Right to the Point - Good. Cheap. Sitdown.
Hi! Due to splurging on birthday vacations, presents, dinners and such recently I'm looking to tighten the (money, not food!) belt. Sitdown restaurants (not takeout) or happy hours with good eats, preferably under $20 pp, the cheaper the better! The first things that come to mind are Gyu Kaku, C&O, things like that. Table service places preferred, but it doesn't really matter. Starting westside please. Thank you!
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Foodandwine
Jul 19, 2009 03:10 PM
Metro Cafe. Very good Serbian food, think Med.. Nice owner too..
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Metro Cafe
11188 Washington Pl, Culver City, CA 90232›7 Replies-
re: Foodandwine
westsidegal
Jul 19, 2009 05:16 PM
metro cafe is on my regular rotation.
rarely does my group get out of there for dinner below $20/pp.
starters are $10 and up
entrees are $13 and up-
re: westsidegal
Foodandwine
Jul 19, 2009 10:09 PM
Westsidegal.. I hosted dinner for 6 after I learned about it from a feast I had with a pleasurepalate group for $30 took a wheelbarrel to get me out. For my dinner for 6,Sasha made 3 apps, had 6 entrees and some great crepes for dessert. Wavied our corkage and came out to about $25 a persson. Okay before you get out your calculator and start to add it up, he did cut us a little break.. OP used "preferably" so I am sure that you can get out of there for less that $50 all in for 2, dont you think? Why scare people off with your math. Its a great place and if its on your rotation why would you not spread the love. Or would you rather tell Sasha what you posted here.. and Lunch is cheaper th OP did not specify that too..
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re: Foodandwine
westsidegal
Jul 20, 2009 05:08 PM
i often do 'spread the love' about this place and their terrific food.
when i respond to requests on this board that include a dollar amount, i always assume that the budget is firm.
i would have no problem telling sasha myself about what i posted.
i would have no problem if you told sasha about what i posted.
their prices are what they are.
the fact is even with a special deal you spent more than the stated budget. if you hadn't been given the special deal the per person price would have been about 50% higher than the stated budget, the difference is not inconsequential.
if Yes Please has a flexible budget (as it appears s/he does), s/he has all the information he needs to make his own choice.Assuming the $20 budget was for dinner rather than lunch was reasonable in that $20 for lunch is not often described as 'cheap.'
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re: westsidegal
Foodandwine
Jul 20, 2009 05:19 PM
Westsidegal.. I hear your point and raise you one Med Salad.. I stand corrected. After all I would not want to be Snarky :) Say hi to Sasha, I love that place..
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re: Foodandwine
westsidegal
Jul 20, 2009 05:28 PM
i always get the burrata starter.
if i'm still hungry, i get two of them.
fortunately, the other people with whom i dine (normally when i go there we have a party of 6) will let me share the dishes that they order so i do get to eat other stuff as well.
but,
i have a serious burrata addiction at metro.
the cheese is always ABSOLUTELY fresh (not the case everywhere else), and the combination of the burrata with the roasted peppers and the underlying greens with the perfect amount of vinaigrette, to me is sublime.i've had burrata at other restaurants, and i can't put my finger on exactly why, but it is always better at metro.
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Emme
Jul 18, 2009 10:50 PM
second recs for Monte Alban and Gilbert's El Indio.
Lares on Pico
Jasmine in Culver City
Samosa House in Culver City
Riva for Happy Hour
Jinky's Cafe
The Counter
Father's Office
Babalu
Musha (depending upon how you order)
Cynthia's on the Corner (most everything you can order and still get out under the budget - can even order the number of chops you want)
Coupa Cafe on Canon in BH
Greenleaf Chop Shop
Hurry Curry
FOOD on Pico
La Provence
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re: Emme
westsidegal
Jul 18, 2009 11:53 PM
there are two hurry curries.
i'd avoid the one on venice blvd near venice high.
i've heard that the other one is good, though.-
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re: Servorg
westsidegal
Jul 19, 2009 06:36 PM
not sure what you meant, servorg.
yes, they serve different types of food, so. . . .
i think i'm missing your point.
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re: Emme
Jinky's? Cheap?!? I'd love to have your budget, friend...I was in Jinky's for breakfast the other day. I had a tasty omelette (Chik & herbs), awful potatoes, and toast from a bag. All for around $20!!!! They even charged a buck-fifty for for a 'hot-water set-up'. What a waste...especially with soooo many good eateries in this city. Cheap? hah!
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If you order carefully you can get out of Nook Bistro for under $20pp ... like the burger, brown rice bowl and chickpea stew ... all great dishes. Service is consistently great as well (disclaimer: one of the owners is a good friend of mine but a lot of other people on the board will vouch for this restaurant).
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Nook Bistro
11628 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 9, Los Angeles, CA 90025›1 Reply -
wilafur
Jul 9, 2009 01:57 PM
went to juquila this week. the food was good, their dinner specials are not only cheap ($6.99) but immense in size.
bella pita in westwood village and on westwood are cheap and their falafel and shwarmas are palatable.
HH at mccormicks in BH is a good spot. 1/2lb burger w/ fries for $1.95 or $2.95....i forgot.
for cheap sushi, there is yamato. it's barely palatable but cheap. haha.
bar food is pretty cheap as well.
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Dommy
Jul 9, 2009 12:56 PM
Loads of Mexican places... but my top two on the west side are:
Sazon Latin Fusion, the VAST majority of their dishes are under $10 and so you can save some money and order the most AMAZING flan... after the meal...
Monte Alban, Enfrijoladas are the epitome of poor food in Mexico... but their rendition, would make you think it was Alta Cocina... the food is well priced enough to order a beer with your Enfrijoladas. :)
--Dommy!
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Monte Alban
11927 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CASazon Latin Fusion duplicate
12406 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA›3 Replies-
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re: alliebear
http://losangeles.menupages.com/resta...
You can check out the menu here. Beer and wine only.
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westsidegal
Jul 9, 2009 11:39 AM
mao's kitchen in venice.
be aware though, that this is NOT authentic chinese food.
it is california food that is inspired by chinese cuisine.
for what it is, and where it's located, it's dandy.›2 Replies-
re: westsidegal
Have you been recently? I've been a couple times and have had really horrible service. Just rude, slow, nonexistent, and got the order wrong on top of it. Then blamed me for ordering wrong and charged me for what they gave me AND what I originally wanted. Similar situation when I gave them another chance via takeout.
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re: Yes Please
westsidegal
Jul 9, 2009 03:20 PM
i've never had that kind of negative experience there.
in my experience the service is always a little slow, but never actually bad.
my order has alway been delivered correctly.mao's is on my regular rotation.
i hope that what you experienced is not going to be a regular thing.
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westsidegal
Jul 9, 2009 10:10 AM
THAI BOOM on venice near midvale.
not only are all their normal prices very low, but they will allow you to order from their 'lunch special' menu at any time.
very accommodating re: special orders too.
lovely people. good food.
fwiw, the kind of dishes that i like to order there are prik king, prik pao, etc. i am not a terrific fan of their noodles, but friends of mine disagree with me on this and love their noodles. -
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westsidegal
Jul 8, 2009 03:26 PM
i'll start of with shamshiri grill for persian food. not only is the food really good and really inexpensive, the portions are big enough for you to take some home with you for lunch the next day.
despite this, i would recommend that you NOT try to split an entree there because they will get testy and charge you a split charge.the quality/quantity/price ratios are simply terrific.
they also offer almost everything they serve during the week on their lunch special menu --same food, smaller portions, lower prices.
