Host Your Event at Upper West

SPECIAL EVENTS

An Elegant Santa Monica private party venue, Upper West is the ideal location for your, anniversary, birthday, baby shower, and Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration. We offer personalized event planning, customizable menus, professional servers, audio/visual equipment and dedicated private dining managers.

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Menus

Anniversary Party

Celebrate your wedding anniversary at Upper West, from your 1st anniversary to your 70th year together, don’t let this special day pass with out a celebration.

Birthday Party

Celebrate your Birthday Party with friends and family at Upper West, full bar, craft cocktail, and chef-inspired menu.

Baby Shower

Gather your friends and celebrate the mom-to-be at Upper West Santa Monica. Our team will take care of all the details, from decorations to small bites plus a full bar with wines and craft cocktails and beers.

Bar or Bat Mitzvah

Mazel Tov! No matter the size of your bar or bat mitzvah celebration, Upper West Santa Monica can take of every detail, from specialty menus to decoration.

What People Are Saying

Hello Fred,
I wanted to thank you and your staff for such an amazing evening.
We got texts all day yesterday thanking us for such a beautiful night.
The food was so good, the drinks were plentiful and your staff was outstanding.
We can’t thank you enough for helping to make it a special night.
Thanks again!
D P

Dear Fred,
I can’t thank you enough for making our son’s first birthday party so beautiful. Everyone was raving about how delicious the food was. All of the staff were so friendly and helpful, and we feel lucky to have been in your beautiful space. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being so easy to work with and for taking care of every detail so thoughtfully. Looking forward to seeing you when we come by for dinner.
Warmly,
N & M

Dear Fred,
Thank you so much for a wonderful rehearsal dinner! it far exceeded our expectations! Everyone talked about how delicious the food was and how nice and welcoming your restaurant is. You made everything so easy and we were able to relax and have an outstanding time for our pre-wedding celebration! We will definitely recommend you and use you again for parties.
DS

Dear Fred,
I could not have asked for a better party or evening for my birthday!
I appreciate how easy going and hands on you were all night.
I will remember that night for the rest of my life, thank you so much for giving me such a lovely and beautiful experience.
L N

haven’t wrote a yelp review but needed to give this place the recognition it deserves! we were a large birthday dinner party which is always a bit nerve-racking but we were so well taken care of by friendly staff & the food & atmosphere was delicious. such a lovely experience. definitely recommend the bread pudding!

A B

Dined here for a private event. They executed the event perfectly, the private event room was spacious and at the same time able to mingle with everyone. The bartenders and servers were very kind and efficient. The food was great as well, the steak and tuna rice dishes especially were superb. High recommend, great restaurant and venue.

Raphael P.

We did a 40 person dinner at this restaurant and truly couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. EVERYTHING was delicious. Service was great, drinks were great, we had the restaurant to ourselves, and people raved about the food. Highly recommend this venue for any large group parties!

Margarita M / Amazon

Thank you again for making my birthday so special. Everything was fantastic. Huge thanks to your staff – all went smoothly and we really appreciate them. The menu was so nice on the tables – we look forward to coming for dinner another time soon!

Fondly,
D A

Hi Fred,
I’ve received so many wonderful compliments on the event space for our Bat Mitzvah Celebration this past Saturday. I’m very grateful I found you and Upper West.

Daniel

I had my daughter’s sweet 16 dinner at Upper West. Fred and the entire Upper West team made her day perfect! We were able to celebrate with approximately 20-25 friends ages 11-75 . ALL enjoyed their meal. Setting is also great for feeling safe during Covid with open-air environment.

An B.

Hi Fred,
Wow – just wow! We can’t thank you enough for the incredible evening we had celebrating my husband’s birthday at The Upper West on Sunday! It far exceeded our expectations, and we’re so grateful for your generosity and the warmth of your hospitality.
The restaurant looked amazing, and everyone was absolutely raving about the food! You went above and beyond with every detail, from the beautiful table setting to the film – it was such a fun and special touch that made the night enjoyable for everyone.
Thank you again for creating such a fantastic experience. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!
With all our appreciation,
T & S

Good Morning Fred:
Just wanted to say thank you to you and all the wonderful staff at The Upper West. It exceeded my expectations and everything from decor, drinks, food and staff were simply the best. A special shoutout to Aldo.
Thank you for everything. I know some of my guests will be coming back. They loved everything and so did I.
With gratitude,
DD H

Hi Fred,
I just wanted to thank you again for a wonderful evening last Saturday night. My sister’s 60th birthday dinner party was absolutely wonderful! Our family (including the picky vegans) was thrilled with everything — the personalized menu, cuisine, wine, ambiance, service — everything was perfect!

