Moonshadows Malibu

The view of sunset from the patio is breathtaking and also the desserts at this place are amazing …
They have best quality seafood but brunch on Sundays with a glass of mimosa is my fave.

This restaurant doesn’t look like much from the exterior and it wasn’t even on my radar to try. It looks a little rundown and the tight, very full parking lot in front detracts even further. But don’t let the exterior stop you! I came for dinner with a larger group (10) and was pleasantly surprised at how good the food and service was.
Our waiter was friendly, relaxed and seemed to enjoy his job.
Everyone really enjoyed the food. Starters included — Lobster Caesar, Pear salad, Beet Salad, House Salad. I had the Heirloom Tomatoes and Burrata. The cheese and balsamic were very good and the tomatoes were ripe and juicy. However, one of the slices was cut too close to the stem area so it had a hard section in it. For my main course I had the miso glazed cod which was very good. A number of people ordered the special which was some type of Sea Bass. I had a bite and understood why everyone was raving about it.

I would consider Moonshadows a high-​end restaurant. In light of that a couple of other observations that would help take it to the next level (in addition to the comment on the tomato). Glassware is thick, clunky and inexpensive. Drink presentation is below average. The flatware could also be improved.

A Malibu classic. In terms of cuisine, Moonshadows gets three stars. It is far from terrible, but considering the price and taste. the food is so disappointingly mediocre. I give the extra star based on customer service and ambiance. The view from the outside deck is beautiful. I go back solely for that reason. You can have a bowl of clam chowder with waves splashing under you. At night, the ins and outs of the restaurant are lit with aesthetically pleasing purple lights that makes eating here that much more satisfying. Our waitress was extremely helpful and sweet. Your wallet is going to bleed and you’re probably not going to remember what you ate, but you won’t forget the view.

Nice hangout spot for the weekend. Food is mediocre. I ordered the organic salmon dish, salmon was prepared well but not seasoned at all and kind of tasteless, had to put some salt on it to be able to eat it. Some of the fingerling potatoes were completely burnt and not edible. My friend who ordered the miso black cod, didn’t enjoy it either, fish wasn’t fresh enough and the mashed potatoes were lame.
The view is amazing, so I guess that could make up for it. Kinda.

Hands down one of my favorite restaurants for happy hour and to watch the sunset. That’s one of my biggest things is a restaurant with a view and this restaurant exceeds expectations by far. I always get the sangria, which I absolutely love, tell calamari is fantastic, and tell tomato and burata cheese is also very tasty. The view is absolutely incredible and if you are lucky enough to get a seat on the balcony you will feel as if you ate right over the beautiful ocean. I’m a huge fan of this restaurant and recommend it to anyone going on a date.

Our waitress LaRue was exceptional, the food was delicious and the view was so pretty. I’ll def be back in the day to eat on the patio and hopefully see some whales swimming by while I eat some lobster. #toosoon? Lol

Decent food for a good view. Came here for Valenines day and had their prix fixe. There were plenty of options ranging from seafood to pasta, which was great. I went with the potato dumplings and lobster and crab ravioli. In retrospect, that was a bit aggressive to do pasta with pasta but I thought the potato dumplings were something different. The black truffle potato dumplings was pretty good and the cream sauce was nice. By the time I got the ravioli main dish, I was already feeling pretty full. The pasta tasted good and had large pieces of ravioli with shredded lobster and crab inside. I got the flan for dessert which was a little too sweet but still good. Service was decent as well and was a nice beachside restaurant for dates or casual friend get togethers.

Great place to go to celebrate a special occasion or just to enjoy the great view with tasty food. Worth the drive.

I was very disappointed from the food and service. We were sitting on the bar and ordered ahi tuna tarter the dish was very very small and cost $ 17. It was not tasty at all but I didn’t want to return it .
I asked to get more bread and they ignored me. I asked for it like 3 times .
The bar tender offered refill for water after one hour we were sitting.

