Panini Garden

My favorite spot on Main Street. The food is amazing. Salads fantastic. Sandwiches… Fresh and amazing… The garden in the back is a hidden joy. A great spot to sit and enjoy your food with friends etc. A must go to spot. :)

I don’t recommend this place any more. The quality of food has went down (the coffee, the panini I used to love, and the crêpe is not as good as usual). I am not sure what exactly happened but the environments feels different. The new décor and the outdoor ikea furniture totally lost the homy and arti vibe. I am very disappointed… It was one of my favorite little cute European café, but not any more :(

As a french person I am always so curious to walk in and grab some food at a place called «French Café» (panini café was the old name)… And this place is definitely not one I would go back to. Sorry guys but the garden in the back stinks (literally, I had to move so the smell wouldn’t ruin my lunch), the service is half good and the crêpe I had, was not only not really good looking, but not really good tasting either, very blend, quite boring.

I’ve only been in here once to eat and I really want to like this place. However, I kind of struggle to. I want to come back and try more items, but until then, this is my review…
People in there are fine. I went in by myself the first time and the service was pretty slow. Not many people were in there. Even though it looks like you’re supposed to order at the counter, you’re supposed to sit down and have your order taken. It’s a little confusing.
It says no substitutions on the menu. I wish they had more options for savory crepes. Like some different cheeses, some that were more European (like gruyère). Wold be cool to be able to make your own.
I just had a simple beurre sucre crêpe. It was really dry. It needed way more butter. The sugar was granulated still. I was pretty saddened by it, but I saw they had paninis and pies and decided next time I was in I’d try some of that.
I came in here with a friend a few days ago to get some pecan pie I had seen advertised when I first came in. Sadly, the woman behind the counter informed me that they had no pecan pie that day. Well, that was okay! My friend and I decided we’d just have whatever sweet they had that day. Then we were informed they had no sweets that day, which was pretty disappointing for a Saturday afternoon.
All in all, maybe I’ll be back to this place for another try. But there aren’t a ton of vegetarian options and it just seems a little lack luster for other places along the Main Street.

My friend was in town and we were hanging out around Main St. We were having a hard time deciding since it was a bit early for some place on that street to be open. We were seated outside which is a nice little place. Unfortunately, both the lady and the guy were unfriendly and were not helpful. I was hoping that the food would be good and it was not so good. It was overpriced for the portion and the quality. Anyway, we didn’t have a good experience.

We took a chance on this place seeing as it was empty on a Sunday at lunchtime and we quickly found out why. Food and service were both terrible. Left us with a bad taste in our mouths figuratively and literally. It takes a lot for me to write a bad review but compared to any other restaurant on Main Street it was our worst experience so far.
Try Aussie Pie Kitchen, Urth Café, Thai Vegan, La Vecchia… or basically, anywhere but here.

This place is a hidden gem! It was taken over by new management 3 weeks ago.
I got the turkey pesto panini and it was great!
They have a little garden patio in the back that is so peaceful and cute!
The owner and my waiter were so sweet and friendly!
I can’t wait to come back!

We had a lovely little lunch here on my lunch break. The paninis were delicious and the potato leek soup was divine. Service could be quicker, but the French way is not by any means in a hurry :)

