Ashland Hill — Restaurant in Santa Monica

After hunting on Yelp for a location for a small celebratory graduation lunch in the Malibu and SM area, I found this little gem. Overall we were very happy with our experience and I'd dine here again on my own.

AMBIANCE / DINING Inisde they only have a tiny bar area and to-go counter, but the magic really happens in the back. 90 percent of their seating is in the outdoor patio, and since it was a gorgeous sunny, breezy SoCal day, we thoroughly enjoyed the patio ambiance.

FOOD / DRINK We brought 2 of our own wine bottles and I believe the corkage fee was $20-25 each, which is reasonable. Some people also ordered beer and cocktails which they said were great. Food was very delicious and affordable since the manager had recommended we do family style. Their restaurant and kitchen is on the smaller side so it was easier for everyone if we just selected our menu options ahead of time. There were lots of good options to choose from! We opted for the fatoush salad, shishito mac and cheese, roasted mushroom toast, poached salmon with green beans, and roasted cauliflower. Everything paired together nicely. The cauliflower and the mac and cheese stood out to me the most.

SERVICE The service was the only thing that could have been improved - it just felt rushed, especially at the beginning. Once we sat down, the water, plates and first two apps came out all at once as we were getting settled. I got the impression they're not used to having larger parties and weren't sure how to handle it. We told them our party was a certain size but they only brought out glasses/plates/silverware for the ones that were seated so far, so when people were arriving, we had to keep asking for more of all of these. It would have been much nicer and easier for everyone if they had set the...

Just a terrible experience. Made a reservation and got there 20 min early. The hostess at the door asked for our name and I gave it to her. Thinking I was being helpful, I said "I just made a reservation on Resy, can you find my name?" With a serious face she tells me she can't seat anyone that just made a reservation and she turned us away for a table at my reservation time. This is a very strange situation. If they don't have room, why would Resy allow us to make a reservation and have us drive all the way there?

And if I made a reservation with 5 other people at a given time, then why am I the one who was turned down for a table. As someone who made a reservation, I shouldn't have been treated any differently than another person who made a reservation, especially because I was there 20 min early. This is a big mismanagement on their part.

If you don't care about how an establishment treats you, maybe this is your place to eat but if you know you're going to spend a ton of money at a possibily mediocre place, stay away. Plus, I recommend not making a reservation! You may have a better chance at eating there.

P.s., the place smelled horrible from the outside so maybe a good thing we were...

First timers, live on other side of town but heard it was owned by Art’s Table, that had many great years & food until service slipped & they closed. We had one particularly awful experience towards the end while the entire staff chatted & ignored us at an indoor table for dinner in an empty dining room. We literally had to get up, break up the convo to ask someone if we could order.

So this review is directed to AH management. The gentleman at the bar/counter Tuesday pm was awesome, great attitude, service & made us great drinks. Great first impression.

Not great was a bare bones & unattractive side/back patio that looks like a dive bar. With that beautiful brick building, you can do better. We sat on the side patio at a dirty table, sticky plastic menus (ugh) while wait staff sat directly behind us (maybe break times?) carrying on loudly, yelling to each other as they passed by. This place has so much potential. I hope you don’t end up like Arts Table.

We had planned to eat but left & went to the Library...