About
Only three train stops from the ocean!
“Named after my daughter Birdie and my grandmother Gladys, Birdie G’s is a fun, American restaurant inspired by childhood memories and family traditions. How do I define our style? Easy…it’s the product of an Eastern-European Jew who grew up in the Midwest and the Deep South, and then settled in Southern California. I don’t know how I can make it any clearer. At the end of the day, Birdie G’s is “where fine food and good people meet,” so please relax and have a great time!” – Chef/Owner Jeremy Fox
Helmed by Jeremy, award-winning Chef/Owner at Rustic Canyon, Birdie G’s is located within Santa Monica’s historic Bergamot Station and surrounded by art galleries and creative businesses. We’re also a member of the Rustic Canyon Family, a collection of celebrated, neighborhood dining destinations throughout Santa Monica and Ojai. Nearly everything is made in-house, with an emphasis on zero-waste, and seasonal ingredients are sourced from local farmers, ranchers and fishers aligned with our values of planet-friendly practices.
Initially curated by Rustic Canyon Family Wine Director and Esters Co-Owner Kathryn Coker, Sommelier Demetria Lewis oversees the 250+ bottle wine list, which ranges from classic to trending styles from around the world, all of which come from chemical-free vineyards and winemakers focused on soil health. Taking inspiration from 1950s and 60s-era supper club menus, the well-rounded and approachable list includes a robust selection of by-the-glass options and over 90 half bottles.
Bar Manager Stephanie Reading leans into farmers’ market produce and a variety of house-made infused spirits, syrups and tinctures to create a dynamic cocktail menu with nostalgic classics and modern creations. To create a more connected bar experience, she takes pride in working with a variety of smaller-batched, local spirit companies.
From the food to the cocktails to the wine list, everything has a story and pays homage to loved ones – friends, family, farmers – who inspire the team. Gather on the sprawling outdoor patio, the airy dining room or the intimate bar and lounge (aka “The Bird’s Nest”) over rounds of drinks and a variety of wood-grilled meats and fish, steaks dry-aged in-house, handmade pastas, playful salads and vegetable dishes that celebrate the region’s bountiful micro-seasons. Deanie Hickox, Jeremy’s friend and ex-wife, is our rockstar consulting pastry chef, so don’t forget to leave room for a slice of “World-Famous” Rose Petal Pie!
Basically, we’re the kind of place where you eat too much and leave with a really big smile on your face.
Meet the Team
It takes a lot of people to keep this place humming, and we’re really proud of everyone’s hard work and passion. Meet a few of the talented folks who make Birdie G’s so special.
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Jeremy Fox — Chef/Owner
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Nothing gives Jeremy greater joy than watching people eat while shaking their head either in agreement or in disbelief with how good something tastes. His favorite dish as a kid was Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard. He’s pretty sure he recalls his grandma Gladys saying in 1988 that “Jeremy is without a doubt one of my top four favorite grandchildren.” Here’s to you, Gladys.
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Kathryn Coker — RC Family Wine Director
Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
One of the top things that gives Kathryn joy about overseeing the wine programs for the entire restaurant group is all the amazing people she works with every day. Her favorite thing to eat growing up was beets. According to her mom, “Kathryn was born with a fist-pumping attitude toward everything she is involved in leading, creating or tasting. She can’t help it!”
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JM Villajin — General Manager
Hometown: Quezon City, Philippines
JM enjoys being there to assist his team when they’re in the weeds. It’s a satisfying feeling to be able to be an asset to his team in any way he can and look back at the night and see all that they accomplished. His favorite dish as a kid was his mom’s Filipino Spaghetti. She added hot dogs to it and it was delicious and sweet.
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Stephanie Reading — Bar Program Director
Hometown: Mill Valley, California
Stephanie loves being able to see a person and create them a drink they’ve never had or heard of before – the exact perfect drink for them that they didn’t even know they had wanted in the first place. Her favorite dish growing up was Spinach Quiche. Her stay-at-home mom was an awesome cook and introduced Stephanie to all sorts of foods growing up with the help of her trusty Good Housekeeping cookbook (also the first cookbook that Stephanie owned). According to her dad Michael, “Stephanie has the bartending skills, enthusiasm and imagination to craft amazing and unusual drinks to complete your dining experience.”
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Chanel Ducharme — Events Manager
Hometown: Ventura County, California
Born to host events, Chanel’s mom remembers taking her to help at a friend’s charity fashion show when she was only 10 years old, and she jumped right in staging the models and handing out food! Her favorite dish as a child was Nana’s Half & Half, also known as bean and cheese tortilla casserole. She loves her job because with every event, she gets to help people create experiences that they will remember for years to come. -
Deanie Hickox — Consulting Pastry Chef
Hometown: Sunnyvale, California
To Deanie, baking is just a pure expression of the desire to nurture. It brings her great delight when one of her desserts manages to bring a little sunshine to someone else. She has fond recollections of her mom’s chicken and dumplings – she can’t think of anything that made her feel more loved! Her husband Francisco says that “every time I try to describe what makes Deanie’s desserts so transcendent, all I can come up with is a growled ‘MMMMMMMMM!!.’ Also, if I could only pick one of her desserts to survive the apocalypse, it would be her ice cream. And her cheesecake. And her donuts. And oh yeah, her chocolate chip cookies! Those four things are the one thing. And her chocolate cake.”
Hot off the Press
- Los Angeles Times – “101 Best Restaurants - 2023”
- New York Times – “The 25 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles Right Now”
- Michelin Guide – “2023 California Guide”
- Los Angeles Times – “101 Best Restaurants - 2022”
- Michelin Guide – “2022 California Guide - Plate Recognition”
- Los Angeles Times – “101 Best Restaurants - 2021”
- Los Angeles Times – “101 Best Restaurants - 2020”
- Los Angeles Magazine – “Best New Restaurants - 2019”
- Los Angeles Times – “101 Best Restaurants - 2019”
- The Infatuation – “LA's Best New Restaurants of 2019”
- Time Out LA – “The 15 Best New LA Restaurants of 2019”
- Thrillist – “The Best Restaurants in LA That Opened in 2019”
- Los Angeles Times – “Rustic Canyon’s Jeremy Fox Opened Santa Monica’s Hottest Restaurant of the Year”
- Eater LA – “The 16 Hottest Restaurants in Los Angeles”
- New York Times – “Where Dessert Is Much More Than An Afterthought”
- Food & Wine – “Jeremy Fox Finally Opens Birdie G’s in Santa Monica, and It's a Big Deal”
- Robb Report – “Why You Should Care About Birdie G’s, a New Restaurant Steeped in Americana”
- Life & Thyme – “Jeremy Fox’s New American at Birdie G’s”
- Vogue – “2019’s Most Anticipated American Restaurant Openings ”
Drop a line to info@birdiegsla.com with any press inquiries.