Beaurivage Restaurant, Malibu

My wife and I had a wonderful lunch there today. The staff was nice and the food was awesome. We started with Gaspacho. Then moved to the steamed clams. From there we had the Caprise Salad. We then split the Cappellacci : Folded pasta sheets filled with ricotta cheese &spinach Everything cooked perfect and was incredible. We have found a new place for lunch and maybe dinner. Even the prices are reasonable. I would recommend this place.

We went on July 29. I was scared from the negative reviews, but then I called a friend who lives in Malibu and he said he loves it. So we went. We went at 6:30pm on a Wednesday. There was hardly anybody there. The food was superb, the piano player was great, the waiter was very nice and attentive and we got out of there for under $100 (he had two glasses of house Cab and I didn't drink). He ordered the roasted rabbit, which was unbelievably delicious. I've never had rabbit and was a little scared, but it was white meat, yet not dry. I had the capelli d'angelo adriatica. YUM... I also had the onion soup, which was a little too black peppery for my taste, but then I don't like black pepper. Tiramisu for dessert, yum! They make all of their desserts there. So if I'm going to criticize I will say, and this is being pretty picky, the windows could have used a washing, but it's right across the street from the beach and that kind of weather does make things dirty faster. Also, being picky, the flatware was a little on the flimsy side. That's pretty much it. The building is very charming also. We will definitely eat there again. As for the other people complaining about the restaurant, I try not to go anywhere on nights that are typically crowded. You just get better service (usually).

My wife and I went to Beau Rivage over 11 years ago on our first date. It was one of our favorite restaurants and has held special memories in our past. That ended Valentine’s night. The service and food have become disastrous. I had made reservations one month prior to Valentine's Day. We were seated right away, but it then took 15 minutes for a server to offer us anything. We were seated outside at a so-so table, and it was too cold for my wife since it was a rainy day. So I went to the hostess and asked for a table inside. She told me that she would have to check with the other host. I was given the runaround but finally with some persuasion, we were seated at a table inside. Now10 more minutes for a server to offer us anything. Finally I got the host’s attention, and he took our order himself. After about 20 minutes, we received our lobster bisque that was very watery and no flavor. We waited another to 30 minutes before our entrees arrived. At that point, both my wife and I were starving. When my wife tasted the first bite, I knew something was wrong. Her entrée, rack of lamb, was cold. The waiter took it back to kitchen to make things right, but when it came back it was still cold and look like it had put in a microwave. At this point, we decided to leave because the service was horrible and food was inedible!!! While all this was going on, we saw several other couples that got up and left that evening, or where having problems with the service and food. The waiter handed me the check, I expected that we would only be charged for the drinks and the appetizers since we did not eat the entrées. When I asked the waiter why we were charged for food we did not eat. He said he would have to talk to the manger/owner. The manager/owner came over to our table, at which point and started to argue with me that I will have to pay for food that we did not eat. He told us that there was nothing wrong with the food that his restaurant had lots of awards, and asked me “Have you ever been out to a restaurant on Mother’s Day?” I replied what dose that have to do with bad service and inedible food at this restaurant? Obviously, he was implying that we should not expect good food service on the special occasions. He then started telling us who the hell we were to say anything about his food!!! He continued to argue getting louder and louder. We did not want to deal with his rude behavior any more, and we did not ruin our Valentine’s Day even more. So I reluctantly paid the bill. I decided to leave tip for the waiter in cash, but I needed some change. So I went to the bar and asked the bartender vary politely for change. I waited for a few minutes patiently, and he just kept ignoring me. When I got his attention, he said to me, “You have to wait. The place is very busy if you haven’t noticed by now.” What is wrong with these people??? I have never been treated like this at any restaurant in my entire life. These people do not have any pride in their food or profession. If you are thinking of going there, I would think twice!! Don’t just take my word on this restaurant but look at the other reviews that have posted on citysearch.com and travel.yahoo.com.

My wife and I first went to Beau Rivage over 10 years ago. It was fantastic and has held a special place in our past. That ended last night. The service and food have become disastrous. I had made reservations for Valentine's Day, and decided to introduce our special place to some friends. We ended up standing up half-way through dinner and leaving -- and it wasn't because we had such high expectations. The service and food were just horrible. Something has happened there in the past years. Take your money elsewhere. We were seated right away, but it then took 15 minutes for a server to recognize us. We asked for the wine list (wouldn't have been nice if they gave it to us w/ our menus). After about 45 minutes they finally took our order. It wasn't until 90 minutes that we received our appetizers. The lobster bisque had no lobster in it and tasted awful. We sent the lobster bisque back and asked for Caesar salad. They had run out of Caesar salad (really) so brought us another salad -- which was good. Throughout all of this we had to ask repeatedly for refills of water. We waited another hour - now 2 and a half hours into the meal - before our entrees arrived. When they did, they only brought 2 of the 4. Those two (lamb and a surf&turf) were cold. We couldn't even eat them if we wanted to, because we had no knives. By the time we were able to ask someone for knives, and for them to bring them they had finally brought the other two entrees. All the entrees were cold. At this point we decided to leave. I went downstairs to discuss with the manager, at which point the owner came over and started to argue with me about how he hates Valentine's night, and how hard it is to get service. I explained that he should probably not take so many reservations then, and not risk his reputation. He continue to argue (getting loud). The manager interrupted, and just charged us for the wine. I've left out other things, but you get the picture.

