The Courtyard Kitchen — Restaurant in Santa Monica

We’re Santa Monica locals and have been coming to this restaurant for years. We stopped by with our two kids for a last-minute early dinner during the Montana Walk and experienced the worst service we’ve ever had here. From the start, the staff was unwelcoming and made a big fuss about our e-bike. Despite explaining we had no lock and this was an impromptu stop, they insisted we leave it on the street—claiming it was safe, even after we shared that our bikes have been stolen multiple times, even from our own garage.

The passing waitress and the manager, Aaron, both had an off-putting attitude that made us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.

When the manager, Aaron, approached our table, he did so without a calm or professional demeanor. We explained that our bike had already been placed discreetly to the side by the bathroom, behind the high chairs and clearly out of the way. We noted that if we were required to move it outside, we would have to leave. His response was dismissive—he told us to either place it behind the hostess stand or leave. His tone carried an air of entitlement, more reflective of someone benefiting from others relatives' hard work than a responsible manager.

This interaction wasn’t about guest safety, which we fully respect—it was about poor communication and lack of professionalism. Ultimately, we chose to leave. Why spend time or money at an establishment where the service, especially from management, is unwelcoming?

Very disappointing experience at a place we’ve supported for years.

We wouldn’t recommend this restaurant unless ownership addresses these serious gaps in management and...

I wish I took more photos of the food! We happened upon this restaurant when we were walking back from Santa Monica Pier - it was quite the hike!! We were very hungry, we were a large group to seat, and we were having a bit of an issue fitting into a restaurant with our number (5 adults and 5 children). We were seated within 15 minutes (incredibly enough!) in a really beautiful room toward the interior of the restaurant. The appetizer special for the evening was peaches and buffala mozzarella... It was incredibly fresh and really delicious. I was trying to eat a bit lighter for the evening - my vegetable ratatouille (essentially) is shown in the picture below; however, most of my family opted for the fresh pastas which smelled (and tasted) delicious. The price was reasonable, given the quality. The staff was wonderful and the service was great. It doesn't seem very "kid friendly" on the face; however, there is a really great kids menu, and the staff was quick to supply plastic cups and straws for the little ones. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for a romantic dinner, a family dinner, or just a nice night out with friends. If you can - sit outside in the evening and enjoy the trees that are lit up along...

Hmmm, unfortunately, while the staff is friendly and the ambiance is nice, the food we received during brunch fell short.

We ordered 3 items: Truffle fries: Pretty good as expected but nothing to write a lot on, as this is a relatively simple and straightforward appetizer. Not bad, but not memorable, either.

Spanish chorizo hash: the best of the 3 with a good variety of components that work together. The Spanish Pork Chorizo was rightfully front and center and paired well with the herb potatoes.

Panuozzo: the most underwhelming dish that we ate. On paper it looked enticing, as this "Pizza Sandwich" had prosciutto, parmesan, tomato confit, aragula, and pesto sauce. Unfortunately the pesto sauce overwhelmed everything, and nothing else stood out. So rather than a symphony of taste, eating this dish became a flat and monotonous experience. I felt I was just going through the motions of eating it rather than enjoying it, and when I looked down, I still have a whole other half to finish. It's just too one note and somewhat bland.

I may give this another shot to explore the actual dinner or lunch menu, but I'd have to really read the reviews to see what's...