My love for my hometown Culver City knows no bounds so when I read that Laurel Grill of the Laurel Hardware family was opening up a restaurant in downtown, I immediately made a reservation. The restaurant encompassed the entire second floor of the Culver Steps building which also housed Erewhon, Sephora, Salt & Straw, Mendocino Farms, Afuri Ramen and a few other businesses on the first floor.
Walking up the stairs to Laurel Grill, we were welcomed with fire pits at the outdoor waiting area and a balcony with a view of Culver Hotel and the surrounding area.
The expansive bar area encompassed the middle section of the restaurant.
The pizza oven was housed towards the back of the restaurant.
To the left of the pizza area was the open kitchen for the preparation of the rest of the menu’s offerings.
We settled in at the bar and ordered our martinis while we waited for our table.
Once seated, we immediately ordered our dinner selection.
The Chinese chicken salad was on par with Hillstone’s/Houston’s iteration which had fresh greens and cilantro, a light citrusy dressing, tender slivers of chicken and crispy wonton strips interspersed. It was the perfect refreshing start to our meal.
My ribs were fall-of-the-bone tender and incredibly savory with a bit of smokiness. The fries were served piping hot and crispy. The aioli dipping sauce had the perfect thick consistency but without an overpowering garlic aftertaste.
My husband’s tuna melt was perfection. The bread was toasted just right, and it had a perfect tuna/dressing ratio which was packed tightly in between the bread.
The accompanying cole slaw was crisp with a light creamy dressing.
The weakest of the dinner items was the mac n cheese which was was cheesy and had a crisp breadcrumb topping, but the pasta was a bit overdone.
In addition to the mostly amazing food, we were impressed by the entire staff. From the hostess who greeted us, checked us in and advised us there would a short wait, to the bartender who made our drinks, to the other bartender who closed us out and our server Tess who was an aspiring fashion designer of sorts as well as her runners who served our food promptly and the ones who promptly filled up our water glasses, the service was on par with the high end restaurants in Los Angeles.
We’re assuming Laurel Grill will be welcoming a pianist to entertain its guests in the near future.
Laurel Grill is a fantastic addition to the gastronomic scene in downtown Culver City!!
I first read about the opening of Lustig from an Eater article. It was the replacement restaurant for La Dijonnaise in the Helms Bakery in Culver City. I actually had a reservation before the holiday break which was cancelled due to the restaurant opening being delayed so I rescheduled after the first of the year and set our dinner for the first Friday of January.
It had been a while since we had frequented the Helms Bakery. There were still plenty of free parking spaces on-site. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were immediately seated and our server came to greet us moments later. We had never dined at the former restaurant so we didn’t have a frame of reference what the interior looked like at the time, but Lustig’s contemporary décor was a refreshing change of scenery.
The red walls and tall ceilings set against floor to ceiling windows gave it a very airy vibe.
They also had a beautiful sparkly full bar.
There were four dining areas: an outdoor patio, the bar, the main dining area and a more private section further into the restaurant near the second restroom.
In both water closets, there was a taped poster above the doorway as a nod to Ted Lasso.
After a short chat with our server, we ordered our food, and the starters arrived a few minutes later.
The tuna cannoli was served in a crispy eggroll shell and tasted like an incredibly fresh tuna tartare with avocado but condensed and tightly wrapped.
The croque monsieur pizza was served broiling hot. It was cheesy, smoky, savory and just decadent. Though it was a bit oilier than I expected and the crust wasn’t crispy, the flavors were all there and hit all the right notes.
The chicken was moist and tender. It was served with beans which added a bit of earthiness to the dish. The asparagus which came with the dish was also perfectly cooked. In my haste to sample, I dropped an asparagus and without missing a beat, a hostess scooped it up from the floor. Some of the beans that came with the chicken were slightly undercooked and crispy but still good.
The broccolini was set in a soy, tomato base and was cooked al dente.
Fries were crispy and lightly salted.
The apple streudel was life altering. It was served warm, in a crispy crust, with cinnamon, tart apple with a creamy light sauce and cold ice cream. It was amazing!!
