Where should we eat in Culver City?

[tinaeatsintacoma]

I'll be traveling to California to visit my brother and would like some ideas for dinner. I like fresh, local and independently restaurants best. Any ideas?

[New Trial]

You are in luck, there are several good choices in Culver City. To name a few that specialize in fresh if not always local:

Akasha (Californian with an emphasis on organic)
Ford's Filling Station (Californian)
Fraiche (the best of them, French-Italian Med.)
K-Zo (Japanese)
Tender Greens
Wilson (Californian)

For a bit less healthy but delicious and fun, there is a recently opened branch of Father's Office in Culver City--great hamburger and other food items but it is a bar and the owner is quirky (the only choice you have if you order the burger is degree of doneness). Check out the postings on this Board for more details and opinions on it.

[flavasista]

i agree with all the recs above. in addition here are some of my recs:
- Versailles - Cuban. It's not exactly healthy but its another LA institution (like Fathers office) - I believe its family owned. Super casual. Loud. Located on Venice Blvd.
- Brazil Cafe for casual Brazillian food (2 locations in the area).
- I know you mentioned dinner specifically, but Culver City has many great lunch spots that are healthy, organic, independently owned as well. Please check out Surfas Cafe (8777 West Washington Blvd) & Xotik Kitchen (6121 Washington Blvd) during the day.
- might as well get some Red Mango Yogurt while youre at it ( 10401 Venice Blvd)

ENJOY!

[attran99]

I second the motion for Versailles. The garlic chicken is amazing, and I love fried plantains!

[Servorg]

If you would like to try Serbian food then I can recommend Metro Cafe on Washington Pl. just barely east of Sepulveda on the south side of the street. Really a great little place with good and reasonably priced food. There is another place, Aroma Cafe on Overland which is also good, but I like Metro better.

Here is a link to a previous thread on Metro and if you scroll down you will see a post with a link to someones restaurant blog (Triple Cream) with a very nice photo spread on the food.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/360850

[westsidegal]

most of the menu items at metro are continental,
they threw in a few serbian dishes for fun. .

[Servorg]

Or maybe because they're Serbian? Or Serbia is on the Continent? ;-D

[debra]

I'm a fan of the Santa Maria style Tri Tip at Santa Maria BBQ. It's got a very tasty garlic salt/pepper type rub (sauce on the side if you want it). And I also love Tender Greens, it's kind of a pick your meat, and fresh salad fare, and they'll whip it into a dinner plate, a big salad, or a sandwich. Very fresh and tasty.

Enjoy!

[nosh]

That Santa Maria BBQ place in Culver City could not be more of a chain, in style and substance, which the OP wanted to avoid.

Fraiche gets the most consistent and enthusiastic raves for food in the area, and is a unique enterprise. The complaints about front-of-the-house attitude have decreased lately. Ford's and Wilson have fans but are criticized for high prices. I'm a big fan of the value and food at Victor Jr.'s -- the eggplant parm, meatball sub, italian salad -- but it is ultracasual counter service and closed on weekends.

[debra]

It's not a chain (even if it might look like one), their tri tip is delish--if they're in Culver City, and in the mood for some really good tri tip... it seemed worth the recommendation.

[deadre]

i'm going to throw my 2 cents in with Natalie Thai and Giovanni for great italian at Venice and Clarrington and a few blocks down on Venice just west of Motor there's Gaby's with the best hummus and great mediterranean food. Not fancy like Fraiche, Ford's or Wilson's but great.

[DeePocketChopra]

Nix on Wilson. Went there recently...gone significantly down in quality in our view since about 2 months ago. Fried and grilled stuff tasted hours old.

[recovering_vegetarian]

Honestly, there are so many good restaurants in Culver City right now it is hard to choose. I would just take a stroll along the Washington/Culver Blvd intersection (they cross at one point, and the line gets blurry) in downtown CC and see what looks good (most restaurants keep their menus--or at least their daily specials--posted out front.) That's only if it's a week night, though. If it's a weekend, you'll probably want to make a reservation.

[nosh]

If you are on the cheap in Culver City there are a bunch of possibilities as well:

One of the last remaining Togo's is on the north side of Venice in the Albertson's complex across from Wendy's. OK, it isn't gourmet, and it is among the survivors of a chain. But their hot pastrami is meaty and tasty and half the price of Johnnie's or the gourmet sandwich places.

There is an In-n-Out Burger on the north side of Venice.

Thai Boom is on the north side of Venice at Midvale, midway between Overland and Sepulveda. The best Thai on the Westside, with lunch specials served all day.

Somebody else mentioned Versailles and the excellent garlic roast chicken there. It is indeed a good dish, with a thigh and leg portion with plantains, rice, and black beans. But the roast pork is better, meaty, garlicky, succulent...

Honey's Kettle has its fans and detractors. Its strength is very good fried chicken in a light batter, and really good biscuits. Its detriment is its unexplainable slow service -- they aren't frying the chicken to order, and I'd certainly check my bag before leaving (they left out the biscuit recently). The selling point is the 2-for-1 coupon for 2-piece combos in the entertainment folio in the Thursday L.A. Times.

[Servorg]

And I don't want to forget to add, Gloria's Cafe for excellent Mexican and Salvadoran food. Family run by really nice people.

Gloria's Cafe
10227 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034-5902
Phone: [phone]