Cheap and diabetic-friendly on Westside?

[Das Ubergeek]

Hey all,

Well, it's official. I have been gone so long from the Westside that I have completely forgotten 90% of the restaurants there. The perils of having lived in the Valley and OC for the last six or seven years, I guess.

I'm having dinner with friends on Wednesday night. We're on a budget (where main courses should please not be more than $12-$15 at the outside) and one of us is diabetic, so heavy starch like pizza or Asian food is a bad idea. Mexican would be OK if it's not starch-heavy. No Thai -- they don't like it (and I live midway between Thai Nakorn and Renu Nakorn, so...).

I'll be in Century City (home of absolutely nothing that fits these criteria, I've found out) and they're coming from Venice. As far east as, say, La Brea or Crenshaw, no further south than the 105, and no further north than Sunset.

Can you help out? I'm just stumped and the restaurant search is failing me because I can't see menus.

Thanks, 'Hounds!

[Emme]

if brentwood is agreeable, you might consider A Votre Sante, as it's reasonable, cute ambience, and tasty healthy fare.

sawtelle ktichen on sawtelle has some good main course options, just without the rice, plenty of fish/chicken/meat dishes

jack'n'jill's in beverlyhills has diab-friendly options

xi'an is americanzied chinese, but they'll definitely make things healthier if you want sauces on the side, and or no sugar or cornstarch added to things...

the newsroom cafe on robertson has healthy fare and a bit of people watching that is fun

eat well on santa monica in weho has healthy fare, though sometimes it's a bit quiet at dinner time.

there's also hugo's in weho

and hedley's on melrose could accommodate

[emmstar]

Tender Greens in Culver City - their salads are $10 and the vibe is nice enough to sit around and hang out.

[New Trial]

For Mexican, perhaps either Monte Alban or Guelaguetza--though, as NAspy noted, avoiding starch or other problem foods for a diabetic might be difficult.. There are a number of Persian restaurants in Westwood-West L.A. that should work, at least sticking to the grilled foods, among others Javan and Shaherzad. For non-starchy Japanese, there are Sakura House [Washington just a few blocks East of Lincoln] and Yakitoriya. You might also try contacting goodhealthgourmet; as I recall, she is a nutritionist and, while she has decamped for NY, she might recall some suitable places from her time in L.A.

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Shaherzad
1422 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Monte Alban
11927 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Yakitoriya
11301 W Olympic Blvd Ste 101, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Javan
11500 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Guelaguetza
11127 Palms Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

[westsidegal]

you will be on the cusp of your $budget with javan--about half of their entrees are over your limit.

[NAspy]

It seems like Mediterranean influence may help here -- there's Metro Cafe (Serbian, but lots of other dishes from central Europe and the Med area) and Gaby's Cafe, which is Greek/Mediterranean...there's two locations -- one is right near the beach on Washington, the other is in Culver City on Venice. Both should get you in at your price range.

As should Cafe Brasil, which has a new location west of Culver City I think on Venice Blvd.

Sorry I can't be more specific with locations but a quick search should find these places.

For Mexican (though avoiding starch could be difficult) there's Guelaguezta on Palms Boulevard, just east of Sepulveda.