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!
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!
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.
In my quest to find reasonably priced Vietnamese food on the Westside and in preparation for my upcoming trip to Vietnam, I researched nearby restaurants and came upon Pho Fever Bistro on Yelp. It’s located in a very small strip mall on the corner of Pico and Barrington. It shares the mall with an Indian restaurant and a Subway. There are a handful of parking spaces. Fortunately, there are also plenty of free and metered street parking in close proximity.
The restaurant is quite narrow but deep. There’s a television at the front and lively music playing on their sound system. A few tables were occupied but there was plenty of seating.
I ordered L9, a charbroiled pork and egg roll vermicelli bowl, from their lunch menu which came with a complimentary beverage for dine-in customers. Within five minutes the food arrived.
I could smell hints of smokiness rising from the bowl. The pieces of pork had a slightly charred sweet flavor, reminiscent of the flavor in BBQ pork fried rice. Each strip had a bit of marbling like in slices of bacon but because the pieces were thicker, the pork was a bit chewy. However, the shreds of lettuce, cucumber and carrots tasted fresh and crisp. The lunch special also came with a spring roll. It was crispy and light and added another layer of texture to the bowl.
All in all, it was a very pleasant and enjoyable experience. I can’t vouch for the authenticity of the pork marinade as I haven’t visited Vietnam yet, but I do get the sense that the coloring of the pork might be brighter than normal and it might be a tad sweeter. However, Pho Fever Bistro is a great place to have a quick and inexpensive lunch on the Westside with a casual dine-in experience.
Pho Fever Bistro
2405 S. Barrington Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90064
https://www.phoeversawtelle.com/
When I worked at Trailer Park, the company participated in a subsidized lunch program for its employees with Eat Club. When Phorage was an option, I quickly and eagerly placed my lunch order and waited with great anticipation until the day arrived when I would finally be able to taste the tasty morsels that came in the special Eat Club package with my name on it.
It’s been a few years since my time at Trailer Park and since my last in-person meal at Phorage. As I’m currently on a Vietnamese bun kick due to our upcoming trip to Vietnam, I decided to place an order for lunch pickup.
I’m sad to say that the flavor of the food has declined since my last visit. I ordered the grilled chicken with imperial roll and vermicelli noodles. I can understand that the egg roll would have lost its crispy texture during the car ride back to work. However, the flavor of the chicken was disappointedly lackluster. From what I recall, a prior iteration of this dish had a citrusy, lemongrass flavor marinaded into the chicken. That’s what gave it a more authentic Vietnamese flavor. Now it’s just grilled chicken on a bed of vermicelli noodles, shredded carrots, lettuce and bean sprouts with a side of very mild sweet & sour sauce sprinkled with a dash of fish sauce.
What I always fear with Asian restaurants is how the quality and flavor of their food diminish and decline over time, as a cost saving measure or perhaps under pressure to Americanize their dishes. I haven’t followed Phorage so I don’t know if they have a different chef or are under new management.
I was so hopeful that it would be my go-to for my Vietnamese fix on the Westside but alas, so far, Saigon Dish in Lawndale has checked off most of the boxes on what an authentic bun ga nuong should taste like. Guess a trek to South Bay is still closer and cheaper than a trip to Vietnam.
Phorage
3300 Overland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
http://phoragela.com/
1) Best fast food: Tito’s Tacos has been my go-to since 2000. It’s been open much longer than that but I hadn’t been introduced to it despite living in the neighborhood for 10 years prior. They offer tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tamales, tostadas and chili beans and chili con carne but my go-to are 3 tacos, no cheese, with a small guac. It’s the perfect cure for a hangover but it’s also a substantial enough serving and as of today, it’s $10.80 “all in.” It comes with a whole box of chips and salsa. The beef, more often than not, is tender and juicy and clearly previously marinaded before cooking. My only complaint is I wish there was more meat in the tacos. The taco shells are pre-loaded with the beef upon ordering and the remainder of the shells are filled in with lettuce for my orders. The guacamole isn’t too thick nor is it too runny. As Goldilocks would say, it’s just right. Getting there and beating the line is the challenge as the lines sometimes wrap and wind around. I think I’ve figured it out but I’m keeping those off-times secret and to myself so I can indulge in this treat at my leisure.
