The only way to do Mastro’s Ocean Club is to do it big and hold nothing back. Want truffle butter on your 18-ounce Wagyu? Why not. Only going to have a bite of the Chocolate Sin Cake? Order it. Don’t entirely need the Iced Seafood Tower? Live a little.
The point is that Mastro’s exists for the sake of self-indulgence. If you’re going to “do it up,” you need to go all in. From how you dress to what you drink, Mastro’s brings out the cosmopolitan in anyone. You go to the sophisticated seaside restaurant for the experience as much as the food – but those two things are not mutually exclusive.
Known for their steak at Mastro’s Beverly Hills and other spots around the country, the Ocean Club is a different experience all together. Drawing on the myth of Malibu and the West Coast cult hood of extravagant seafood, the Ocean Club is a saltwater dream.
The swanky but small spot on Pacific Coast Highway, just before Topanga Canyon, takes up just 4,000 square feet on the sand. A seat by the window is ideal, but the blue-green ocean is visible from anywhere in the room, with mirrors on the walls to help remind you you’re still living the dream.
For a true epicurean feast, follow the advice to come.
It’s easy to get lost in reverie while eating five different kinds of bread once you sit down at your seat. The sea captures your eyes while you sip an aperitif (the Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop and Apple Martini are served over dry ice, as a bonus) and sway to the live piano music.
Waiters and the general manager cater to your every need. There’s a distinctive old-school air to the service, somehow not offset by the Malibu coolness.
Steaks are served on 400-degree dishes garnished with chives. Servers dish out your sides onto your plates as you watch in amazement – the foods sizzle from the temperatures. If you start to warm up from the heat of your plate, sit back and watch the ingredients dance on your plate.
Get your lobster fix with the Lobster Cocktail, Lobster Bisque, or twin seven-ounce lobster tails. Sides fit for kings include the Alaskan King Crab Black Truffle Gnocchi and Gorgonzola Mac & Cheese.
Chef Angel Carbajal of Nick-San Cabo San Lucas designed the sushi selection exclusively for the Ocean Club, featuring classics like Shrimp Tempura Roll or Jalapeño Tuna Sashimi or grander fares like the Seared Albacore with Black Truffles.
But for the ultimate and authentic dining experience at Mastro’s Ocean Club, order this: the signature Bone-In Filet (12-ounce or 18-ounce), Lobster Mashed Potatoes, and the Warm Butter Cake with French vanilla ice cream on top served with a side pan of freshly whipped cream.
You will leave Mastro’s both planning your next diet and your next reservation.
Oh, and if you think you’ve stepped into a nightclub powder room once the bathroom attendant hands your perfumes, gum, candy, deodorant and literally anything else you need before you can reach the toilet, take it in stride and revel in the adventure of dining at Mastro’s Ocean Club.
Mastro’s Ocean Club is located at 18412 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. For more information call 310.454.4357 or visit mastrosrestaurants.com.
