Insider Pages Reviews for Paradise Cove Beach Cafe

4 Stars: Great beach! (by Rebecca R.)

Rebecca R. — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:55:00 GMT

I recently discovered this hidden gem on PCH and I LOVE it. The food is great, drinks are amazing (mojito's), and the beach is nice and clean. There are often celebrities here and sometimes they shoot movies too. I love going here on sunday afternoons just to relax, get a bite to eat with my friends and enjoy the beautiful beach. BTW, the portions are huge so there is no need to order too much food. You can use that money on drinks instead :)

1 Stars: Not worth the view!! (by AB08)

AB08 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Pay to park regardless of the style in which you choose to stay. Poor staff with unpleasant attitudes. Meals were very greasy and over priced. Nothing tasted very fresh considering the hype that they establish in the menu. Lastly, sick all night with stomach cramps due to fish and chips and tacos. You can have it!

1 Stars: DON'T EVER THINK ABOUT GOING HERE (by Angie C)

Angie C — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Food was awful and the waiter was rude and charged extra food item on menu. When confronted with the manager, the manager said it was a mistake and did not do anything. After reading other reviews, I believe now that the owner/manager push the waiters to add extra items on receipts for profit.

1 Stars: Hate to say this, but I got seafood illness after 1st visit (by chaplet)

chaplet — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Paid $25 to park and then later got sick (cramping) after eating the seafood fish tacos...what more can I say?

3 Stars: Very bad service (by CSMobileUser)

CSMobileUser — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Unprofessional service and expensive. Rude waiters. We were very bad treated in this place. For sure our worse experience in one month vacation in the usa.

1 Stars: They just want your money (by CSMobileUser2)

CSMobileUser2 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Bad place

1 Stars: Avoid this place, unfriendly people (by CSMobileUser3)

CSMobileUser3 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Bad place, you need to pay 25 dollars for parking!!! Rude people.

1 Stars: Do NOT go here for anything special or dear to your heart! (by Food4FunandFamily)

Food4FunandFamily — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

I have now had TWO disappointing experiences at Paradise Cove. A birthday party for an elderly relative was ruined (I made a reservation for an inside table with easy access for a grandpa with a walker. The restaurant lost the reservation/request, had us wind through a sea of narrow tables and then would not serve our little birthday cake after we ordered more than $150 worth of food!)

Then, I made reservations a month in advance for some out of town guests for an outside table near the water. Though the hostess had the reservation -- they hadn't taken time to actually read the request. The outside area was full up. We had to sit inside. Then, we asked for separate checks for the 3 families -- instead it came a one big check (so the waiter could add 18% tip automatically.) He would NOT refigure the bills. We had to get out our calculators and waste our social time. And we discovered he'd overcharged us!

They whole attitude there is "Oh hey, we'll wing whatever happens and it'll turn out fine." And when it doesn't they are like "Tough. We're busy and you're asking for extras."

DO NOT GO HERE FOR ANYTHING SPECIAL!!! They could care less, are not flexible, prepared or attentive, and then give major attitude. And "friendly Bob" the owner -- ignores all complaints. Offers no apologies or remedies. It's a beach shack, run by slackers and nothing more.

1 Stars: Worst place to go, not worth the long drive (by violetgirl426)

violetgirl426 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Please beware: waiter charged extra food item on receipt on purpose, bad service, bad attitude, bad management and bad food. I had the worst experience ever. Please do take your time to read my review.
My cousin and his friend came from Taiwan to California and I decided to take them to this place that my friend raved about. I would like to emphasis here that we are three good looking and very educated people. I was getting my masters degree in acupuncture. My cousin and his friend are medical doctors in Taiwan and they were here in U.S. to get their additional PhD degrees in medicine.
My cousin and his friend both got the same soup and it was way too salty. I informed the waiter to exchange for another soup and the waiter told us that was how the soup suppose to taste like, and he would no let us return the soup. I have been in this country 20 years and I know that any American restaurant will gladly exchange unsatisfied food for something else. The waiter treated us as we were ignorant people who don't know what food should taste like because we were Asian, who looked tourists. My cousin and his friend were polite and they both had to add half a glass of ice water each to their soups and it was still salty and became lukewarm.
When I got the check, the waiter purposely duplicated an additional $15 main course on the check. He did it intentionally because from 20 feet away, he saw me double checking the check and came over right away to tell me he had made a mistake. I did not have to question him first for him to realize his "mistake." He acted guilty. This is not my own imagination because both my intelligent Doctor cousin and his Doctor friend also agreed that the waiter did it on purpose from the look on his face.
I also saw every other table had bread baskets and I questioned the waiter why my table never got any bread. He said that we had to ask for it. That is bullsh#t, especially the waiter had to at least offer us and especially we ordered soup that goes well with bread.
I should had talked to the manager right away, but I waited until the next day. Over the phone, the manager tried to denied any wrongdoing and defended the waiter.
This is why I wrote and please reconsider before you go.