Thank you and best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2024!

Kind regards,
L G

Dear Fred

I don’t know how to thank you for all your kindness and attention last Saturday night!
We truly had an amazing time and the food and service was exceptional as always.
Thank you for all you did and your generosity. Wishing you joy, light and love always and hope your life will always be filled with celebrations as you help so many people achieve theirs???

All the best,
M R

Hi Fred.
Thank so much for making my party so special. Everyone loved the food, the space and the enthusiasm of your whole team. We all had a blast!
A M

We don’t come here often but it is so good every single time we do. It’s a perfect place for birthdays and group dinners (have done a date night also but usually come with a group); good ambiance inside and great quality food.
K D

Hi Fred,
Thank you so much for Saturday night. You and your team did such an amazing job.
The food and drinks were great.
I can’t thank you enough.
My Best,
S B

This place is amazing. If I could give 10 stars, I would. We had my father’s 90th birthday party there. We had 40 people. The food was to die for. Steak and shrimp tacos,, artichokes grilled, tuna tar tar on crispy rice, Flatbread pizza, chicken on skewers and so much more. Wine, beer and champagne. It was so awesome and the service was great. Everyone had a great time, especially my father. Thank you everyone.
Sheryl C

Fred

Everybody had a great time and raved about the food, and how attentive and helpful the servers were- I agree.
Everyone was so nice and made it so easy. Pleas let everyone know they were appreciated.
I really didn’t want to do anything for my 50th next month but after yesterday, I am reconsidering

D-G

Hello Fred,
My family and I thank you most gratefully for the care and generous attention you gave our daughter’s birthday party Friday evening. It was absolutely perfect.
See you soon,

Wendy P and Scott P

Came in from Texas for a quick weekend and had planned to have dinner here because my husband knew the chef, Nick. He was great to meet! Down to earth Texan! We started with an appetizer- The crunchy roll & peanut noodles. Order these! You will not regret. Dinner was simply amazing! I had the pork tenderloin and it just melted in your mouth. My hubby had the braised beef and it was well worth it! All the flavors were like an explosion of happiness on your palate. Everything meshed so well. Then Nick recommended key lime and the bread pudding for dessert. Wow!! That’s all I can say. The place is really cool to go to. Everyone was so nice to us. We will definitely recommend to friends & family. We will be back!
Lee Ann B

Thank you for such a lovely party!! They said the food, drink, atmosphere, and service were all fabulous. The complimentary dessert tray was gorgeous. Zoe was over the moon. She also said you were so kind and really attentive. That means the world to me.

Thank you, again Fred, from the bottom of my heart for making sure this was a birthday party for the books. (Lots of great photos were uploaded to Instagram!)

You are a fantastic event planner!

Nancy Lee

I just wanted to thank the two of you for helping organize a wonderful

event for us. I’m finally catching up after the busy weekend so

apologies for the late message. Everyone enjoyed the food, drinks, and service from your staff. Sorry, I had to rush out early to organize for the party afterward, but it just

illustrates how I trusted your team to put on an amazing birthday

dinner! We look forward to coming back many more times.

Adam

“The staff and the chef truly treat you like new found friends. A great new neighborhood restaurant- creative food and drinks!”
Rewards Network

Enjoyed a private dinner for 20 people and the food, as well as the service, was outstanding! Highly recommend

Amy Elizabeth

“The staff and the chef truly treat you like new found friends. A great new neighborhood restaurant- creative food and drinks!”
Rewards Network

Our party last night was WONDERFUL. The movie, photos, food, microphone, drinks, cakes. Amazing. Please thank Jack and Max.
I think many of our friends will be planning more parties there in the future!

Thank you!

