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Gallery Of Functional Art

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2525 Michigan Ave Ste E3 (at Main Street)
Santa Monica, CA 90404

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(310) 829-6990
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Reviews
( 10 )
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( 5 )

Best

I was there on a Friday night with a couple friends and the place was packed. We were able to get reservations only an hour or so before arriving. Our reservation wasn't available...

Worst

To be completely honest, it was not the food that turned me off of this place, but the rude hostesses and servers. I have been here many times before and tried to give it a second...

Way overpriced, mediocre food 11/12/2006

I've been here a few times and can honestly say the best part about it are their desserts. I have yet to have a good lunch or dinner here. It's every bad stereotype about LA restaurants: self-important underdressed wannabe crowd mixed with expensive, terrible food. With so many excellent restaurants availble, even nearby, I don't understand this place. It's expensive because it looks expensive. It's trendy because people don't know better. I've even found better places to get creme brulee than this. I won't come back unless a friend is treating that night or something. Pros: seems nice on the surface Cons: overpriced food more
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so much fun 11/5/2006

this is a great date place...the food was amazing. This location is much better than the one in Beverly Hills. I had the sea bass and it melts in your mouth more
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Very Good all around 9/12/2006

I had the sea bass and it was devine, my friend had the red snapper that was really good as well. The service was good. I cannot wait to go back!! Pros: Cool Setting, casual place Cons: its can get very noisy more
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Horrible service, mediocre food!!! 8/27/2006

The service at this place is absolutely awful... not only did we wait 20 minutes for our drinks, but our food took over an hour to get. We had to ask the bus boys to check on our food since our waitress didn't bother to check on our table. I had the miso flavored sea bass, it was okay but not great. The place is overpriced for what it is and it's a bit of a touristy crowd there. For the price, you can go somewhere much nicer with better service. Cons: Service, price more
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fun atmosphere, tasty food 7/6/2006

My meal here was pretty impressive: a yummy, big goat cheese salad and then some kind of a Cajun-marinated fish. I thought it was all tasty (but I'm glad I wasn't paying). The desserts, though, where the best part, particularly the banana one. AMAZING. I thought the decor was a little silly (stupid sculptures...) and I was bummed out at how loud the place was, particularly around 9 30, when we were wrapping up. But it was tasty, our waitress was helpful, I love the neighborhood, great for an after dinner stroll. It's a fun restaurant. more
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Can't wait to go back to Chaya~ 2/19/2006

Great drinks, great crowd, great atmosphere and most importantly FANTASTIC FOOD! Lobster enchiladas for an appetizer is a great way to start it off! So far I have ordered callops wrapped in new york steak, paella, and salmon, which were all great. I have tried the filet, nothing so rant and rave over. Typical filet. Looking forward to trying other items on the menu. By the way, might want to skip the banana banana banana for dessert, it was dry and nothing special at all about it. Pros: food&drinks, hooks on wall 4 jackt, ambience Cons: parking more
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Ok Sushi but mostly a scene 1/17/2006

I went here for the first time for the happy hour sushi on a Monday night. It was very crowded, considering it was a Monday and if you come here with more then 2 people you will be waiting awhile. The sushi happy hour list is very small and consists mainly of the most common sushi rolls most sushi goers are familiar with. Amazingly the happy hour ONLY applies to this small sushi roll selection and not to any other part of the menu including and especially NO drink specials. They have some nice cocktail concoctions but the savings you get on the food will quickly be lost on the drinks. It seemed that Chaya Venice is mainly for people trying to make the scene a more style then substance kind of place. Pros: Ambiance, Service Cons: crowded, pricey more
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Best Restaurant in LA! 10/9/2005

Everything about this restaurant is excellent: The food, ambience, service! Certainly the place to go for any special occasion. Pros: Food, Ambience, Service more
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not so much 8/25/2005

A first timer and severely under-whelmed. Four minutes late at Chaya and the 5 of us were made to feel like we needed to seek penance. In sharp contrast, a recent visit to another high-visibility, high-end restaurant everyone from the entire bus to waitstaff were happy to see us and glad we stopped in (even without a reservation). Chaya's space itself was very nice and filled-up quickly. I wondered why, because it certainly wasnt the food. The signature fish dish done to death; the sauce though pretty in appearance was tasteless; and they left the garlic out of the garlic-mashed potatoes. Several sushi items did not taste fresh. Perhaps it was an off night, but more likely it is just another LA-place to be seen and not eaten at. Sigh, so many restaurants and now another one I can take off my list. Pros: atmosphere, good wine list Cons: mediocre food, poor value, bad attitudes more
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Always great food 6/5/2005

A lot of new places come and go but Chaya Venice is still hot after over 15 years! They must be doing something right! in fact they are doing everything right!! The food is a wide variety of Japanese and french with an amazing Sushi happy hour that can't be beat. The servers are very knowledgeable and friendly . This is where I take all my out of town guests for a real taste of "LA" Pros: Food, service, value more
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Not a good happy hour value 4/18/2005

I went for the highly rated happy hour and got very disappointed. First of all, the parking is usually free with validation but $3 flat rate for dinner. They charge happy hour parking for dinner rate. The food was ok, nothing too special, just sushi you could get from any sushi restauant. There are only 3 rolls to choose from for happy hour, which are california rool, spicy tuna roll, and chef's special roll, each has 6 pieces and for $4, so the price is not impressive, just okay. Cheapest drink we could find on happy hour menu was $4.50 for a beer. So it's about the same price at a regular restaurant for drinks and food. Crowd was casual and lots of people came with coworkers it seemed. NOT RECOMMENDED if you are looking for good happy hour. Pros: Food was okay, Decoration was okay Cons: Not a good value, Charge for parking more
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Good - but inconsistent 2/10/2005