1 Stars: Don't overpay for average food just to have a view. (by lindydnil)

lindydnil — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Being a resident of Malibu I've frequented the Beach Cafe probably a dozen times a year over the past several years witnessing a slow decline in the quality of food and an increase in the prices. After my last visit to the Beach Cafe, I decided that visit will be my last. Our party of four dined on a Monday evening, the restaurant had fewer that 12 tables filled. We started off with the calimari appetizer which in the past was one of our favorites, a huge martini glass filled with calimari and french fries, this time the appetizer arrived greasy and cold. Another favorite the calm chowder was sorely lacking clams, in fact I was hard pressed to find a single calm in my cup. Two people in our party ordered the seared RARE ahi tuna, which arrived cooked through. At $19 the salad bar should be passed over unless you like bland, boring and unimaginative offerings, at this price you'd expect more protein and some vibrant specials. Our total for a party of four including one drink each, one shared appetizer and one dessert was over $225. For that kind of money we could have enjoyed a truly memorable meal at Geoffrey's. Why pay for the view of the beach when you can have great seafood at Neptune's Net or Malibu Seafood and then walk over to the beach??? As I mentioned we live in Malibu and are saddened by the steady decline exhibited at the Beach Cafe. Given the pleothra of great restaurants in Malibu I'd suggest going elsewhere unless the Beach Cafe gets new management and renewed obligation to provide their customers a great dining experience.

5 Stars: This place really is paradise (by llyonize)

llyonize — Sat, 02 May 2009 02:00:00 GMT

We took the trek out to malibu with the idea of having a nice late lunch at the beach...well needless to say the wait for a table was about 2 hours...but not to worry they have ..Paradise to go...you can order out on the beach, both drinks and food and eat it on the chairs they have set up facing the ocean...once you have eat and drunk yourself into a frenzy you can then rest on one of the many lounges they in the area...great place to just hang and relax and enjoy being at the beach.

2 Stars: crappy service (by rebeccakatherine)

rebeccakatherine — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I went to this restaurant on a whim for breakfast on a Saturday morning and were very disappointed by the complete lack of service. The food was well made. I ordered the carrot cake waffle and he the barbecue chicken omelette. They were both good but the food took forever. By the time we got it my boyfriends food was luke warm. The waitress forgot his toast, and it wasn't until we asked about it half way through the meal that she asked what kind of toast he wanted. For the price, not the cheapest, I was extremely disappointed by the service. If you live in Long Beach go to the Potholder. It's 10 x better.

4 Stars: great spot (by grabtrees)

grabtrees — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

great spot to take the family on a weekend afternoon and enjoy a nice meal and then head out to the beach.

5 Stars: An L.A. classic! (by Jenna1070899)

Jenna1070899 — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

My favourite restaurant in L.A. - a Malibu classic! This is a restaurant on the beach - literally. It has its own private beach area, and you can choose to dine on ourside tables in the sand. The meals are HUGE - you'll never leave hungry! Ordered the salad bar on the last visit, and it had an excellent selection, including seafood that looked and tasted very fresh. We took a good friend for his birthday last time, and not only did the waiter gather the entire restaurant in a rendition of "Happy Birthday" but they gave him the biggest slice of an 8-inch high chocolate cake for free, which fed 4 of us for dessert, PLUS we took some home! I have no complaint about this place, and have been about a dozen times, plus sent friends visiting from overseas here, and they really enjoyed it. Go for your next function - you won't be disappointed!

4 Stars: Great Sundays! (by jayla837)

jayla837 — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

This is a great way to end a Sunday! Spend a day @ the beach then have a great food and drinks with friends. The place is pricey but its worth it!

3 Stars: Fun place (by Fanny K.)

Fanny K. — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

I definitely recommend this place for a nice meal right on the beach. Who can complain while munching on lunch and watching the waves roll in from the Pacific Ocean. A fun place for the whole family. And the drinks are well made and reasonably strong, so wait a couple of hours before driving back home!

