Upscale Modern Indian · Santa Monica
By Monty Khas, Anonymous Critic. Pays every bill.
A block from the sand on Ocean Avenue, Fitoor makes a big first impression. The entrance is dark breeze block, the dining room glows with walnut, sage and emerald, and smoky mirrored tiles bounce candlelight around the room. The name means obsession in Hindi and Urdu, and you can see it in every detail.
The people
Fitoor comes from AVB Hospitality, the company run by husband and wife Vikram and Anu Bhambri. Their group already runs ROOH, the progressive Indian restaurant in San Francisco, plus Pippal, Alora and a sister Fitoor in San Jose. Santa Monica, which opened in late 2024, is their first move into Southern California. Head chef Surya Kumar and executive chef Vaibhav Sawant lead the kitchen, while Anu oversees the beverage program.
The room
Designers Manu Studios gave the space a moody glamour: shou sugi ban-style charred wood, gold accents, an emerald private dining room, a separate Gold Room for parties and an open-air patio for warm evenings. On Fridays and Saturdays, a DJ takes over later in the night and the room tilts from dinner into lounge.
What to eat
The lamb shank rogan josh is the headliner, a slow-braised shank in a deep, Kashmiri chili-red gravy that falls off the bone at the touch of a fork. Pair it with a pulled butter chicken kulcha, stuffed flatbread that might be the most indulgent thing on the menu.
Starters lean playful. Avocado chaat is a California-born crowd-pleaser, achari paneer packs pickling spices into soft cubes of cheese, and the Maryland soft-shell crab is crisp and well spiced. From the grill, the Asado-style branzino with a tangle of fried potato salli shows off the kitchen's live-fire chops, and Hokkaido scallops come in a rich peanut salan, a Hyderabadi sauce more often paired with chilies. For dessert, the gulab jamun crème brûlée is exactly as fun as it sounds.
Before you go
Book on OpenTable, especially for weekend dinners. Weekday lunch and weekend brunch are both served, and happy hour runs every afternoon. Valet is available, and the dress code is business casual. Ask for the patio at sunset.
Why it matters
The Westside has long been short on ambitious Indian cooking. Fitoor fills that gap with a restaurant that treats Indian food as a full night out, from the cocktails to the crème brûlée, and it has given Santa Monica a reason to skip the drive east.
The Quick Fix
What to order: Lamb shank rogan josh; avocado chaat; achari paneer; pulled butter chicken kulcha; Asado-style branzino; Hokkaido scallops in peanut salan; gulab jamun crème brûlée; a house cocktail
Pricing: Upscale. Happy hour is the best value; dinner is a splurge.
Best for: Westside date nights, celebrations, visitors staying near the beach and anyone who likes their curry with a view of the Pacific
How it compares: The best-looking Indian restaurant in LA; more polished than Baar Baar, more of a scene than Roots; the rogan josh rivals any in the city
See where Fitoor ranks: The Best Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Restaurants in Los Angeles: Our Top 10 for 2026
The food was always this good. We're just paying attention.