Combine overpriced food (read: $29+ for a small salad and juice) and stunningly expansive ocean views without the scene of Nobu and you've got Malibu Farm.
If Malibu Farm was relegated inland and was not fortunate enough to sit at the very end of the Malibu Pier overlooking 180-degree views of the Pacific, there would be very little to remark on. Fortunately for the cafe, its location is one of the best along the coast, with plenty of outdoor seating to soak up the views, particularly if you head up the stairs to the second floor. For lunch, arriving between 12 and 12:30 will ensure virtually no wait for an outdoor table, but as it gets closer to 1:00, the line of casually dressed beachgoers gets longer and longer.
The star at Malibu Farm is most certainly the view and the charming, white-washed beach atmosphere. The food, albeit invigoratingly fresh, is small and overpriced, only decent in comparison. The Vegan Chop salad with kale romaine, butternut squash, beets, avocado, and garbanzo beans suffers from a poor ratio of ingredients, as well as a powerful, vinegary dressing that overpowers the flavor of the squash. Any salad can have grilled chicken, salmon, or skirt steak added for an additional price ($8-$12), but the kitchen seems unable to consistently execute. My friend and I ended up ordering the same salad with grilled chicken, but half of my chicken was grossly underdone and pink, while hers was well cooked.
However, the juices are a notable hit on the menu, particularly the Kale Apple Juice that comes served in a small mason jar. Clearly fresh pressed with just the right amount of pulp, the flavors of both ingredients really stand out.
While Malibu is a town that certainly appreciates the farm-to-table ethic, Malibu Farm needs to work a bit harder to really succeed at it. Though I suppose if Old MacDonald had a farm in Malibu, it would probably look something like this.
23000 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265
Malibu, CA 90265