4 Stars: overall pretty good (by guest100)

guest100 — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

i just went here for my birthday with my mom/ grandma/ uncle and aunt. it was really nice. it could be dress up or dress down. i saw alot of people on dates and they were dressed up or you could be a beach bum and dress down and come in with your sandy feet. we had a pina colada which was very good. and they had guava mojito. my family had the maine lobster pasta which was VERY good it was delicious. i had the salmon with the rum and pineapple salsa and it was ok i thought the salmon was a bit over done but that i think it is a personal choice. the clam chowder i thought was excellent right up there with gladstones. since my mom brought a cake i dont know how the desserts were but it is definitely a place i would come back to

4 Stars: Beautiful scenic place to eat (by debbieharry)

debbieharry — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

A cafe right on top of the ocean, beautiful scenery, good appetizers and drinks but the fish I had that day was okay. It's expensive if you are not ordering the burger and fries. Very crowded, we had a 45 minute wait. We had people around us asking us to move so they can fit their huge group of people on a table that was too close to ours. All of the tables are very close to each other. If you don't mind a crowded place with long waits and 7.00 dollar drinks don't bother you either, this is a great place to eat at.

5 Stars: Best Huge Cheeseburgers; Great Place to take Kids; They love it! (by janlake)

janlake — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

My 13 year old grandson, Keith, had the time of his life. He loved his huge cheeseburger and fries plus his giant coke; our waitress was so very friendly and came to our table numerous times to see if we wanted anything more even though there were a lot of people for lunch that day. He then rolled in the waves on the beach with other kids, but, when he saw Miley Cyrus who had just come on the sand to film her movie, that was the finishing touch. His two sisters got some great pictures of her that day with his camera. All in all, it was an unforgetable experience for him and I loved it too. It's my most favorite place to take all my grandchldren.

4 Stars: Not a better location (by kiercemartin)

kiercemartin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I've been to Paradise Cove several times and the place never gets old. It couldn't have a better location, and if it was any closer to the ocean, it would be in it. The food is good, not necessarily stand out, but definitely consistent and worth what you pay, especially for the view and such. I think breakfast there is actually my favorite rather than dinner. Definitely a place to check-out anytime you're up around the Malibu way.

5 Stars: Beat the Blues with this stunning Beach view (by janaschreiber8)

janaschreiber8 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

My family and I have been going to this place for years for many special celebrations. The food is quality, the fish is fresh and uniquley presented whether pistachio or parmesean encrusted, and the location is lovely. It doesn't get much better than being right on the beach, and waiting for your table with peanuts and cocktails while sitting on chairs in the sand. This restaraunt is a prime destitnation for beach lovers who cannot pull themselves away from the beautiful malibu sunset. We held my mom's 50th suprise birthday party here and nothing could have made the occasion better or more memorable.

3 Stars: Packed on weekends, unimpressig food (by doll83)

doll83 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I went there on a Sunday and it was very packed. We were lucky to catch seats at the bar. It is certainly a rare spot because of dining and drinking by the ocean. Though it is a kind of chaotic and sloppy spot and the menu offers a very small choice.

2 Stars: Great Location, slow service, bland food (by GenepoolNYC)

GenepoolNYC — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

The Clam Chowder had the consistency of glue paste and tasted like nothing, I can't even remember what other food I ate because it had no flavor. The view is great but I wouldn't go back. They also have some type of insane parking policy, if you don't validate, you pay $25!

4 Stars: Seafood, Sun and Fun (by dgc1987)

dgc1987 — Wed, 21 May 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I recently went here as part of an off-site "retreat" for work. We had a large party of about 30 people but the service was very prompt and attentive even though we only had one waiter. The food was great and you can't beat the location. It's right on the beach and it has a very cozy, yet open feel. I'll be back someday soon.

5 Stars: Fun Beach Dining Atmosphere (by delyte17)

delyte17 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:00:00 GMT

For the very first time writing a review, I must say this is THE Best place to start. We had such a great experience from the hostess, server and especially our food. Huge portions and not too expensive. Take your friends and family here when you want to show them a great Malibu Beach dining experience. Afterwards, the pier is a wonderrful way to chill and relax at the Ocean...even great for photo opps!

1 Stars: Disgustingly Flippant (by thaipokey)

thaipokey — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I will never again be a patron of this establishment. I made a reservation for my wife?s birthday on 9 Feb at 6 pm which was lost when I arrived. To top it off the male manager inferred that I was lying about making a reservation and the female manager was arrogantly dismissive. And then when we left after a 30 minute wait with no food the parking lot wanted $3.00 from us. Completely ruined my wife?s birthday.

4 Stars: Dining at Paradise Cove (by marie n.)

marie n. — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:31:00 GMT

We recently had a lunch at Paradise Cove. It is a busy,hectic enviornment, but the food is great. Also, the view of the Pacific is great!

