Featured in ARRIVED LA Magazine
It’s hard to believe this Cal-French gem began as a college pop-up, when Fardad Khayami cooked for friends and classmates in his USC dorm room to pay off student loans. Today, scoring a table at Muse, his intimate restaurant, just off the Pacific Coast Highway, is one of the toughest reservations to get in town.
The cozy Art Deco dining room seats only 35, and every guest is welcomed with the kind of warmth you’d expect at an old friend’s home. The French-inspired menu has a lightness that allows Southern California’s peak-season ingredients to shine. If the cherry tomato tart appears on the specials menu, don’t hesitate—it’s limited, sells out fast, and an umami-rich bite. Another must is the golden, cloudlike brioche, with the buttery flakiness of a Parisian croissant, served warm with Bordier butter. Other standouts include an artfully plated rack of lamb and Santa Barbara black cod. Save room for beautiful desserts created by a gifted pastry chef, who also happens to be Fardad’s brother, Nikdad.
Read what’s happening in Los Angeles: ARRIVED Los Angeles October Issue
Reserve a seat at musesantamonica.com
Address: 108 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica
Photo credits: Photo courtesy of Arrived Magazine and Muse Santa Monica
