Rustic Canyon has been taking its cues from the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market since opening in December 2006. Founded by Josh Loeb, the restaurant grew out of monthly dinners he hosted at his family’s home in the nearby canyon that gave it its name. It remains the flagship of the Rustic Canyon Family, which Loeb built with Zoe Nathan and Colby Goff.
Today, executive chef Elijah Deleon brings his Mexican heritage to a kitchen long known for giving Southern California produce room to shine. His mother’s and grandmother’s cooking informs a menu full of chile heat, bright acidity, and bold sauces, with ingredients sourced from the farmers’ market just blocks away and other regional purveyors.
The menu changes frequently, so a favorite dish may look different on the next visit. Steak tartare comes with avocado, pickled onion, white cheddar, and tortilla chips, while grilled oyster mushrooms get the al pastor treatment. Birria spaghetti pairs braised beef with pasta alla chitarra and Parmigiano, and a Peads & Barnetts pork chop might arrive with king beans and pasilla mixe au poivre. Churros with Italian meringue and chocolate offer a familiar finish.
The same attention to sourcing carries into the glass. Rustic Canyon Family wine director Kathryn Coker champions small producers, focusing on growers who farm without synthetic chemicals and use practices such as biodynamics, dry farming, and regenerative agriculture. The extensive list gives diners plenty to explore, whether they’re ordering a glass with dinner or opening a bottle for a celebration.
Bar manager Justin Dicken follows the seasons, too, making syrups, tinctures, and other cocktail ingredients in-house with an emphasis on reducing waste. His El Negroni combines ancho chile-infused dark rum, Cocchi Torino, Bruto Americano, and housemade mole bitters. For a more casual introduction, the daily Happy Hour and A Half runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the bar and lounge, with walk-in seating and a shorter menu of drinks and Mexican-California bites.