Visited Moonshadows on a Monday with a date. Made a reservation on Open Table, just in case, but was not necessary. Spotted a couple open tables on the balcony and enjoyed a truly one-​of-​a-​kind, remarkable scene.
Ordered a pair of drinks from the bar. One bartender. Only a handful of people at the bar, so received prompt service. Watched him make the drinks. Generous pour on my margarita. And my date’s colada was carefully crafted. Both were delish! I was eyeing my neighbors’ chowder and calamari. Both looked and smelled amazing, for what it’s worth, but wound up just sipping on drinks and taking things in.
Shortly after sitting down, we were approached by a waiter. He checked on us multiple times to make sure we were good. The bartender approached us a few moments later — he was done with his shift and wanted to make sure we were good (aka he wanted to cash me out so he could get his tip). Some might find this disruptive and rude, but as someone who worked in food service for many years, I don’t blame him! He was polite and made us some fine drinks so I wanted to make sure he got his tip.
We had an amazing, front row seat and an incredible So Cal sunset. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks below was so tranquil, and we were even visited by a friendly California seal swimming by!
Parking lot is valet — $ 6. Pretty unnecessary since the lot was basically empty, and probably could have found street parking, but that’s the price you pay for convenience. Wound up spending just over $ 50 on 3 drinks/​tips so around $ 60 all in with the valet.
This place makes many top 10 lists in regards to the best beachfront bars/​restaurants, and now I can see why. It’s not cheap, but if you have a special occasion, this is a hell of a good choice to treat yo’ self. The peaceful sounds, the breathtaking sights, the sweet drinks… this is how to enjoy SoCal. Kick back and enjoy.

As I walked in to the venue I picked up on a «more fancy than thou» vibe from the staff. However once seated, our server was incredibly friendly, going above and beyond.
The view is sensational here. Every seat has a breathtaking outlook of the Pacific. If you have a hankering for some comfort food, I highly recommend the stuffed croissant, yummo!

Went here for mine and my boyfriend’s anniversary last year and everything was PERFECT.
P. S. make a reservation before hand if you want a guaranteed spot on one of the beds.
We were lucky enough to get a bed without making a reservation. We arrived around 330 and it’s a good thing it wasn’t as busy as we anticipated. Customer service was great. We paid for parking and the prices are more on the pricey side but it is definitely worth it for special occasions! I ordered the slow braised and as for my boyfriend, he had the rib eye. Delicious food with a beautiful view of the ocean. What more can you ask for?! Will definitely be back!

My boyfriend and I ate here a few days ago. It was a wonderful experience. The service was amazing, with someone always folding our napkins when we left the table to go to the rest rooms. The food was tasty (I had tuna tartar on top of sweet potato gnocchi in a mango sauce). The gnocchi was good, but not amazing. The tuna, however was divine. And the portion was huge. My boyfriend had swordfish with garlic mashed potatoes and cauliflower. His was incredible.
As others have said, the view is everything. So romantic. It was like we were sitting right over the water. Before it became very crowded, we could hear the waves. But you have to make reservations and request a window seat if you want that view.
The food is expensive in a general sense, but not unreasonable for the quality and the portions. Our meal for two (no appetizers), two not-​so-​fancy glasses of wine and one dessert (sorbet) was $ 120.00 with tip.

THE VIEW OF THE OCEAN IS AMAZING! I LOVE THE VIEW and I would come here just for the view!
oysters — the ones they have for the day was very fishy/​sea tasting, but very fresh!
free range chicken — the chicken was very tender
california style bouillabaisse — delicious! soup not too salty to drink by itself
Customer service was wonderful too! They were honest and did warn us that the oyster of the day might be more fishy than we expected.

Disgusting insane overpriced cafeteria slop food. Super angry smart alec patronising servers. When you walk in the place smell like feces. 2 of us got food poisoning from here.
Extremely poor excuse for a restaurant. Health inspectors will close it down.

Best piece of fish I’ve had in a long long time. The overall meal was delicious and the setting was beautiful. From the outside, it doesn’t look like anything exceptionally nice, but once you walk in to the dim lighting and friendly hostesses, you know you are in a nice resturant.
It’s located right on the water and has lots of windows which is perfect. We had a 7:30pm reservation for 8 girls. We got there a little early and sat at the bar to get a few drinks before dinner. The prices were comparable and not bad. $ 9 – 12 for a glass of wine and about $ 12 for a cocktail. We were seated and the service was great.
My friend and I decided to share two things, but everything sounded great. We also started with the calamari (good, but nothing over the top compared to the entrees). We got the brown butter pumpkin tortellini and the miso black cod. WOWOWOW! The cod was very big and so flavorful. Overall, everyone in the group was extremely happy with their food and the restaurant.
This would be a great place for a nice date night and would be wonderful to visit during sunset. I hope to go back soon!

