It had been a while since we visited The Culver Hotel. Previously, we had been to their upstairs bar for drinks, enjoyed their happy hour with friends and late last year, we celebrated my company holiday lunch in one of their private banquet. The food was always quite good and the architecture and decor definitely hearkened a nostalgic era from the past.
Then the pandemic struck and they ceased all operations. Culver Hotel was closed for a significant amount of time, and I was concerned it might not ever reopen like so many other businesses.
Fortunately, they had the means to pivot and revamp their dining area as well as their menu. They created a beautiful outdoor oasis with potted flowers and plants as well as a mix of eclectic outdoor seating options ranging from garden benches, wrought iron tables and chairs, bar top tables and even a few outdoor living room seating arrangements. It was quite charming and provided a casual chic vibe.
Our server Austin was busy initially, but once he was freed up to help us, the food and drinks came out fairly quickly.
The honey nut squash risotto arrived first. It was quite savory with a light nutty herbal flavor. My husband requested the addition of chicken which they were able to accommodate, and it added a bit more substance to the dish.
Austin had recommended the oxtail and truffle fries for this meat and potato girl, and I am so grateful he did. The meat was tender and moist and packed full of flavor, and the fries had a textured coating and were perfectly light and crispy.
For dessert, we ordered the bread pudding which came with vanilla ice cream on top. The cast iron bread pudding arrived piping hot. It had a slight citrusy custards flavor but was not overwhelmingly sweet and combined with the ice cream, it was truly the icing on our delectable dinner experience.
There are very few restaurants where we can say that the food and the service combined with the ambiance hit every note and we are fortunately able to say that of the newly opened Le Jardin. For $100, we were able to experience a top notch meal in a beautiful, serene and historic location. Le Jardin is truly a neighborhood gem.
Le Jardin
9400 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230
Bar & Dining
I have been to Fig many times over the past few years for work functions and parties held at their venue. The food was always exemplary and I expected the same from our outing for their Poolside Cinema events. Sadly, my recent experience was quite the opposite. Service was a bit slow which was understandable as I believe the pool area only had one server attending to all the customers. The alcoholic drinks were very meager in portion. What was worse than the light pour was the quality of the food.
To say that the $29 foraged mushroom pizza tasted like cardboard with arugula on it would be an understatement and kind.
I’m a french fry connoisseur but the $14 plate of supposed rosemary fries resulted in only 3 fries being eaten from the batch. It was as if potatoes were cut and fried but the kitchen forgot to season it.
The $28 rockfish was barely passable as the fish was tender but the fish, squash, eggplant and peppers had no distinguishing flavors.
The only saving grace was the $26 cacio e pepe. It’s as if it was cooked in a different kitchen than the prior three orders. The pasta was perfectly cooked, al dente. The cheese packed a punch of flavor and the black pepper added a bit of heat to the dish. If we were ever to return, we would likely order just that dish, which would satisfy the $25 minimum.
I honestly am appalled by what Fig was allowed to serve us. I asked the family who sat in front of us, and they thought everything they ate was horrible as well and they ordered other items from the menu. I cannot ever recommend Fig to my friends or even to my worst enemy. It’s a hard pass on their food and drinks on a go forward basis.
Fig Restaurant
101 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
I’m always looking for restaurants to visit and help economically during these challenging times so we headed to Joe’s Crab Shack as its outdoor patio finally reopened. We had 5 p.m. Open Table reservations but waited 30 minutes and later saw on my email that my reservation was cancelled at 5:57 p.m. after we were seated.
On arrival, we noticed that the host and manager weren’t keeping track of who had reservations and who placed their names on the waitlist. One woman who had reservations had been waiting over an hour and had not been called to be seated.
After nudging, we were finally seated at our table of choice. We were initially led to a table that wasn’t next to the marina so we requested to sit at one which had recently been vacated. We watched as the busboy slowly cleaned off the table. It took at least a good 5-8 minutes, demonstrating he had no sense of urgency despite a huge line of people outside waiting.