Gavin

I cannot say enough about this restaurant. I made reservations for my bday for a large group. Having never been here, I was a little concerned. I was wrong to be concerned. Not only did they accommodate a large group without a set menu, every single person loved their dish. The service was phenomenal and the ambiance was nice. Would highly recommend!
Mal H

I planned a surprise party for my partner bday and this place was totally amazing and super professional. They provided me a private room and even if it was super busy the server paid a lot of attention to us. They have parking valet for 7$. Food is amazing, I recommend to try the tacos tuna. Portion are a little small but the quality is high. This place is perfect for a private party or business party.
Michael M

Ok so this is the deal! I had a birthday party for my daughter who turned 13. Her and her friends are total foodies; even one is a Chef so I knew Pizza wasn’t going to do. I chose Upper West because of the great “food” reviews and when I visited the ambiance was beautiful. Worked with Fred to make all the arrangements. It turned out to be a party of 17 with adults and it was absolutely fantastic! The food, the ambiance, the service! Even the chef Nikk Shipp stopped by our table to wish my daughter a Happy Birthday and had a chat with our wizard chef! It was so cool. I would give them more stars if I could. Excellent food, Fred was great and the service too!!!!!
Bridgette J.

I had my daughter’s graduation party at The Upper West and honestly, it could not have been better. Fred was my first impression of the restaurant and he is wonderful. I called and emailed with questions and always received a prompt and courteous response. The food was so delicious that each and every person made it a point to tell me that they loved the food and restaurant and were all planning to come back to try everything else. The service was fabulous throughout the celebration. Everyone that worked there had a smile and genuinely wanted to make sure that we were taken care of. Everything that we ordered was cooked to perfection with amazing flavor.
Michael M

Had my birthday here and it was the best spot to be, feel like you’re having a party at your house, best food best service, definitely recommended and will go back. Thank you guys and sorry for the late post
Toktam R.

My boyfriend had a wonderful birthday at Upper West. Thank you so much for helping me coordinate it. I hope you have a wonderful week!! Jaclyn
Jaclyn

This place has the best customer service I have ever experienced. We came here for a friend’s birthday dinner and the owner was so accommodating to our large party. My sister and I had shared the Blackened Salmon and it was amazing! It had tons of flavor and it was perfectly cooked. They were so kind to have split the dish for us before having it bought to the table. We had also tried the roasted sweet corn as well and that was delicious. The corn had the perfect balance of sweetness and savory taste. As we came near to the end of our dinner, the owner came over with a giant plate of dessert for the Birthday boy! Enough for the whole party to share! We were so pleased with the food and service. I will definitely be back with my family soon to try all the other delicious item their men
Megan L

I’m not sure what took me so long to write a review. Upper West has been one of my favorite go-to spots for nearly 8 years now. I was hooked on må very first visit due to the food, the service, the ambiance (LOVE the old movies being projected onto the wall). I had been searching for the perfect venue to host a big birthday party. I’m pretty much a regular so I’ve gotten to know all of the owners, chef and some of the other staff as well. Pretty much, the Chicken Curry salad is on the menu because of me. Well, ok, actually because of Elad. He was eating it once and it wasn’t on the menu. I asked what it was and after trying it one time, it’s what I ordered (and still order) every time I visit. Then my friends who would visit with me ordered it also and it wasn’t too much longer before it was on the menu. I also always enjoy the Chicken Tawook, hummus and cocktails also, but everything is great. Thank you for always taking great care of us, providing excellent service and yummy food! Thank you to Nick, Fred, Elad, Eyal, Asaf, Cameron and Stephanie! (Sorry if I’m missing anyone else)
Joan A

We have been coming to dinner here for many years. The food is always excellent, classic, not too pricy and good. The burger, Mac and cheese and curry salad are always excellent. I decided to host my husband’s surprise birthday party here. They do have a room in the front that’s more private but since we had 16 we took a long table. Everything was perfect. They have three menu selections to choose from with something for everyone (steak, fish, chicken, veggie). I chose a $40 option that had three apps /plate. They put a picture on the front to personalize the menu. I also liked that they let us bring cake and didn’t charge a cutting fee, they actually took $2 off. I had requested a separate tab for drinks prior and they remembered that, no reminders. The service throughout the night by Maria was perfect. Our guests all loved the food. Although it’s a large space and can be loud we felt insulated and didn’t have trouble hearing. Thanks Fred and upper west for the best dinner!
Jan C

