Any quality restaurants in MDR?

[2fat]

I am flying into LAX to stay with a friend on a boat at Marina del Rey. Would like to have dinner at a smallish place with high food quality and interesting ambiance. Patio and/or water views a plus. If not MdR, how about Venice, PdR, Culver City, or ?

[Servorg]

Cafe Del Rey in the Marina proper is decent for dinner. The much better bet would be either the Tasting Kitchen or Gjelina in Venice on Abbot Kinney.

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Cafe Del Rey
4451 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

[lil mikey]

I also like Cafe Del Rey, and it has a view of the harbor. The last time I went, the food was outstanding. I've never had a bad meal there, but I've had "unmemorable" meals there. I think they changed chefs about a year ago, and when I last went, it was better than before.

I've never been to Tasting Kitchen or Gjelina, but Servorg's a good gauge.

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Cafe Del Rey
4451 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

[westsidegal]

lil mikey,
you are right about the chefs on two counts: both the chef AND the pastry chef changed about a year ago.

[bulavinaka]

You already have a few great recs that are within five minutes from the north end of the MdR harbor. Mendocino Farms is a great stop for a very casual meal of sandwiches, salads and wine/brew - takeout is a viable option here as well. They are located in the shopping center located between Admiralty, Lincoln, Mindanao and Fiji - most of the harbor residents utilize this shopping center for its convenient location directly adjacent to the harbor. MF does have a good-sized patio albeit directly adjacent to the parking lot. The Counter is also located here and while they aren't the best burger in town, they're pretty good, have nice beer and wine options, and a good burger can be created if one shows a little restraint.

Without straying 10 minutes from the harbor, you could also go to 26 Beach (casual setting, good burgers, salads), Ekkamai Thai (very good Thai in a converted Taco Bell), Waterloo and City (nice dining room, full bar, lots of taps, excellent charcuterie) or A-Frame (fun food interpreted from street level, abbreviated but very good beers and wines) on Washington Blvd.

PdR has The Tripel - a small gastropub. I haven't been yet, but have some promising things about it.

The closest place for very good Mediterranean IMHO would be Mezza in Downtown Culver City - about 15-20 minutes. If you go after 6PM, parking is free in the adjacent lot just west of Mezza. Most of the mezze dishes (Middle East small plates/apps, Lebanese-style) are very good, so are the gyro, kafta, and ashta.

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26 Beach
3100 Washington Blvd., Venice, CA 90292

Waterloo and City
12517 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90066

A-Frame
12565 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Tripel
333 Culver Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90293

[hboy]

bulavinaka, this almost perfectly sums up my feelings about the food offerings here in the marina area...would second all of those recommendations, and feel like Mezza is kind of a lesser known CC gem

never been to the tripel though - interested in trying now

[westsidegal]

hboy, pls report back after you go.
TIA

[westsidegal]

hboy,
I went to Tripel last night.
terrific food.
terrific brew
terrific service
what more is there to say?

[hboy]

westsidegal, thanks for the comments...still haven't been but the next time the SO and I get a sitter, we're heading over!

[westsidegal]

be warned, we're not the "early adopters" here, many others have found out about this small place before us.. . . .
went back again tonight: that's two nights in a row. . . .

[yogachik]

Also Beechwood, especially now that Roy Choi has taken over the kitchen there.

[Burger Boy]

It is closing for a complete make over. Roy Choi will still be at the helm when it reopens.

[wienermobile]

Beachwood is not closing for their remodel till October. And they are still serving Roy Choi's new beach menu till then.
http://losangeles.grubstreet.com/2011...

[waterisgood]

I spoke to Roy Choi about 3 weeks ago at an event at the Fairmont, and he says himself that he will not be in the Beechwood kitchen until later this year, estimating November-ish.

For the original post - I second Tripel, Waterloo & City, and Mendocino Farms, each for a different particular type of experience though.

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Tripel
333 Culver Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90293

[wasabica]

Vu. Gayot just named it one of top 10 molecular gastronomy restaurants in the country. Plus, it is right on Mother's beach, amazing view thus the name.

[Lambster]

Hands down - The Tripel in PDR.

The place is very small and somewhat isolated, but it's probably got the best gastropub food around. Nic, the chef/owner is extremely talented and used to run the kitchen at Beechwood (before it declined). If you call several days in advance you may be able to talk him into making a beef short rib pot pie, which is the best thing I've ever eaten in my life (seriously).

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Tripel
333 Culver Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90293

[westsidegal]

lanbster,
just tried THE TRIPEL tonight because of your recommendation.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
terrific food, geographically close to my house, good prices, great staff attitude and knowledge (Tamara).

fabulous find.
very interesting combinations of flavors and textures.
top flight ingredients.
although i know little about beers now, i see that in the future, because of the TRIPEL, i will know more.
thanks again

[Lambster]

Westsidegal,

I'm very glad you enjoyed The Tripel. I always have mixed feelings about recommending the place. The food is very good and I want others to enjoy it, but I already have a hard enough time getting a seat whenever I go.

FYI - I follow your comments on CH religiously so I'm glad I could return a favor!

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Tripel
333 Culver Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90293

[westsidegal]

awwww. . .

(it was only about a 15 minute wait for seats for the two of us tonight: well worth it.
i promise i'll only tell a few more people. . . . .)