Birdie G's

Tucked away in an industrial pocket of Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station, Birdie G’s reimagines what a neighborhood restaurant can be. The space feels like a blend of airplane hangar and art district loft, with towering exposed rafters and cement walls that somehow manage to feel warm once the dining room fills up with energy. This is the kind of place where elevated cooking meets unpretentious vibes—farmers market ingredients and thoughtful technique applied to the foods you already love.

The kitchen takes familiar American dishes and gives them unexpected twists without losing what made them comforting in the first place. The skirt steak frites stands out as one of the best in the city—the meat practically falls apart thanks to a clever koji marinade, while Montreal spice infuses the drippings into a natural sauce for dipping your fries. The burger offers thick steakhouse proportions with diner-style char, and the sweet onion jam cuts through beautifully. Even the caesar salad gets an upgrade with salt-cured egg yolk that adds a pleasant funkiness to each tangy, garlicky bite.

This is the spot to bring your parents when you want to show them somewhere special without it feeling stuffy. Couples sharing ribeyes at candlelit tables blend seamlessly with coworkers unwinding on the patio over cocktails and fries. The ice-cold martinis are worth noting—they get a savory boost from chicken cream that makes them dangerously drinkable. Kids are welcome too, so the whole family can come along.

Save room for the famous rose petal pie. Despite its floral name, it tastes more like nostalgic strawberry milk meets Jell-O, with a pretzel crust providing just enough salt to keep things interesting. It’s become a signature for good reason and makes for a perfect ending to a meal that somehow feels both special and completely comfortable.