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/Co-Owner Jeremy Fox

Helmed by Jeremy (also the award-winning Chef/Co-Owner at Rustic Canyon) and Chef de Cuisine Matthew Schaler, 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.

Self-taught Sommelier Kobi Tsesarsky 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. Originally curated by Rustic Canyon Family Wine Director Kathryn Coker and 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, drink 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.

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.
Matthew Schaler — Chef de Cuisine

Hometown: Port Orange, Florida

Matthew’s favorite part about cooking here is that he loves manifesting creative ideas and refining his skills. His favorite dish growing up as a kid was vegetable soup. According to his wife Hannah, “he’s passionate about developing other cooks and leading the diner through a joyful, educational and delicious experience.
Keely Obbards — General Manager

Hometown: Costa Mesa, California

Keely’s natural curiosity and desire for connecting with people are what drives her on a daily basis and makes her proud to be working at Birdie G’s. Nothing gives her greater joy than making someone’s life a little bit brighter – even if it’s only for an hour. This SoCal native’s favorite dish growing up was tamales! Her mother Sue says, “Keely’s creativity, passion for excellence and out-of-the-box thinking has enabled her to create the extraordinary out of the ordinary. It gives her an innate sense of how to empower those around her, and allows her to hone in on how to elevate others’ dining experiences.” We couldn’t have said it any better, Sue.
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!”
Kobi Tsesarsky — Sommelier

Hometown: New York, NY

Kobi loves that his work entails taking care of others, sharing great wine and spend his time surrounded by this all-star team. His favorite dish growing up was…candy. His palate is a bit more refined now. According to his mom Robyn, “Kobi is very committed, a great listener and likes to make other people happy. Plus, he was practically born to work in restaurants—his first words as a baby were, ‘I want to eat a piece of pizza now.'”
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.”
Jeremiah Lacsamana — Sous Chef (Also Squire & Back-Up Vocals)

Hometown: San Francisco, California

One of Jeremiah’s favorite parts about the job is working with people from so many backgrounds, which includes communicating in broken French, Spanish and English. His favorite dish growing up as a kid was Vienna Sausages with eggs, rice and banana ketchup. His mom, Henedina, is proud of him because “he’s always been able to maintain a job.”
Alex Barkley — Sous Chef

Hometown: Seattle, WA

For Alex, Birdie G’s is all about progress with the lovely team—every day is a chance to be better than yesterday. Additionally, there’s no better feeling than a fast-paced service with everyone firing on all cylinders. Growing up, he loved blackberries off the vine on a hot day and extra firm tofu, and had a propensity to eat red bell peppers like an apple. According to his fiancée, “Alex’s creativity and care can’t help but come through. He’s able to make simple moments special and extraordinary moments seem easy.”
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.”
Kristin Shoffner — Service Manager

Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida

Restaurants are a magical place to Kristin, where creativity and community collide in a fundamental way. “People come here to eat, but it’s really about cultivating a sense of belonging and creating an experience that reflects and transcends the food. In the past, I looked to the theater as a way of making magic, now I get to do it at Birdie G’s!” Growing up in South Florida, she developed an affinity for fresh seafood at a young age, so ordering crab legs for dinner was a must…and she always enlisted grownup help in cracking them. According to Kristin’s Gran, “The characteristics which make her awesome are her quick mind, her literary and artistic talents, her resilience and determination and her warm, caring heart.”