This used to be my favorite place to go, but the last few times have been mediocre. Appetizers and desserts are always top-notch, but the daily specials are hit-and-miss. The regular sea-bass on the menu is always great, but my friend ordered a special stuffed sea-bass which as horrendously overcooked, dry, and just plain nasty. I'll still go back, but they need to make sure all dishes are up to par. Oh yes, and the people here are always quite good looking. Pros: Location, Dessert, Hotties Cons: Inconsistent, noise more
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They should of known better 2/13/2004

Went to Happy hour and placed our name on list for table in the bar. When the party that came in after us was seated before us we were outrgaged. We complained and we got snobby attitude from the hostess that obviously seated her friends prior to us regulars. She said they were a party of 5 and we were 2. They were a party of 2 and only one showed after. The table they were given was for 2 not five and in consideration, we were there first we were outraged. We were a party of 2. While they did comp us a drink and extended the happy hour prices - mangement should think twice when a regular customer complains. All in all they stressed us out which should never happen again. more
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Lots of Fun! 1/1/2004

Fun environment with some really great food! The waitstaff is knowledgable and in good spirits! All of the specials looked great and the appetizers were delicious! more
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One of my favs!!! 12/21/2003

Great happy hour with a great crowd! The food is just as beautiful as the crowd! It's a good thing that the food tastes as good as it looks! :) You HAVE to try their lobster ravioli or their lobster enchilada in a cilantro cream sauce! One of my personal favorites! They have great sushi and whether you're in the bar or the restaurant, the service is excellent! Fun, fun, fun!!! Chaya can be a fun place with a group of friends or you can make it a fun date place! :) Of course, it's not going to SUPER romantic, b/c it IS kinda loud. Pros: great crowd, delicious food, fun! more
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Great happy hour scene 11/16/2003

Dinner is delicious here, but if you're on a budget, go when someone else is paying (boss, parents, date with a trust fund...you get the picture). However, it's the happy hour that's really happenin'. Attractive crowd and cheap eats. Do not, however, under any circumstances, try to organize a happy hour party here for more than 6 people (or 30 people, in my case). It is horrendous because it gets too crowded, your party will get separated, the bill is a nightmare to figure out, and some people will be forced to stand. Keep it small and you'll have a ball. Pros: Beautiful people, Yummy Food, happy hour prices Cons: Too crowded sometimes more
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happy hour 6/26/2003

we went for the sushi happy hour a few days ago. some of the rolls and the tuna sashimi are worth while. some, as far as the happy hour value of it, were very basic. i would rather just pay the extra money and sit in the main dining room and order off the menu. this happy hour seemed great for the groups of co-workers hanging out after work. more
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Great Rolls.... but... 6/22/2003

The appetizers were great - we ordered some salad and a roll. The roll was delicious, the salad was interestingly good. The entrees were disappointing, however, as it seemed like they were trying to hard to be different. They should know certain cuts of meat don't necessarily go well with certain Asian marinades and spices. For what you get, the prices weren't of too good of value. Lively, great service and interesting. The hype builds up the wait unless you have a reservation, for which you should definitely NOT be late. The happy hour would be great considering the appetizers are great and has a great selection of beers. Pros: Rolls, Appetizer, Crowd Cons: Hype, So-so food, Crowded more
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slick 10/16/2002

Great bar scene, and the happy hour is the best in town. With cheap but good quality sushi. Its a great place to hang after work. The food is good but not as good as the original. Great atmosphere, people their tend to be very beachy and laid back. Pros: Crowd, Bar, Happy Hour Cons: Make reservations, No patio more
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Worth the price?? 8/29/2002

To be honest, I don't really know what to think of Chaya...I thought it had a great location, fun atmosphere, innovative menu and the food was good - I would especially recommend the salad with the white nectarines and walnuts. However, I feel like I've had much better meals for either the same price (which I felt was inflated) or less - so I'm not really sure I would go back, unless it was for the more reasonable happy hour. The service was also a little slow. Pros: Fun Atmosphere, Varied Menu, Great Happy Hour Cons: Expensive, Slow Service more
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Menu for Gallery Of Functional Art


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Editorial

  • Whether it's a Monday afternoon or a Saturday night, drinks or dinner, couples or a group of friends, this place is jam-packed virtually any hour on any day of the week. Celebrating 20 years of success, this original outpost of the Chaya empire had a facelift in early 2010 with a chic update on the airy art-deco dining room: sculptural light fixtures add a warm glow, hanging blackboards frame the open kitchen and organically shaped Chinese lanterns hover above the bar-lounge. The expanded menu--helmed by Shigefumi Tachibe--offers everything from fruits de mer and the famed spicy tuna tartare (Chef Tachibe is said to have invented the dish more than 25 years ago) to entrees like lobster-shrimp ravioli, the Chaya burger and grilled organic tempeh with curried coconut lentils. But the real star of the show is the seafood, including the always popular soy-glazed black cod served over Hijiki garlic brown rice and asparagus tempura. There is also a coquillage menu (think steamed mussels, bouillabaisse and paella) and full sushi bar, which offers happy hour all night, every night. (As long as you're sitting in the lounge area.)

  • 4/18/2010 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm; 6pm-10:30pm Fri 11:30am-2:30pm; 6pm-11pm Sun 6pm-10pm
  • Payments: Diner's Club, Visa, American Express, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Venice, West LA, Pico
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