I would recommend the Ahi Tuna sandwich. It was great.

1 Stars: No Paradise here (by alex304)

alex304 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

We went there for the first time. On a crowded, busy Sunday, the only one receptionist available was being trained and of course inexperienced. We were told that we would have a 2 hour wait and were encouraged to have a drink outside. At a first glance, there was no place to even lean on to, so we opted to leave. Apparently, the parking sign is misleading too, they post with big letters $3.00 for 3hrs and with small illegible letters with validation or $25 without. We did not get validated as we did not anticipate that amount and we ended up paying $25. When I told the parking attendant that we were there for only 10 minutes he was rude and told me I have no option but to pay. I do not expect on a busy Sunday to receive the best of service, however I expect from a place that has been around for so long to know how to conduct their business and treat their customers. I wrote to them, was told that I would receive a refund for the outrageous parking fee and never received anything.

5 Stars: Truly is a bit of paradise! (by missjoymarie)

missjoymarie — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

What a perfect way to spend a Sunday! After reading the reviews, we almost didn't go. So happy we did! After searching a bit for parking (it can get busy!), we checked in with the hostess who told us it was a two hour wait to sit outside. So we played in the sand, on the pier, walked around, had a snow cone... and an hour later our lobster was blinking--an entire hour early! The hostess (who was very sweet) showed us to our table and our server (Phillip) was there to greet us in seconds. Unfortunately, they were out of mojitos, but he even went to check twice to make sure. The food was good--loved the barbecue shrimp and the oreo dessert, service was great and you can't beat the view. We can't wait to go back (hoping they'll have the mojitos!) and this time we'll bring our fishing gear. I've had longer waits at the Cheesecake Factory and didn't enjoy it even half as much. Break free from the confines of the city and spend a day at Paradise Cove--it is humanizing, enchanting and a whole heck of a lotta fun!

1 Stars: Don't even bother coming here. (by peggyarcher)

peggyarcher — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Went on a weekend, and was told by the VERY RUDE hostess that they couldn't seat us (two people) because the list was too long. She told us to try at the bar, which was so packed you could barely move. You'd think that they'd have good service because they're so busy, but no. We never got drinks - never saw a server or a bartender.

When we gave up and tried to find a deck chair and order food at the "to go" window, the line was very long and a couple said they'd been standing there for 45 minutes. The deck with chairs was totally packed, and despite the "no smoking" signs many people were lighting up and throwing butts in the sand where barefoot people were walking.

There is no service to the outside deck, so many people just sit there and don't order anything since they don't have to, but it means that you can't get a chair even if you've purchased food (which we gave up on because the waits were so long).

I have NEVER seen a restaurant that simply wasn't interested in taking my money. I won't be back, and I don't recommend that anyone else go there, either.

2 Stars: Once a gem, now a tourist ripoff (by jwinty)

jwinty — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Came in the middle of week. Told it would be a 20 min wait. Became a 40 min wait. When I asked the hostess how much longer she told me another 20 minutes! Did not apologize for the wait. Was very indifferent at the inconvenience to me and my family coming there for a birthday breakfast.

We finally got seated (yes, believe it or not we stayed) and waited another 45 minutes to get our breakfast. Food was cold. My son's pancakes were normal on top, burnt black on the bottom (as if they were trying to hide the fact that they were burnt!)

I'm a 25 year resident of the area. Used to come here several times a year. Last few months have seen it turn. Something's gone wrong here with management. Not going back.

2 Stars: Nothing special food and bad service (by bperelsh)

bperelsh — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Came in with another pair of friends on a WEEKDAY - yes the place is crowded which is fine, but with whole bunch of empty tables we had to wait... Waited about 45 min to be seated. This is not all ... when seated ... waited another half an hour at least for a waiter to stop by and say hello to us (actually had to start waving at them randomly) ... they were confused who should service our table !!! Finally one nice waitress ... liked us . The food was just ok - yes overpriced but this is not the point... I don't recommend this place during summer - seems to me that these people can't manage more then 10 customers at a time.

3 Stars: So sad it's all but gone... (by lojin)

lojin — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

The Paradise part that is.

This restaurant, beach and a day spent there used to be a wonderful experience, and as a local who has been to the restaurant easily 50+ times often spending the day and two meals with family and friends, and now will not bother with it at all - I feel the loss.

Yes, the beach is still there if you can see it - but seemingly the entire LA inner City invades on any pleasant sunny day. Families monopolize the beach with rude people literally walking over or on each other to get from one place to another.

