Recommended Mediterranean Restaurant with Amazing Sea View in Santa Monica 🏖️

Restaurant Name—Orla The view from the windows is stunning. Remember to make a reservation by phone in advance or arrive early after they open at 5 PM to find a table! Recommended Dishes: 1. Pitta: For first-timers, try the chef’s spread trio, which includes pumpkin hummus, smoked eggplant puree, and walnut and red pepper sauce. All three sauces are refreshing and easy to enjoy. The walnut and red pepper sauce is particularly memorable. I recommend trying to stuff all three sauces into the pita pockets—the flavors are truly amazing! The restaurant is also very considerate, offering free refills if you're still hungry. We loved it so much that we all decided to take some home. 2. Harissa-Grilled Lamb Chops: This restaurant is quite confident, not asking about doneness preferences. And it turned out to be excellent. Each serving contains three pieces, enough to share. The meat itself is very well prepared, and it pairs perfectly with yogurt. Another dish we finished completely—a must-order! 3. Slowly Braised Lamb Shank: This slow-braised lamb shank comes with chickpeas, rice-shaped pasta, fried onions, and cherry tomato sauce. The lamb shank is very tender, with a rich overall flavor that isn't overpowering. The portion was so large that we couldn't finish it all. If I had to choose one, I'd definitely recommend the lamb chops. 🤔 4. Kataifi Wrapped Prawns: These fried prawns are served with young coconut, spicy mango, and lime leaf – a truly creative Thai dish. 🤔 The crispy outer layer of the prawns is very appealing. The young coconut seems to be used to cut through the richness, and it's well-balanced. However, the spice flavor clearly overpowers the coconut and mango flavors, and my friend preferred the pita dressing. 5. Tuna Falafel: A classic baladi salad with whipped sesame dressing, still very refreshing. PS: The restaurant's specialty wine list looks interesting, but the taste is really just average; I wouldn't recommend it.