It’s not every day you find a restaurant that manages to dazzle the eye before you’ve even taken a bite. But Orla by Michael Mina, perched inside the new Regent Santa Monica Beach, does just that—and then some. With a dining room that opens into an unobstructed panorama of the Pacific, it practically dares you not to fall in love before the mezze even arrives.

This is Mina at his most personal. Drawing from his Egyptian heritage and Mediterranean travels, Orla isn’t merely a restaurant—it’s a love letter in spice and flame, to Alexandria, Cairo, the Aegean, and yes, California too. And the food? It sings. Loudly. As twilight descends over Santa Monica, Orla’s floor-to-ceiling windows become a cinematic frame for golden hour’s slow unraveling. It’s the kind of view that makes even longtime Angelenos reach for their phones. But don’t get too distracted—this is a kitchen that demands your full attention.

Take the Kataifi-Wrapped Prawns, for instance. The presentation—plump shrimp cocooned in fine threads of crispy dough—is almost architectural, but the first bite is all flavor: the prawns, succulent and briny; the crust, golden and audibly crisp; the accompanying spicy mango sauce and lime leaf whispering sweet heat and citrusy zing.

Then there’s the Alexandrian Fish Fry—a tribute to Egypt’s storied coastal city. A flaky fillet, beer-battered and dusted with Mina’s spice-forward blend, arrives atop a heap of thick-cut fries. It’s comfort food with an elevated passport, especially when dipped in the house-made tartar, which adds a bright, tangy bite.

For those who believe meat should arrive with drama, the Hawaij-Spiced Tomahawk delivers. A centerpiece dish for the table, the massive cut is grilled to perfection and served with sweet, smashed yams. While the steak is undeniably impressive in both flavor and size (easily serving four), after the bold fireworks of the mezze and fish courses, its spice profile feels just a touch shy—something a swipe of zhug or harissa might have pushed into full crescendo.

And the cocktails aren’t just good—they’re storytelling in a glass. Start with the Arabian Nights, a smoky, exotic twist on the Negroni that infuses Darjeeling tea, toasted coconut, cardamom, and ginger. It’s as transporting as it is intoxicating—imagine a Venetian speakeasy with spice market dreams. And if you linger at the bar long enough (you should), you’ll find a menu that matches Mina’s food note for note: inventive, well-balanced, and deeply rooted in flavor memory.

— G. Dhalla

Orla by Michael Mina at the Regent Santa Monica 1700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Tel (310) 899-4050 https://orlasantamonica.com/