Watch the people fighting (sometimes physically) over the beach tables as they circle diners like waiting vultures since the restaurant takes no responsibility over this area. Diners will also hold tables interminably as well as the beach chairs so be prepared for the long waits to snag a spot.

The old restaurant staff is mostly gone and since it is still an industry heavy clientele most of the new staff waiters and waitresses are actually just pretty actors simply biding their time to be discovered by a visiting director or movie star. Unless you are recognizable yourself expect third class service.

The food used to be generous if not haute cuisine so if you knew the menu you would leave full and having enjoyed a basically pleasant meal, no longer.

The restaurant has a harried kitchen staff turning out much, much smaller portions than the increasingly high prices merit. The bulk of every plate is greasy fries or chips. Pastas are gummy and simply reheated. Food arrives cold; salad bar is often emptied and not replenished.

With all these negatives what’s left; having to walk in like a naughty child with your paid receipt to get a stamp to leave the parking lot with only a $3 charge vs $25 without validation.
Yup, that’s the finishing touch and I’m finished.

4 Stars: Beachside dining in Malibu (by radiancelee)

radiancelee — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

First off, the portions are HUUUUUUUUUGGGGE!!! The bucket of mussles is really a BUCKET. they definitely want to give off value for money, sinc the menu doesnt come cheap. Sit at the beach when there's warm weather (very cold wind when the sun goes down), your feet will be in the sand and you can watch the ocean. We even saw a wild sea lion. Which was a highlight of my drive down the PCH. Service is pretty slow, since the girls are overworked and it seems the restaurant is consistently full. Parking is $3 with validation from the restaurant. nice place to bring tourists who want to see what malibu is all about.

5 Stars: Great place for lunch...it's busy but if your laid-back you will enjoy the experience. Use the valet parking at the weekends (by mplaydon)

mplaydon — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

We just got back from my 6th visit to the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, we always try and take out of town visitors here as we have never had a bad experience. We were a little worried this time as we had not been for a while and the previous reviews painted a pretty bleak picture, and although it was not quite as good as we remembered it certainly was not as bad as some of the other reviews made out. We went on a Sunday lunch time on the first real day of great weather so we fully expected it to be busy,,,and it was..very busy. We did not make a reservation and were told the wait would be 2 1/2 hours. This is when you need the laid-back beach attitude. take it in your stride grab a Mojito and sit back and relax (don't go here at the weekend if you are in a hurry). This is a place to kick back, relax and forget about the daily grind. We sat at a table in the entrance, people watched and sipped our Mojitos. Just as we finished the first round a delightful waitress came by and asked if we wanted another round... so don't read to much into the reviews which slate the service. She chatted with us and brought the next round promptly. Before we had finished our second drink our delightful plastic lobster pager flashed to life...we had waited less than an hour. The restaurant was loud and lively with every table occupied and the staff moved quickly and efficiently. We got a nice booth and I highchair for our baby. The waitress was lovely and took everything in her stride. We got our drinks and appetizers very quickly. I recommend the oysters here, they are great and the horseradish certainly has a kick as my wife discovered. As always we had the hot and the cold sampler which although not quite as good as I remember is still good value for money...especially if you like calamari. After lunch we took as stroll down the beach before heading home. Overall another wonderful experience

5 Stars: What more do you need: Good Food and Amazing View (by lafoholic)

lafoholic — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Paradise Cove is exactly what the name says: Paradise. If you're driving from LA, not only is the drive on the way down absolutely gorgeous, you get the same view while you eat dinner! I've been there for just dinner, and then I recently went for the day where I layed out at the beach, drank some margaritas (which were AMAZING, btw), and then had a late lunch... I love the relaxed, beachy atmospher...and the fact that you can get a tan while you wait for a table. The calamari, crispy skin salmon, crab cakes, fish tacos...all amazing...and I'm sure if I've tired other things, they would be just as tasteful! Beware, the portions are HUGE.

3 Stars: Dirty, Sleazy, and Avoid.... (too bad given great location) (by greatreviews)

greatreviews — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Such an incredible location with such awful experiences. We tried it twice and here is why we will never come back.
1. dirty place (salad bar should be put in the trash
2. sleazy clientale (bar crowd at best)
3. horrible service and poor management
4. mediocre food

If you want medicre go to neighboring places that are at least clean.

4 Stars: Great atmosphere and view (by hchchc)

hchchc — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

My husband and I LOVE this place-- especially for breakfast on Sat or Sun. Food is good (not 5 star or anything, but good-tasting and satisfying). Can't beat the location and view. We even took my mom-in-law when she was visiting and she loved it. I don't know what it's like at night, only been for breakfast and lunch.

