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Santa Monica - Big Dean's Ocean Front Cafe restaurant
3.8

Big Dean's Ocean Front Cafe

  • Santa Monica
  • $$
  • American
  • Bar
  • Food
    bad
  • Vibe
    good
  • Perks
    good

Food: Frozen meat, stale bread

The glorified Big Deans Cheeseburger turns out to be a misguided mess of overdone patties, tasteless cheese, and stale buns. A far cry from being the best, the overall lack of creativity and freshness in meals leaves a sour taste for anyone expecting to savor a juicy, flavorful burger. The extensive menu variety does little to improve the disappointing taste experience.

  • Great Variety

    Menu offerings extensive, satisfying various tastes, keeping everyone happy.

  • Okay Taste

    Food ranges from delicious to mediocre with fair pricing and average taste.

  • Low Quality

    Frozen burger meat, stale bread, nothing fresh, expensive for the quality.

Top 3 dishes at Big Dean's Ocean Front Cafe

  1. 1

    Big Deans Cheeseburger 🏆

    Big, juicy, cheesy, flavorful, and frequently dubbed as best in la.

    Big Deans Cheeseburger dish
  2. 2

    Hamburger

    Juicy, cooked perfectly, with classic backyard style often highlighted.

    Hamburger dish
  3. 3

    Fish & Chips

    Crispy batter, fresh fish, perfectly cooked, good with lemon and vinegar.

    Fish & Chips dish

Vibe: Great vibes, stellar views

Big Dean's charm lies not in its food but in its ambiance. The comfortable, beachy vibe combined with excellent live music sets a homely stage. Additionally, the perfect oceanside views guarantee an unparalleled dining experience that couldn't be further from the bleak picture painted by tasteless food. Unfortunately, the restaurant fails as a date night destination and shows a disappointing lack of drink variety.

  • Great Ambiance

    Customers love the comfortable, beachy, and chill atmosphere vibe.

  • Bad Drinks

    Lack of variety and overpriced, limited beer/wine selection criticized.

Perks: Limited parking, pet-hostile

This ocean-front cafe, despite its attractive ocean views and spacious patios, offers stress-inducing parking options, making it a less-accessible choice for a relaxing meal. Although touted for its friendly service and accommodating atmosphere, specially for large groups, Big Dean's reveals a disheartening lack of empathy towards their four-legged customers.

  • Great For Groups

    Staff very accommodating to large group of teenagers without reservation.

  • Bad For Pets

    Rude to patrons with dogs, even though CA law allows them on patios.