Once we were seated, there was some confusion as to who was serving us. Initially, we were approached by Stephanie who took our drink order. Then we were approached by Troy who said he was our server.
Once Stephanie was identified as our actual server, we ordered a cup of each of the clam chowder and seafood gumbo. Between the two, the chowder was the clear winner. It was creamy, thick and flavorful. The gumbo had a nice savory flavor, but it was more of a broth and not as rich, complex or dense like the chowder.
After 19 minutes, my husband’s entree of red fish arrived. I was given a plate which was not my order. I sent it back untouched. I had asked for the shrimp sample which included 6 breaded shrimp, shrimp scampi, grilled shrimp skewers, seasonal vegetables and crispy French fries substituted by me for the rice. I was initially served the shrimp trio which was a plate of crispy, coconut and fried shrimp as well as fries. It was a plate of artery clogging fried food.
When my real order arrived, the crispy fries were missing and some stale, crunchy, undercooked rice was on my plate.
When I requested the correct substitution, the runner assigned to our table brought cold, stale fries. Stephanie made it right by bringing piping hot, crispy fries.
For the sake of clarity, our actual server, Stephanie, was super helpful. However, the rest of the service staff needs help and perhaps a tutorial. The hostess stand needs at least 2 other people on busy weekend evenings. They should be trained to understand that reservations should take precedence over walk-ins. The phone should never ring 10-20 times without somebody picking up. There should be sufficient and well-trained busboys and runners who know what orders belong to which tables for the outdoor patio and adjoining tent.
Also, the bartender should be well-versed in the drink lingo and understand that a martini “up” no vermouth with a lemon twist is a martini not a 2 ounce glass of no ice room temperature vodka. We want to be helpful and eat at local restaurants to help them stay in business but the upcharge of the alcohol is nearly criminal (see receipt) and the staff needs to be replaced or be admonished for their failings.
We are very fond of Stephanie and the cooks did a nice job on our dinner, but the host, manager, bartender and singular busboy have all failed to meet the expectations of a $110 meal. I doubt we’ll be returning though the view from the outdoor patio was quite pretty. However, the overall service and value of the restaurant aren’t compelling enough to make the investment in time and money. The receipt didn’t even have our correct server’s name. This restaurant gets an F in my book.
Public School opened in Culver City in 2012 and is one of the popular gastropubs in the city attracting visitors near and far.
For our dinner selection, we had both the recess happy hour and DineLA’s restaurant week dinner menu.
We started off our evening with our favorite beverages, a Moscow mule for Troy and a vodka martini for me.
The first of our dishes to arrive were the savory bacon cheddar tots that we all wish had been served at our elementary school cafeteria.
The crispy naked chicken wings arrived shortly thereafter. They were perfectly cooked, moist and lightly seasoned, served with a side of blue cheese and super spicy buffalo sauce.
Next on deck was the decadent chorizo mac and cheese sprinkled with bits of salt & vinegar potato chips, kale and mornay sauce.
We also also ordered the Brussels sprouts which were served with a bit of kimchi and slivers of bacon intermixed with a citrus gremolata.
For our main entrees, we ordered the Moroccan harissa salmon which was plated with cannelloni beans, zucchini, kale and roasted tomatoes, one of our favorites on the menu.
I ordered the steak frites, which was a grilled flat iron steak, served with charred green onion chimichurri, truffle aioli and Parmesan truffle fries.
For dessert, we were served warm, crispy churros with spiced chocolate sauce drizzled on top and filled in the middle which oozed out with every bite.
Our other dessert was the vanilla cheesecake with macerated strawberries and whipped cream. It was perfect, not too sweet, not too dense, a great way to end a fantastic meal.
A toast to Public School for their delicious food and fantastic service. Until next time!