3 Stars: View is the only thing going for this place (by fuzzycat28)

fuzzycat28 — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I was excited to try Paradise Cove this weekend and was expecting more than I got. Granted the view is lovely, however the servers are just plain rude and unfriendly. The legendary Mojo was horrible, tasted like cheap rum. In fact all their drinks were tasteless. The food was so-so, overpriced for what you get in quantity & taste. Outside seating with a server is on a first come, first serve basis. My suggestion, skip the restaurant, get the take out & a beer or glass of wine, grab one of the recliners on the sand and enjoy the view, because that is the only good part about this place. Watching the sun set and dolphins play while enjoying a Corona & the sounds of the ocean was the best part of this location.

2 Stars: Bad Service, Host and Food! Great View (by malimy)

malimy — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I am a long time Malibu resident being that there are not many restaurants in Malibu on the rare occasion my friends and I will go to Paradise Cove. Well this will be my last trip there. We came in prior to Noon time when they stop serving breakfast, the place was not busy and the host told us we could not have breakfast. We went there for breakfast. After speaking to the manager who was unprofessional nothing was resolved. We were able to order breakfast but the food was horrible. Everything there is deep fried and tasteless. Since the new Management took over this place has gone down hill. It used to be great, now it's just a tourist trap with bad food, bad service and a good view. I will not be going back there again. Try Geoffreys.

4 Stars: Best view, Excellent Cocktails, cold blooded hostess (by chrisna_99)

chrisna_99 — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

My bf is from Michigan and I brought him here to show off the view and what malibu has to offer. yes, fantastic view! We took some great shots. Everything was great until we got hungry and decided to eat. The hostess wasnt very accommodating. She told us that there was a two hour wait. Mistake we made was we should have asked for a list so we can verify if she was telling the truth! ANyhow, we didnt want her to spoil our night so we head off to the bar. Ordered Kamikaze and long island ice tea (a little strong but a-ok). We made ourselves comfortable and lo and behold, we havent stayed longer than 30 minutes when we noticed that there were a lot of vacant tables!!! Two hour wait? Discrimination? or what. Go to Paradise Cove for the view, not the beach bar! Disappointed with the service indeed.

1 Stars: Stay away!!!! New mgmt has wrecked this place (by mapplesauce)

mapplesauce — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Sad - this used to be one of our favorite spots in SoCal for lobster and a great beachside dining experience. Here's what's happened, evidently due to new mgmt per our server. 1. Hostess is rude - call to make a reservation and you're told there's an hour wait; yet when you show up, half the tables are empty and you get seated right away???? 2. Drinks are embarrassingly bad - no explanation for why the Mojito was the worst I've ever had (even worse than one I ordered in Mykonos at a dive bar) 3. Can I get some bread?? Seriously. 4. Where's my lobster? Menu promises a full lobster with pasta in a "tasty tomato sauce" -- what I got was a bad plate of pasta (sause was $%&^) with one (that's 1) lobster claw that I had to break open myself (after wiping sauce off so that it didn't splatter)???? 5. When I said this isn't what I want, just bring me a lobster, I was told they only have 2.5 pound lobster now "so that mgmt can make more money". Who eats a 2.5 pound lobster???? STAY AWAY - this place is a disaster!

4 Stars: Still Recommended (by nomis)

nomis — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

It's a mixed experience at Paradise Cove. Food, service, and atmosphere has always been great in the past, but lately it seems like the food quality has gone down a bit. It's still not bad on my list, but just not as great. Service is either poor or excellent the few times I've gone. Still it's always a nice place to relax, watch the sunset, and have a drink on the sand with friends.

3 Stars: Great food, gorgeous views, poor service (by jjenred5)

jjenred5 — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I love taking out of town visitors to this place because of the great location and the food is very good as well. But after this last visit it's really fallen off my list. The service was just horrible! The wait staff was rude to me and my guests because two of the waitresses were having a little territorial tiff over our table and they never seemed to get over it. I've been here before when the service has been great, but over the last couple visits it's just become too inconsistent to take guests when showing off LA with pride. Great views, good food, service with horrible attitude!