I celebrated my birthday here with a group of my friends last night and we LOVED it!!! The owner, hostess, waiter and staff were superb! They were warm and welcoming, polite and friendly. Great ambiance and holiday decor! The food was FANTASTIC! The Tomato soup and ahi tuna tacos were to die for! The Diablo cocktail was honestly one of the best spicy margaritas I’ve had in my life! An absolutely perfect birthday experience! A perfectly run, classy establishment with a fresh vibe! We’ll definitely be back Thanks Upper West! Xoxo Orly Star
Orly S.

I wanted to thank you and all your staff for the wonderful celebration at your restaurant on Saturday night. From the time we arrived the entire crew was outstanding. We were done with the graduation earlier than expected so we called to ask if we could arrive 30 minutes earlier and they accommodated us even though as we found out later a large group had just left. The table setup was perfect. The wait staff made sure we had all the water, drinks and wine we needed our glasses were never empty. Our waiter, I think it was Lewis, was great. The food was incredible. My husband and son said it was the best steak they had ever tasted. My friend who I consider a foodie tasted each choice and said it was delicious. While I was there I even had a chance to meet the artist featured in your restaurant as he was dining with his parents there. We loved the people, staff, atmosphere, everything. Thank you for making our son’s graduation so special. We will definitely see you all again.
Susie Shore

This place was fantastic! We had a big event here and they were the best to deal with. The food was out of this world. Overall great experience. A+
Spencer R

The best west LA restaurant, any occasion, it always delivers.
Customer My Rewards Member

I just wanted to thank you for everything! Thanks for making my 50th birthday feel so special. We had a great time and everyone thought the food was delicious and the service was impeccable. Bill and I plan to go back one day for a date night. You were awesome! Could you be so kind as to furnish me a copy of the menu pdf you made which had the wine listing included so I can add it to my photo album? Many thanks
Sean

Dear Fred, thank you for the fantastic time we had on Saturday night. Louis was the most fabulous waiter person. The food was spectacular. Every single one of my guests loved every bite and every moment of the evening. Thank you for making Susan’s 80th birthday so memorable for her and for me
Paul

I absolutely love this place! They have such great food, great service, the energy is always high, overall such a great spot. We came here for my uncles graduation party there were about 40 of us and they did a great job managing such a big party. They also have excellent strong drinks, highly recommend!
Monica S

Last night we celebrated my very active mother’s 90th birthday. We were 20 family and friends, and we are so glad that we chose the Upper West as our venue! Everything was amazing! When we walked in, The staff was right there for us, so we ordered drinks, which were delicious. I especially enjoyed my vesper martini, with its touch of orange! Our coordinator, Fred Eli, had already made sure that the beautiful front room was done to perfection, with lovely personal touches on the menus at each place, the lovely linens and candles on the table, and the fun addition of “Singin’ In The Rain” on the wall (silently) as we enjoyed our time at the restaurant. Of course, we added our own touches with flowers, which just added to the upscale, welcoming ambiance. The incredible attention to detail and service by the staff, in particular the fabulous and indefatigable Maria, saw to every need promptly, and with great smiles. And then the food…Wow! Every guest was blown away by the flavors and expertise in our meals.The appetizers were beautifully passed by the staff, and included a flatbread, crab cakes, and small ahi tuna tacos stacks. After sitting down, our entree choices were Blackened Salmon, Flat-Iron Steak, or a chicken dish called Tawook, which seemed to include an Eastern Indian flair. All were perfectly prepared with lovely sides, and tasted amazing. All-in-all it was a perfect party, and the Upper West made me, my sister-in-law, and my brother look like the best hostesses and host ever! Thank you Fred, and your great team.
Vickie H

“Had a party for 36 people and the food, service, etc. was excellent So happy”

Rewards Network

My boyfriend had a wonderful birthday at Upper West. Thank you so much for helping me coordinate it. I hope you have a wonderful week!!
Jaclyn

This is one of my favorite places in LA. We had a large party on a Saturday night and Fred was able to take care of everything flawlessly. They handled a very large party like it was a small one. I highly recommend if you are planning a birthday dinner. Their food is great and drinks are strong. Street parking is also easy to find. Thank you!
Leo R.

