The Backyard - Santa Monica

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!

Great backyard vibes with friendly service and tasty food.

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!

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!