Geoffrey's Malibu: A Romantic Oceanside Dinner for 10

About 20 miles from the UCLA campus in a secluded nook of Malibu, perched on a quiet hill that overlooks the water, is Geoffrey's. With its dimly lit exterior, rich spread of plants in every corner and understated interior color palette, it makes the perfect spot for any special occasion - especially at nighttime.

- the history -

The dinner occasion was my friend's 21st, and our reservation was at 7:00 PM for a party of 10. I was excited when I heard Geoffrey's was where we would be going because although I didn't know much about it, I knew it would be fancy, and I was in the mood for a fancy time.

Geoffrey's was originally opened in 1983 by Harvey Baskin as the Holiday House. Jeffrey Peterson worked there as a busboy for 12 years. After Baskin passed in 1997, Peterson managed to work his way up the ranks, buy the restaurant to save it from the financial troubles it had fallen into, and rebrand it to appeal to the emerging cultural landscape at the time.

Today, Geoffrey's doesn't only aim to fill stomachs but to contribute to the fight against humanitarian issues around the world. Since Peterson's takeover, the restaurant hosts benefit events, partners with charities, and makes yearly donations to local and global efforts that aid disenfranchised children.

There are rumors that "back in the day..." several celebrities including "Marilyn Monroe and JFK used to have rendezvous" at the restaurant due to its seclusion and air of exclusivity. This was definitely the vibe I got at Geoffrey's. I love birthday-dinner season because it is always an excuse for me to explore high-end gastronomy.

- the ambiance -

As soon as you walk through the entryway of the restaurant, you cannot help but notice the wide variety of tropical plants that line the walls as well as the dainty fairy lights that are festively swirled and strung around their stumps and leaves. The restaurant has only a partial enclosure, so you are able to feel the light, refreshing LA breeze even as you step under the roof. Hanging above you are dimmed light bulbs that are suspended in trendy mesh balls that further soften their glow. The table is covered with a plain nude cloth and slim, dark menus with a small pot of bright yellow flowers as the one pop of color. The crisp open air paired with the soft yet upbeat tunes playing from the speakers gives Geoffrey's an atmosphere of romance, adventure and escape.

I observed that most of the other dining patrons were couples on dates or trios of friends catching up. As a result, the space was relatively quiet, with only the controlled din of conversation barely louder than the hushed music, alongside the gentle clinking of cutlery. (I think the party of ten I was part of definitely changed that, though).

My friends and I were sat deeper in the restaurant's interior but when I got up to use the bathroom and got a better glimpse of the outdoor seating, my breath was taken away by the moonlit scene of Malibu Beach below. With both traditional and electronic fire pits placed all around plus the panoramic view of the ocean at your feet, it made total sense to me why Geoffrey's was a hotspot for romantic dates. (In fact, during a short video I took, I accidentally captured a couple that was having a little fun and didn't realize til afterwards. Oopsie!)

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/a32f1f_8cd7e7c83ebd43dd9da237676bc62bde/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

- the food -

Before the dinner, my friend had warned all of us that the dinner would be "in Malibu", which was code for "Get your wallets ready".

I appreciated that the menu was only 2 pages long - the left side had Dinner Appetizers, and Soups and Salads and an entire page for Dinner Entrées - as I am not the most decisive person in the world. I was a little bummed that there was no pasta on the menu, and that most of the meat was seafood (which I do enjoy; it's just not my preference) but what did I expect - it was a restaurant by the sea!

We started off with some complementary rosemary bread rolls and butter. The butter had a lovely whipped cream texture, which was cushioned nicely within the bread's soft interior. I do wish the rolls were a tad warmer, but I can't complain - I was just content that I didn't have to order a $22 brie for an appetizer!

For my entrée, I settled on the herb crusted salmon, which was complete with artichoke heart mashed potatoes, broccolini and roasted tomato beurre blanc. I was under the impression that the veggies and mash would be on the side, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that everything that been intricately layered into one aesthetically pleasing heap.

I thought the seasoning of the mashed potatoes was just divine, and it paired very nicely with the rich butter sauce. The salmon crust was crisped to perfection and was well balanced with the tenderly grilled insides. I thought the fish could use a bit more salt and the broccolini, a bit more seasoning, but when all the flavors melted on my tongue, it tasted like a warm, savory concoction of seaside delight!

- the service -

Our reservation was for 7pm on a Sunday night, and my car arrived at around 7:15pm (let's just blame the traffic...). The other half of us were already there, but had been told to wait by the bar because the restaurant only seats patrons when the entire party is present. However, even after we arrived, we were not given a table until 7:29pm. The birthday girl had started to get a little irked, and the group as a whole was getting impatient; we suspected it took so long to get us seated because we were a younger and bigger crowd, and thought perhaps we weren't being taken as seriously.

This made me question the experience that was in store, but these concerns were quickly dispelled once I interacted with the first of their staff. She wasn't our waitress but as she was passing by, she complimented my jacket and I told her I loved her pants and it was a moment; I forgave Geoffrey's for any prior transgressions.

*the jacket in question* Geoffrey's had a set of 3 mirrors in the entryway, perfect for mirror selfies with the cutely decorated trees in the back!

The night progressively got better after that: our waitress was extremely warm, and went over and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and satisfied. She even chimed in a couple of times in our conversation, in way that was charmingly familial and not intrusive. As we were paying for the food, we asked her how we could get down to the beach because we had heard there was a stairwell that could take you directly from Geoffrey's to the beach: this was actually why my friend had chosen this spot in the first place. However, our waitress told us that entrance to the beach was actually locked at sunset, and was unavailable for us at that time. My friend's mood dropped after that because she had a whole vision of taking pictures on Malibu Beach in her dress but alas, the waitress went on to suggest 2 other options we could try that would be open that night, and her pointers ended up being really helpful!

She was also really great in terms of coordinating with me on the best time to bring out the free birthday dessert (another plus!) and on our receipt, she drew these cute balloons and left a "happy birthday" note which I thought was super sweet! I wish I got her name because she is the reason I will be hyping up Geoffrey's customer service now to anyone who asks.

- the verdict -

All in all, I had a memorable time at Geoffrey's: it had that classy atmosphere that makes you feel like you're really on a proper night out; the waiting staff were exceptionally lovely, and it made the best spot to capture aesthetic photos with the birthday girl!

I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion. That being said, I would strongly suggest you go for brunch or lunch as opposed to dinner, just so you can have the option of experiencing the walk down to Malibu Beach as well and you are able to make a day of it! I hope you have a memorable time! :)