Rustic Canyon Wine Bar Seasonal Kitchen Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen Andy Doubrava Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen

Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen

1119 Wilshire Blvd. (Eleventh & Twelfth Sts.)
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-393-7050
Map
Owner Josh Loeb offers a thoughtfully chosen wine list and a home-cooking-style menu based on Californian-Mediterranean flavors.
Openings: Dinner nightly

Features

  • Valet parking
  • Dress code: Casual
  • Full bar
  • Reservations suggested
Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen, Santa Monica, CA


Rustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen Restaurant Review:


Don’t be misled by its name; dining at Rustic Canyon is not at all rustic. Owner Josh Loeb, after organizing regular wine dinners at his house in Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica, opened his own place so we can enjoy the wines he personally chooses. Rather than having an extensive wine selection, Loeb offers more than 20 options by the glass, concentrating his picks on small-production boutique wines from all over the world. He rotates the wines, so from one visit to another, you can be sure to discover something new. The same goes for the kitchen, which utilizes seasonal ingredients for the home-cooking-style menu based on Californian-Mediterranean flavors. Try the sautéed wild mushrooms over crispy polenta, the mussels in a tasty white wine broth, or the sliced filet mignon with horseradish cream for appetizers. Fish aficionados should sample the seared ahi, its flavors enhanced by a few drops of olive oil. The grilled New York steak comes with sautéed pea tendrils, while the lamb chops are accompanied by fresh white beans. Finish with the apple-huckleberry crisp or the Meyer lemon panna cotta (a tad too sweet), unless you are tempted by a cheese plate. The décor is set in brown and beige tones, with bamboo flooring and three long communal tables.