3 Stars: Not really too good (by ddpaul)

ddpaul — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

My wife and I drove an hour and a half just to see the restaurant. The ambiance, character and view were very good, better than most.
The food was lacking. I had the eggs benedict and was very disappointed in the flavor. The hash browns were like little cubes of rubber. My wife was equally disappointed with her breakfast.
We will not recommend this restaurant, unless you just want to see a lot of Porsches in the parking lot.
We will not return

5 Stars: Wonderful Hideaway for Lunch (by dingo44)

dingo44 — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

While visiting from Montana, my two teenage daughters and I went to late lunch at the Paradise Cove. We were impressed! It has a wonderful beachfront area, and even though it was fairly crowded, we had a table within 30 minutes. Until then, we enjoyed the ocean view. The shrimp and King crab were delicious...a little pricy, but that is expected for King Crab in a nice restaurant. The parking lot was crowded, but we managed to find a spot as someone was leaving. Remember to bring your parking ticket into the restaurant to get it validated before you leave.

4 Stars: come for the view and a stroll on the beach (by dsaeykim)

dsaeykim — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

i've only been here 3 times - twice for breakfast and once for lunch. i really can't recall anything i had regarding the food. needless to say food isn't the draw to this establishment. it's the view and the location of the restaurant. it gets PACKED on weekends and holidays.

5 Stars: The best (by runandplay)

runandplay — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

This is where I go when I have a few hours to just chill. It's also where I bring friends who visit from out of town. There is no better place on the beach. Food is always excellent, service is laid back and friendly. Something about this restaurant always feels special. You come here twice and you feel like a regular. I recommend it highly.

1 Stars: Bad Service; Bad Food; Free Parking (by mcelfreaer)

mcelfreaer — Sat, 28 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Food is not recommended, my husband always says we get what we pay for, this time it didnt happen, I hardly touched mine and took it home for my cats to eat but they just smelled it.

5 Stars: (by Stephan W.)

Stephan W. — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 16:32:00 GMT

Literally right on the beach. Great selection of seafood, steak and pasta dishes. Full bar and a relaxed, casual atmosphere. Make reservations!

4 Stars: Go at the right time (by frangooch)

frangooch — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I love this place during the week when there are few people and the jazz is good. Add some of their excellent oysters, a walk on the beach, and you have the makings of a perfect evening.

This is also a great breakfast place--the earlier the better. Lots of good food in a perfect setting.

1 Stars: be warned about the parking (by tinkerthinker)

tinkerthinker — Sat, 25 Sep 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Don't even think about going here on a holiday weekend. Made that mistake over Labor Day. The service was terrible. It took almost one hour to get a couple of appetizers and sodas in the patio, then another 30 minutes to get our bill and parking validated.

The $25 parking shocked us. It's free for 3 hours if you spend $15 at the cafe, but if you go over even one minute, be prepared to pay. There is NO grace period. With the slow service, it leaves little time to enjoy the beach.

As others have said, the food is only so-so. The fried appetizers were over-fried, dark brown, though there was a considerable amount of food.

I guess this would be a good place to go for a limited time early supper during the week, when you can enjoy the view.

4 Stars: Why the bad reviews? (by kannikel)

kannikel — Sun, 11 Jul 2004 02:00:00 GMT

The steak and chicken dishes were great. We had a party of three and all our dishes were great! Atmosphere was great. Recommend making reservations if eating dinner, call ahead if you're running late.

5 Stars: the best restaurant in town (by jennifer_alvarez)

jennifer_alvarez — Mon, 28 Jun 2004 02:00:00 GMT

i am so pleased because the food was exquisite and it was such a plesant experience that i hope my fiance' and i will be going soon. it was the best experience in dinning i have ever had. I have recommened it to all of my friends and will keep on promoting and advertising all of the time... I am so glad that we stepped into such a wonderful atmosphere and restaurant and i will reasure you you will be hearing and seeing us soon.

--thank you
jason & jenny

3 Stars: Boring, bad food; Great views (by dockweiler)

dockweiler — Mon, 14 Jun 2004 02:00:00 GMT

Treatment of the food is much like any other average restaurant all across America: boring but the portions will definitely overfill your belly. Avoid their breakfasts ... terrible eggs and dreadful pancakes. Diners during dinnertime cannot see the magnificent views of the beach and sea, and the food is not the draw. The best dining time is lunch, in order to see the white sand and waves. Watch out for the coconut shrimp. You get one large prawn, sliced in half, coated with coconut, & served on individual skewers to make it look like 2 shrimps on this huge platter of fries, too much fried squid, and few pieces of insipidly fried fish. The crab-stuffed tomato is quite good, much like your Aunt Sally might have made in the 50's.

