Pasjoli

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Pasjoli Santa Monica – French Bistro with Tableside Pressed Duck | Michelin Recommended

French is fun. That’s the spirit at Pasjoli, a Santa Monica bistro where the cooking is serious but the mood is anything but. Tucked along Main Street, this Michelin Recommended spot brings a playful, contemporary edge to classic French cuisine, welcoming guests with warmth and a sense of occasion.

The centerpiece is a spectacle: the tableside pressed duck. It’s a full-on duck adventure, transforming an entire bird into multiple courses right at your table. Your chef arrives to craft a sauce from the whole duck, using its juices, cognac, and red wine. The experience includes roasted duck breasts, a salad with duck fat vinaigrette, and duck legs confit with black truffle and wild mushrooms. It’s limited and must be reserved ahead—a true event for those who book it.

Beyond the duck, the dinner menu reads like a love letter to bistro cooking, with a contemporary twist. Start with eggs on eggs—prosciutto and trout roe—or a classic beef tartare. The chicken liver mousse comes with a baguette, while the escargot tart pairs herbed butter with frisée. Mains range from sole meuniere with brown butter to a half roast chicken with kale and black truffle, and a decadent beef bourguignon made with short rib and confit potato. Even the burger gets the treatment, topped with cheddar and marrow aioli. Desserts lean into indulgence: a burnt Basque cheesecake and the PJ sundae, vanilla ice cream with duck fat caramel.

The drink list is equally spirited. Cocktails like the Bathtub G&T and the Landshark (tequila, cilantro, bell pepper) show a creative hand, while the wine program offers by-the-glass and bottle options. A zero-proof menu ensures everyone finds something to enjoy.

Pasjoli also hosts chef collaborations throughout the year, inviting friends into the kitchen to cook their own take on a bistro menu. The only rule: it needs to be delicious. For private gatherings, a secret garden out back accommodates up to 20 for family-style dinners or 30 for cocktail receptions, with full buy-outs available for larger groups.

With its vibrant energy, thoughtful French cooking, and that legendary pressed duck, Pasjoli makes a strong case that French food, at its best, is simply fun.