My husband arranged a surprise birthday party for me here and it was fantastic! The staff went above and beyond to make me feel special – said happy birthday, shook my hand, and very importantly ensured I had a full glass of bubbles all night. The service and food was excellent. We have just moved to LA and this will soon become our regular after Saturday night ! The pork dish was superb ! Highly recommend
Haich Nottle

I’ve eaten at Upper West a few times now and have not had a bad dish yet. Upper West is a nice spot with a great atmosphere. Classy but not pretentious if you know what I mean. Their blue cheese chips are so bomb! Try them for an appetizer next time you are in! Recently came here for lunch with one of my friends as I wanted to come check out the front intimate room that they have available for parties, etc. I had never really paid attention to it on my previous visits so wanted to come check out as we are looking to host our rehearsal dinner here this fall. The manager Fred who I had been corresponding with came over and sat with us to explain the room and details of how the event space works etc. to us. Really nice guy and answered any questions I still had. I decided to order the Chicken Tawook since it is one of the items on the set menu offerings and man oh man was it delicious. A really flavorful dish with tomato and yogurt and delicious chickpeas and spinach. I was impressed! They always have great service and delicious food and beverages. If you are in the area I would definitely check them out. We are looking forward to hosting our event with them this fall!
Laura K

Came here to host a surprise party for a friend and it was an amazing space to hold all 10 of us! The interior is very cute and would be great for a date or any kind of celebration! The staff was EXTREMELY helpful and even allowed us to arrive early to decorate, and even lent us some tape and scissors. (I forget the hostess name, but it was a very friendly blonde woman who was so helpful!) Their menu is very diverse with a lot of fish options, which I appreciated. We shared a bunch of appetizers as a table, and then ordered our own entrees. The apps we tried were: smoked blue cheese chips, chargrilled octopus, hamachi crudo, spicy salmon on crispy rice and roasted cauliflower. I would truly recommend them all! The blue cheese chips were especially unique to this restaurant though. For an entree I ordered the grilled cheese, which had 4 cheeses inside. SO GOOD. The best grilled cheese I have had in a while, there was nothing average about it. Can’t wait to come back! So many other things on the menu I want to eat!

Julie

Was looking for a restaurant/venue to throw my 40th birthday bash with 40 friends in an la or santa monica restaurant. Came across Upper West on Yelp and reached out to the events manager, Fred via email before leaving on a trip to paris. He responded in 24 hours and told me the date of April 24th was available and even sent some prix fix menus for me to view with pricing. I read all the reviews and communicated with him for about 21 days prior to the event. They had 2 times to rent out the front room so we opted for the 815 pm to 2 am time frame. He was so accommodating with my menu changes and offering more variety. I was thrilled with the pricing. I also wanted to select a few wines to pair with the food. He responded to all 50 or more emails and even when I wanted to add a salad, told me to save my money as he has bigger portions. We opted on adding some family style sides and more wine. The menu was magnificent. *appetizer trio of ahi taco (amazing! I could eat 10!) Crab cake (also scrumptious) and burrata caprese (so cute, came in a spoon with caviar) Then choice of entree… *salmon *sea bass *flank steak *chicken tawook *coffee crusted pork Sides of amazing corn with avocado butter and herb cauliflower. Dessert was bread pudding. I had lyric pinot and a maldonado cabernet as well as a malbec. I think we went through about 20 bottles and they were well priced! When we got there early at 735, I was a bit panicked cause the front room had people still dining in it but fred accommodated with a table in the back and even helped bring in the enormous balloon bouquet that got delivered. They set up super fast and the service from our server was impeccable. Don’t know how he managed to handle all of us with just a couple helpers. My wine glass stayed full, food came out timely. Just the corn was a little late but it was a great last minute treat before dessert. They sang happy birthday to me twice with the bread pudding and with our cronut cake. Fred even had menus printed with my pictures which turned out to be a great keepsake. The private room in front has windows that open to the sidewalk and is all glass stating into and out of the restaurant. We didn’t even realize other people were dining in the restaurant cause it seemed so private. Could not have asked for a better venue or better foodie food to show off and treat my guests. For the location, it didn’t break the bank and everything was magnificent. Thank you fred and all of upper west! I highly recommend for drinks or dinner! Diana P.