We would definitely return to our neighborhood’s newest gem. The service with the unique and delicious eats made for a winning combination!!
Here’s my secret for finding the new restaurant eats: I subscribe to Eater and Infatuation and I regularly receive emails of openings and reviews. However, and no offense to my fellow foodies, but I have a different standard, and I don’t always agree with their recos. On the Xuntos front, I’m 100% “aligned” which by the way is ad agency/marketing speak, now that I’m professionally back in that sphere.
Xuntos is located in Downtown Santa Monica which, in my teens and 20s, was one of my favorite hangouts. Now part of the area has been surrendered to and relegated to the homeless encampments while the oceanside still caters to the elite. Walking to Xuntos with my Lady Dior from the public parking garage on 4th made me reevaluate my luxury bag choice for the night. However, upon arriving at the restaurant, I was very pleasantly surprised at the upscale environment.
My husband was already seated as I dropped him off to locate parking.
When I arrived, my husband’s wine choice for me was promptly served. It was their driest white wine offering which had a bit of zest and grapefruit tartness.
The complimentary olive starter served with the drinks had a bit of kick with a peppercini flavor.
We started off with the ham and grilled cheese sandwich. The “bikini jamon” was phenomenal! Cheesy, gooey, slightly sweet, with shaved sweet slices of jamon in the center. We ended up ordering two because it was that good!
Next up was the gazpacho which was delicious, refreshing, creamy, tart, a bit sour with hints of the freshness of cucumber, truly unique and perfect for a hot summer day.
Our first main dish was the garlic shrimp which was beautifully presented, steaming hot with sliced baguette on the side. The shrimp had a bit of heat and the oil from the pan served as a nice dipping sauce for the bread. The shrimp was small but plump and tender.
Next up was the squid ink pasta which was creamy, tart from the lemon juice and tomato purée.
The patatas bravas were served piping hot, crispy with a drizzle of sour cream, chives and tomato purée.
The finale was the steak which was lightly salted, tender and juicy, with a bit of chimichurri herbs, caper sauce and rock salt on top.
All the menu items from start to finish were exceptional. It’s been a while since all the notes, from the service to the quality of the food, hit all the right marks. As my childhood piano teacher would say after an excellent performance, three gold stars to Xuntos!
At the beginning of the year, I made a list of local restaurants that we hadn’t dined at which seemed interesting. The list has grown exponentially as restaurants have opened throughout the year. Tapizon was added to the list early on but we somehow never made it there until recently and what a pleasant surprise it was. First, it’s in the pocket of what looks like middle town USA in the heart of a El Segundo. The exterior of the restaurant has an entire wall that was a beautiful colorful mural.
The interior of the restaurant looked like a little jewel box. We came on a Saturday as I saw online that they had live performers. The bossa nova vibes combined with the beautiful decor made it seem like we were whisked away to a more exotic land.
After drinks were ordered and served, our starters arrived shortly thereafter.
The Caesar salad was creamy, cheesy with seeds which added a bit of earthiness to it.
The black bean soup was the better starter between the two as it was hearty and robust with flavor with a bit of tartness.
My husband’s grilled chicken was quite savory, chock full of flavor and tender. The coconut rice was fluffy and mildly flavored.
My fries were herbaceous and crispy. The brisket tasted smoky and was incredibly tender and the brown rice provided a nice bed for the beef juices. The silkiness of the beans and the creamy yolk worked in harmony with the rest of the dish.
We also received a complimentary dessert. The injera style flatbread was a bit chewy, warm, almost had an English muffin texture. It was served with ice cream, berries in the middle, chocolate drizzled on top and some whipped cream on the side, definitely unique and a dessert unlike no other and not overly sweet.
Tapizon is definitely a great value dinner experience, and we would jump at the chance to return. The owner, Eric, came by and chatted with us for a while.
