State of Play in Venice and Surroundings

[echoparkdirt]

I am moving from Redondo Beach to Venice, but I consider it moving 15 minutes closer to my cherished San Gabriel chinese haunts....

Anyways, what is the state of play in Venice and surroundings? Any favorite places?

I am partial to ethnic dives and tapas/drinks places....

Please help a hound out!

PS. the lamb and scallions at Mao's Kitchen isn't half bad

[kaitoz]

Hal's
Beechwood
Gjelina
Axe
Piccolo
Falafel guy and Pupusa lady on Westminster/Ocean Front Walk
Gaby's Mediterranean
Lemonade
3 Square
Hama
James Beach

just to name a few, all within walking distance of anywhere in Venice - yum!

[Phurstluv]

Um, most of those were already listed.......

And what's falafel guy and pupusa lady, a food truck?

[echoparkdirt]

Just tried Beechwood -- the atmosphere was fantastic for a casual date. lovely california informal lounge

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Beechwood
822 Washington Blvd., Venice, CA 90292

[aventinus]

Honestly, I think the Venice food scene is disappointing. As far as ethnic restaurants go, I like some of the items at Mao's and China Beach for delivery--especially the latter. But for real Chinese, or real Vietnamese, or real Indian, or real Japanese, or real Middle Eastern, or real ethnic anything, Venice is not the place. Moreover, the upscale restaurants like Joes and Chaya are overrated in my opinion.

The coffee scene is good due to Intelligentsia. For pizza, Abbot's Pizza Company is notable for a unique bagel-y crust with gourmetish toppings.

[westsidegal]

abbot's pizza is good for bagel-y crust, antica pizzaria is good for neopolitan style (crust so thin you need to eat it with a fork and knife, wood-fired oven, fresh mozz, imported flour, imported tomatos)

[echoparkdirt]

OK, now we're talking. Where are your closest ethnic restaurant go-tos?
Never tried China Beach.
La Cabana is extremely mediocre, but fun to meet up in.

[Servorg]

You are pretty much in the (left of) center of a hell of a lot of places that you'll like. From the Abbott Kinney Venice vibe to Santa Monica to authentic Sinaoloan and Nayarit Mexican seafood in Mar Vista to the Sawtelle Little Tokyo line up

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Amandine Patissiere
12225 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Monte Alban
11927 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Bay Cities Italian Deli
1517 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Baby Blues BBQ
444 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Raku Restaurant
11678 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Ronnie's Diner
12740 Culver Blvd Ste J, Los Angeles, CA 90066

3 Square Cafe
1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Pepy's Galley
12125 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Rutt's Hawaiian Cafe
12114 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Axe
1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

17th St Cafe
1610 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Gallegos Mexican Deli
12470 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Port Royal Cafe
1412 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Gilbert's El Indio
2526 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Restaurant 2117
2117 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Bar Pintxo
109 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Chabuya
2002 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Place Yuu
2101 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Primitivo
1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291

Mariscos Chente
4532 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Huckleberry Cafe
1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA

Santa Monica Farmers' Market (Arizona and 2nd)
Arizona Ave Santa Monica CA, Arizona Ave Santa Monica, CA

Hide Sushi Japanese Restaurant
2040 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Sauce On Hampton
259 Hampton Dr, Venice, CA 90291

[Phurstluv]

Guess you just about covered it, SO.

For tapas & drinks, you forgot Salut, on Main St in SM. There's also lots of decent bars like Library Alehouse and Finn McCool's on Main St as well.

[Servorg]

Oh, there are places that I missed. I hope others chime in with places they think of that I didn't recall. For instance just remembered that I should have recommended La Cabaña in Venice. Then, of course, we didn't even talk about the taco trucks.

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La Cabana Restaurant
738 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

[Phurstluv]

Right. Hey is La Cabana any good? Go by it a lot and wondered....

EPD, when you tire of some of the hole in the wall places, there's some nice decent options as well:

Chinois on Main does an awesome lamb dish.
Il Piccolo Paradiso is tiny, hard to get in but wonderful.
Joe's in Venice is an institution - been there 20+ years and has a great prix fixe lunch for $18.
Lemonade is another great lunch spot, don't let the cafeteria vibe scare you, their short rib & mac & cheese sandwich was awesome.
And Chez Jay is a SM institution - don't know what's really good there but a decent dive bar, it's always been.
That's all I can think of for now.......have fun exploring your new digs!

[Servorg]

I used to have a thing for the nachos at La Cabaña, but then I began going low carb and kind of stepped away from it. They are a great late, late night spot though because you can get a sit down meal until 2:45 AM (and that's a rare thing on the westside).

[Phurstluv]

Good to know, thanks.

[Emme]

La Cabana is great fror nachos and margaritas :-)

[kauma]

Apropos LC - the patio!!!

[westsidegal]

chinois on main also does, what is in my opinion, the best fried catfish in town.
keep in mind, though, that this restaurant has fine-dining prices.

[lapizzamaven]

La Cabana does make great handmade tortillas...

[westsidegal]

respectfully disagree with the la cabana recommendation as a source of good food.
drink and chips, though, are ok there, especially very late at night.

[yogachik]

A valentine to you Servorg. Bookmarked this.

I would add Little Hong Kong Cafe on Sawtelle and Cache (bar menu is great). Chaya Venice, too (happy hour all night Sunday and Monday).

[Servorg]

Always fun when Place Links are working like advertised. Really funny because we just got back from eating at Little Hong Kong. Not at all crowded, although Sawtelle was hopping generally. Hope your VD dinner was good.

[westsidegal]

would recommend avoiding sushi at chaya venice on sundays.
all the other food though has been good.