"Birdie G’s, an airy, industrial-looking restaurant in Bergamot Station, is what you might call a fancy person’s idea of a comfort food restaurant. The chef of Rustic Canyon is behind the menu, so you know there's a farmers market produce bent. But you can also expect a Midwestern, vaguely Eastern European feel to many dishes. We love the seasonal pickle plate with a dollop of onion dip in the center, and the “everything” marinated broccoli with miso banga cauda. They also do amazing steak frites for the crowd valeting their Teslas outside. Just don’t leave without a slice of the rose petal pie—a jiggly, strawberry Jell-O concoction that looks like a stained glass window in dessert form." - brant cox, sylvio martins, arden shore, cathy park
"Birdie G’s has tinkered with various burger recipes over the years (we still think about the blood sausage version sometimes), but fingers crossed that the latest one is here to stay. Halfway between a steakhouse and a diner burger, the patty is crusted in peppery steak seasoning, grilled over wood until its edge-to-edge rosy pink, then cradled in a milk bread bun from the dough wizards at Petitgrain Boulangerie. Onion jam and melted havarti add some buttery sweetness, but it’s the pickles and swab of tangy steak sauce that snatch your attention. It comes with fries for $32, or you can order it solo for $26 during their daily happy hour." - brant cox, cathy park, sylvio martins, garrett snyder
"Named for Chef Jeremy Fox's young daughter, this homespun delight serves up square meals with satisfying swerves. Soothe your ails with matzo ball soup made from a family recipe, then tuck into marinated Badger Flame beets with smoked trout roe, mustard cream and sprinkled with an “everything” spice & seed mix. Try one of the steaks (Flatiron with fries is a good choice) or order some of the smaller plates to share. For dessert, Jell-O pie makes a comeback, infused here with strawberry, hibiscus and garnished with candied rose petals.While the menu is diner-inspired, its interior skews modern-trendy. A thoughtful kids’ menu keeps tots happy, allowing the grown-ups to luxuriate in hand-picked wines that go with each special." - Michelin Inspector
"Birdie G’s is an American comfort food spot in Santa Monica that pulls off the trick of being exciting but not frightening to unadventurous eaters. They serve fantastic versions of classics like matzo ball soup, yam casserole, and wood-grilled chicken, plus there’s a fantastic kids' menu for any remaining picky eaters. The restaurant is located in a large (but surprisingly cozy) warehouse of a space, so there’s usually no issue snagging a walk-in table either in the dining room or bar area lined with booths." - sylvio martins, brant cox, garrett snyder, cathy park
"A Santa Monica restaurant is launching brunch on June 21 with a menu that includes matzo ball soup, Hangtown brei, bruleed brioche, and its newer burger served with fries." - Rebecca Roland