He had a military background and flew planes which explained the plane fountain at the front of the restaurant. Eric was a New York transplant and had previously not been familiar with El Segundo but all that changed when the property became available and he decided to set up shop. We didn’t discuss how he came up with the restaurant’s concept but we are sure glad he decided to make El Segundo and Tapizon his next project as it was definitely a hidden neighborhood gem that we are happy to share with as many people who will listen.
Best Bet is housed on Washington Blvd in the former AFrame location. I didn’t realize the new restaurant was opening until the weekend prior when I was heading to Handy J for a car wash and I tried for nearly a week to get a dinner reservation. Luckily, the reservation gods deemed me worthy enough to get a spot, and the plan was hatched to try out Bet Bet for our Friday dinner. I dropped off my husband prior to looking for parking as I knew it would take a while but upon entering the restaurant, we were immediately seated, and shortly thereafter, our orders were taken.
Our drinks arrived first followed shortly by the dishes.
The fried chicken was served lukewarm, was incredibly juicy and cheesy with a bit of sweetness which was a bit surprising.
The garlic knots were served piping hot and had a crispy garlicky exterior. Its accompanying tomato sauce dip was a bit chunky and tart.
The meatballs were fire, literally mouth on fire from the temperature. The herbaceous tender morsels of meat were served in a bed of cheesy sauce which my husband commented was similar to a fondue.
The cacio e peppe had a bit of a salty bite from the pink peppercorn and was served al dente.
The Godzilla pizza was perfect, hit all the right notes, smoky, savory, meaty and silky.
The enigma, to be honest, was not our favorite. It was missing a crucial ingredient, like perhaps bits of garlic shrimp in the interior as it was just a calzone with pesto filling which oozed out as soon the crispy exterior was pulled apart. The crust had a dense black sesame and white rock salt exterior which made it a bit more interesting but otherwise, the dish was a miss. Bellies full, we passed on dessert.
What made our dining experience exemplary was the attentiveness and response time of the staff. Although they had been open only a few days, they worked seamlessly and in unison with each other, from the two hostesses, our server and the two restaurant managers helping clear tables. It felt like a well-oiled machine rather than a newbie to the neighborhood. All in all, we thought the restaurant was a hit and would happily return with friends.
So glad we were able to visit during its opening week as we met Chef Jason Neroni and his wife who shared that they only allow reservations for half the restaurant and left the other half for walk-ins from people in the neighborhood. Truly a Best Bet for the city!
I had been wanting to try out Granville and even made a reservation or two only to cancel and push to a later date. At long last, we finally made our way to the WeHo establishment one Friday evening. It took us about 25 minutes to drive to the establishment and another 2 minutes to locate the valet parking which was behind the restaurant.
In Granville’s former life, it housed the now defunct Jerry’s Deli. On my last visit, Jerry Seinfeld was sitting in a corner booth, cracking jokes loudly for all to hear. Today, Granville is an expansive beautiful elevated casual restaurant with a gorgeous bar in the section where Jerry was ensconced with several areas allocated for dining.
Upon checking in for our reservation, we were asked by the hostess to wait while two other parties were seated. It only took a few minutes before we were escorted to our table.
Our server promptly greeted us and asked for our drink orders. When it was time to place our dinner order, as we were torn between a few dishes, we asked for her recommendations.
The first reco was the cheese toast and when dipped into the accompanying tomato bisque, it reminded me of happy childhood dreams. Even though we had asked for no onions, the grilled cheese sandwich was served with them, but somehow we didn’t mind as it gave the toast a bit of a sweet aftertaste. The tomato bisque had little chunks of tomato and was very mildly seasoned.
The next starter was the Brussels sprouts which had a dense center and a silky layer with a smoky, bitter aftertaste, served with slivers of almonds which added a bit of nuttiness to the dish. There was also a hint of citrusy sweetness which softened the bite of the dish.
The next recommendation was the bacon cheeseburger. I opted for a lettuce wrap. The smoked mozzarella was melted onto the medium cooked beef patty which was incredibly juicy and flavorful. The bacon was thick and well done. A small brown bag of uber crispy chips was served alongside the burger and was one of the best iterations of homemade chips I’ve ever tasted at a restaurant.
