What is good and interesting in and around Culver City?

[asugar]

Where are the finds in Culver City?

[Jase]

Lots of great suggestions here. I'd add Sazon on Washington and Centinela next to the comic book store.

Anything from the specials board or just ask Claudia what's good. Save room for dessert. The flan or bollilo bread pudding or her take on rice pudding.

[nosh]

I'll throw in a few inexpensive, casual but really good options not mentioned yet:

Thai Boom, north side of Venice at Midvale between Overland and Sepulveda -- best Thai on the westside.
S&W Country Diner -- south side of Washington downtown CC just before the intersection with Culver -- great combo breakfasts, homemade corned beef hash, excellent hash browns, good pancakes, accurately cooked eggs, cash only.
Victor Jr.'s -- counter service Italian deli on the north side of Washington across from the major studio -- great meatball sub, eggplant parm, Italian salad, they advertise cheesesteaks but they are more hot beef hoagies -- closed weekends.

[Baron]

Let's not forget that there is a great little pizza by the slice place on the west side of Main about 1/2 block south of Venice and further down is a nice little Italian place which I've heard good things about. Sorry, but the names of both escape me right now.

[J.L.]

Hole-in-the-wall Serbian:

Metro Café
www.metrocafela.com

[Local]

Second the Metro Cafe. bulavinaka recommended it a month or so ago before my buddy and i hit a show at the Cinema Bar...i had a good grilled, flavorful mushroom salad, very simple but tasty and perfect if you're eating light. buddy had the more substantial pasta with a mushroom ragu that was also good

[Servorg]

You reminded me that we hadn't been to Metro Cafe in too long so we dropped in last night. Tasty, fresh and soul satisfying food with friendly, efficient service.

I had the chevapchichi (grilled Serbian sausage) and instead of potatoes I had all grilled vegetables which included egg plant, zucchini, red onion, squash and a couple of others I'm forgetting. My wife had the mushroom ragu w/ rigatoni and to start we split the Serbian salad (very fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, red bell pepper, feta cheese, salt and freshly ground pepper all lightly dressed in a red vinaigrette and olive oil). The salad was the essence of the taste of summer. All the food was top notch. With one coke, one iced tea our tab was $47, plus tip. All the portions are very generous.

We parked right in front of the Cafe at the curb and, unfortunately they were very quiet in terms of diners. One other table that came in behind us and two people on the sidewalk out front. Go, support this neighborhood gem.

[NAspy]

This place is on our more or less regular rotation of local restaurants (we love the Serbian salad and the goulash) and last time we went on a Thursday evening the place was full and there were people waiting. Hopefully they are doing OK business.

[aventinus]

I'll throw in two more that people haven't listed, both on Venice Blvd

Annapurna: Decent vegetarian South Indian cuisine (dosas, etc.).
India Sweets & Spices: Decent vegetarian pan-Indian cuisine (stick to the pre-prepared items).

[holleygolitely]

M Cafe de Chaya on Culver Blvd. Beautiful space and delicious for vegan food. Non-vegans actually like it there--great seared ahi salad and french fries. Sushi Zo is very close and so is Cafe Bella Roma SPQR on Robertson--wonderful home made pastas and bring your own wine.

[Rockgrappler]

I think the answer depends: lunch v. dinner

Lunch Musts:
1. K-Zo - very good Japanese/ sushi, great ambiance
2. Fraiche - mostly sandwiches for a quicker lunch but still very good (only place I listed in both categories)
3. Honey's Kettle - stick to your ribs tasty fried chicken & soul
4. Santa Maria BBQ - awesome beans and rice & BBQ tri tip
5. Brasa - reasonable priced Brazilian churrascaria, good salad bar & meats
6. Father's Office - only open Friday's and weekends, try the soft shell crab when it's in season (burgers and craft beers also a must)
7. Let's be Frank - decent quality dogs, a little pricy, super nice people
8. Cafe Brazil - authentic Brazilian, relaxed setting
9. Tender Greens - light, healthy, organic, try their hot plates if you want more substance
10. Ugo - good wholesome but not gut filling Italian, clean and healthy

Dinner Musts:
1. Fraiche - phenominal dinner menu, veal chop and blood sausage appetizer are a must, order ceviche off menu (arctic char is delicious) - this place rocks!
2. Rush Street - skip for lunch - bad service, good dinner menu, great bar
3. Bottlerock - great light faire/ cheese, go on a tasting night (good selection of beer too!)
4. Ugo wine bar - they have a debit card system to maximize tasting
5. La Dijonaise - traditional bistrot food, fairly authentic

Must Skip:
1. Akasha - bland and expensive
2. Meltdown - unremarkable but interesting concept
3. Ford's Filing Station - overpriced and not that good
4. Bamboo - there are just too many better Brazilian restaurants in Culver City
5. Pacifico's - they are confused by what type of restaurant they should be (is it fish? is it Baja Mex? is it Japanese?)

