Fav outdoor spot in Santa Monica. The staff and drinks are amazing! Get the Hotel California or Blackberry mojito, you will not regret it.
Heather Kelly
Only came in for a drink and snack at happy hour, but the Juan margarita was so delicious, and the wedge salad so perfect that we wished we'd had time on our trip to come back for a proper hangout. Such a cozy and lovely patio, and super, friendly service. Will definitely return next trip!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tracy M.
I loved Chez jays, it was my first time coming here, and they were packed. But they were very accommodating, which I appreciated. Once we sat down, we quickly ordered our drinks and our waiter helped us pick out the most delicious meal ever. This place is very much good for quick hangouts quick bites. It is bar vibes but it's amazing. The food quality is great and the prices are so affordable For what I've seen in LA.
Martha Jones
Great backyard vibes with friendly service and tasty food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patricia Renovato
Best steak and service . Say hi to Hillary she is the best !!!
Lawson Desrochers
Always a blast, the best kept secret on the Westside! Memo and Abel run a great operation back there. I love breakfast/brunch on the weekends and their dinner any night. Has its own separate bar, kitchen, bathroom, and overall vibe back there, too. Chez Tasty, Chez Fun!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gabriel L.
The steak sandwich was incredibly flavorful and tender! Delicious ciabatta roll with juicy pieces of tender steak dripping with meat juice! Thin crispy fries and an ice cold Santa Monica blonde beer to go with it sure hit the spot on a calm Saturday afternoon!We arrived at 12 noon and the servers stated they didn't serve the dinner menu until 3pm. When we were about to turn around and leave, the chef came out of the kitchen and said he would serve us the dinner menu especially for us!
Natalie Z.
Oh, what a surprise it was! My boyfriend secretly whisked me off to Santa Monica for my birthday, and I have to say, he hit the jackpot with The Backyard at Chez Jay's.Walking in, I was instantly in awe of the Halloween decorations; they were fantastically spooky and set the perfect mood. But the real treat was our server, Sebastian. He was not only attentive but as sweet as pumpkin pie.We came for breakfast, and I must admit, we can be a tad particular. My friend's husband and I went for the 2+2+2, which includes eggs, bacon or sausage, and pancakes. When Sebastian asked me to choose between bacon and sausage, I couldn't decide, so I sheepishly asked, "Can I have both?" He flashed a warm smile and replied, "Of course!" My friend, the avocado aficionado, ordered the Avocado Toast and asked if she could have extra avocado. Sebastian chuckled and said, "Sure thing!" My boyfriend went for the Bourbon Banana Pancakes, which sounded amazing on the menu. We might have seemed a bit demanding, but Sebastian swooped back to our table like a gentle sea breeze (the ocean's so close!), and he fulfilled our breakfast dreams. The Avocado Toast had an avocado mountain on it, leaving my friend wide-eyed and blissfully amazed. My breakfast boasted a generous serving of both bacon and sausage, and it was utterly fantastic. As for my boyfriend, his first bite of the Bourbon Banana Pancakes was so delightful that his eyes rolled to the back of his head in pure breakfast ecstasy.After we'd finished our meal and settled the bill, I told Sebastian that I'd include him in this review. He beamed and said, "Perfect! I'm so happy. The chef reads each review and gets the notifications. He'll be thrilled!" Needless to say, if I were a Santa Monica local, I'd be at The Backyard by Chez Jay's every day without a care in the world about getting tired of it. It's not just the food; it's the incredible service that makes it shine. Thank you for making my birthday breakfast unforgettable. The next time we pass through LA, we'll absolutely be stopping by again!
Obinna A.
Cute spot with friendly service. Had a great time and got great drinks. Make sure to try the loaded tater tots!
Karen F
Visited here last week after seeing it mentioned in an article. What a great little find. From the outside, it looks nothing special but once you enter and see all the fairy lights all over, it is just lovely. And as for the food. We had a grilled chicken burger and fries. It was one of the best meals we have had. They also have a lovely garden area out the back. Visited on a Thursday afternoon. The man behind the bar was really nice and welcoming. Will be back in a few weeks. Loved it.
I am not sure why there are 1 rating stars for this amazing spot!! I truly loved everything about this place. The Food, drinks, the service , the music and overall atmosphere! Everything was very well handled. :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shawn Hermes
Great food, great atmosphere, great music.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Steak
Suzanne S.
Meeeehhhh. Happy Hour menu online and the menus there had calamari. Not so when you try to order. "Uh, no, that's actually not on Happy Hour. It's just on the Happy Hour menu." Straight face. What do they have? A few greasy carbs poorly done. The guacamole and chips comes with a tiny silver ramekin half-filled with guacamole, and another one with some really tired-looking Pico de Gallo. Steak nachos tasted like they had leftovers from the diner cut up and burnt to a crisp to kill the germs.Mai Tai: They fill up the glass overflowing with ice, mix the drink recipe in the shaker, pour 2/3 into the glass, then pour off the rest into a well glass for the bartender because they can't fit the full recipe in the glass overflowing with ice. Final score: Watery and saccharine. Margaritas were watery, tart, and kind of awful. If you like going to a place a movie star has been - by all means - go! It you don't care, I'd pass.
Google user
I am not sure why there are 1 rating stars for this amazing spot!! I truly loved everything about this place. The Food, drinks, the service , the music and overall atmosphere! Everything was very well handled. :)
Joe Cummings
Great spot with fantastic eats and service. Totally a beautiful hidden gem close to the tourism. A perfect escape to relax and indulge. My favorite, the steak nachos!
