Need a Good lunch place near USC

[Retha824]

We are driving down from Santa Barbara Tuesday 2/14 to see a young friend at USC & take him to lunch. Any recommendations for someplace we can meet him? He doesn't have a car & we don't want to drive forever, but also want to have a good meal to make the drive worthwhile. Thanks.

[latindancer]

I just got home with my Langer's Pastrami w/ coleslaw, russian dressing on toasted rye sandwich from Langer's....the BEST...absolutely delicious as always. That side of potato salad....yum.
Having initially suggested Moreton Fig to the OP I'm curious to know where they ended up going?
A report back would be awesome,

[latindancer]

Once you drive to LA you can go straight to the USC campus and meet your friend at Moreton Fig....right in the heart of the campus.
The menu is very diverse with only the freshest ingredients used from farmer's markets throughout the area. I highly recommend this wonderful new addition to the area.
Enjoy!

[EricDC]

Here's another vote for the on-campus Fig.

Langer's is great; the neighborhood around it looks shady and the restaurant is very much a throwback inside, but the food is undeniable. So that's a good choice as well that I'd second.

If you want to take him downtown, Bottega Louie is pretty hip, attractive, tasty and tasteful.

[granadafan]

He'll feel right at home in the area around Langers since he's a USC, itself in the ghetto. La Barca on Fig is a fun little Mexican Restaurant.

[Kris P Pata]

Make that a third for Moreton-Fig. I guest lectured last week for a friend's graduate classes and afterward, she and her fellow faculty colleagues treated me to lunch @ the Fig. Outside of catered alumni and fundraising dinners, it was the most opulent lunch I've had on any campus. The food was tasty and well-prepared; the dining room was well-appointed and the waiting staff was great. Upon entering we were the sole diners in the restaurant and we thought it odd that our request for a booth was politely but, firmly turned down "All booths have been reserved, I'm afraid," claimed the somewhat snooty maitre'd. As we ordered our desserts, the place was packed. According to my hosts, the place is popular with faculty and alumni donors which may explain why I don't recall seeing few, if any students.

[ipsedixit]

Wood Spoon.

[Johnny L]

Price willing to spend is very important as Downtown is a short drive away and you get pricey very fast.

For something nice and different Mo-Chica has great Peruvian although in a food court setting they try their best to make it classy.

There is also Moreton Fig on the USC campus if you don't want to drive that offers modern American fare as reviewed by Kevin
http://www.kevineats.com/2010/11/more...

[wienermobile]

Not far (10 minute drive) from USC is Langer's Deli. The best Pastrami on earth. Worth a trip from Santa Barbara.
http://www.langersdeli.com/

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Langer's Delicatessen
704 S Alvarado St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

[nosh]

He will appreciate getting off campus. +1 for Langer's -- their pastrami, thick cut and tender, is awesome, and their rye, crispy crust and amazingly tender in the middle, is fantastic. Split an order of fries, well done, and maybe start with a cup of matzoh ball soup. They have validated parking on the lot on 7th one block east on the N/E corner, no problem.