As everyone stated there’s definitely that fishy smell when you walk in, but the food is definitely worth it.
My girlfriend and I came for dinner around 4, and we got seated around 4:15. I’d recommend making reservations for dinner around 4:15, so you don’t have to wait. We got a table right by the window, which had an amazing view. I loved watching the sunset.
The calamari is excellent! Their apple martini was delicious and super strong. The lobster and rib eye were also great. The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is the crème brûlée. The first one I ordered was cold and a little burnt, then I ordered another one, and it was super burnt. I’m not sure the cooks know how to do crème brûlée.
Our waiter was great. He checked on us and stopped by the table frequently.
You can either valet or there’s free street parking across the street (if you can find a spot).
We’ll definitely be back!

Came here for my birthday dinner because Nobu was all booked up and I’m so glad it was. My new go to on pch great seafood and their little surprise birthday sweet plate made the dinner even more special. Make sure to make an outdoor patio reservation around sunset the view is amazing :)

This place is right on the ocean and they have a wonderful patio area that is right over all the waves crashing — just great! They also make the best mojitos I’ve ever had! They stuff the entire glass with fresh mint, instead of the sprig that most places give you, and it’s just to die for. As an ocean lover, I just love this location. We enjoyed our drinks and fell in love with this spot right away.
I would recommend going out in the afternoon while it’s quiet and not too busy. Hopefully you’ll catch a nice sunset and get to hang out with the nice ocean breeze while sipping on a fantastic mojito. Doesn’t that sound awesome?

After parking and playing Frogger across PCH, the first thing you notice about Moonshadows is the interesting and unavoidable smell at the entrance. It smells like a fish shat its pants. Perhaps a grouper pooper. Enjoy!
Immediately you see the swell of the ocean, and it is indeed swell, at such an angle that it feels like you are in it, and you realize the view of the rolling water is worth that initial smell.
The prices are what you’d expect from a place in Malibu hanging over the ocean, so I will just talk about the food. We came at brunch, and I felt the menu wasn’t huge. I thought about the apple and quince crepes, or the boar ragu, but ultimately got the burger. Big and fresh, but lacking in any dressing, and not too impressive. Maybe that’s why Mel Gibson got so angry. He got the burger.

First off is the overpowering dead fish smell when you first walk in… if you can get past that, it gets better inside. I would really recommend they put air fresheners at the entrance. It’s a really nice place, and many others have commented on the smell. I actually lost my appetite for a minute but once inside the smell seemed to go away.
The views are gorgeous! You are right on the ocean. Friendly hostess, waitress and bartenders.
I came on a Sunday and it was brunch but they still had lunch items.
I ordered the roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and corn. One of the BEST I have ever had! Beautiful presentation as well.
My husband got the burger and while I thought it looked good, he said it was pretty dry. No ketchup or mustard on it? And it comes with potato chips instead of fries.
I moved on to the bar and had a cucumber martini. Super fresh and strong. Delicious! I would definitely return if I’m in the area again.

I’d give 5 for its atmosphere, but one less star for the food. I would not order any of their pastas… Lobster pasta had very dull taste (maybe just that day?). But their Octopus appetizer was the best octopus dish I’ve ever tried, so I’m coming back for that (and the view).
Btw, service was awesome, our waiter was a pleasant and nice guy!

Lobster night! = Amazing. It’s every year ok November. Yesterday was the last night for it, if u missed it make sure to go next year.
Noticed that the restaurant just got remodeled. They did a good job! Indoor and outdoor space are awesome!