I work on Main Street and have no desire to ever go back.
The lady at the counter looked at me like an alien when I asked for a vegetarian recommendation.
She said absolutely no substitutes.
And made a big deal when I asked for no cheese. Total came to $ 12 and I immediately regretted my decision. I thought man this better be the best panini ever for $ 12! Lol
I waited for such a long time in the empty diner… Getting anxious because I was on a lunch break from work and it was taking much longer than anticipated.
While they were yelling at each other in Italian I started to feel uncomfortable. & Really awkward.
I over heard they didn’t have salad through their Italian argument
they never actually informed me (which I was really excited about having as a side)
I finally got the to go order (from a really nice guy who apologized for the wait and hoped id come back soon)
I started walking back to work. I opened to see if there was salad. There wasn’t.
They gave me fruit and an au gratin potato (which wasn’t bad)
I thought whatever
and kept walking back to work.
I get to work and it’s a chicken pesto sandwich (which had about three tiny pieces of chicken. If I did eat meat this would have been disappointing)
I called this place and the guy who answered was so short and rude to me!
He said «well what do you want me to do about it?»
Never apologized for the mix up or had any pleasing tone.
And I asked him to make the sandwich that I ordered, please. I’m vegetarian and won’t eat chicken. I ordered a vegetable pesto sandwich with no cheese.
He said «alright I’ll make it»
And hung up.
I walk back. At this point I didn’t even want this lame food.
But what I got was even more lame.
A soggy panini with –A– zucchini and some pesto. It was so gross. $ 12 down the drain.
:(

If you’d like to wait 45 minutes in a near-​empty café for a below-​average panini – this is your place.
2pm on a Saturday. Trust the recent reviews that say to stay away. I wish is read them before I got there. Not even worth reviewing beyond that.

When I came to Panini Garden last year the food was quite delightful, delicious, and delectable. So, logically, when I had the chance to come back, I took it. Subsequently, I came out disappointed. Why, you ask?
First of all, let me state my meal: a powdered sugar and butter crêpe, a lemon and butter crêpe, and a carbonated apple juice. Unfortunately, the apple juice was my favorite part of the meal.
After I ordered I sat down in the nice little patio in the back. I waited, and I waited, and I waited… for my food to come. Finally, after what one would believe should have been a short wait (its only two crepes!) my food came. I dived into my lemon crêpe first. It was dry, flaky, and I could barely taste the lemon. Next, a bit more hesitantly this time, I went on to the powdered sugar and butter crêpe. It was more moist, but still lacking the buttery taste we all enjoy. While at least this time I knew there was butter in the crêpe, I could still not taste the butter.
Overall, it was a big letdown. While the crepes were not horrible, they were not delicious by any means. And thus, a ²⁄₅.

I used to come here all of the time for a nice quiet lunch. I live a few blocks away and have been coming here for years. The food used to be consistently delicious with very friendly service.
In the last few months I’ve come here a few times and noticed the ownership has changed. With it, the food has also changed and is not as good. I will no longer be a regular here.
I would rather be over charged at Urth Café a few blocks away than be ripped off at my old favorite spot with the new owner who seems to be a jerk.

On main and Casual. $ 1 cup of brewed coffee to go.

This place sucks my butt.
My friend waited 30 minutes for a panini, and when it finally arrived it was cold. She took it back and asked for a refund. They said no, but they would re-​heat the panini???
A tiny cup of orange juice was $ 3.50. Everything on the menu was overpriced. My goat cheese panini (which I had long since finished by the time my friend received her food) was fine I suppose, but certainly not worth $ 11. I’m happy to slather goat cheese on a «grilled» (luke warm) piece of flatbread on my own time. The side «salad» (pile of lettuce… mmmm… thanks) had the tiniest hint of dressing, and the leaves looked like they’d been nibbled on by hungry insects, who were probably waiting for their paninis.
There was a mop sitting out by our table. Weird.
The flies swarming our table could have made the food faster and provided better service. We did finally get a refund for my friend’s meal after I put on my angry eyes and sharpened my fangs.
Do not waste your time with this place. Worst service I’ve ever had and a terrible dining experience.

This place is not the good place amongst all the hip places that surround it.
«B» health rating. That was the first sign, literally. Shouldn’t have done it. But my friend was hungry and was ready to settle.
We all ordered paninis. Over priced. They come with a small balsamic salad. For $ 12 it felt overpriced but not unreasonably so. Food gets ³⁄₅. Tasted ok, not amazed, and portions small. Served on cheap plastic plates that you find in dining halls.
The worst parts were the atmosphere and staff. There are flies and little bugs everywhere. The garden in the back is a hodgepodge of rusty metal patio furniture. ¹⁄₅. When we walked in, one of the waitresses was sitting at a table studying (?). And of the four paninis, the second one ordered came out last, and ten minutes after all the rest of our food. We had to ask, and it’s more than likely that they forgot. This is insane to me because we were the only ones in the restaurant.
Should have just went to Urth or better yet, just went to the farmers market and buy expensive, but fresh food.
Small, cramped, dirty, overpriced.

