The Whaler Santa Monica — Restaurant in Santa Monica

Look…I NEVER go out of my way to give a bad review because I really don’t care that much. I typically read some reviews before going somewhere though and if I could give this place zero stars I would. The bouncer is the best part of this entire place, he may be the only one with a personality. First of all, their website has two completely different menus that our intellectually challenged waitress failed to even comprehend. She came back to us after asking some other staff and just said “oh this explains so much, we’ve had people ask for things that I’m like, that’s not even on our menu.” That same waitress decided that she was going to go home after we ordered our appetizers and said “I’m going home now, so you can pay me now and if you want anything else someone else will help you”. Eventually another girl came over and said no one told her that we still needed to be taken care of. We’ve been in Santa Monica for 10 days now and we’ve ate at countless fantastic restaurants…tonight was the first night we completely regretted our restaurant choice. The food was decent but did not come with any sides or even an option or adding a side...who serves a chicken sandwich or a Philly cheese steak without fries? The one guy came by and cleared the plates in such an unfriendly manor that food literally flew off the plates onto the table. The second waitress went to clear drinks while they were half full. There is so much I could say about this place…but I’ll stop here. If you want good food and a great experience go to Blue Plate Taco, The Albright, or Bruno’s - they all have delicious food with far superior service. I swear the Taco truck down the road had better service! Obviously we weren’t going to be jerks and not tip but I feel like we shouldn’t have had to close out our bill twice and tip two girls that did next to nothing for us. Beyond terrible service. Don’t go here. I cannot stress enough that I DO NOT ever complain or feel the need to give a bad review…but this place is horrendous. Even after reading this review, if you still decide to go there, at least get yourself the watermelon margarita, that was...

Stopped for brunch on a Sunday. We had hoped to eat next door but it was too busy and we were on a time crunch. Oddly, The Whaler was almost dead - which gave us pause as to why - but we tried it anyway.

Service was quick and the food was unexpectedly great. Our party of 5 each loved our meals! The chicken and waffles was on-point. I loved that the sweetness was baked into the waffle and didn’t require syrup, instead using a creamy hollandaise as the sauce. The Nutella French toast was universally loved, and the sweet cream served separately in a bowl to dip instead of just melting into milk on top was thoughtful. The ceviche was delicious and fresh and not too spicy. The Captains Breakfast was plentiful and well-prepared and the one that ordered it said it might have been the best waffle he’s ever eaten. He loved that it was crispy on the outside and soft inside. All in an all, we were VERY pleasantly surprised by the food.

The downside was the cleanliness of the restrooms. Seeing the dingy white doors and hallway leading from the dining room to the restroom was VERY off-putting, and made us concerned about what the kitchen might look like. This is an easy fix that could be cleaned in less than an hour but hasn’t been touched in months, if not years. The men’s restroom was horrible. Like, truckstop worthy. Super gross. Please, please fix this. The food and service were great but had I gone to the restroom before ordering, I’d have honestly just walked out and never returned. If the public-facing side of a restaurant looks like that (especially one in such a prominent tourist spot), it’s not hard to imagine the back of house looks worse. That’s worrisome. And an easy fix someone simply refuses to do. Wiping down the bathroom doors halfway areas should be ongoing side work for a...

I never even made it inside The Whaler—and that says everything.

As a new neighbor who just moved next door, I was genuinely excited to stop by for the first time. My partner and I had just come from a lovely dinner at BOA Steakhouse, and I thought The Whaler might become one of our go-to spots. Sadly, that will never happen.

The experience at the door was not only unwelcoming—it was downright demeaning. Without so much as a hello, the security guard (man bun/ponytail) looked me up and down and immediately asked, “How much have you had to drink?” Not “Good evening.” Not “Welcome in.” Nothing remotely respectful.

For context, I am a grown woman in my 30s. My partner, a respected media professional in his 50s, and I barely drink—we certainly weren’t stumbling or causing a scene. We were dressed nicely, carrying leftovers from dinner, clearly on a quiet date night.

The only time the guard’s energy shifted was when other patrons recognized my partner. That sudden shift in tone was telling—and frankly, gross. It felt performative and opportunistic.

As a Black woman, and the only black person in vicinity, the entire exchange felt steeped in bias and prejudice. I was uncomfortable. I was embarrassed. I was deeply disappointed. We eat out several times a week and frequent many venues in the area. I’ve never been spoken to or treated so indignantly simply for trying to enter an establishment.

It’s clear that power has gone to the wrong person’s head at the front door of this place. The Whaler has lost a potential...