Set inside Oceana Santa Monica just steps from the Pacific, La Monique pairs the glamour of old-world dining with the effortless ease of the California coast. Now, less than a year after opening, the French brasserie is expanding its culinary ambitions while giving guests even more reasons to linger.
Inspired by the glamour of Hollywood Regency and imagined as a jewel box brought to life, the space balances old-world decadence and West Coast ease. Its new 24-seat outdoor dining experience, La Petite Monique, brings its intimate dining experience outdoors, offering leisurely dinners and cocktails, along with several dishes created exclusively for the outdoor space.
Executive Chef David Fricaud’s menu highlights a fresh seasonal menu, including signatures such as the Escargot Poppers and Steak Frites au Poivre, and a recent collaboration with acclaimed pastry chef François Payard brings another layer of sophistication to La Monique’s modern interpretation of French brasserie cooking. Among the new creations are four signature canapés crowned with Ossetra caviar, Sweet Corn Agnolotti with crab and uni, and entrées including Pan-Seared Red Snapper and Branzino Cassolette.
Dessert receives an equally indulgent treatment. The Berry Pavlova combines vanilla soft serve, red berries, Chantilly, and meringue, while a classic Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé arrives with crème anglaise. For those who prefer their decadence in tart form, the Chocolate Cookie Tart pairs molten chocolate ganache with vanilla bean ice cream.
Beyond its menu evolution and introduction of La Petite Monique, diners can enjoy caviar-topped Croque Monsieur paired with a martini for $35 at the bar, beginning at 8:30 p.m. nightly, and a new live-music program. Musique at La Monique is curated by Los Angeles entertainment director Adam Carneol and sees jazz take center stage every Wednesday evening from 7 to 9:30 p.m., with additional weekend performances at La Petite Monique.
“The programming adds another layer to the La Monique experience, creating more ways for guests to engage with the restaurant and making it feel like a true gathering place for the neighborhood,” says Executive Chef David Fricaud.
These added elements transform La Monique into a restaurant with unfolding chapters. From cocktails, dinner, dessert, jazz, and perhaps one final martini before calling it a night, the brasserie adds to its cinematic design, French sensibility, and distinctly Californian sense of place to present a full evening experience.
Located at 849 Ocean Avenue, La Monique is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 11 p.m., with reservations available through OpenTable.
