American Beauty
Steakhouse · Venice · $$
Venice, CA · $$
Si! Mon is a Central American restaurant with an emphasis on Panamanian cuisine. Sit among the tropical plants and warm hues of Central America, just a stone’s throw away from Venice Beach, California. The menu at Si! Mon showcases out-of-the ordinary ingredients native to Central America, combined with seasonal produce from California, as an exploration of food cultures between the continents. Experience what it means to be a Central American in LA by Chef Jose Carles’ (of Donde Jose and Fonda Lo Que Hay in Panama City).
“Lovely food, great drinks and attentive staff. Everything we tried was awesome: the crudo, the kampachi, the steak, the yuca fries, the shrimp dumplings - all of it! Delicious! Trying to park nearby on a weekend night might put you in a bad mood before dinner though 😳”
“Not quite a fan of this style of restaurant. In another word, I don’t think this looks like a fine dining. It looks like 3 different vibes including Tulum section, window side with those red worn ragged chairs and green booths. I chose green table, facing the bar and thinking it is the best option to dine in. The restroom is too dark and odd. But the food was great and service especially my waitress was so friendly. Banana chips are way cuter and more delicious than traditional corn chips we can find everywhere. The cocktails were amazing and music fits in the unique Panamanian and Afro-Caribbean influence that feels refreshing compared to the usual Venice dining scene. I loved the ceviche presentation, however I forgot to order that. Maybe next time. I also loved that I can just walk to beach within 2 mins after dinner. So yes. 🙌🏻 5 stars and will be back.”
“Incredible experience. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere felt both modern and cozy at the same time. The chef truly delivers beyond expectations, every bite was full of flavor. The portions are perfect for sharing, which makes it even more enjoyable to try different dishes and experience the menu together.”
“Fun atmosphere overall and the food was solid across the board. Value felt reasonable for the area and concept, though service was a bit inconsistent throughout the evening. Our server was kind and personable when we interacted with him, but the overall flow of service felt somewhat disorganized — almost as if the waitstaff had more tables than they could realistically manage at times. Oddly enough, the bussers and support staff seemed to be holding things together for much of the night through plate running, clearing tables, and general attentiveness. Water refills and check-ins were fairly limited throughout dinner, and there was definitely a feeling that you needed to place most of your order upfront because it might otherwise take a while before seeing your server again. Given the pricing and overall positioning of the restaurant, I did expect a slightly more attentive level of service. Highlights from what we ordered: Sweet Corn – really enjoyable and one of the stronger dishes of the night. Simple overall, but well executed. Mixed Vegetables – surprisingly solid. Mostly broccoli, but nicely seasoned and a worthwhile side to round out the meal. Banana Leaf Kampachi – enjoyable overall, though somewhat subtle in flavor on its own. Paired well with the vegetables and other dishes on the table. Shrimp & Scallop Ceviche – quite good. Really enjoyed the spice profile and appreciated that it tasted different from a more traditional ceviche preparation. Pupusa – probably the weakest dish for us. The bone marrow itself was delicious, but the pupusa was filled with cheese and almost felt like a variation of a quesadilla. It came with an acidic topping intended to help cut through the richness, though overall it still ended up feeling extremely oily and heavy to the point where we didn’t finish it. I admittedly didn’t fully get that impression from how it was described on the menu, though perhaps that was on me. Cocktails were a bit mixed as well. The Green Yonder was nice and easy to drink. On the other hand, the Rebujito ended up being a canned cocktail rather than something freshly prepared to order, which felt disappointing given the pricing and the fact that the restaurant has a full open bar on display. At roughly the price of a freshly made cocktail, it definitely felt hard to justify. Overall we still enjoyed the dinner and made the most of the evening. There were genuinely good dishes mixed throughout the meal and the atmosphere was lively and fun. We certainly didn’t have a bad experience, but given the pricing and overall reputation, I did leave expecting a bit more and am not sure it’s somewhere we’d personally rush back to — though still glad we tried it. FYI: They can accommodate gluten allergies (including Celiac) on some dishes, though we did run into limitations around certain items like the ceviche accompaniment. Also worth noting that some cocktails may be pre-batched/canned rather than made fresh to order.”
“Every dish we ordered was fantastic, but what really stood out was the sauce for each item. Every sauce was rich, unique, and elevated the dish it came with. Honestly, the sauces alone make the meal memorable. One thing I loved about this restaurant is that you really can’t go wrong with the menu. Everything we ordered was delicious. It’s the kind of place where you could close your eyes, point at the menu, and still end up with something amazing. If you’re someone who appreciates well-thought-out sauces and consistently good dishes, this is definitely a spot worth trying. I’d happily come back and keep working my way through the menu.”
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