Mélisse Restaurant

We’ve had a lot of special occasion meals but this one is far and away the best we’ve had. From even before you get to the restaurant, the service is on a whole other level. We celebrated our wedding weekend with a meal here and the staff took such amazing care of us, they made it a meal I’ll remember forever. The menu changes with the season, but you will absolutely be blown away by almost every bite. The chicken main course dish was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. Save this place for a truly special night.

We’ve eaten at a few Michelin star restaurants, but this has by far been my favorite. Each dish was delightful both in flavor and presentation. The staff was so attentive it felt like having a personal service throughout the experience. We had eaten at another Michelin restaurant the night before and while the food was great, it was no where near this level. This deserves more stars than it has, for sure. I was stuffed after all the courses bc you want to eat every bite of each serving. The flavors work together and you can watch the entire kitchen work meticulously on each serving platter. The main course presentation was a treat, and as you leave they are so gracious to have you as a guest. Even the chef and kitchen staff can be caught occasionally smiling bc they love their art. By far one of the best dining experiences I’ve had, especially for a Michelin dinner.

Nelisse definitely deserve their Michelin 2 stars restaurant status. the service is absolutely wonderful and the staff had help set the atmosphere to a really relaxing and comfortable feel that one won't get too nervous over it. and the food is just excellent, needless to say. even thou I missed the previous seasonal menu, but the new winter menu is just as scrumptious as expected. I look forward to trying their duck when the next opportunity arises.

...wow...so many amazing dishes served with care and amazing flavors! The wine pairing was expensive, but worth it. Same for the truffle addition. We loved the intimate environment and kind staff. The "hidden door", was fun! The whole thing was worth going at least once!

Exceptional experience from start to finish. Each dish felt like a masterpiece, meticulously prepared and bursting with flavor. Mélisse has an intimate vibe and it feels like a well-kept secret.

I've wanted to dine here for a while and I finally made it back in June. The intimate dining room has only 5 tables, and a close up view of the kitchen.
One of my favorite dishes was the Caviar Deviled Egg, it even had heart shaped waffles on the side! I also enjoyed their pine milk bread and blossom butter that was served with a mushroom broth.
There were three main savory dishes.
The Red Bream & Scallop "Farci", was my least favorite dish of the menu, it was cooked perfectly, and the sauce looked good, but somehow it all tasted completely flavorless, which was really disappointing.
The A5 Wagyu with a ramp stuffed Morel mushroom was amazing, but the main highlight of the meal for me was the Liberty Farm's Duck "Rouennaise". It was delicious and the presentation was really unique.
One of the desserts was a cherry sorbet with "dip n dots" which was one of the most flavorful sorbets that i've ever had, and a perfect way to end the meal. This was such a fun and unique experience but it was probably the most expensive 2 star i’ve been to and I don’t think it lived up to the price tag compared to other restaurants i’ve dined at with the same Michelin rating.

The chef's dining room is upscale, but cozy with only 5 tables, all located across from the open air kitchen. The chefs and servers partner in serving you each course, telling you about the ingredients for each dish... like little stories. Such a special experience! The food was fresh, precisely made, and each had blends of interesting components. The plate before dessert, they had a performance using an 18th century press for the duck sauce on top of in-house 21 day dry-aged duck.

I strongly recommend their mocktail pairing menu, they are creative in a way that doesn't compare

Alright, better late than never. The menu has probably updated since I ate back in August, but still worth sharing the beauty. This is my first 2 Michelin restaurant experience and I gotta say, it was worth the experience. I was not disappointed by the flavors. I was not let down by the portions. In fact, I almost couldn’t finish dessert. I was genuinely surprised and delighted with some of the dishes, like the scallop chips and baos. How?! Def come here on a special occasion!

I’ve been to so many underwhelming fine dining restaurants in LA that I was beginning to wonder if I should take a break from the ultra refined, high end dining altogether. Mélisse was a surprising delight and solidified itself as one I hope to visit regularly.

The welcome cocktail, a yuzu grapefruit situation with the best foamy egg whites, was so good that I requested another. They had non-alcoholic versions as well.

Starters (or “one bite wonders” as I like to call them) tend to be the best part of the meal in many cases, but the mains (most notably the duck) were memorable as well.

Two issues: 1) several items were too salty (Chawanmushi and the fish course), and 2) the Koshihikari rice course could totally be skipped - presentation and taste felt out of place.

