tar & roses | santa monica

restaurant reviews

Nov 2

neighborhood: santa monica
cuisine: new american
highlights: rustic, sophisticated ambiance // small plates
menu must-haves: oxtail dumplings // whole fried snapper

This small restaurant on the corner of 6th and Santa Monica is easy to pass right by — but hear this: it is not to be missed. It’s the best meal you’ll find in Santa Monica, in all of its rustic, wood-fired glory.

At Tar & Roses, it’s all in the details. And you can actually taste the details in every dish. The fresh ingredients that just scream “I was hand-picked from a farmer’s market this morning”. The thoughtful, sometimes-surprising-but-always-delicious combinations. And the roasty, flavorful dimension that can only come from a wood-fired oven.

This is the kind of place where it almost doesn’t matter what you order, because it’s guaranteed to slap every time. There are truly no wrong choices — and thank God for that, because as you’ll discover immediately upon looking at the menu, it’s pretty much impossible to make a decision. You’ll most likely need to rely on your server to help guide you, and again, good news for you: these are the Small Plate Shamans of Santa Monica, and they’ve proven extremely helpful.

But I’ll do my small part to help you narrow things down. Here are some of my (many) favorites.

oxtail dumplings at tar & roses — **oxtail dumplings**

**san bai su // chili // green onion**

These are truly special. It doesn’t matter if you’re not really sure what oxtail is. Just get them.

bone marrow with red onion marmalade at tar & roses — **bone marrow**

**red onion marmalade // sea salt // sourdough**

That red onion jam is the perfect compliment to the bone marrow. Spread a bit of each on some salty sourdough for a rich, flavorful bite to start off your meal.

crispy eggplant with garlic and chili at tar & roses — **eggplant**

**crispy garlic // chili // slivered almonds // mint**

Bright and slightly crispy with a bit of a kick. One of my favorite ways I’ve had eggplant — and don’t take that lightly; I eat eggplant a LOT.

chanterelle mushroom toast with parmesan at tar & roses — **chanterelle toast**

**marsala // paremsan**

I know shrooms are polarizing but I can’t get enough of them — big bonus when there’s bread involved. This dish is savory, decadent, and sharp while keeping things simple.