3-hour layover at LAX

[Cubancoffee]

A friend is coming thru LAX tomorrow afternoon. I'd like to treat him to lunch and a beer off the premises. Any recs for a place that might have some LA charm near enough to the airport that we won't get nervous about getting him back in time to catch his connecting flight?

[soulimar]

Does anyone know how the food is at The Encounter in LAX parking lot? If it's good, that might be a fun and less risky option, time wise.

http://www.encounterlax.com/index.html

[Servorg]

Is it open yet? It was closed for repairs after some cement panels fell off of the outside of the building a couple of months ago.

[PommeDeGuerre]

Encounter is closed due to construction, but the food there has been pretty good.

http://www.encounterlax.com/encounter...

[bulavinaka]

If you're considering Playa del Rey, I might as well throw in The Shack for beer and a heavy duty burger by the beach... The Shack looks like a dive by the beach, which it is, and their Shack burger is not for the meek - they lay a grilled Louisiana hot link on top of the charred burger patty which in combination with a couple of beers will easily cover a conversation between the two of you...

[logan]

there's a bar in playa del rey, i can't remember the name of it - but it's a ranch style building. nice atmosphere, very laid back, nice ocean air, decent food. crab legs seemed to be a big deal, lotta people were eating that. good beers, stella on tap.

[katie.did]

Paco's Tacos is on Manchester, just right off Sepulveda.

There is also this amazing little sushi place down on Lincoln & Manchester called Kanpai. I would definately suggest this over Kabuki.

[Jeryy]

George Petralli's steakhouse on Sepulveda - five minutes north of Lax on Sepulveda. I would also second Porky's.

[peterboy]

What about Cantalini's Salerno Beach in Playa Del Rey? It's on Culver. Quite tasty and nearby.....just go west on imperial--105 and turn north along the coast. You run right into it before you have to turn back east at Culver.

[westsidegal]

must disagree about cantalini's.
imho, the only good menu item is their spumoni.

[nosh]

If his plane is on time pick him up and head due east on Manchester through Inglewood for about 8-10 minutes. After La Brea but before Prairie (before the Forum and racetrack) on the north side is Porky's. One pulled pork sandwich between the two of you will be more than enough food, and its luscious tender richness with crackly crust will make you both swoon. What the heck, add some ribs or some Golden Bird fried chicken and have a party! You will be there, in and out, and back well before you can negotiate a nearer hotel and serviced meal.

[keaton]

It's been said before but bears repeating---4 Points Sheraton at LAX has a wonderful beer menu and better than decent food. They have shuttles and even free parking.

[BShoemaker]

Lido's in Manhattan Beach is never crowded and they are pretty close to the airport off Rosecrans. They have a great tortellini pasta salad that I love! They have a full bar as well and you can hear each other talk! Yummy warm bread to dip in oil...ask for garlic as well.

[Emme]

Lunch could definitely be covered at Pann's, or Derrick's though that's Jamaican and not LA per se. Closeby also are Dinah's, Siam and Alejo's.

Are The Shack, Uncle Darrow's, Aunt Kizzy's too far?

[truefoodie]

Cheesecake Factory in the Marina might be a good call.

[Servorg]

That might be cutting it really tight in making the next flight, (not knowing what security lines will be like).

[westsidegal]

depending on the time of day/night, it could take over an hour just to get a table at cheesecake factory.
as i recall, they don't take reservations.
also, lincoln blvd between marina del rey and LAX is under construction, and i horribly congested these days.
would not recommend cheesecake factory unless your friend doesn't really care if he makes his connecting flight or not.

[jungleboy]

having sold produce to the CCF in SF and having come in through the back door on innumerable occasions, I wouldn't wish any CCF on my worst enemy, or maybe on second thought, if it was my worst enemy, maybe I would

[Young K.]

Kabuki at the Howard Hughes Center or Bare Elegance. Wha't more LA than that; sushi and strippers.

[JBC]

2 raw bars in one evening, oh my!