The third recommendation, which was the best of the bunch, was the ahi tuna dish. It arrived beautifully presented. In the center of the dish were two thick tuna filets which were beautifully pink in the middle and seared on the outside which was evenly coated with sesame seeds. The noodles added a nice soy flavor to the dish as well as a bit of heat. It was a delicious savory dish.
Granville is an elevated casual eatery. As their menu states, “come as you are.” They welcome a very attractive upwardly mobile but understated clientele. If that suits your mood, then we would highly recommend a dining experience for you at Granville. It can’t be beat!!
The newly opened 33 Taps has a very different vibe from its former iteration, City Tavern. Under new owners, the local sports bar offers a wide beer selection and a a small but varied food menu. There are two points of entry into the restaurant, from the back on Washington or from the front, on Culver. Upon entering at 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, the middle section of the bar was packed with 20-30 somethings excitedly and happily chatting with their group of friends. This was a very different vibe from City Tavern which at 5 o’clock had to entice people with a happy hour menu. I noticed that the young crowd favored drinking to eating and the booths were filled with a slightly older crowd enjoying actual meals along with adult beverages. Upon being seated, my husband was asked for a credit card, requested to order everything by scanning the QR code and ordering through the platform. Once ordered, the beverages and food came out quickly.
Our first starter, the Brussels sprouts, had a slightly bitter smoky flavor but were perfectly cooked, not too crispy and not too mushy.
My husband’s chicken burrito arrived with chips and dipping sauces. The chicken burrito was beautifully presented with a nice nice cilantro sauce intermixed.
My lettuce wrap burger had a perfectly cooked beef patty covered by a thick crisp lettuce leaf and adorned with crunchy tater tots. Though the bacon could have been crispier, the mushrooms on top of the patty were plentiful, savory and silky and the Swiss cheese was melted onto the burger which was seasoned to perfection.
I was hesitant as 33 Taps’ menu seemed limited but what we ordered was expertly prepared and presented so no complaints on that front. 33 Taps is walk in only which could become problematic during peak dining times but if they can maintain the level of service from the kitchen staff to the servers, it will be a quick turnaround on orders once seated. We would happily return to this local haunt and are happy they’ve joined the neighborhood!
Reservations at Ann’s Wine Bar had eluded me in our prior visits to the Hollywood Bowl. I somehow missed the window to reserve prior to the event and by the time I figured it out, either they were fully booked or the available times were during the show. By some miracle, I happened to check Open Table five weeks prior to the concert and booked the first available reservation seating. On the day of the event, we arrived at the gate 30 minutes before our reservation. I found out after waiting a bit that the gates were opening at 6 p.m. but nobody would be allowed in prior to that time except the VIP for the separate party next to the entrance. Once we were allowed to enter, we were about 15 minutes late for our reservation and shockingly, upon our arrival, many people were already seated. Luckily, our reservation wasn’t given away or cancelled, and we were seated immediately.
Unbeknownst to me, the entire venue was beer and wine only so I opted for a chilled sauvignon blanc which was actually quite lovely. There was a short wait for starters and sides, but once they were ready, they arrived one right after the other.
The salad was served slightly chilled. The lettuce was fresh and crisp. The grapefruit added a bit of tartness while the avocado gave it a bit of creaminess. The sugar snap peas were added a burst of pop and flavor.
Next up was my husband’s favorite dish. The potatoes were buttery and had a mix of mealiness and silkiness.
Third on the list was the farro which had a nice blend of sweetness from the raisin but also had a bit of heat.
There was an extended delay between the starters and the main entrees so I opted to get in line for the tour merchandise which probably took about 30 minutes to reach the front. As I was walking back up to the restaurant, the entrees were finally served.
The fried chicken was served piping hot at 7:13 pm. It was crispy, savory from the BBQ sauce with a slight tomato creaminess from the dipping sauce.
