Lillie’s is a new addition to the Culver City dining scene. It’s located within the historical Culver City hotel. There had previously been several iterations of restaurants at the same site over the years but after the pandemic, all hotel dining ceased.
We had an opening on our weekend schedule and decided to use the opportunity to stay local and check out the offerings of the restaurant. We were not disappointed.
It’s quite stunning inside the hotel which has been beautifully maintained and restored over the years. We were seated at a partial banquette which allowed for a 180 degree view of the restaurant.
For our starter, we ordered the caesar salad which was crisp, fresh and had a lemony cheesy bite.
The big eye tuna ceviche was equally delightful with a citrusy onion aftertaste.
My steak frites were perfectly cooked. The beef was tender with no marbling or grisled pieces, and the fries were crispy and herbaceous. My husband’s burger was amazing. The bun was light and fluffy and the ground beef was tender and robust with flavor. His side dish of pomme puree was delightfully creamy and the broccolini was smoky and tender.
Of the two hotel restaurants we dined at on this particular weekend, with Ella at the Sixty being the first, Lilies was hands down the winner on every front.
The service was impeccable, the decor could not be beat and the band which played during our dinner service was spectacular. We are thrilled to pieces that this new french restaurant is so close to home as we look forward to many happy returns.
After a long arduous week, I wanted to step away from our normal routine, go somewhere different and immerse ourselves in culture, music and exquisite food. We found all of that in Industry Cafe & Jazz.
I had read many of the 4 star Yelp reviews for some time and had viewed the restaurant’s offerings on their site. Being more curious about cuisines new to us and in the spirit of being more adventurous, I decided to finally take the plunge, called and made a reservation for dinner after work on Friday when I knew I would be too tired to think of what to eat or from where to order.
It was our first foray into Ethiopian cuisine and honestly I was super excited. The photos of the meals looked warm and nourishing, perfect comfort food for the soul. We easily found street parking and arrived right when the saxophonist for the evening’s jazz band entered the establishment.
That was a good omen and set the vibe for the rest of our night at the restaurant. The band began playing some light rhythmic jazzy tunes. On a cooler evening, with the crisp fall air entering the restaurant, one could imagine possibly sharing center stage with these talented musicians and dancing to the syncopation of the melody strumming from the rhythmic guitar.
Tonight, in the middle of a very warm, very late summer, the music was best enjoyed while feeling the occasional breezes from the nearby fan and the occasional thrust of cool air from the outside.
The basket of injera we received was filled with about four to five rolls of thin crepe/pancake spongy flatbread. In Ethiopian culture, it’s meant to serve as plate and silverware. You piece off what you need and scoop up the tasty morsels off of the injera functioning as your plate.
I ordered a whole fried trout which was unbelievably good, crispy on the outside and mealy on the inside. By the time I was done, there was nothing left but tail, the skeletal bony middle portion and the head. The red lentils I ordered as my side were quite good as well and had a subtle flavor that complimented the fish quite nicely.
My husband ordered the doro wat which is a traditional chicken stew of onions and tomatoes seasoned with a blend of garlic, ginger and other spices. By the time I thought about asking for a taste, the entire plate had been devoured and licked clean. From what he said the chicken was incredibly moist and flavorful and yet tasted different from anything else he had ever eaten.
For additional side dishes, we also ordered a bowl of mac n cheese, cornbread and fries. In hindsight, we should have ordered the African sides for a more authentic dining experience. The American sides were simple and not complicated and would have been better with a burger or fried chicken.
All in all, it was a great relatively inexpensive evening, combined with the live music and exquisite meal. Our first east African dining experience was a success. The only downside, other than the American side dishes, was the lack of air conditioning so our next visit to Industry Cafe will be timed with cooler weather.
Industry Cafe & Jazz
6039 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
https://industrycafela.com
Mastro’s Beverly Hills has been our special occasion dining restaurant for well over a decade. The service has always been exemplary, the location is ideal and the food is nothing short of amazing.
We decided to celebrate our anniversary two days early this year as it falls on a Monday.
Prior to our arrival, I contacted the restaurant to advise them that we were running about fifteen minutes late to which the hostess said would not be an issue and we would be seated in between the parties. When we arrived, all the seats at the bar were full and there were a few guests standing, waiting in the lobby. About ten minutes later, we were whisked to the second floor where we had requested to be seated so we could listen to the pianist and singer during our dinner. This particular evening, the set being played was quite lively and there was both a male and female singer which was a pleasant surprise.
We were welcomed by our server Keith who made the evening feel effortless.
The basket of bread arrived a few minutes after we were seated and drinks arrived less than five minutes after ordering.
Our Caesar salad was split and served shortly thereafter. Surprisingly, my favorite bread in the bread basket, the cheese crisp and the croutons in the salad were stale and lacked crunch. I made a point to mention it to the busboy and our server who thanked me for raising it so that the kitchen is aware and can test the bread being served to other guests during the evening.
Next to arrive were the sizzling 12 ounce filets immediately followed by several runners with each of our side dishes. The filets were cooked to a perfect medium, pink in the middle, so buttery and tender it seemed like you barely needed a knife to cut through it.
The Gorgonzola mashed potatoes were incredibly rich, the Alaskan King crab gnocchi was super decadent, the mushrooms were silky and savory. Each side was a very filling and divine accompaniment to the steak. Since the servings were so large, we opted to pack up the rest and eat it at home on our actual anniversary.
Our dinner ended with a beautiful pairing of both a slice of chocolate cake and butter cake on the house. We saved the chocolate cake but devoured the butter cake which was moist, slightly sweet and topped with a scoop of refreshing vanilla ice cream.
Our evening at the Beverly Hills Mastro’s was once again a spectacular experience, starting with the valet and all the way to the manager, Michael, who came by to ask how our evening was going and gave us his card for future visits. Though we have dined at other Mastros locations, specifically the Malibu and the Newport Beach restaurants, the service at the Beverly Hills location has always been top notch and beyond compare.
Mastro’s Steakhouse Beverly Hills will continue to be our special occasion restaurant for many more years to come.
Mastro’s Steakhouse Beverly Hills
246 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA
https://www.mastrosrestaurants.com/Locations/CA/Beverly-Hills-Steakhouse/
Grace Gambin
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