The Warehouse Restaurant — Restaurant in Santa Monica

Back in 2015, when I was living in Marina Del Rey, I visited this restaurant twice. Even then, it struck me as mediocre at best - uninspired food and underwhelming flavors. The fish and chips were the only relatively safe option, largely because it’s difficult to mess up something that basic. I had hoped that, ten years later, the restaurant might have improved, especially given its prime location and potential. Unfortunately, our recent visit proved just the opposite: it has not only failed to evolve, it has deteriorated.

To be fair, the decor is pleasant, and the view of the marina remains as charming as ever. It’s clear that someone at some point cared about creating a visually appealing environment. But that’s where the positives end.

The food was nothing short of atrocious. I ordered the halibut, and it was quite possibly the worst I’ve ever had. It looked and tasted as though a frozen filet had been microwaved for 20 minutes and then haphazardly doused with a bizarre, unidentifiable sauce. It had no flavor, no texture - just a sad, overcooked slab of fish that felt like an insult to the ocean. If I could rate the food zero stars, I would.

As for beverages, the iced tea had a distinctly chemical aftertaste, reminiscent of shampoo. Whether the glass hadn’t been rinsed properly or their iced tea batch was contaminated with dishwasher fluid, it was deeply off-putting. To make matters worse, one of the small plates brought to our table hadn’t even been properly cleaned, which is an unacceptable hygiene oversight in any dining establishment.

Service was equally disappointing. Staff repeatedly tried to clear our plates while we were still eating, creating a rushed, unwelcoming atmosphere. And to add insult to injury, the check arrived with a 15% gratuity already included - for a party of two. While automatic gratuities are understandable for large groups, applying one preemptively for a couple feels presumptive and inappropriate. It gives the impression that the restaurant is aware of the poor experience and is trying to secure tips regardless of customer satisfaction.

What’s perhaps most disheartening is that this restaurant has been under the same ownership for over 30 years. In the last decade, it has clearly declined. It’s evident that the owners no longer care about the quality of the food, the integrity of the service, or the customer experience. And yet, with its waterfront location and inviting ambiance, this place still has so much untapped potential - if only someone cared enough to fix what’s broken.

Do yourself a favor: skip this restaurant. Don’t be fooled by the view or the décor. Save your time, your money, and...

Just… WOW. This place was so bad, it actually made me doubt myself. With over 30 years of dining experience across hundreds of restaurants, this was by far the worst one yet.

We picked this spot during a short trip to LA because the reviews looked solid and the decor seemed nice. And yes, I’ll give them that—the decorations are cool.

But that’s where the good ends.

We arrived as a party of two. The host told us we couldn’t be seated at a larger table because those were “reserved for bigger groups.” Fair enough, I thought—until another two-person party was seated right next to us at one of those larger tables. No shame, no explanation. She just lied to our faces.

We placed a modest order: a drink, an appetizer, a soup, and one entrée to share. We ordered at 7:10. The soup and entrée didn’t arrive until 7:50—40 minutes later. I asked the server why the wait was so long. I wasn’t even upset at that point, just genuinely curious.

Her response? “We have a whole restaurant, not just serving you guys.”

Seriously?

I pointed out that another group, seated after us, already got their food. She replied, “They only got an appetizer.”

But we were seated right next to them. We’re not blind. They were served two steaks.

Also, the place was only half full at best.

And remember the appetizer we ordered? Never came. Why? The server forgot to put it in. And instead of apologizing, she gave another excuse: “That appetizer usually comes with the entrée, and since you only ordered one entrée, it was delayed.”

What?

First, that’s the first time I’ve heard of an appetizer being served after the entrée. Second, even if that’s true, shouldn’t you let your guests know when they order? Third, just admit you forgot. It’s really not that hard.

As for the food—it was average at best, and since it arrived barely warm, it ended up being below average.

So yeah. This wasn’t just the worst meal of our LA trip. It was easily one of the worst restaurant experiences I’ve ever had. I’ll probably remember it for years—at least it’ll make for a great dinner party story.

I don’t want to jump to conclusions or play the race card, but I honestly can’t find another explanation for why we seemed to receive the worst treatment possible. Maybe we were just that unlucky—despite the 2,000+ reviews and 4.3 stars. Maybe others get better service. Good for them, I guess.

Oh, and by the way, the restaurant includes a 15% service fee...

I took my girlfriend here while we enjoyed a day of cruising up the California Coast. We arrived after lunch and were told that they were not open for dinner yet. We told them we were famished and did not know the area well, and had just paid for valet parking mid afternoon. The owner then appeared, and had us seated immediately. The place was empty, so we had our choice of tables. We chose to eat at the tables outside because the weather was so nice. From that moment on, we were treated like celebrities! The friendly, attentive staff made us feel so welcome and catered to our every need. They helped with menu selections, and shared some history and nostalgia about the establishment, (apparently this place has been frequented by local celebs and A-listers for decades, they had displays of photos to back up their claim.) Top notch service like I'd never experienced before. They really made our visit very special. Now comes the food... If you're a fan of shrimp like me, prepare to be amazed! The dish I ordered had the biggest shrimp I've ever seen in my life! Deliciously prepared, I was in Heaven! The house salad was massive, with crisp and fresh ingredients. There were no limits to menu choices available since we arrived between Lunch and Dinner, so we had our pick of everything they had to offer. And if the food and service weren't enough, the views of the Marina were spectacular, right on the waterfront. We got to be spectators to what looked like a class of young folks learning to sail in tiny little craft near the docks. Some, more skilled than others, whizzing by with ease, while others not so proficient, fumbled with their boats, going off course every which way, occasionally crashing into one another. All of them having a great time. Needless to say, we were fully satisfied with the whole experience. Many thanks to to the owner, the chefs, and the staff who served us. It was a dining experience "par excellence" 5 Stars across the board. And sadly, as a footnote, my girlfriend and I broke up shortly after our trip. Which always brings to mind the country music song by George Strait, "We said goodbye in Marina Del Rey" ...and she said I wasn't romantic...