New to LA - Need Good California cuisine $15-$20 dinner preferably LA/Santa Monica areas

[TAJ]

Simple, fresh recipes done in new ways. The cost is an issue. Californian cusisine can mean anything I'm sure.

[superfly]

I like Urth Caffe (Melrose/Robertson) and M. Cafe de Chaya (Melrose/La Brea).

M. Cafe de Chaya is extremely healthy and not for everyone... some of my friends say its too healthy, but I like it.

Urth has healthy, fresh, delicious California-ish sandwiches and salads. Its a nice place to sit on a warm day and people watch.

[Will Owen]

Second City Bistro in El Segundo has made me happy a couple of times. Mostly pretty simple food, including one of those How-the-hell-do-I-eat-THIS? four-inch-thickburgers that is very beefy and good, if you don't drop it into your lap. Awfully good salads, including one with a blueberry dressing that tastes a whole lot better than you'd ever expect. You can certainly spend over $20 if you want to, but we got out for under $15, with tip, but no wine. Pretty place, great service.

[SauceSupreme]

I always thought that if Second City were in Old Pas, it would absolutely kill. As it stands, it seems really oddly placed there on Richmond in El Segundo, though my favorite place there in "The Gundo" is the Richmond Street Bar and Grill.

[Will Owen]

If it were down in Old Town it would almost certainly become yet another hangout for the too young/too rich/too bored...too bad. It seems to be prospering in El Segundo. I'd rather have it the way it is and an hour away than just down the street truckling to Old Town yuppoids.

[ElissaInPlaya]

Food is really good; but menu doesn't change that often. Real secrets are: 15% discount with your KCRW card, and free corkage on your first bottle of wine. A nice dinner for two often runs about $50.

[drfilm]

Axe, (pronounced Ahh-Chay for newbies) on Abott Kinney Blvd, in Venice. Unconventional, always interesting, substantial meals, under $20.

[mollyomormon]

I don't think I've ever gotten out of Axe that cheaply. Also, warning that it gets extremely loud in there and the chairs make for painful sitting.

[donnival]

This request just SCREAMS Nook Bistro.

http://www.nookbistro.com

JH

[wilafur]

bah da bing! i whole-heartedly concur.

[yoyoma25]

violet

3221 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405
[phone]

if you dont drink you can get outta there at under 20 a head.

[Ernie]

You will be starving too because that will get you about 2 very small servings of food if you are lucky.