find out that Muse, using a similar menu, was opening minutes from our house. The restaurant takes pride in its farm-to-table philosophy, with locally sourced produce and fresh seafood featured prominently.

We started with the Brioche, Lobster souffle and Hamachi crudo and each delivered on the expected flavor-profile. The brioche was flakey, and much more croissant than bread and was accompanied by butter flown in from France. The Hamachi was drizzled with yozu olive oil and Calabrian chili coulis which provide a subtle hint of fire. The Lobster in a Pomme Souffle was the only item we tried that was not excellent.

For the main course, we tried the fish of the day, a Pan-Seared Halibut that was cooked to perfection, with a crispy golden skin and moist, flaky interior. It was paired with a delicate citrus beurre blanc sauce and tarragon pistou. We paired it with a eggplant cappelletti with pasta of which Felix would be envious.

We ended the meal with a few desserts, a Tiramisu and St. Honore. Both were amazing but you can’t leave without trying the St. Honore which is an individualized puff pastry with a delicious cream and caramel. It really capped a fantastic night of dining.

With all that said, the real treat of Muse, is the atmosphere and servicer. The service at Muse is impeccable. The staff are attentive without being intrusive, and each member of the staff felt like old friends by the end of the night. Whether you're sitting at the bar or at one of the intimate tables, the servers provide the perfect balance of helpful suggestions while ensuring that each course flows smoothly.

Muse is a welcome addition to Santa Monica and highly recommended for those seeking a memorable...

I love Muse so much! I went here for my birthday, and I have absolutely no regrets. All the food at Muse is great, but the appetisers are truly stellar. The veal bon bons are perfectly juicy and crispy on the inside (it’s a mystery to me how they retain their structure being that juicy inside), and the sauce verte goes perfectly with it. The hamachi is so simple yet well executed, the bitterness of the olive oil pairs deliciously with the chili coulis. The tuna tartlets are so cute and tiny, but don’t shy away from great flavors and textures. And the brioche - unironically the best bread I have ever eaten, it’s super croissant like, rich, and buttery, the salty butter that comes with it pairs perfectly. The saffron risotto is technically super well executed, and aromatic. The rack of lamb tastes as delicious as it looks, I’m still dreaming about the herb crust and the sauce it came with. Our server recommended to pair it with the pomme pavé, and boy was that genius! They have 0 misses with the deserts here - the Vanilla St. Honore is beautiful, the vanilla chantilly cream goes perfectly with the salted caramel profiteroles. The chocolate tart is decadent and great. I had to take the tiramisu to go since I was so stuffed by then, but when I finally got a chance to eat it at home I thought it was excellent (it also comes scooped tableside which is the only valid way to serve tiramisu). Our server was super friendly and nice, genuinely the best service I’ve experienced in a restaurant. I never thought I would rave about the interior design of a restaurant, but believe me when I say it’s etched in my mind and I’m in awe and inspired. Thanks so much for making my birthday...