Bugs flying around everywhere in the back. Went there yesterday There was a long black hair in my friends Tuna melt! Then a grey hair on the salad. When I brought my dog inside the older man In the kitchen glared at me to whole time in line. He asked if it was a service dog later and I said yes. What a way to set up your lunch negatively. I had this unsettling feeling that there would be something in my food. Will never go back again

Been coming here for years. Chill spot to hang out have a coffee and decent food.
Prices have gone up … $ 12.02 for a panini mo drink or anything else. What gives?!! It’s harder and harder to like Santa Monica.
That’s the price of a giant omelette from the omelette parlor. This won’t be a spot in for good any more unless portions of bigger and quality is better. We’ll see …

This place is pretty unassuming for a café in the heart of Ocean Park, right across the street from the bustling Sunday farmers’ market. I got to Farmers too late to catch the food vendors, and I was really craving True Foods, so we were on our way there when Panini Garden caught my eye.
The menu was just the right size, but since there were no tables available on the sidewalk, I was ready to commit to completing the trek to True Foods… until the man-​friend pointed out there was a huge patio out back with plenty of tables available!
I had the soup and salad — lentil and Verdura, respectively. Great taste, good dressing, and just the right size portions. He had the oatmeal with strawberries — I’m not an oatmeal fan, but apparently it was great.
Prices weren’t terrible — especially for a mostly organic menu. I’d pop back in this place for sure.

Panini Garden may not look like much from the outside, but if you go in there’s a large and charming patio with lots of tables to enjoy a warm, sunny day on Main street. Other brunch spots nearby with similar outdoor seating have long waits but this one is a hidden gem!
As for the food options, there aren’t a ton, but if you’re in the mood for a light and simple meal, you’ll leave here satisfied. I’ve had their croissant sandwich and a crêpe, both very tasty. Again, nothing super inventive or overly hearty, but if you just want a cup of coffee and small nibble this is perfect.
It’s a great place if you want to catch up with someone in a quiet setting or just settle in with a book and have some alone time. The service is friendly if a little slow at times.
I highly recommend it if you want something quick and easy and if you feel like taking advantage of their patio!

I love Panini Garden. Seating out front (on sidewalk), some inside and plenty in back. Sometimes the birds can be annoying in the back patio. Always clean and friendly service. My favorite sandwich, so far, is the Panino Spicy Chicken! Yum.
Short and sweet review, just wanted to give them their stars.

Panini Garden is average … very average. Not that being average is a bad thing. In fact being «just average» can be a good thing. Ask Ben Affleck or Keanu Reeves. They’ve made successful careers out of being dull, tolerable, and/​or indistinguishable.
After finishing dinner nearby, Olivia and I were looking for dessert and in the mood for something «other than frozen yogurt.» Well, as I pulled out my phone to search the Unilocal app, a sign across the street caught my eye… «Blah, Blah, Blah, Crepes, Blah, Blah, Blah…» Ooooh, now crepes is defintely not FroYo, so, we worked our way to the tiny café: Panini Garden.
It’s a small coffee and tea shop with free WiFi and a small menu of panini, soups, salads, and, yes, crepes. We got a basic Nutella Crêpe. It was lathered with a thin layer of nutella on a folded crêpe that somehow tasted frozen even though it wasn’t. It was a crêpe and that is what I wanted. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just like Keanu or Ben.

Nice and economical SaMo sandwich stop.
Perfect for patio, soup, wifi and coffee. /​end