The sea bass smelled smoky and was lovely and flaky served on a bed of cool julienned strips of carrots, zucchini and beets adding a contrast of texture.
Reserving one of the first seating times was definitely the right way to go because parties lingered at their tables, and we definitely would have missed the opening act of the concert. All in all, despite the staggered service, we had a great experience and would definitely return as the quality of the food was exemplary.
The Reunion at Neuehouse looked and felt like a little jewel box in the midst of the pseudo gentrified, partial homeless encampment area known as Venice Beach. Its location was one of the more polished areas of town, and upon arrival, we asked the doorman where to park and he pointed to the parking lot halfway down the block to the left. I honestly can’t recall if the parking was $20 or $40 as we were running late, and I couldn’t be bothered to look for a “safe” free or inexpensive lot which inevitably would have led to being subjected to the skunk smell of pot or the putrid smell of urine in some seedy alleyway of the city.
Once we entered the building, it felt like we had been transported to a lavish resort in the Mediterranean. Every individual we spoke with was polished and well-mannered. That’s when I remembered the Neuehouse was first and foremost a members only social club, and it definitely showed in the service we received. Even the restroom attendant was beyond apologetic for having to service the restroom while patrons were using the facilities. We were directed to check in with the front desk who escorted us to our outdoor patio table.
We were quite pleased with the clientele as everybody looked established and refined albeit dressed in California casual chic attire. The patio was covered and had heat lamps so we were shielded from the elements which was quite lovely and made for a very comfortable dining experience.
Our server greeted us and took our drink orders which frankly took a bit longer to receive than one would have anticipated and on arrival of my martini, I was disappointed at the diminutive portion I was served, akin to all my drinks in London or in Utah, though I’ve never been to the latter.
Fortunately, the rest of the meal was quite delightful.
The bread basket had an array of various bread options, from a crispy breadstick, pre-buttered and toasted sourdough slices and doughy warm focaccia.
We ordered the organic arugula salad which had a tart, lemony, cheesy layer which balanced out the arugula’s natural bitterness.
The chicken parmesan was served piping hot, lightly breaded with traditional breadcrumbs under a thin layer of tomato based sauce and melted cheese.
Our mushroom pasta was quite savory, earthy with a hint of worcestershire sauce mixed in and sprinkled with cheese.
The potatoes were crisp and cheesy, with a hint of smoke.
Overall, we enjoyed our evening at The Reunion and we would happily return and recommend it to friends. It’s a nice upscale pocket in the heart of an otherwise unsavory part of town.
As many have likely seen by now, there was a scathing review of Jordan Kahn’s newest offering, Meteora. Days before it was published, my husband, sister-in-law and I ran into the two Michelin starred chef at its helm and complimented him on a wonderful experience, thanking his wife for the delectable inspiration of the rice dish on Meteora’s menu.
In researching this particular writer’s past restaurant reviews, featured were casual restaurants with simple offerings which, in comparison to Meteora’s complex menu and earthy decor, is a rapid departure from the writer’s repertoire.
Jordan Kahn stopped by every table, including ours, and explained the ingredients in each of the dishes ordered and why he incorporated them in the dinner set.
Perhaps the writer did not have that benefit during his visit. One needs to have a wide range of culinary experience from extensive travels and have an appreciation and understanding of history, culture and traditions which are all celebrated and highlighted at Meteora.
Was Meteora expensive? Yes. Were unusual and unfamiliar pairings served? Yes. Was there a purpose and message for each of the offerings? Yes.
I have traveled to 31 countries, including 4 trips to the Yucatán Peninsula and sampled a wide range of of dishes at restaurants on every end of the budgetary spectrum. I can wholeheartedly recommend Meteora as a dining experience that should not be missed.
The dishes are beautifully and artfully presented, and the combination of flavors is just exquisite.
Admittedly, Meteora caters to those with cultured, diversified and upscale tastes. It is not for everybody, but if you are looking to experience simple dishes reimagined while sitting within a beautiful Tulum inspired setting, then Meteora should be your next fine dining destination.
Grace Gambin
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