An exquisite place to dine. Just accross from the ocean on the Pacfic Coast Highway in Malibu, it looks like something out of a fairytale. Owned by a charming European couple who continue to pay close attention to every detail even after more than 25 years. The food is excellent and the service outstanding, don't miss the opportunity to experience fine dining at it's best.

I have driven by this restaurant several times over the years and finally took my wife on a Sunday afternoon. The restaurant is manifique! It has a real provencial feel and atmosphere. The wine were fairly reasonable with several Bourdeax's and Burgundy wines, and a reasonable Napa Valley collection. The cuisine was more of a californian repertoire rather than a Provence/French cuisine. Conclusion: I would probably not go back. It was a one time visit, which was rather interesting.

I lived near Beau Rivage for years and took every opportunity to eat there. Now that I live a bit further away our trips there are reserved for special occasions, B-days, New Years etc.... It has been my favorite for years and has become my wifes as well. If you go, take your time and soak in the place. The owners are great people and the food is always fresh and wonderful. They have a great wine list and the homemade deserts are worth the extra calories. You will never be disappointed.

My newly wedded wife, families, and friends enjoyed our post ceremonial feast at the BeauRivage restaurant on March 25, 2006. Although the day was cold, the atmosphere within this place was quite warm. We reserved the place for 12 people, and received the corner location of the atrium of the site. This portion was meant to be an outdoor spot, but since we are in the wet season, the place covered the atrium with a ceiling cover. Although the walk area may be a tad tight, it did not prevent the guests, and the hosts, from moving about. First impression: The site was an average size restaurant along the coastal shoreline, overlooking the ocean front. Although the place is moderate in size, it attracted all type of people, and all classes. The decor of the site was quite festive, laced with grapes vines, and lined with tall indoor plants, and a running water fountains with wonderful flowers all over and inside the fountain. The lighting was dimmed to create a slow and romantic atmosphere. The hosts, compose of a the owner, a hardy French fellow, the wife, an Italian was who still had more Italian ways in her than American, the manager, who was a French-American, attending to our needs every 20 minutes or so. Then there were two waiters, coming and going every 5 minutes, checking up on the guests in the atrium, and a few others in the main hall. Foods: A mixture of French and Italian style foods. With two additional cooks in the kitchen, the owner, the wife, and the sous-chefs composed of young boys, cooked away frantically. The special dinners were made mainly by the wife and the husband for our special occasion, but the foods that were made by the young chefs where just as good for the other guests. Some foods were a mix of Americanized blend of seasoning, where the rest where authentic French and Italian style meals. Lobster bisque soup, very flavorful, has a hint of French and southern Louisiana style seasoning. The cheesy layered pasta dish has a mixture of Italian style lasanga, with a French accented decoration. The Long Island duck with plum sauce actually a mix of Chinese New York roast duck, with Japanese plum sauce, served with San Francisco style rice. Wines and champaigne were served with great flavors, and portions. The atmosphere were quite welcoming during our dinner. Entertainment: The waiters and waitresses, the owner and his wife, as well as the manager come and go quite frequently, inspecting on our progresses, as well as experiences. Around 7pm, there's a guitar player, either Japanese or Japanese-Hawaiin, very funky hair style, playing love songs, or upbeat songs. Overall: Although the foods may be as expensive as your wallet can handle, the experiences and the pleasure of eating the foods would counter balance your piggy bank. Each plates go from $15 to $40, depending on the complexity of your taste bud, but a good meal, with wine to flavor the meals, would set you back between $50 to $110. It's a perfect way to experience new dinning styles, as well as mingling with the upper classes that tend to hang around there during the nightly hours. Although, the high classes that we've faced that night were nothing more than stuck-up snobbish brats. We would gladly return to this place for our first anniversary.

An intimate (read: small) restaurant; not at all crowded. I had an appetizer of beluga caviar, no price on the menu. If you have to ask, you can't afford it. Roast lamb, with a fancy mixed-green salad. I had a whole bottle of champagne to myself. The waiter was attentive throughout. Dessert was the fellow I met there - my first night out in Malibu! ;) I would go again if I could afford it. The tab was $160, and I tipped $30. I think they liked me! :D I went later that week for brunch. The fellow I met there took me. Nothing like Eggs Benedict and Mimosas. Yummm. I've since broken up with that fellow, but the memory of that dinner almost three years ago linger on..

Horrible service, O.K. food (cold), expensive for nothing. We had to wait forever just to find our waiter, than he would disappear again for another 15 minutes. Don't waste your time and money at this place. It used to be really good about 5 years ago.