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JiRaffe Restaurant

502 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401-2410
310-917-6671
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Ranked #14 of 381 restaurants in Santa Monica
Price range: $31 - $45
Cuisines: French, Contemporary, Eclectic
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Restaurant details
Good for: Romance, Doing business, Local cuisine, Special occasions, Entertaining clients
Dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Reservations
Dining style: Fine Dining
Cross street: 5th Street
Description: With the feel of a neighborhood bistro, JiRaffe offers a bright, airy space with two walls of windows, dark wood furnishings, several antique mirrors and wonderful paintings of 1800's French inspiration. Both main floor and loft seating available.
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94 reviews from our community

82% Recommend
    51
    27
    8
    4
    4
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
New Zealand
Senior Contributor
44 reviews 44 reviews
22 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 25 cities Reviews in 25 cities
29 helpful votes 29 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 20, 2013 NEW

It was fixe prix night on a Monday and this place was buzzing, made more interesting by having the chef in the dining room talking to the clients. Full menu was available but the special menu had a choice of each of the three courses so we chose, an aspargus appetiser, a good mixture of flavours and textures, a sole... More

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See 4 more reviews by Judith042 for Santa Monica
Montana
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
16 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
19 helpful votes 19 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 30, 2013

The seafood risotto (scallops, lobster, calamari) is a lovely combination of flavors in a creamy herb sauce. So good! It may be a bit caloric, but it was one of those entrees that go down in your memory as "one of the best meals" you've ever had (or, as I like to say "best meal, so far"). The quality of... More

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See 5 more reviews by WorldtravelerMontana for Santa Monica
Westlake Village, CA
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
5 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 8, 2013

I wish Trip Advisor had a rating between Average and Very Good (like Good) because that's what I would have given JiRaffe. It was enjoyable, and definitely good. The beet salad was very tasty and a unique presentation. The pork was also tasty, properly cooked but the apply "chutney' was pretty basic (cooked apple slices ... not really a chutney).... More

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Los Angeles, California
Top Contributor
117 reviews 117 reviews
89 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 35 cities Reviews in 35 cities
33 helpful votes 33 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 6, 2013 via mobile

Our first visit and our only disappointment was we didn't eat here earlier. For starters the crab cake and mushroom ravioli were delicious. The pork entree with savory apple chutney might have been the best we have ever had. The dorado with a small piece of lobster tail was served with an out of this world lentil side. Dessert continued... More

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See 16 more reviews by Traveling_a_lot4fun for Santa Monica
California
Top Contributor
202 reviews 202 reviews
108 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 67 cities Reviews in 67 cities
153 helpful votes 153 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 24, 2013

We've been to Jiraffe on and off for years. Tonite we visited again and as on previous visits were not disappointed. The service and the food were excellent. The space is relatively noisy so if it were quiet it would be a more intimate experience. We were seated upstairs which somewhat decreases the decibel level. The lobster appetizer my wife... More

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See 48 more reviews by Chingachgook for Santa Monica
Los Angeles, California
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
4 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 11, 2013

My wife and I had a wonderful surprise with this restaurant, finding very good preparations of some French classics, as well as some creative twists. They advertise an "intimate experience," and I agree: most LA French restaurants have either a casual bistro or a pretentious atmosphere; in contrast, Jiraffe has a good relaxed yet romantic ambiance. We are excited to... More

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Auburn, California
Contributor
19 reviews 19 reviews
12 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 10, 2013 via mobile

The restaurant has a great feel to it and the food was equal to the ambience. There were some good values on the wine list. It's nice when you can get a WS 90+ rated wine without experiencing buyer's remorse when the credit card bill arrives. The lamb shank and pork chop were delicious. Our waiter was friendly and helpful... More

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london
Senior Contributor
45 reviews 45 reviews
37 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 25 cities Reviews in 25 cities
27 helpful votes 27 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 19, 2013

Low level noise and a packed restaurant. Service was so good and the food was outstanding. Amazing onion soup and really fantastic chicken. Lemon souffle and sticky toffee pudding were delicious. Probably one of the best Santa Monica restaurants.

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Valencia, California
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 12, 2013

Comfortable but professional service. Excellent food, warm and inviting atmosphere. Perfect for a special night out where you will get quality all the way.

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Twickenham, United Kingdom
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
3 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
19 helpful votes 19 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 7, 2013 via mobile

We went to Jiraffe for lunch as part of the DineLA week. We had the roasted beetroot and tuna tartare to start, both were good but the Beetroot was really exceptional, well balanced and it looked as good as it tasted. I wouldnt hesitate to recommend this place if you want a really nice dinner. The service was professional but... More

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