Back on the Beach Cafe — Restaurant in Santa Monica

July 2025 Update: Great place for a casual breakfast and lunch place! My friends and I met here for lunch on the weekday and the parking was easy. Pay at the Machine and place your paid parking ticket on your dashboard.

We chose to sit inside and it was perfect because we had the view of the beach and the cool ocean breezes coming in from the window. My friends were very happy not to sit outside in the sun. However, sitting outside on the sand under umbrellas was the more popular choice for most folks. There was a line waiting for outside seating. Reservations are accepted at Back on the Beach.

I ordered my favorite, the Fred Salad. It is my "go to" salad here. One friend really enjoyed the fish tacos with a side of black beans and Mexican rice. Another friend ordered breakfast: eggs over easy, bacon and a scone.

Eric,our server was great! He sensed when we were ready to order and also knew whenever my ice tea needed refills. He was busy, but we always felt he was aware of what our table needed. Thank you Eric!

Back on the Beach is great for small groups and large groups. You can also your meal TO GO and take the food to eat outside in one of the nice patio tables by the Marion Davies Guest House. -----October 2024 Perfect oasis for a nice meal on the beach! Casual. My friend and I walked on the beach and on the way home, we stopped in for a meal. It was 9:30am on a Sunday morning, so the wait was just a few minutes.

We were given the option to sit inside or outside on the sand and told them, first available. We sat outside and was very happy, however, because this is beach/sand seating, the chairs sink very low! Hahaha!

Jason E was are server and he has served us many times. He is attentive, friendly, and polite. Menu items are breakfast and lunch. Everything I have had here is Tasty! There are many similar menu items to the former Back on Broadway restaurant that I loved, which makes it nice.

If you don't want to walk down to Back on the Beach, there is a public parking lot adjacent to the restaurant.

Thank you Jason E for...

Terrible place. Empty tables inside and out while hostesses tell you there are hour plus waits. One complaint I heard that really stood out while I was waiting was one lady had a party of 4 but they waited so long she was the only person left in her party. She tried to ask if she could order take out because they wouldn’t give let her change to a table of 1. She apparently tried to order but was unsuccessful. The hostesses eventually took pity on her and sat her, 10 minutes later.

I was quoted 20-30 minutes to sit inside and after 40minutes, I follow up with my place in line and am told I have another 30 minutes to wait because there was still 9parties ahead of me. When we finally got inside the majority of the tables were empty, wait staff was standing around because of the empty tables. I don’t think I’ve dined anywhere this mis managed in a long time.

** Reply to owner: You should ask your hostesses why there was so many empty tables and a long queue quoting 1+ hours to be seated. Multiple people waiting also asked them why there was empty tables and they responded that there weren't any empty tables, then hostesses called over a server and asked him to look at the tables to see if they were empty.This was a shot of the outside as soon as I sat down. The hostess did also tell some patrons trying to do takeout that the kitchen was backed up.

My area had 1 occupied table when we finally got seated and they left within 10mins of us getting seated. 3 4seaters and larger round table. A lady with her child and another adult were seated pretty quickly after we got in. That was as packed as my area got. 40min...

Update: We were back next Sunday as always, same waitress, completely different approach. Unlike the last time that we were all together at the same time, this time our people arrived at different times and ordered at different times at the same table. But we were still offered excellent service. They were able to accommodate us and our waitress was very graceful and understanding despite the fact that half of us arrived 30 minutes later. She was sweet and helpful and professional and we had a great time as always. We won't stop coming to this place because we love it.

We've been going to this place for years and we've been so happy but this time things were completely different. The waitress was rude and not attentive at all. And basically after spending $200 for breakfast and while i was still eating, she came and told us that we have to go because they have another reservation and we have exceeded our time of 1.5 hour. Well i wonder if she factored in the half hour we waited just to order or that was included. So while i was still finishing my food she told me that we have to go and that she's just following orders and are not her rules. If those are the new rules that you wait 30 minutes to order you spend $200, she doesn't check on you if you need anything and then in1.5 h total time they kick you out despite the fact that you haven't finished your food, then i don't think we will be going there any time soon. It's a shame, we used to love this place and it was our Sunday spot for breakfast. Food is always really good but with that service the loyal customers...