Lobster night November continued this year and it’s only 25 for a lobster with the best potatoes but this was the last night until next November. My Italian friend told me tonight that they import a lot of the foods from Italy and that’s why the quality is so good and authentic.
Their prosciutto was actually better than the prosciutto I just had in Italy and their Tuna tartar really good. I have eaten here maybe 20 times now and I am never disappointed with the amazing ocean views, the pretty outdoor seating and how cozy it is with the heaters that are over each booth or even sitting inside and watching the waves.
Tonight a friend brought me a belated birthday gift and the waitress asked if it was my birthday and I said no but at the end of the evening they brought out a ‘belated’ cake. So sweet. I always have such a great time here, and everything is always so good.

I loooove it here! Hubby and I came here on a Saturday to enjoy some drinks, lunch, and a great view and we got all of that. You can not go wrong coming here with friends, a date, all girls and whatever the occasion is.
We didn’t make reservations and we were still able to get seated after waiting about 30 – 45 minutes which wasn’t too bad since we got to hang out by the bar and had some drinks before we got seated. I was kind of bummed that we didn’t make reservations because we didn’t get to sit outside, BUT we got seated inside by the window and had an awesome view of the beach.
Scallops are a must! Their drinks are pretty good and a bit strong. I can’t wait to come back!

Dukes and Gladstones are touristy popular restaurants on the beach which I’ve gone to before. There’s a new place on the Malibu Pier, but they don’t take reservations. What a hassle. All of these places have lovely views of the ocean. But my choice is Moonshadows.
I’ve been coming here for years as I believe Moonshadows is unequaled with both an amazing view of the ocean, ambiance AND delicious, creative, beautifully prepared food.
The indoor booths are classy and elegant enough for a special occasion… there is also outdoor seating if you want more of a bar /​informal vibe. Even outside, you don’t have that chaotic, crowed, loud feel like at Dukes or Gladstones.
Today I had a caesar salad with lobster and bacon to start, and we shared an amazing dish as an appetizer my father ordered — I can’t remember the name, but it is similar to a potato pancake, with crème fraîche, and smoked salmon. It was yummy, and my father was kind enough to share it.
For my entrée I ordered what my father informed me was Ryan’s favorite — a rib-​eye. I just had rib-​eye the night before — but they kept on emphasizing to me how delicious it was, so I couldn’t resist. Stephanie said she thought that it was the sauce that made it taste so yummy. I didn’t want to share, so my fiancé had to order his own.
As usual, I had eaten so much by the time the steak arrived, I wasn’t as hungry, so I only had a little taste but that it was enough — it was amazing! It doesn’t bother me at all to not eat all my food because I know I can take it home and have a delicious meal later.
At the end of the meal, my father fought over the bill (it was HIS birthday)… he cheated by telling the waiter in spanish that he was a better tipper.
Not only did I fail in purchasing the meal, I left my leftovers in his car — DOH!
Still, that steak was so tremendous I am considering the hour drive back to Malibu to get it.

Moonshadows Malibu
CA: Malibu
1pm Saturday 29^th August 2015
Three Stars
After fighting PCH traffic for an hour, we arrived just in time for our 1pm reservation. We parked across the street and frogger safely between the cars. We were seated at table right next to huge windows overlooking the ocean. The view is spectacular. The average age of the patrons was definitely above 40. The food and service was good but nothing extraordinary.
We started with drinks. I had Chardonnay ($ 9) that was served in a large hefty glass. Next we had half dozen oysters. There were on the plump but on the smaller side, medium texture, moderate brine, but a distinct buttery-​ness.
I had the Rock Shrimp and Bay Scallp Omelette. As usual the eggs were a bit overcooked. The shrimp was larger than expected and much more prevalent than the scallops. The wilted side of spinach lacked flavor but add a healthier feel to the dish. The potatoes were tender but lacked seasoning and crispy outside.
Overall, its a great place to take a date or someone to impress. However, I don’t think I will return any time soon.

Un excellent restaurant au bord de l’océan, avec une nourriture excellente, chaque plat commande est un régal… un personnel excellemment gentil et serviable. Terrasse très sympa de nuit et bien chauffée lorsque la nuit tombe ! Et le must: la part de gâteau d’anniversaire offerte par surprise sans demander!
Sinon: on voit pas le soleil se coucher depuis la terrasse même si les couleurs sont très jolies et l’établissement mériterai un petit rafraîchissement !

Buena localización justo en la playa, y buenas hamburguesas.