My dinner experience here at The Upper West was fantastic! I came with a large party for a dinner reception and we were seated in a private room that was separated from the main dining area. It was definitely quieter and more intimate. Our waiters were also super quick, efficient, and friendly. Since we came as a large group, our food was served throughout four courses and we were able to choose our own entrees! Keep in mind that the photos I post might not be representative of actual portion sizes since we were a large party with a semi-predetermined menu, but I will list the prices according to their regular dinner menu. We started off with some delicious red wine and a trio of appetizers: Burrata, Ahi Tuna Crispy Tacos, and a Pan-Seared Crab Cake. The burrata sampler was very fresh and simple, with a nice hint of flavor from the basil, black chai salt, and dill-mustard vinaigrette. The ahi tuna taco was delicious as well and it had a nice citrusy flavor to it. The crab cake was served at the perfect temperature and it really balanced out the tangy and zesty flavors of the other appetizers. The vegetables were served family style, and I enjoyed every single one of them! My favorite was the Roasted Sweet Corn, which was absolutely amazing! It was seasoned with smoked paprika, cotija cheese and avocado butter, and it really complimented my entree nicely. My next favorites were the Wild Mushrooms, which were sautéed with garlic, leeks, farro, and fig. I usually hate mushrooms but I couldn’t stop getting seconds of this! I also enjoyed the Fried Sweet Potatoes, which tasted like yummy plantains! As for my entree, I chose the Prime Flatiron Steak, and this was seriously one of the best flatiron steaks I’ve had in a while! I asked for medium rare, and they cooked it perfectly. The meat was so juicy, tender, rich, and flavorful! It was served on top of a bed of smoked bacon, gorgonzola slaw, and some addicting balsamic sauce, which I enjoyed thoroughly. Whoever decided to mix steak and bacon is a genius and they deserve full credit because my taste buds were blown away! Now for the finale, we were served a slice of their famous Brioche Bread Pudding, and it was just a perfect end to our meal. The bread pudding was soaking in rye whiskey caramel and créme anglaise, but not to the point where it was overwhelming. It was the perfect amount of sauce that gave the bread pudding a mildly sweet taste with fantastic texture. Overall, everyone in my party seemed to enjoy their dinner and we were all very impressed with the quality, taste, and the presentation of our food. The great service was the cherry on top, and even the valet guy was super friendly and had the nicest smile! There is plenty of street parking but if you decide to valet. I am definitely coming back to The Upper West, and I am very glad I discovered this gem sooner than later! It is an absolutely perfect restaurant for a dinner date, a group of friends, or for large parties
Juliet P.

We had a fairly large party and we were all very happy with this restaurant. Everyone’s food was delicious and the management was more than helpful in accommodating our group. Check this place out….you won’t regret it!!
J.K.

Where to start? We had an 80 person celebration for our close friends to celebrate the impending birth of their baby boy. Co-Ed party, lots of entertainment industry executives who are extremely picky about food, service, and environment. From start to finish, every detail was PERFECT. This staff worked HARD to please us. Beautiful room and table arrangement, stellar drinks and bar service, INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS food including ahi tacos, beef sliders, chicken tawook (so yummy!), and THAT MAC & CHEESE…OMG! I think that I dreamt about it last night! Fred Eli and his staff were always there and on point the entire afternoon. I worked with Food Network for 9 years and this food is some of the best I have had. Thank you, UPPER WEST. You are our new GO TO place!! Yum!
Joann H.

We celebrated my grandfathers 90th birthday here and rented out the whole restaurant for the evening. We had a wonderful time and couldn’t be happier with the quality of service, food and drinks. Thank you!
Aaron K

Thank you so much for helping make our holiday luncheon a special event. Our staff had a really good time, and everyone has commented on how good the food was.

You have many new fans.

Thank you again, and we hope you, your family, and your staff have a wonderful holiday. With our very best regards

Bennett & Sy