5 Stars: FUN IN THE SUN!! (by flickerchic)

flickerchic — Mon, 08 Mar 2004 01:00:00 GMT

It's a great place to go and relax. You can order your food to go and sit on the beach and enjoy instead of waiting for a table inside. It can get a little loud inside. :) If you want to sit inside I recommend you make a reservation.

3 Stars: It's all about location (by mmontgomery)

mmontgomery — Sun, 06 Jul 2003 02:00:00 GMT

The loacation is the only reason to eat here. The food is served in gargantuan and unappetizing proportions. Screaming children abound. The food is quite similar to other Bob Morris restaurant - heaving salad bars, giant slices of cake, lots of frozen alcoholic bevvies for frazzled parents... etc. The beach is lovely and it can be rather pleasant when it's not too crowded.

5 Stars: Little hidden PARADISE! (by rockabetty18)

rockabetty18 — Mon, 28 Apr 2003 02:00:00 GMT

This palce was great! The food was awsome, the staff was great, and the view was extraordinary. This is truely a ltlle paradise!

4 Stars: love it, love it, love it! (by bob_the_food_guy)

bob_the_food_guy — Mon, 04 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

Enjoy the mellow ocean views while you munch on fresh organic goodies from the fabulous salad bar (which includes caprese, mussels, dolmas, and mixed seafood ceviche). Have some fried Calamari in the big Martini glass too. Also, the apple smoked bacon is to die for! Stroll on the beach and check out the tide pools after you eat. What a delight!

5 Stars: Beach Blanket Bingo (by grampino2)

grampino2 — Fri, 04 Oct 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I lived in So. California and this was my favorite place to spend a day at the beach with a special lady. I remember going there when Jim was filming the "Rockford Files" and was told that there were 142 people ahead of me on the lunch waiting list. I still was eating with in one hour.
I met most of the stars of the show and have remembered that lunch for years.
As for food I have great memorys of the desert tray.

2 Stars: Paradise Lost? (by jb68)

jb68 — Tue, 10 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Whoa -- who's giving this surprising downer of a place the high ratings? Maybe things have changed since they took away the outside seating (that's right, no more drinks or service outside until further notice, and the inside is pretty bleak), but if this joint is L.A.'s best beach bar, then this town is in worse shape than anyone thought. Maybe I'd recommended it to sociologists and people who like to gorge on free peanuts, but that's about it.

1 Stars: Bad bar...that isn't really a bar. (by claytonmscott)

claytonmscott — Sun, 01 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

My wife and I went here with a friend. The drinks werent bad but to wait for an hour to get one was rediculous. You have to buy $15 worth of food to get validated or pay $20 to get out of parking lot. We called to get a little more info and the gentleman that answered the phone was rude and unhelpful. The outside seating you are not allowed to have drinks, not that they tell you that.

4 Stars: Great location, lots of food!!! (by johnscale)

johnscale — Thu, 22 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I visited this cafe on the recommendation of the Citysearch website. It took a while to find the place but it was well worth the effort.

The location is wonderful, overlooking the sea.

The food also was very good but maybe the portions were a bit too large.

5 Stars: Beautiful! Sucky waitstaff outside. (by banjo)

banjo — Thu, 08 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I love this place and have been coming here for a few years now. It's increadibly beautiful and the drinks are great. Food is so-so. My only major complaint is the outside (beach chairs) waitstaff. They're never friendly, and always seem overworked & irritated. I've waited as much as 1 1/2 hours to place an order! Other than that I HIGHLY recommend this place.

4 Stars: What A Paradise (by yveTTE)

yveTTE — Mon, 15 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

My husband and I went to the Cove, Saturday afternoon. We were very pleased with the "strong drinks," as well as with the friendly service. The beach location is excellent! We had lunch in the outdoor sand patio, overlooking the beach. IT WAS GREAT. The food was so so, fried with very little seasoning. We'd definitely go again for the view of the ocean and drinks.

5 Stars: love this place (by suelin)

suelin — Thu, 11 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

great place to kick back and enjoy a summer day. 3-hr parking is free with restaurant validation, which gives ample time to enjoy the private beach. seafood (cold sampler!) is v. fresh, and huge portions. always crowded on weekends, so make reservations.

5 Stars: one day getaway (by statstest)

statstest — Wed, 19 Jun 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I go to paradise cove at least once a month. It's a great one day getaway.

5 Stars: Good Times (by grammatke)

grammatke — Tue, 21 May 2002 02:00:00 GMT

A location worthy of any beautiful summer afternoon. This place is an excellent place to enjoy the beach, drink a bloody mary and waste away the day. You can also hike to Point Dume from here, which is a great hike along one of the best beaches in Malibu.