Santa Monica has seen its share of glamorous restaurant openings in the past year or so—from Muse in Rustic Canyon to Orla at Regent Santa Monica Beach to the buzzy westside outpost of San Vicente Bungalows. Now, La Monique—a gorgeous jewel-box French brasserie with the air of an intimate Riviera private members’ club—has entered the scene.
The restaurant is located within the Oceana Santa Monica—an ivy-covered all-suite hotel overlooking the Pacific that is owned by real estate developer and Brentwood resident Jim Lippman of JRK Property Holdings. His wife Linda, and their three children, daughter Alex Landy and brothers Danny and Matthew, are all involved in the business and have created La Monique in partnership with 34th Floor of Schulte Hospitality Group—envisioning it to be a modern clubhouse of sorts, with an intimate setting, maximalist design and flawless cuisine.
“La Monique reflects our vision for Oceana as a gathering place that is as relevant to the Santa Monica community as it is to our guests,” says Landy, who lives in Brentwood with her husband and three children and serves as the executive vice president of JRK.
Tucked off the lobby, the restaurant reveals itself in cinematic fashion. Guests enter through a small reception and find themselves in a transformative Old World space where Hollywood Regency style reigns. Designed by British-based Martin Brudnizki Design Studio—known for the recent makeovers of Eden Rock in St. Barths and Annabel’s in London—the room glows with emerald malachite walls, hand-crafted straw marquetry, antique mirrored ceilings and a curated mix of impressive art ranging from historic photography to contemporary works. Velvet banquettes, a smattering or romantic two-top tables and a glowing backlit bar complete the scene, conjuring intimacy with a touch of decadence.
The menu, overseen by French Chef David Fricaud—who worked in Michelin-starred kitchens and was a Top Chef France semi-finalist—delivers the same spirit of creativity and indulgence. Escargot poppers are fried crisp and served outside the shells, then paired with crème fraîche, garlic and parsnip meant to be taken as a shot after each delicious morsel. The mini onion soup and grilled cheese sandwiches stuffed with brie and Tomme de Savoie on mushroom brioche would be a perfect snack with a vesper or glass of pinot noir on a brisk evening, but if you are dining at a table, save room for the Jyan Isaac baguette (from the famed Santa Monica bakery) which is served on a wooden board with several schmears of French butter.
While there is Petrossian caviar and an ample seafood tower, Fricaud has inserted a pasta section as a nod to his days cooking at Scarpetta in Las Vegas—his favorite being a simple spaghetti pomodoro with crushed San Marzano tomato sauce. “We receive fresh pasta every day from The Cheese Store in Beverly Hills,” Fricaud says. “Along with many of the cheese selections.”
The menu also features a notable selection of steaks, including A5 Wagyu Ichibo cut from Japan (and yes, steak frites), followed by main dishes that include the showstopping Le Grand Poulet with truffle jus. This whole roasted chicken is presented tableside in the pot—where it has been seared and simmering low and slow for hours after an overnight baste of butter, olive oil, thyme and lemon—before it's carved up and served in individual smaller skillets. The dish easily serves two or possibly four depending on how many starters are ordered as it also comes with roasted fingerling potatoes, and you might want to add macaroni au fromage with béchamel sauce or grilled broccolini. For dessert, sticky toffee Madeleines with Chantilly cream deliver a playful finale.
The inventive cocktail program also matches the menu’s flair. The Pacific Loot—lavender-infused tequila served in a miniature treasure chest—feels both whimsical and luxe, while Cinema Paradiso mixes rye whiskey with chocolate bitters, popcorn syrup and Coca-Cola foam. And for those seeking a more casual or kid-family experience, Le Petit Monique offers alfresco poolside dining complete with family staples like burgers and occasional live music.
“This new restaurant marks a transformative moment for the hotel, a fresh chapter that elevates the property while offering guests and locals a truly immersive and memorable dining experience,” says Landy. La Monique may be tucked discreetly within Oceana, but once discovered, it feels like Santa Monica’s most glamorous secret—where Riviera style, inventive cuisine and westside community converge in one sparkling gem.
La Monique
849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica
310-656-6000
lamoniquerestaurant.com
“This new restaurant elevates the property while offering guests and locals a truly immersive and memorable dining experience.”