Le Great Outdoor Restaurant — Restaurant in Santa Monica

Dining in Style, Feasting on Disappointment at Le Great Outdoors

A reservation at Le Great Outdoors comes with a glistening promise of a delightful culinary experience, set amidst an atmosphere buzzing with lively vibes. Unfortunately, obtaining this golden ticket of a reservation was just the prologue to a tale of chaos and culinary disillusionment. VEGANS BEWARE.

I embarked on the laborious journey of securing a spot, a process that took me three relentless weeks. The day had finally arrived, and a delay made me call in to inform about a minor 15 minutes tardiness. The response? A brutal, “Your reservation is cancelled.” The shock made me demand a manager, who benevolently granted a 20-minute hold, yet with a warning of an additional 45-60 minute wait for seating. My final recourse was speaking to the owner, who thankfully adjusted the reservation by 30 minutes.

On arrival, a chaotic multi-point payment system awaited— one for the wine, another for the food, and amidst this confusing ensemble, service was almost a mythical entity.

The wine, ranging from decent to exceptional, seemed like a silver lining in this cumulonimbus of chaos, but the food, unfortunately, tarnished this lone glint of hope. The salmon with chimichurri seemed to have taken a salt bath, the shrimp resembled salt sticks with a rubbery texture, and the rice, oh the rice! Mushy, overly cooked, it had an affinity to walls stronger than any spaghetti. The reasoning? “It’s steamed,” remarked our server, a comment that echoed the ludicrousness of the culinary ordeal.

An adventure of returning the rice ensued, where a consoling front desk admitted the inadequacy but offered only free desserts as a band-aid for our culinary wounds. The next order saw minor improvements, with palatable bruschetta and shrimp making an appearance, though my friend’s description of the desserts as “resembling dog food” summed up our gastronomical journey aptly.

Yes, the ambiance was electric, kudos to the scenic location, and seemingly the less gastronomically enlightened seem content with the meals here. However, for a culinary connoisseur like myself, revisiting this chaotic, friction-filled cafeteria would be like daring to dance in a minefield.

Final Verdict: Le Great Outdoors may dazzle with its eclectic vibes, but it's a culinary façade hiding a disarray of disappointing dishes. The joy of the atmospherics is sadly marred by the painful battle to secure a reservation, the chaotic payment system, and the erratic service, not to mention the regrettable encounters with overly salted, overcooked creations. A charming chaos for some, maybe, but a gourmet nightmare for those with a...

Nestled within the charming Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, Le Great Outdoor offers a unique dining experience with its pop-up ambiance and delightful outdoor seating. As you approach the restaurant, you're greeted by a grill adorned with fresh ingredients, exuding tantalizing aromas reminiscent of a barbecue at a friend's house. However, the flavors you encounter here are far superior, making for an unforgettable dining adventure.

One of the highlights of my visit was sharing the albacore stuffed peppers with my mother. These petite peppers acted as the perfect vessel for the delicious albacore tuna, delivering a delightful combination of sweetness, savoriness, and acidity. This appetizer truly set the stage for the rest of our meal and quickly became my favorite dish of the night.

For the main course, we opted for the salmon accompanied by roasted oyster mushrooms and grilled asparagus. The expertly cooked salmon showcased the restaurant's mastery of grilling techniques, while the earthy flavors of the mushrooms and the freshness of the asparagus provided a perfect complement to the dish. Each bite was a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, leaving us thoroughly satisfied.

The wine list at Le Great Outdoor deserves special mention. It features an array of intriguing selections, with a focus on wines that can both compete with and enhance the smoky flavors imparted by the grill. We chose the Alice, a white wine hailing from Italy. Its fragrant and aromatic characteristics were a delightful accompaniment to our meal, and the wine's crippingly acidic nature added a refreshing touch to the overall dining experience.

Parking at the restaurant was a breeze, thanks to its convenient location within Bergamot Station. This ensured a hassle-free arrival and added to the overall positive impression of the establishment.

In conclusion, Le Great Outdoor delivers a truly delicious dining experience in an inviting outdoor setting. The albacore stuffed peppers and the grilled salmon, complemented by the well-curated wine list, are testaments to the restaurant's culinary prowess. Whether you're seeking a memorable meal with loved ones or a unique gastronomic adventure, I highly recommend giving Le Great...

This place is overpriced, underwhelming, and the food is devoid of any real flavor beyond that imparted from the grill itself. Save your money and go to a real friend's BBQ instead. Don't let the "cool backyard, order at the counter" vibe fool you; it is very much a way to skimp on service but still require you to pay way more than you should. My TL;DR story: After an already too long wait time, kitchen mismanaged cooking our rice and other food. Front of house staffer came over to give us two options 1) each the other food that's ready and plain rice separately or 2) wait for rice and other food will be made fresh. Eventually food comes out long after promised, ice cold, with STILL NO RICE. We wait for rice. Rice never comes. Fiance goes to complain to manager, can't find manager. Rice comes out and the manager does us the dishonor of sending a front of house staffer to apologize for "the whole thing". We are given two more options 1) wait for a fresh meal and still pay or 2) eat cold meal and get refund. We chose option 2, because have been held prisoner by this sad excuse for a restaurant and are famished. Still no manager. We did end up getting our meal refunded, which was really the bare minimum that...