Big Dean's Ocean Front Cafe — Restaurant in Santa Monica

I was excited to be able to fit in a visit to Big Deans Oceanfront Cafe as it had so many great reviews. We walked in around 4 p.m. at the same time as another couple and like them, headed to the back area as the front tables were all occupied. There was a staff member at the bar in the back area and the other gentlemen asked if they should seat themselves or wait to be seated. The staff member responded that he was on break and someone at the front could help them. The gentleman persisted and said he was just asking a question and not asking for service and then staff member grudgingly said to sit anywhere. Not a promising start but we also sat down. Eventually after asking the front staff if someone would be serving us, a staff member came to the back and took our orders. I ordered the "best chicken wings on the bike path" and fries and my partner ordered the fish and chips. The fish and chips were fine and the service was good by the new staff member but my wings were so dried out that the dry meat had pulled away from the very visible bones. I attempted a couple but gave up and told the manager that they were inedible. He took them away and offered to get something else but I wasn't interested as my partner was half way through his meal at this point. They did take the wings off the bill but I am astounded that they would serve that to anyone. It was very clear how dried out those wings were and the kitchen staff had to be aware. They looked like they had been cooked, left and then cooked again. Our server was apologetic and very kind and did not seem entirely surprised by the whole incident. Very sorry we...

7/4/2025 Being born and raised in the Los Angeles area having spent the last 10 to 15 years in Santa Monica I grew love Dean’s. They have very unique chicken tacos. Nothing like I’ve ever had before and if you describe them, I probably wouldn’t try them. However, I think they are absolutely awesome. Today on independence Day I walked in there, sat at the bar to enjoy some fish tacos. Met a couple ladies that apparently hadn’t been there before they weren’t really interested in seeing the menus. The lady wanted fish tacos. I told her their fish taco tacos were the best and that they didn’t even need a menu. The menu was just for Taurus. I highly recommended the fish tacos and told her the Burger was the second best thing on the menu. She told me she wanted to have shrimp. I told her I didn’t recommend the shrimp because just because this place is on the Pacific Ocean none of the shrimp comes from here. It all comes from the East Coast and it’s just average. The bartender took my order and then when I pulled out my credit card, it happened to be a Trump card I gave him a four dollar tip for a $14 menu item and he proceeded to tell me to get out of his place that I was bad talking the shrimp. He kicked me out he A86 me and told me to never come back. I won’t be back and it’s sad because I decided to tone it down today and not wear my Trump shirt. I just had my Trump card and I think it triggered him. TDS is alive and well at Big Deans.

Old review 2008’ish Best local place on the boardwalk area. Good food good price is great beer and awesome staff...

EDIT: Management replied and addressed nothing. What order requires any of this exactly? The fact is, if you're seated 5 feet inside the fully outdoor patio, this establishment will force you to wear a mask for a 5 foot walk outside where there is precisely no State/County/City order requiring you to do so. Standing in line mask less, then masking for 2 seconds outdoors until seated where you can once again remove your mask defies all common sense. They can continue buying into hysteria as long as they want, but will not be getting my business during that time.

Came here on a weekend to grab some beers and drinks like we do several times per month after playing volleyball. We waited in line outside and then were sat on the patio which is about an 8 foot walk fully and completely outdoors. Their security staff forced us to wear masks to enter.

This is simply nuts. There's 80 people sitting around the tables eating and drinking and obviously maskless, but we must be paraded through (fully outdoors) with them on for 5 seconds. Why? Our group had planned to grab a couple of rounds of beers and food but given the treatment reluctantly did one round and left. We chose Big Deans because it was outdoors. If we were indoors where there is some logic to masking and a legal mandate then whatever, but we were not. Disappointed in Big Deans for buying into this hysteria and won't be back until they stop...