Public School 310
9411 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
PS310
Mark Tripp and I both worked together at an ad agency in Santa Monica up until a year ago. I remember my coworkers eagerly awaiting the emails from him inviting us to his grill on the third floor for some good eating, ranging from breakfasts and tacos to burgers and dessert. He was what I considered an integral part of that agency’s DNA.
Though we have both moved on from that world, coming across his stand today was a reminder of how much I enjoyed his food. I ordered a double cheeseburger with no bun and got a bag of chips. My double cheeseburger patties were as juicy, flavorful and perfectly seasoned as I remembered them to be. I could have easily eaten four patties.
Having read some of the reviews, I am aware of the comments about the price. I have firsthand knowledge on the quality and diversity of food Mark is capable of cooking and though we didn’t discuss what his future culinary plans are, it’s quite possible that the burger component will only be a part of what’s yet to come. There are very few times I have some insight to the back story of how a cook or chef got his or her start, and with that in mind, I have complete faith that Mark will continue to grow, evolve and surprise us.
https://www.trippburgers.com
The Auld Fella opened a few months back but we couldn’t quite make it in until the Monday of Presidents Day weekend and we are so glad we decided to visit and almost regret not frequenting the pub sooner!
We came specifically for Happy Hour as we weren’t quite sure if we wanted to commit to a full dinner just yet.
I started with a vodka martini and my husband had a draft beer recommended by our fantastic server, Matt.
We started with the cheesie toast with turkey and crispy fries with curry dip. The table next to us saw the order arrive and was inspired to order exactly the same thing. The bread was crispy and the cheese melted into the turkey. When dipped into the curry sauce which came with the mealy crispy fries, the combination of flavors and textures were heavenly. I’m not quite sure if Indian immigrants migrated to Ireland but it was definitely a unique and appropriate partnering of flavors. This platter was seriously the best thing we ate though everything else was fantastic.
Next up were the sausage rolls. They had a light outer flakey crust which were tightly wrapped around the sausage which were quite savory and juicy and provided the perfect contrast.
Our next pairing was the macaroni and cheese and grilled organic jidori chicken breast strips with came with an aioli sauce. Both were quite good as well. The pasta dish was dense and gooey and the grilled chicken was surprisingly moist and tasty despite it being the leanest part of the chicken.
Last to arrive was the tomato gazpacho which was served warm. It was quite thick, savory and rich. It may have been better served with the first pairing of dishes but nonetheless, it was delicious and definitely rounded out the meal.
Overall, simply based on happy hour and the fantastic service, we would have no hesitation returning and indulging in their dinner offerings. The restaurant is quite intimate, with only a few tables inside and a handful of tables at their outdoor patio. It definitely has the vibe of an Irish pub and will be one of our regular haunts in our hometown of Culver City.
The Auld Fella
9375 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
https://www.theauldfella.com
I came across My Lai on Yelp which appeared to have just opened as it only had eight reviews, all 5 stars. It’s located across the street from Mar Vista on Venice around the corner from Little Fatty and Rasselbock.
As one of the reviews previously mentioned, it has a Chipotle vibe where you can create your own bowl or order one of their specialities.
I was immediately drawn to the garlic fried rice which I paired with grilled chicken, cilantro, sliced cucumber, sesame medley, crispy garlic and miso sesame sauce. The chicken was moist and tender with a bit of char, and the cucumber added a bit of freshness and lightness while the cilantro added a layer of earthiness to the dish. The miso sesame sauce was light and tangy, and the crispy garlic added texture and bite, but the star of the dish was the garlic fried rice which appeared to have been cooked in a savory chicken broth or stock resulting in a glutinous sticky rice.
The rice was reminiscent of what is traditionally served in Filipino restaurants but more potent and richer in flavor. Though the bowl I ordered was not an authentic Vietnamese dish, it was quite enjoyable.
The restaurant is quite clean and modern with both an indoor and fairly decent sized outdoor space for dining. It would be very easy to have a quick, easy and healthy meal here or spend an hour or two lounging on the patio with friends. This new find is a solid winner!
