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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
For many years, I had driven by Marty’s Hamburger Stand and had seen the tiny blue stand with people hovering around it, ordering or waiting for their food. A week or so ago, after running a lunchtime errand in the area, I told myself that if I could easily find parking, I would finally stop by and try their burger and fries. Lo and behold, there was a metered parking space right in front! Taking the cue from the universe, I parked and ordered my first meal.
I had a hankering for a double bacon burger lettuce wrap and was torn between tater tots and curly fries. It was a good omen when I was told I could get both. I watched as the burger patties were grilled and as the bag of packaged fresh lettuce wraps were brought from the back of the stand.
Everything came out perfectly. The lettuce was crisp and fresh, the burger patties were juicy and lightly seasoned and the bacon was crispy but not oily.
The tots had a fluffiness and lightness to them while the curly fries were enveloped in a delicious seasoning coating each curl.
It wasn’t the cheapest casual meal but considering the quality, it was totally worth the cost. I can’t believe it’s taken me 20 years to try out Marty’s Hamburger Stand, but if it makes things right, I’ll definitely be coming back for the next 20!
Marty’s Hamburger Stand
10558 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
https://www.restaurantji.com/ca/los-angeles/martys-hamburger-stand-/
I had been to Simpang Asia once before but back then, more than half of the space was a grocery store and a small portion was a restaurant. I don’t recall what I ate, but I was not very well versed in southeast Asian cuisine at the time. Now that we have traveled to various parts of Asia, our palates have been sufficiently educated to appreciate the variety of food that Simpang Asia had to offer. Full disclaimer: we did not realize how large the portions were so we took all the entrees home after eating a few bites.
For starters, we ordered the roti paratha. There were four servings of a delicious, crispy, flaky wrapped bread roll which came with a savory chicken curry dipping sauce.
We also ordered the lemper which were sticky coconut rice rolls wrapped around tender juicy shreds of chicken.
The soto ayam arrived next which was a chicken turmeric soup with noodles, soft boiled eggs, cabbage and bean sprouts. The broth had a a bit of an oily layer on the surface indicating that it had been cooking with the various ingredients for a long period of time.
Next was the seafood laksa soup which was a curry broth with noodles, shrimp, squid, fish cake, boiled egg and bean sprouts. It had a creaminess to it with a bit of heat, tempered by a hint of lemon.
We followed that with the nasi goreng with salted fish. The rice dish was exquisite as teeny bits of the fish were interspersed throughout and the fried egg on top helped to subdue the intense flavor. We also ordered a savory chicken skewer with the dish.
The nasi mantep, a combination platter of chicken curry, egg curry, beef chili, kale curry and green chili relish was served next. The chicken was so incredibly tender, the meat practically fell off the bone.
Last to arrive was one of their seasonal specials, the ayam goreng kremes, an Indonesian fried chicken with rice, vegetables, tofu and tempeh. Simpang Asia’s version was surprisingly light and had a layer of crunchy tempura flake batter giving it a doubly crispy texture.
I was quite pleased at how each dish was executed and the service was exemplary. As the evening went on, the restaurant continued to fill up with predominantly Asian customers which was a true sign of an Asian restaurant’s legitimacy. We thoroughly enjoyed our feast from the “southeast” and have every intention of sampling more of Simpang Asia’s other offerings.
Simpang Asia
10433 National Blvd, #2
Los Angeles, CA 90034
http://simpangasia.com
As I’m prone to do on weekends for lunch, I explore and sample different ethnic restaurants that are in close proximity to home. I initially looked for Turkish or Persian food after discovering that Shawarma Land in front of the Turkish grocery had been replaced by a not-yet-opened Hot Nashville Chicken Restaurant. Nothing struck my fancy so I researched the adjoining restaurants to the unopened space.
