LAReview
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Isla
Included In
When Isla is at its best, it feels like you’ve somehow managed an early retirement in Portugal. This wood-fired seafood spot from the Crudo e Nudo people has a deck lined with pillows and potted palms waving in the ocean breeze. On a sunny afternoon or a warm night along Main Street in Santa Monica, this wooden shed on the sidewalk becomes an upscale cabana on some fictional Mediterranean coastline. You might even smell the spices and meat wafting out from the kitchen’s big domed oven.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
When Isla loses its balance, though, it becomes a series of unfortunate events. On busy nights, the intimate dining room becomes an elbow-to-elbow mukbang that’s more uncomfortable than fun. Traffic noise from the street can be a major conversation stealer on the patio. And aside from a few stand-out dishes, the majority of Isla’s wood-fired menu is inoffensive at best.
If you’re in the mood for a nice plate of crudo or just want to sip a great cocktail on Main Street, Isla can deliver. None of the food is downright awful, but given that a full meal here could easily surpass $100+ per person, we suggest sticking to the smaller plates. Will a dinner here be your most memorable dining experience in Santa Monica? Probably not. But in the right light, with the right drink, a snacky date night on the patio at Isla becomes a dupe vacation that won’t require dipping into your PTO.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
The Cocktails
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Sherry Glazed Wings
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Calamari
Charred Black Cod