My Lai
12222 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
https://www.mylaikitchen.com
I had first read about Sushi Beluga on one of my Yelp searches for new and noteworthy restaurants in the area. Since I had the day off, I decided to give them a try on MLK, Jr. Day.
I checked their opening time which was 11:00 a.m. and headed down to Playa. I arrived around 11:26 a.m. and saw the sign by the door that their soft open business hours were not as advertised, but they were set to open in 4 minutes so I decided to wait it out in my car until 11:30 a.m. and was the first customer through the door.
My server was absolutely lovely and welcoming. She explained that they had only been open only a month and a half and not all the items on the menu were available yet. She went page by page and identified those selections and mentioned that they expect to have the full menu available and be fully operational by the end of January or beginning of February.
I ordered the salmon sample which had 5 pieces of salmon for $15.95. For those doing the math, each piece cost $3.19. It was definitely not a cheap plate, but I was hopeful that the 5 star reviews on Yelp were on point.
I was sold on my first bite of the aburi miso salmon. It was tangy, complex with varying layers of flavors. The salmon tasted like it had hints of mirin, soy, sesame oil and citrus. It turned out to be my favorite on the plate.
That first bite set the stage for the rest. Next was the salmon with yuzu which had a smoky, citrus flavor. The third sample was the salmon truffle which was a bit oilier than the first two and had a slightly earthier aftertaste.
The next two samples were both king salmon as the restaurant was out of ocean trout. The texture of the king salmon was akin to the butteriness of the sashimi I had at Sushi Katsura which was located a couple hundred meters from the famous Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. King salmon #1 was Rey light, citrusy and quite refreshing while king salmon #2 had a bit of crunch and a slight tartness which tasted a bit like mango salsa on top contrasted by the salmon which had a more subdued flavor.
I didn’t believe I would ever taste quality even remotely close to what I indulged in during my visit to Tokyo in 2018 but at long last, I think I found a restaurant that is a much closer than Tokyo and likely a less expensive substitute.
Sushi Beluga is not your cheapest fare but the quality of the food they serve demands a slight upmarket price. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and having been spoiled with the freshness and exemplary cuts of fresh fish in Tokyo, I can wholeheartedly recommend Sushi Beluga as my new local go-to sashimi, sushi and nigiri spot in Playa Del Rey.
Sushi Beluga 207 Culver Blvd. Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 https://www.sushibelugaca.com
Many moons ago, the Manchester was the local Loyola Marymount haunt, the Fireside. It’s where fake ID’s were honored and where staggering drunkards whittled their time away. Since then, the location has been reinvented into a few other iterations, but it wasn’t until it morphed into The Manchester that I finally decided to return. Long gone are the dark, dank walls where I walked between for my 21st birthday and was nearly forced to drink a disgusting shot of Jagermeister. What emerged was a contemporary, dimly lit, very popular spot with the locals and millennials alike.
Fortunately, I was able to get a last minute dinner reservation on Resy on a Friday night. When we came in, the place was packed. We were a few minutes early so we had an opportunity to look around. The space is not that large, but it didn’t feel oppressive. It took a few minutes for our table to become available but once that freed up, we were taken care of the rest of the evening.
Fernando, one of the owners, had set us up with our cocktails before our table was ready, which arrived just as soon as we were being whisked to our table.
After reviewing the menu, we opted for the burger and fries to start and the chicken and salmon from the large entree menu. Our appetizer was quite savory.
The burger patty was slightly salty and the meat was fairly tender. The fries were crispy, per my request and the aioli dip hit the spot.
Our entrees also were quite good. The salmon was moist and flaky. The accompanying vegetables, the eggplant and baby bok choy, were lightly seasoned and perfectly cooked.
The chicken had a surprisingly crispy skin and moist, tender meat with a savory and a slightly crispy broccolini as its accompaniment.