Fav outdoor spot in Santa Monica. The staff and drinks are amazing! Get the Hotel California or Blackberry mojito, you will not regret it.
Only came in for a drink and snack at happy hour, but the Juan margarita was so delicious, and the wedge salad so perfect that we wished we'd had time on our trip to come back for a proper hangout. Such a cozy and lovely patio, and super, friendly service. Will definitely return next trip!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I loved Chez jays, it was my first time coming here, and they were packed. But they were very accommodating, which I appreciated. Once we sat down, we quickly ordered our drinks and our waiter helped us pick out the most delicious meal ever. This place is very much good for quick hangouts quick bites. It is bar vibes but it's amazing. The food quality is great and the prices are so affordable For what I've seen in LA.
Great backyard vibes with friendly service and tasty food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best steak and service . Say hi to Hillary she is the best !!!
Always a blast, the best kept secret on the Westside! Memo and Abel run a great operation back there. I love breakfast/brunch on the weekends and their dinner any night. Has its own separate bar, kitchen, bathroom, and overall vibe back there, too. Chez Tasty, Chez Fun!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The steak sandwich was incredibly flavorful and tender! Delicious ciabatta roll with juicy pieces of tender steak dripping with meat juice! Thin crispy fries and an ice cold Santa Monica blonde beer to go with it sure hit the spot on a calm Saturday afternoon!We arrived at 12 noon and the servers stated they didn't serve the dinner menu until 3pm. When we were about to turn around and leave, the chef came out of the kitchen and said he would serve us the dinner menu especially for us!
Oh, what a surprise it was! My boyfriend secretly whisked me off to Santa Monica for my birthday, and I have to say, he hit the jackpot with The Backyard at Chez Jay's.Walking in, I was instantly in awe of the Halloween decorations; they were fantastically spooky and set the perfect mood. But the real treat was our server, Sebastian. He was not only attentive but as sweet as pumpkin pie.We came for breakfast, and I must admit, we can be a tad particular. My friend's husband and I went for the 2+2+2, which includes eggs, bacon or sausage, and pancakes. When Sebastian asked me to choose between bacon and sausage, I couldn't decide, so I sheepishly asked, "Can I have both?" He flashed a warm smile and replied, "Of course!" My friend, the avocado aficionado, ordered the Avocado Toast and asked if she could have extra avocado. Sebastian chuckled and said, "Sure thing!" My boyfriend went for the Bourbon Banana Pancakes, which sounded amazing on the menu. We might have seemed a bit demanding, but Sebastian swooped back to our table like a gentle sea breeze (the ocean's so close!), and he fulfilled our breakfast dreams. The Avocado Toast had an avocado mountain on it, leaving my friend wide-eyed and blissfully amazed. My breakfast boasted a generous serving of both bacon and sausage, and it was utterly fantastic. As for my boyfriend, his first bite of the Bourbon Banana Pancakes was so delightful that his eyes rolled to the back of his head in pure breakfast ecstasy.After we'd finished our meal and settled the bill, I told Sebastian that I'd include him in this review. He beamed and said, "Perfect! I'm so happy. The chef reads each review and gets the notifications. He'll be thrilled!" Needless to say, if I were a Santa Monica local, I'd be at The Backyard by Chez Jay's every day without a care in the world about getting tired of it. It's not just the food; it's the incredible service that makes it shine. Thank you for making my birthday breakfast unforgettable. The next time we pass through LA, we'll absolutely be stopping by again!
Cute spot with friendly service. Had a great time and got great drinks. Make sure to try the loaded tater tots!
Visited here last week after seeing it mentioned in an article. What a great little find. From the outside, it looks nothing special but once you enter and see all the fairy lights all over, it is just lovely. And as for the food. We had a grilled chicken burger and fries. It was one of the best meals we have had. They also have a lovely garden area out the back. Visited on a Thursday afternoon. The man behind the bar was really nice and welcoming. Will be back in a few weeks. Loved it.
Restaurantji Recommends
I am not sure why there are 1 rating stars for this amazing spot!! I truly loved everything about this place. The Food, drinks, the service , the music and overall atmosphere! Everything was very well handled. :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, great atmosphere, great music.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Steak
Meeeehhhh. Happy Hour menu online and the menus there had calamari. Not so when you try to order. "Uh, no, that's actually not on Happy Hour. It's just on the Happy Hour menu." Straight face. What do they have? A few greasy carbs poorly done. The guacamole and chips comes with a tiny silver ramekin half-filled with guacamole, and another one with some really tired-looking Pico de Gallo. Steak nachos tasted like they had leftovers from the diner cut up and burnt to a crisp to kill the germs.Mai Tai: They fill up the glass overflowing with ice, mix the drink recipe in the shaker, pour 2/3 into the glass, then pour off the rest into a well glass for the bartender because they can't fit the full recipe in the glass overflowing with ice. Final score: Watery and saccharine. Margaritas were watery, tart, and kind of awful. If you like going to a place a movie star has been - by all means - go! It you don't care, I'd pass.
I am not sure why there are 1 rating stars for this amazing spot!! I truly loved everything about this place. The Food, drinks, the service , the music and overall atmosphere! Everything was very well handled. :)
Great spot with fantastic eats and service. Totally a beautiful hidden gem close to the tourism. A perfect escape to relax and indulge. My favorite, the steak nachos!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Southwest Nachos