[bulavinaka]

I agree with Ford's - too pricey for what I consider above-average food. I've heard that Pacifico's is gone - just wondering what's going into its space...

Surfas can be a bit pricey but they do carry a great inventory of food-related stuff. Their cafe off Washington is pretty good as well - just give yourself more time than you'd expect as sometimes the orders come very slowly. Some consider their lemon-lavender bars to be a pink elephant disguised as soap, but I think the combination works very well...

[NAspy]

FYI, Pacifico's recently closed and it looks like it will be turning into a Kay n Dave's.

[Phurstluv]

Say it ain't so!! Talk about bland and flavorless!

[slacker]

Good and interesting:
Simpang Asia: Indonesian
Grand Casino: Argentinian

Good and not so interesting:
Fraiche: New American

Interesting but not good:
Royal T: cosplay

Not interesting and not very good:
Rush Street: yawn.

[bulavinaka]

We truly enjoy Grand Casino too. Primarily known by most as a bakery, their breakfasts and lunches are quite good as well. The empanadas are baked - not deep-fried - which we personally like. It would be nice though if they would offer more varieties of empanadas. Their fracturas are excellent with coffee, as are their alfajores. Their bakery items tend to be on the sweeter side in general, so they may not be to everyone's liking...

[bulavinaka]

Gloria's on Venice Blvd has good to great Salvadoran and Mexican dishes. Their pork and beef dinner entrees, soups, and tamales are their strengths.

[attran99]

Maybe not what you're looking for, but I've always been a fan of Versailles. Garlic chicken and fried plantains as a garnish! Yummy!

[cant talk...eating]

For Mexican, definitely get a cemita from the truck on Venice Blvd. that usually parks east of the 405.

Pepe's Tacos (hole-in-the-wall) has a really good braised short-rib (costillas) and fresh juice. I've tried most of the other taquerias in this Centinela/Inglewood area and it's my favorite.

Of course there's Sorrento's Italian market for great Italian bread, sandwiches, local-ish (Tulare Co.) produce.

-----
Sorrento Italian Market
5518 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230

Pepe's Tacos
4582 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066

[bulavinaka]

Had a couple cemitas on saturday at the Cemitas Poblanas lunch truck parked in front of the Smart & Final on Venice Blvd. Had the Milanesa chicken as well as the "queso de puerco" - the head cheese - and both were great. I never thought I'd eat head cheese but the customer in front of me said it was one of her favorites. Nice toasty buns, lots of guac, and the deep salsa roja make this truck's sandwiches truly delicious.

[CarlieInLA]

Fraiche is very good, Father's office is great, I really like Beacon. For lunch I love Tender Greens, M Cafe de Chaya and Skratch. I also really like Rush Street for drinks and bar bites.

[Baron]

I've been to K-Zo several times and it does not dissapoint. Good Japanese food and sushi, good service, friendly attitude and extensive menu. It's next to the Trader Joes with convenient parking.

[AAQjr]

Am I blind? I've been to that TJ's a few time since I moved into the area and can't picture where K Zo's is??

Arturo

[bulavinaka]

K Zo is next to TJ's on the north side (on Culver Blvd) of the building/parking structure.

[tatertotsrock]

I LOVE
K-ZO!!!

[aventinus]

I haven't been to a whole lot of Culver City restaurants but will throw in another thumbs up for Beacon.

[Phurstluv]

Love Fraiche, tho hard to get into at last minute. Wilson's was good, not spectacular. Ford's is good, not great & pricey. Tender Greens is awesome, tho don't know how late they're open and no bar. Beacon was also very good. Not into Akasha. Can't wait to try Bottlerock.

[Baron]

I love Fraiche too and cant wait to go back. You might like K-Zo right next to Trader Joes (convenient parking). Very good Japanese restaurant, good service, extensive menu, friendly attitude. Give it a try 1stlove.