Tito’s Tacos
11222 Washington Place
Culver City, CA 90230
2) Best takeout: Shawarma Land is a new find for me, courtesy of the filter option on the Yelp app. I type in “cheap eats” and see what comes up and I head off to sample their offerings. This one, I have to say, is a very pleasant surprise. I have a very detailed review of it in the Local Eats section of my blog, but the quality and flavor of the food is consistent and it’s not overly oily like other similar cuisines. As I mentioned in my review, for a shawarma platter, its $12.06 with tax and it feeds 2 people so it’s $6.03/person. Such a delicious deal!
Shawarma Land
10821 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
3) Best restaurant for delivery on a Friday night: Thai Original BBQ was introduced to me by my dad when I was a kid. A waiter from the now-defunct Universal City location had hit his car and offered to pay him for the damages and treat him to lunch. He brought me with him and I’ve been in love with their food ever since. There was another Thai restaurant in Culver City that has since closed but when this location opened, I pretty much made it my mission to eat there or have their food delivered as often and as regularly as possible. Our usual delivery order is the S-1 which is a half BBQ chicken and fried rice, S-12 which is the teriyaki salmon steak, fried rice and broccoli, chicken sate appetizer which are grilled chicken skewers that comes with a peanut sauce, yellow curry with chicken which is in a coconut curry with chunks of potatoes and recently we changed up our noodle order to phase see-ew which are flat rice noodles, egg, broccoli high we order with chicken. The latter is not overly sauced but the flavors are embedded in the noodles which rounds out the dinner selection. We also get an extra side of the fried rice because it’s so addictive. Our total is typically around $68-$69 and with tip, it’s $82. For $41/person, you get dinner, next day’s lunch and possibly an afternoon snack. The volume and quality of the food is unparalleled. We have ordered from many restaurants in the area since moving to Culver City in 2005 and none of them can compare.
Thai Original BBQ
10036 Venice Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
http://www.thaibbqculvercity.com
4) Best Happy Hour: Ruth’s Chris is hands down the best of the best. Everything on their Swizzle Hour Menu is $9. Happy hour is Monday to Friday from 4-6:30 p.m. On the rare Friday night that both my husband and I are freed up by 5:30, we run over and put our name on the wait list hoping for a table or 2 seats at the bar to open up so we can enjoy a nice inexpensive dinner with nice surroundings. Our usual go-tos are either the pomegranate or Cosmo martinis, the seared ahi tuna, spicy shrimp, roasted artisan chicken sandwich with salad for my husband and the steak sandwich, no bread, with crispy fries for me. That’s $54 and with tax and tip, it’s around $72 so that’s roughly $36/person for a nice steakhouse dinner experience with drinks.
Ruth’s Chris
13455 Maxella Avenue, #230
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
5) Best sushi and sashimi restaurant: No restaurants on the Westside can compare to the quality and value of the sushi and sashimi at Sakura. They don’t have a website. It’s all word of mouth which is how we found out about this almost hole in the wall restaurant on Centinela, in between Culver and Washington. Our orders vary but with sake and beer, our per person average rate with tax and tip is about $36-$40. My order typically includes tuna sashimi with grilled salmon. My husband usually orders a 12 piece sushi assortment, a California roll, a spicy tuna roll, and a nabeyaki udon with shrimp tempura. Nowhere in LA can you order all that food and get away with paying anything less than $60-$80/person. Hands down, Sakura is one of our favorites.
Sakura
4545 S. Centinela Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Grace Gambin
You must be logged in to post a comment.