Gabi James

Absolutely delicious, each dish with a delightful medley of complementary flavors. I cannot recall a better dining experience where each small plate could be enjoyed and Savored for its individual character. I highly recommend a Tempranillo as it works with so many spanish savory and sweet dishes! I will DEFINITELY be returning for more! Outstanding!

Me and my girlfriend stopped in for a quick bite. We had the Ox Tail hash and french toast, both of which were super delicious. Along with our food we tried the Funky Cold Molina, which sounds weird on paper but was really good, strong but flavorful. Out of all the places to eat in the area, were glad we stopped in here.

Rose

If you know, you know. Gabi James is such a gem in Riviera Village — an incredible Spanish/European-style restaurant that makes you feel like family from the moment you walk in. From the GM, Victor, to the bar manager, Joe, everyone here takes hospitality to another level. The food, the cocktails, the whole vibe — everything is top tier. I’m here for brunch right now and honestly wondering why I ever stopped coming since February. Oh wait, that’s right — I live closer to Hermosa! But it’s absolutely worth the drive down PCH. This place just hits different.

Swoon Lashes, Cosmetic Tattoo, Facial

We had another great meal at Gabi James tonight. We started with the tuna tartare which was delicious. The capers make this a little different and better than the tuna stack they do everywhere. Next we enjoyed the halibut which was served in a delicious broth with potatoes. The fish was cooked perfectly which was nice because I find halibut is quite often undercooked and oily elsewhere. Finally they brought out the big guns with the 24 ounce ribeye. Now at $125 you might ask.. did this steak stand up to a great steakhouse? The answer is absolutely it was outstanding and completely worth it. Seasoned with large pepper corns, rosemary, roasted garlic cloves it was as perfectly seasoned as it was cooked. The quality and flavor of the beef could not have been better. The staff both in the kitchen and front of house is on top of their game.. our server Raina was delightful and the entire staff was attentive but not overwhelming. The ambiance in the dining room is very pleasant, beautiful decor and not too loud to converse. On other visits we have had many of the traditional small plates and enjoyed the spice and rich flavors just as much as the meat and fish on this occasion. Overall the entire visit was a pleasure and we will be back soon. Compliments to the kitchen.. food was amazing!

RC

Had a late brunch for my fiances birthday. I put in a note when making the reservation to provide a cake, cheesecake or flan at the end with a candle. They brought out a delicious apple caramel custard like bread that tasted so good. I want more! The manager, Ibelieve his name was Victor, was friendly and helpful. Great service, awesome food. Eggs Benedict were some of the most delicious I've had. The croquettas are yummy! My fiance loved the appetizer. I plan on going back for a meal soon.

Matt Koch

I eat tapas often when I travel. This place is one of the best. They have traditional Spanish dishes that for some reason many tapas restaurants don't. If you get a chance to try this place it will be well worth it. The Ox tail ragu is one of the most flavorful dishes I have had in a long time. The broccolini Caesar was a surprisingly tasty version of a traditional Caesar salad. I sat at the bar and the service was exceptional. I highly recommend.

Ken Tsang

1st time here and everything we had was delicious. These small, medium and large size dishes are made for sharing and we tried the pork belly with blue cheese, lamb chops and paella. Then churros for dessert. Everything was very well put together and I can't wait to return to try more items. The room was nice a cozy, the staff attentive and friendly. Back in this area and had to visit this place again and it's even better than I remember. Found other gems like Blood Sausage, the peppercorn cream sauce, bread pudding with raspberry sauce and the creme caramel... Just place just doesn't stop!

Toni Fejer

What a fun restaurant! The food is fresh and the servings are a great size too. The food is great for sharing, if you happen to like that style of dining. The salads, meatballs and tater-tot’s were all excellent! The chips in the basket are a nice alternative to munch on instead of bread. Yummy!!!!

Christopher Mur

This was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in the South Bay! We went here as a SECOND choice for my wife’s birthday (my first choice is closed until October) but had fantastic experience! There were 5 of us for dinner. Although all plates on the menu are “sharing” size, we were all stuffed by the time we left. Among the highlights of the items we ordered, Pan Peche was outstanding, jamon wrapped dated w/ blue cheese, risotto balls, butchers block and the skirt steak were all outstanding. We were eating everything so quickly, i barely had time to take pics!!😂 Our server was pleasant and accommodating. The only thing I was taken slightly aback of was the corkage fee on the 3rd bottle. $25 for the first two bottles, $50 for the 3rd… ehh, I get it. Alcohol is the way restaurants stay in business. We chose to sit outside, and since one of our party had to stay home with a sick kid, our table size seemed to shrink and it was a little crowded for 5 people, but otherwise we enjoyed the atmosphere. Everyone in our party agreed they would be back again!