Strong execution, friendly service, and a cozy, fun atmosphere made this experience enjoyable. I hope to be back to try future menus!

I never knew food was capable of giving me chills and bringing me into complete ecstasy. I have been to several other michellin-rated restaurants, but still none come close to Melisse. This restaurant will always hold very special place in me and my girlfriend's hearts. I have been here a handful of times and every single dish has amazed me with both exceptional taste and immaculate presentation. Thank you Josiah, for this wonderful gem.

We visit California at least once a year, and I'm not gonna lie, visiting Melisse is one of our top reasons. It's always fantastically delicious, exciting presentation, and kind and engaging folks work there. We've been coming in since before the pandemic, and the experience has remained amazing throughout- maybe even better because of how intimate the Melisse-side space is now. The thing that really makes or breaks any experience for us is the people though, and they have some of the absolute best - they're passionate about food, they'll tell you all about it, and they'll interact with you like you're a guest they invited over for dinner - it's not stiff like some fancy places can be - they're real, which is so much more fun!

Melisse is a gastronomic and sensory delight. The restaurant itself is small and intimate seating about 14 people at a time. There are 5 tables, each with a wonderful view of the open kitchen.

The service here is impeccable as would be expected from a 2 Star Michelin rated establishment. From the moment we walked into the bar at Citrin to being led into the back room for our meal we always had someone available for our every need.

Needless to say the food here is divine. From the aged beef, green goddess charcoal caviar to the Liberty Duck "Rouennaise" every dish was unique, creative and exquisitely crafted. I counted 19 different dishes. So come hungry for the portions are as generous as the courses are plentiful.

Melisse is definitely one of the best restaurants I have had the pleasure of eating at. If you are looking for a special night out in Santa Monica make sure to put Melisse at the top of your list.

First time here and I’m a fan. Thanks to Dine LA was able to try a few items dishes and loved them all. The duck was my favorite, but then, it was all good. Service was incredible as well and the setting very beautiful as they made up their parking lot into a permanent looking patio. Not at all like the ubiquitous tents you see across town. They did it up right and would love to see them keep the patio around after Covid.

Wish I could remember all of the dishes, but we enjoyed the wine pairing and cocktails a little too much :)

Perfect example of a solid 2 star - Great food all around with several excellent dishes, high-quality ingredients / well-executed techniques, and refined service. For us, the meal's highlight was the turbot.

The 14-person dining room is fantastic. While the price point is certainly up there, I'd recommend the experience and I'm excited to see what Melisse's team can put out going forward.

YUM! We went into this meal at Citrin with high expectations, and we were pleasantly surprised. Every dish and drink was elevated, delectable, well balanced and truly delightful. The presentation of the food was beautiful, and all of the flavors truly danced on your tongue. The service was also excellent. This is a great spot for a special occasion. We can’t wait to dine again!

This restaurant is perfect fine dining. They serve you many very small and delicious artistic plates of food. The service is extremely attentive. You might leave hungry but it would be hard not to appreciate the delicious food

I am convinced that Mélisse is one of the most intimate restaurants in LA where you can enjoy various sophisticated fine delights. The creativity of renowned Chef Josiah Citrin shows in every dishes, served in astonishing presentations with scrumptious delicacies. Pairing champagne & wines with the tasting menu here achieves perfectly-balanced components, harmoniously.
Located in a serene ambiance, stylish and classy seating area, yet private scene in the heart of Santa Monica, I love that we are able to see how chefs prepare our mains in the most exquisite ways, plus a wonderful sommelier who pays meticulous attention to detailing & displays extraordinary service. If you’re a discerning food connoisseur like me, this 2 Michelin starred place is suitable for a pleasantly charming date night. Overall, my boyfriend and I are satisfied from start-finish, indulging our finest palates properly with the bite-sized portions.

Excellent food and overall experience. Yes, it is pricey, but worth it. Did the tasting menu and all the dishes had great and complex flavors with beautiful presentation. Service was impeccable and the staff was very attentive. We would definitely go back to try other dishes.

We had the 10 course meal. It was great!! The waiters and staff are attentive to your needs and requests. It is one of the great places to go for a special occasion. Please be aware that meal times are 3-4 hours for the 10 course meal. Overall, an excellent experience for french food in LA.

Very intimate experience. Very attentive staff and great service. Food was very well paired and arranged. Beautiful flavors, presentation, and overall experience. Came for my wife's birthday and very happy with the whole evening. Thank you Chef Josiah, Matthew, and staff!