Ox & Son
1534 Montana Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Decided to give this spot another chance as the food was delicious, and this visit surpassed my expectations by far! Upon walking in, the hostess was very welcoming, and we were seated immediately at our table. After studying the menu, we decided to order a bunch of dishes to share as well as a giant berry punch bowl! The punch bowl serves four to six, and since we had five people, it was the perfect size for us.
The punch bowl was fruity, light, and refreshing, and our table could not stop drinking it! They are also extremely generous with fruit, and there were a ton of giant strawberries everywhere which was the icing to the cake.
Baked Avocado and Eggs, smoked salmon, aged white cheddar, pickled onion, arugula- this tasted as beautiful as it looked! You can't go wrong with avocado, eggs, and smoked salmon, and this was no exception.
Banh Mi Breakfast Bowl, coconut black sticky rice, pickled vegetables, poached egg, pork sausage, cilantro, jalapeño, cucumber- this was better than I remembered! Mixing everything created the perfect combination of spicy and savory, and I was really impressed at the ingredients they used to create this dish. This is definitely a MUST ORDER!
Just Breakfast, two eggs, spiced potatoes, bacon or sausage, bread & jam- I personally did not try this, but it is your staple breakfast dish! My friend enjoyed it though.
Oysters- we got a half dozen of Kusshi oysters, and of course they were sweet and super fresh! Kusshi is one of my favorites as they are smaller and sweeter than the usual oyster. I loved how they displayed the oysters; the tabasco came in a dropper and it also came with a variety of sauces.
Bucatini Pasta & Sweet Pork Sausage, 8 hour tomato sauce, pork sausage, basil, parmesan- this was DELICIOUS especially since Ox & Son isn't a pasta spot. The bucatini was cooked perfectly, and they added a little bit of crisp on top to add texture. Yum!
Avocado Heirloom Tomato Toast, pecorino, pumpkin seeds, radish- add a fried egg on top for even more deliciousness! Presentation of the toast was so pretty, and it was yummy! Definitely a great option if you don't know what to order. We actually didn't see it on the menu until later as it was in the sandwich section.
Kale & Preserved Lemon Salad, kale, radicchio, onion, cucumber, heirloom tomatoes, pecorino cheese, buttermilk lemon herb dressing- this salad was crisp and refreshing! I actually could not stop eating this even though I am not a big fan of kale salad.
Prime Beef Tartare, truffled egg, soy, onion, apple, sesame brioche- I love a good steak tartare, and this was divine! The meat was marinated well, and the hint of truffle just sealed the deal for me. Presentation is cute as well!
Uni & Eggs, soft egg, sea urchin, black bread- I finally got to try this dish, and it was delightful! Uni and eggs pair well together, and it was a softer dish.
Fresh House Cut Kennebec Fries, spicy ketchup, lime aioli- I love thick cut fries, and this one was seasoned and fried perfectly! Great side to complement the main dishes.
For dessert, we decided to share the churros and the butterscotch coffee cake. The coffee cake was by far the favorite of the table- love the meringue crisp they utilize in their dessert!
My friends and I had the most amazing lunch here, and this time around, our server was fantastic! He was gracious, accommodating, and friendly, and he definitely took care of us. I'm so happy I returned!