Emme Ackerman

We come here for special occasions or for spontaneous weeknight dinners, it is always the best food & service & time! A gem of redondo village. The Caesar salad and ribeye beyond yum and the Gildas are so fun. We love that the outdoor seating is dog friendly too! :)

L B

We were able to get a last minute reservation on a Friday and I was pleasantly surprised that it lived up to its reputation. I had heard the food was good, but every dish was just a little better than expected. The paella was an extremely generous portion, which made it's steep price feel much more reasonable, and again the flavor was perfect. The staff was great, and I recall that we had two brothers for our table, one relieving the other who was coming off shift. They were both friendly and attentive. We look forward to coming back soon.

Amanda K.

Delicious food and tantalizing cocktails. I really enjoyed the espresso martini, which was an aromatic delight. Great atmosphere with outdoor seating and exceptionally friendly and helpful waitstaff.

William Stieritz

Absolutely delicious, each dish with a delightful medley of complementary flavors. I cannot recall a better dining experience where each small plate could be enjoyed and Savored for its individual character. I highly recommend a Tempranillo as it works with so many spanish savory and sweet dishes! I will DEFINITELY be returning for more! Outstanding!

George Garcia

Me and my girlfriend stopped in for a quick bite. We had the Ox Tail hash and french toast, both of which were super delicious. Along with our food we tried the Funky Cold Molina, which sounds weird on paper but was really good, strong but flavorful. Out of all the places to eat in the area, were glad we stopped in here.

Great experience all around! Great seating, service from the lady was exceptional, and everything we ordered was phenomenal. From the drinks, appetizers and main dishes everything was really done well. Truly a 5 star restaurant all around. Great prices for such a high quality place as well. I will definitely be back soon.

Rich, flavor full food in a well designed atmosphere with especially top notch service. I was lucky enough to attend an event in the private 2nd floor space with a bartender making perfect cocktails.

Excellent food, especially the Paella. Great appetizers. Had a Bloody Mary that was delicious. Would highly recommend.

The scallops and shrimp were satisfactory but not particularly memorable. In contrast, the kale salad was outstanding. The restaurant offers a pleasant atmosphere and excellent service.

Florin Susoiu

The scallops and shrimp were satisfactory but not particularly memorable. In contrast, the kale salad was outstanding. The restaurant offers a pleasant atmosphere and excellent service.

Jennifer

Tried the Carajillo at Gabi James—espresso and Licor 43 shaken to perfection—and it was amazing! Smooth, bold, and unique. Great service and a relaxing vibe. A must-try if you love cocktails with a kick.

As native Europeans we love this place, the food and quality of the ingredients that are used are great. They have a great cocktail and wine selection. Food comes out as it is ready so keep this in mind when ordering the food as neither the kitchen or waiting staff pays attention to this. Last time they literally were talking food away to make space on the table, which is not very European. First time we had dinner on the outside patio which is very nice in the Redondo Beach atmosphere, last time we were seating inside which at first sight looked great but it felt a little more cantina style and very noisy. But as I said we love this place and the food!

Food here was great. Service was also great. A bit on the pricey side. One thing that bothered me is that when we ordered the paella, I did not want chorizo. I do not eat pork. When I asked if we can substitute it for something else, the server replied no. For the price that I’m paying, at least a substitution would’ve been appreciated. Moving on to the appetizers. The Harissa honey eggplant was crispy and delicious. The tortilla was really good with the sauce it comes with. The calamari was great, although I thought the sauce just tasted spicy and barely had any flavor to it. It was still enjoyable. The olives were really good. The complimentary sparkling water is a fantastic choice. I haven’t seen any other restaurants serve complimentary sparkling water. The shrimp was fantastic, full of flavor with the grilled sourdough bread. Now, the star dish, the Paella. It was full of flavor. The portion was great but once again, if only I got a substitution instead of the chorizo it would have been a home run. Finally, the churros were crunchy and airy. The chocolate that comes with the churros was top quality. The cinnamon pear bread pudding was alright, kind of mushy and smelled like eggs. Would recommend this place.

KEVIN DESCHEEMAEKER

As native Europeans we love this place, the food and quality of the ingredients that are used are great. They have a great cocktail and wine selection. Food comes out as it is ready so keep this in mind when ordering the food as neither the kitchen or waiting staff pays attention to this. Last time they literally were talking food away to make space on the table, which is not very European. First time we had dinner on the outside patio which is very nice in the Redondo Beach atmosphere, last time we were seating inside which at first sight looked great but it felt a little more cantina style and very noisy. But as I said we love this place and the food!

