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If Dear Jane’s in Marina Del Rey feels like a relic pulled from decades past, that’s because it is. A follow-up from the owners of retro steakhouse Dear John’s in nearby Culver City, this swanky seafood spot took over an aging waterfront restaurant, gave it a fresh coat of paint, and tossed some buoys up on the walls. The result is a white tablecloth dining room that balances classic American nostalgia with some nautical touches—even the servers commit to the bit by wearing striped sailor shirts. But despite its charming scenery, the beautifully presented food here is tolerable at best. Dear Jane’s feels like a dated dinner cruise to nowhere.
Marina Del Rey is saturated with forgettable waterfront restaurants that squeeze money out of yacht club members like a lemon wedge over fried calamari. Given the success of Dear John's, we had high hopes that Dear Jane's would raise the bar for this sleepy dining scene. And while it's true that the retro seafood menu here is an improvement over the MDR competition, Dear Jane's is ultimately just another wood-shingled building with an overpriced menu that, for the most part, tastes like one big afterthought. Yes, the crustaceans and shellfish are high-quality, but a majority of the dishes here lack flavor and finesse.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
The “bougie” fish sticks topped with caviar would benefit from some finishing salt and a squeeze of citrus. The crab-stuffed prawns are tough and dry. And even after watching a server mix over 10 different ingredients into the tableside tuna tartare, it still tastes like it's missing something. If you’re lucky, the squid ink capellini in the crab nero might come out al dente. But even then, a lot of table salt is needed to make the $45 plate of pasta sing. With so many uneven items on the menu, the most consistent meal we had here involved a platter of oysters and a cocktail at the bar.
Unless you have some wealthy relatives in town or a friend dead set on overpaying for a marina view, we can’t think of many good reasons to make a special trip to Dear Jane’s. It’s a frustrating restaurant sequel that overpromises with half-baked nautical charm and delivers mostly underseasoned seafood. In fact, the best dish on the menu is a carryover hit from Dear John’s—their excellent chicken parmesan. If you do want to experience this nostalgic waterfront spot, the best way to do it is to slip into the bar area for a drink and a bite or two. Otherwise, you'll be committing to an expensive meal that you'll have forgotten about by the time you get home.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Dear Jane's
Fish Sticks, Caviar, and Seven-Layer Dip
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Fried Calamari
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Crab Stuffed Prawns
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Crab Nero
photo credit: Jessie Clapp