Earl's Gourmet Grub in Mar Vista soft open

[Jase]

They opened up this week and hard open is supposed to be in a couple of weeks. We've tried their sandwiches at the Sunday farmer's market a few times a liked them. In between Venice Grind and Soaptopia.

I think the prices in store are higher than the farmer's market prices.

http://earlsgourmetgrub.com/

[Discokill]

Two visits so far, don't know if they are still in soft open but they effectively are, they don't really have the prep thing down yet but I expect that will come with time. Thought the sandwiches were very very good (tried the pig n fig and the italian cuts one - sofia?). Once the place gets going it's going to be up there with Joans or Clementine in my book.

That said, sandwiches are very small for $10. As good as they may be, I'm going to be less willing to try more if I keep walking out still hungry.

[bulavinaka]

We tried Earl's when they first set up their stall at the Mar Vista Farmers Market a handful of months ago. They were doing variations on latkes with interesting combinations. We could tell back then that with their fun and unique flavor mixes, they just might go somewhere. But even in this primary level of preparing food for sale, we noticed that they were kinda slow and disorganized in their approach. This really doesn't matter if they're doing this at home for themselves or for guests. But when one decides to turn things up to a brick&mortar, it's time to focus on the basics of the operations: sourcing of ingredients, preparation, service and responding to customer feedback. That's what the soft-open is for IMHO.

This neighborhood is slowly picking up momentum from the eastward migration starting in Venice and Santa Monica. Even Marina del Rey is starting to look better. So with so many good options within 10 minutes of Earl's, I hope they realize that now is the time to create a customer base by giving a strong sense of who they are. Otherwise, they'll be thought of as kinda-Curious Palate, kinda-Mendocino Farms, or just kinda-ok.

[Ciao Bob]

<< Even Marina del Rey is starting to look better >>
Please elaborate bulavinaka - I don't eat there often but am stymied when I do.

[bulavinaka]

Hi Ciao Bob,

I did say, "starting to", right? :) Mendocino Farms recently moved into the shopping center that sits between Admiralty, Mindanao, Lincoln and Fiji (same place that has The Counter and CPK). Their sandwiches are very respectable. Try the lamb if it's on the menu, and their pork iterations are great as well. I had their turkey club the other day and it's the roasted type of turkey (like real gobble-gobble turkey) - not the slice-off-a-brick type. Very good stuff - sourcing in general is very good. Their sandwich menu in general reminds me of what one would pick up at some local roadside deli around, well, Mendocino or those parts in general, but maybe just ever so slightly corporatized. They need to expand their salad offerings, but still - those are usually good as well. They're supposed to have a beer and wine menu next month as well. And what sandwich place offers "seascape" strawberry lemonade? It's as if Mendocino Farms went to Harry's Berries and picked a stack of strawberry crates to start their lemonade...

Right next door, Fresh Brothers Pizza has been pretty good to us. I don't know if they're doing a proper Chicago-style deep-dish pie (it's not so deep, but very hearty), but it's pretty darned good when you order it with their giardiniera (pepper salad) baked into it - takes it to another level. Their salads are green - nothing fancy, but the produce is fresh. Definitely a take-out place.

I did say "starting to", right? Right? :)

[Ciao Bob]

Thanks, bulavinaka, good to know - and, yes, the anti-hyperbole is noted; my expectations remain suitably low.

[Servorg]

I got over to Mend. Farms in MDR the other day and tried their lobster roll and have to say it was a miss for me. First of all the lobster really tasted like shrimp and the layered effect with too much lettuce and the itty bitty bacon bits just didn't float my taste boat. Also the price of $12.95 was the last nail in its carapace.

I'll have to go back and give some of the other sandwiches a try. What is your number one "go to" sandwich here? i'll try that one next.

[bulavinaka]

Sorry to hear their version of the lobster roll was a bottom-crawler for you. The folks working there were giving this sandwich a big thumbs-up after trying it but I haven't been back since the day before they were offering it on their seasonal menu.

Number one sandwich? Hmmm... I don't know - I've been satisfied with just about everything I've tried there. The Kurobuta banh mi is very tasty, but don't expect a banh mi from Banh Mi My Tho or Banh Mi Che Cali - it's a different style.

The Cubano Classico was very good, but I really liked their Point Reyes steak sandwich because of the mix of steak, bacon and blue cheese.

[Servorg]

Okay, Cubano Classico it is! I'll be back here afterward to report a vou...

[New Trial]

They use Baja lobster rather than Maine and leave it in big lobes--it is really more of a Baja lobster po' boy than what most of us think of as a lobstah roll. On the whole, though, I like their sandwiches. They has a special lamb sandwich when they opened that was quite good and most of their pork product offerings are excellent. And the fountain dispenses Boylan's sodas made with real can sugar!

[Servorg]

Having both caught and bought a copious quantity of (and eaten every one of them) Pacific Spiny lobsters in Baja since 1978 I can only say that this didn't taste enough like any lobster I've had down there as far as my taste buds and memory is concerned. It really tasted like shrimp. But I recognize that tastes vary widely. I will go back and try more items. It looks like a nice addition to that area of the Marina.

[bulavinaka]

I don't know if the lamb sandwich is being offered right now. The seasonal menu has changed, and I think the lamb has been replaced by the lobster roll.

[lapizzamaven]

Hi Bulavinaka, Im curious...how good has Fresh Bros been to ya? i tried a sample when they were first opening and almost asked them why bother with the big production when the pizza's lousy...

[bulavinaka]

I think there's one food group that is the most contentious on this board (at least from my experience), and that's anything with bread. Burgers, bagels and pizza seem to divide more people into for/against camps than anything else.

I don't know what to tell you. If you thought it was lousy, and I thought it was pretty tasty, I guess our opinions are split. I don't know what you found to be so lousy about Fresh Bros., but I didn't feel that way at all. This isn't pizza that abides by some European decree - it's pizza that is a far better option than the national chain stuff, and probably falls mid-pack in the Marina between Papa John's and places like Antica. Destination food? No. Good local choice for above-average pizza? Our family enjoyed it.

[Jase]

Yes, the pricing to size ratio is definitely a concern for us. We like the flavors but with the sandwiches being on the small side, it can get expensive quickly to have a filling lunch. At the Mar Vista Farmer's market, we usually nosh our way through so no big deal.

[troyavitia]

first visit on saturday. not impressed. ill stick to bay cities for now

[wooster]

Hit it up today, about $10 for a smallish maple chicken sandwich. It was definitely a tasty sando and i will go back. Like any opening they have to get it running smoothly before they shine and I just waited 30min for a sando. That stretch of Venice Blvd is on a huge upswing.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

The area is in so much of an upswing with new culinary options that the parking lot at Mitsuwa the other day at noon was not jam packed for lunch and I got a space immediately.

[Ciao Bob]

So funny...an interesting barometer, indeed!