Steve MS

Food here was great. Service was also great. A bit on the pricey side. One thing that bothered me is that when we ordered the paella, I did not want chorizo. I do not eat pork. When I asked if we can substitute it for something else, the server replied no. For the price that I’m paying, at least a substitution would’ve been appreciated. Moving on to the appetizers. The Harissa honey eggplant was crispy and delicious. The tortilla was really good with the sauce it comes with. The calamari was great, although I thought the sauce just tasted spicy and barely had any flavor to it. It was still enjoyable. The olives were really good. The complimentary sparkling water is a fantastic choice. I haven’t seen any other restaurants serve complimentary sparkling water. The shrimp was fantastic, full of flavor with the grilled sourdough bread. Now, the star dish, the Paella. It was full of flavor. The portion was great but once again, if only I got a substitution instead of the chorizo it would have been a home run. Finally, the churros were crunchy and airy. The chocolate that comes with the churros was top quality. The cinnamon pear bread pudding was alright, kind of mushy and smelled like eggs. Would recommend this place.

The food was sadly pretty mediocre from the hype. It wasn't bad but just okay and not worth the price point. Some of the dishes should be $2-$4 less. The fried eggplant was fried like a fish stick instead of a frito. They tried something different with harrisa honey, but more like Mike's hot honey than harrisa flavoring to it. The gambas ajillo was maybe the best on the menu. Pricey for the portion, especially being stingy with garlic and bread. But the quality of the shrimp was good. The paella was just "so-so." Didn't get any hint of saffron, and the chicken was overcooked. The rice was cooked adequately. Nothing wowed me and made me want to go back to try the rest of the menu. Finally, TOO much aioli, which is such a lazy and uncreative cop out. Not everything needs to come with aioli. The decor was good and the service staff was nice.

Hells Bells

The food was sadly pretty mediocre from the hype. It wasn't bad but just okay and not worth the price point. Some of the dishes should be $2-$4 less. The fried eggplant was fried like a fish stick instead of a frito. They tried something different with harrisa honey, but more like Mike's hot honey than harrisa flavoring to it. The gambas ajillo was maybe the best on the menu. Pricey for the portion, especially being stingy with garlic and bread. But the quality of the shrimp was good. The paella was just "so-so." Didn't get any hint of saffron, and the chicken was overcooked. The rice was cooked adequately. Nothing wowed me and made me want to go back to try the rest of the menu. Finally, TOO much aioli, which is such a lazy and uncreative cop out. Not everything needs to come with aioli. The decor was good and the service staff was nice.

Roger Taylor

We made a 6pm reservation and I called to add a booster seat and they quickly accommodated. When we arrived the restaurant was empty and they put us completely in the back. Was pretty bummed we were put back there to be honest. The food was not as flavorful as I remember. This is my fourth time going here and feel it was a bit underwhelming. I’ll start by saying the Quince salad was delicious. We had the croquettes (marginal), a pork belly dish which I didn’t try and was not finished, calamari, and meatballs which were a bit dry and flavorless. Pan con tamate was solid as well as the melon & jamon.

We went to this restaurant yesterday and ordered the ribeye, which normally comes with potatoes and spiced spinach. We substituted the spinach for broccolini. Unfortunately, the entire dish was a huge disappointment. The steak had absolutely no flavor. The potatoes were even worse — I’ve never had a bad potato in my life, but these tasted strongly of nutmeg and were not edible. The broccolini also had a strange, unpleasant taste. I honestly couldn’t believe how poorly executed the entire plate was. What made the experience even more upsetting was the price. The dish was $110, and we were shocked. We have never felt so taken advantage of. For that price, the food should be exceptional, not something we couldn’t finish. They should be ashamed to serve a plate like that. If you visit this restaurant, do not order the ribeye.

Selinda Mendoza

We went to this restaurant yesterday and ordered the ribeye, which normally comes with potatoes and spiced spinach. We substituted the spinach for broccolini. Unfortunately, the entire dish was a huge disappointment. The steak had absolutely no flavor. The potatoes were even worse — I’ve never had a bad potato in my life, but these tasted strongly of nutmeg and were not edible. The broccolini also had a strange, unpleasant taste. I honestly couldn’t believe how poorly executed the entire plate was. What made the experience even more upsetting was the price. The dish was $110, and we were shocked. We have never felt so taken advantage of. For that price, the food should be exceptional, not something we couldn’t finish. They should be ashamed to serve a plate like that. If you visit this restaurant, do not order the ribeye.

Arman Savar

The food at the restaurant was good, but the owner Adam was extremely rude and unprofessional. I was on the phone speaking to my mother while on her vacation checking in on her, and the owner told me to lower my voice and get off the phone, which made me believe it’s due to me speaking a different language, since the table sitting next to us were just as loud or louder than myself. As a business owner myself I believe this service was unacceptable, and their is no policy were people can’t speak on the phone in a restaurant, especially when their not even being loud. Keep in mind, I was not on the phone for a long-time laughing with a friend, simply checking in with a family member. But regardless of what reason I was on the phone, I have never experienced a restaurant telling me to lower my voice. For example, when me and my group of friends dine other near-by restaurants being quite loud we have never been told by the restaurant to lower it done. I had to make my very first account to even make this review, and it’s my first time ever writing a review.