I had passed by Coppelia’s several times on my previous jaunts to Shawarma Land and recalled that their breakfasts and Lomo Saltado looked interesting. Surprisingly, Coppelia’s has a much more vibrant interior than its previous neighbor. The walls are painted in mustard and pumpkin hues with framed artwork and photos of what I can only assume is a representation of Peruvian towns and life in Peru. The fans seem to cool the space quite a bit so it’s very comfortable dining in as opposed to necessitating takeout.
Fernando quickly greeted me with a menu after I seated myself. I ordered the half Peruvian rotisserie chicken with crispy fries and black beans. It took about ten minutes or so before I received my entree. It was piping hot. I started with the thigh as all foodies do because if that’s not tender and moist, all hope is lost for the white meat portion of the chicken.
It did not disappoint. The meat practically fell off the bone. The chicken had a unique tangy marinade mixed with black pepper and a hint of citrus. The skin was slightly crispy and savory. Surprisingly, the breast was equally tender though obviously not as moist since it’s a leaner and denser part of the chicken. The beans and rice combo seems like it would have been better suited for the roast chicken rather than the fries that I ordered but I still enjoyed them.
All in all, for the amount of food, it’s definitely a good value. I’ve eaten at other Peruvian restaurants like El Pollo Inka and Lonzo’s Restaurant as well as a few other Peruvian pop-ups at Farmers Markets. What I’ve discovered is they each offer a unique take on the cuisine. Coppelia’s rotisserie chicken is quite delicious so I will definitely be back to sample more from their menu. Stay tuned!!
Coppelia’s Bakery & Cafe
10825 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
http://www.coppeliasbakery.club/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=Coppelias%20Bakery%20&%20Restaurant&utm_term=5c991267eea1da0001a9301a
If Barbara Jean was a real woman, she would be saucy, a bit edgy and complex but composed and well put together. Chef Jason Fullilove offered a bit of sassy mixed with a flavor explosion of sumptuous goodness.
We started off with the chicken and egg salad which was a ying and yang of crisp fresh shaved cabbage contrasted with the chewy cranberry and the moist shredded chicken. It had a light citrusy dressing which was perfect for the mixed textures of the dish.
The buttermilk biscuits were dense, a bit gritty and grainy but combined with the sweet warm honey and the softened butter they whisked you back to home, to your childhood at your mom’s kitchen after she had given you a pat on the back for a job well done at school.
After that “Ratatouille” moment, our experience was followed with the orecchiette pasta which had a tart but tasty tomato emulsion at the base of the plate giving it another layer of flavor on top of the already delicious combo of mushrooms, peas and pecorino. It was an Italian Mother’s dream.
In direct contrast was the shrimp and grits which is what I imagine southern dreams are made of because the shrimp were quite large, sweet on the outside but juicy and tangy in the inside. The grits were perfectly cooked and subtly flavored.
My favorite part of the meal, the star of the show, was the fried chicken. As my husband said, it was far superior to Honey’s Kettle which is mass produced. Clearly, these are fighting words but I would have to second his opinion. It was evident that great care and respect was paid to memorialize what fried chicken should taste like. The batter and the skin were light, crispy and seasoned with herbs which were visible with each bite. The meat was ridiculously tender and juicy. I was in fried chicken heaven. If I could choose my last meal, the fried chicken by Chef Jason Fullilove would be it.
Not to be outdone by this 5 Star meal at a 2 Star location was the dessert which had a bit of cream cheese frosting combined with a bit of fruit bread and sweet nut layers mixed into each bite.
Everybody should sprint through the door at this new Culver City eats because it’s ridiculously delicious, inexpensive considering the quality of the food and Chef Jason Fullilove is an absolute dream, so talented, cool and collected. We are so happy Barbara Jean moved into town and hope that Chef Jason will want to make Culver City his home.
Madly in love with @barbarajeaneats and @cheffullilove! The BEST food and chef in Culver City!! A 5 star foodie experience for 2 star price!!
Barbara Jean,
4114 Sepulveda Blvd, Ste E
Culver City, CA 90230
Grace Gambin
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