Rustic Canyon

"Upscale, Californian casual small plates & a unique wine list served in a stylish-yet-casual spot."

Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen is a Santa Monica neighborhood restaurant and the flagship of the Rustic Canyon Family restaurant group, built around a slow food approach and ingredients sourced from the Santa Monica Farmers' Market. The kitchen runs a hyper-seasonal, Mexican-California menu with a motto of 'Simple Ain't Easy,' while the bar program, led by Bar Manager Justin Dicken, produces house-made bitters, tinctures, orgeats, and liqueurs using small-batch spirits and weekly farmers' market ingredients; the 300-plus wine list, now curated by Sommelier Lorenzo I. Reef, focuses on small producers using chemical-free and regenerative practices. Founder Josh Loeb opened Rustic Canyon in December 2006, and the wine list has earned placement in Wine Enthusiast's 'Best Wine Restaurants' for five consecutive years. Located in Santa Monica; reviewers note that street parking in the area is limited. Couples who visited for anniversary and honeymoon dinners highlight the staff's attentiveness, standout dishes including broiled oysters, scallops, corn, and honeycomb ice cream, and an overall ambiance described as rustic but chic.