We ended our meal with a very chocolatey pot de creme. It was quite creamy and could possibly cause one to stay up all night.
All in all, the food and service were quite good. Truth be told though, the prices were high for what we ordered. I’ve eaten at other restaurants like Prospect Gourmand on La Cienega or Lunetta All Day on Pico where comparable entrees are closer to the $18-$22 range so we felt the prices were a bit inflated. Other than that, the service, ambiance, vibe and the food were quite enjoyable. Though we would likely not return as there are better values for the experience, the Manchester would definitely be one to try.
The Manchester
8522 Lincoln Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
https://themanchester.la
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Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, the links provided below provide a referral fee for any qualifying purchases you make.
I first heard about the opening of Coast on Eater LA. The week it opened, however, there weren’t very many details online or on social media.
Luckily, by the time the date of our reservation arrived, photos of a few of the dishes and the menu were posted on Yelp.
The restaurant was intimate with a relaxed, casual beach vibe. Lighting was on the dim side but bright enough to see comfortably within the space.
We had an eager and enthusiastic server named Walter who made our dinner experience seamless.
My husband and I started with a Japanese inspired seaweed salad which came with avocado, shiso, umeboshi and tagarashi. It had a sesame dressing and was quite tangy and crispy.
We also ordered the meatballs with polenta and mashed potatoes. The meatballs were moist and savory but the polenta stole the meatballs’ thunder. It was unbelievably rich and buttery. I could have eaten a plate of it by itself.
Dueling the polenta for decadence was the bowl of silky mashed potatoes. Both were incredible and truth be told, right as the busboy was removing the bowl from the table, I quickly grabbed the spoon and licked off the last bite.
At the other end of the table, our friends Sarah and Susannah ordered the octopus which had a slightly crispy exterior. The meat was not chewy like it ordinarily would be as it was tenderized by the preserved lemon, giving it a slightly citrusy flavor.
It also had a bit of heat from the harissa which was tempered with a few cubes of sweet potato. They found that dish to be absolutely divine and would highly recommend to those who don’t mind seeing the octopus in its full glory.
For dinner, I ordered the rockfish which came in a brown butter ponzu sauce and my husband ordered the mushroom risotto with arugula and mascarpone.
Of the two, my husband’s dish was better. It was mealy with a hint of cheese. His only complaint was the portion size. My rockfish had a slightly crispy outer layer and was quite tender but it lacked any sort of distinct flavor.
I also ordered a side of crispy fries which was deliciously crisp and piping hot.
Our friend Barbara ordered the wagyu sirloin which we sampled. The sliver of beef was incredibly lean and tender but apparently some of the pieces she ate were tough and marbly so there was some inconsistency on the quality and cut.
Susannah ordered the old school sand dabs which she found to be quite enjoyable and would likely order again. Of all the dishes, she had the biggest portion served for her entree.
In direct contrast was our friend Sarah’s entree, the shrimps “a la plancha,” which came with 6 small shrimps on the plate. They were fine but not exceptional and the portion was quite minuscule, closer in size to an appetizer.
Last to arrive was what I called Christmas on a plate. It was beautifully plated with pomegranate seeds encircling the butternut squash. The combination of the sweet and sour juices bursting from the plump pomegranate and blending together with the natural subtle sweetness of the squash created a unique and divine flavor explosion.
In sum, the octopus, meatballs with polenta, mashed potatoes, fries and butternut squash were our top shareable choices.
We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and would recommend for adventurous eaters.
I think as the menu evolves, Coast will definitely be one to watch and visit again with our foodie friends. Based on the items we ordered, the courses had a hint of Japanese, a bit of Italian and a nod to classic American cuisine. The restaurant needs a bit more time to find its true identity and hone in on what it does best. In my humble opinion, the Italian fare was the most flavorful and satisfying so perhaps a menu that incorporates specialties from the Amalfi “Coast” might be best suited for this restaurant by the coast.
Coast
1017 Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Grace Gambin
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