Westside Watering Hole With Good Food

[noshie]

I am looking for a weekend night place that you can hang out in a nice bar area and have either a good glass of wine or a nice fun drink before eating something tasty or small plate (preferably burger or ethnic)

If Trader Vic's was edible or if Fathers Office was not such a sardine waiting to pounce scene, either would fit the bill.

I haven't been to AOC, maybe somewhere in Culver City or Venice?

[grubtrotters]

In Venice, I second Beechwood, Primitivo, Chaya and Hal's.
In Santa Monica, try Musha for casual Japanese pub with good food, Bar Pintxo for small plates (although it can get crowded and benches are hard), Wilshire for more of a chic environment with a lovely/romantic back patio.
In Culver City, there's Akasha (full bar with great drinks and an eco-friendly restaurant), Bottle Rock wine bar, Vinoteque wine bar (off the beaten path), Fraiche and Ford's Filling Station.

[noshie]

These are all wonderful suggestions, thank you all.

[anothernotch]

Not quite your requested area but Arsenal on Pico and Bundy may fit the bill. . . nice burger and a chill bar scene.

[yogachik]

Love the Arsenal, especially their grilled cheese with tomato soup (for dipping!). Also add The Yard (Broadway near Ocean), the food is surprisingly good.

[nick_r]

Here are some bars with good food:

Hungry Cat
Penthouse at the Huntley
The Third Stop
Library Alehouse, as mentioned
Bodega
Tasca
Bottle Rock
The Hall at Palihouse

That should get you started.

[Diana]

I really dug Third Stop!

[ns1]

Gloria's? Salvadorean food + sangria = win

[travelscorp]

Beechwood is good - the lamb meatballs are delicious...
Il Moro has a cool italian bar menu..great beers and wine with good pizza/pasta but the entrees are good too. It's in WLA.
Hals' in venice is good too. decent, simple, not 'foodie' but adequate. I prefer Lily's - wine list is fair - also in venice.

Bar Hayama - great sushi/the robata plates are ok/average..some great but great drink/sake list/nice bar area

wilshire would good option too.

[lesleyb]

Fraiche in CC has a meatball sub on the bar menu (or did). Good wines, cocktails and nice bar menu. Akasha also has a nice bar and some great onion rings. Beechwood in Venice is another great option

[Diana]

Library Alehouse has some decent food.

Ethnic, think about Musha.

[citizenx]

Beechwood sounds right. Not ethnic but good burgers and other choices.

[J.L.]

What's wrong with F.O. Culver City? I just went tonight, and it was nice, and no rush for a table. The burgers are smashingly good.

[wutzizname]

I've been 3 times now, including last Friday around 9, and have always found it busy but totally manageable. Always somewhere to sit and no problem getting served.

I'd also recommend Bar Marmont to the north.

[Emme]

Would Wilshire suit you? Nice bar and drink area, then pretty darn good food too.

In Venice, you could also get a drink and food at Chaya Venice or for a more upscale bar atmosphere, try Joe's. Primitivo is another option too.

As simply a bar with decent food, South is a new interesting addition to SaMo, and the Parlor is more sports bar-ry. Neither of these is ethnic though, but burgers at both.