Ten million, 512,000 minutes: This is how long Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen has been serving the Santa Monica community and beyond with its casual, farmers market-driven approach to dining. During this time, co-owner Josh Loeb met his wife, Zoe Nathan, and had three kids. The kitchen launched the careers and provided a creative space for trailblazers including opening chef Samir Mohajir, Felix Trattoria’s Evan Funke, Birdie G’s Jeremy Fox and Beethoven Market’s Michael Leonard.
“It’s been a lot of everything,” said Loeb, who, along with his wife and business partner, grew up in Santa Monica. “My restaurant journey, it’s where I met so many friends — so much learning, so much success, so much failure. A lot has happened in the last 20 years, but I’m really grateful for it. It’s been an experience that shaped and changed my life in so many ways.”
Rustic Canyon received a Michelin star in 2019 and has been listed on the Los Angeles Times’ 101 Best Restaurants list. It was ranked No. 95 on Robb Report’s “100 Greatest Restaurants of the 21st Century” and was the first in the succession of the Rustic Canyon Family of Santa Monica restaurants: Huckleberry Bakery & Café (16 years), Sweet Rose Creamery (16 years), Milo & Olive (14 years), Cassia, Esters Wine Shop & Bar, Tallula’s, Milo SRO and Birdie G’s. . . .
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Jessica Koslow 