Casual yet special restaurant around the 10/405?
June 16, 2017 9:35 AM   Subscribe

What's a good casual restaurant around West LA, Culver City or nearby to wind down after a long day of househunting, that's nicely situated to give us a glimpse of what it'd be like to live in the area?

We'll be checking out places up and down the 405 on Sunday and we are not very familiar with the area. Afterwards, we want to celebrate Father's Day and some other exciting news. My parents are self-described "country bumpkins" from the SGV where they typically just go to Chinese restaurants, and my dad is the type of person who panics at the thought of a valet. So I'd like to find something where we can celebrate a special occasion, but is also casual and comfortable. No sushi and no Persian has been requested, and any price is fine. Thank you!
posted by acidic to Food & Drink (15 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Westside Tavern has great food and a lovely interior-- not much neighborhood ambiance though. The burgers are so good even the most picky eaters like them.
posted by calgirl at 9:47 AM on June 16, 2017


How do they feel about American-Mexican? There's a great little taco joint, Sonoritas, on the east side of Sawtelle, on the north end of the group of Japanese places just north of Sawtelle/Olympic. It trends young/hip but the tacos are great. There's also a Chinese joint, Hop Li, on the northwest corner of Santa Monica and Armacost that a friend of mine's family swears by. No General Tso's, more traditional than that, but good.
posted by Alterscape at 9:52 AM on June 16, 2017


Response by poster: Forgot to add-- no Chinese, since they can eat that every day, and although they are not strictly low-carb, no carb bomb pasta joints either.
posted by acidic at 9:56 AM on June 16, 2017


tendergreens in Culver City? My meat and potatoes dad is always happy to eat there while I get their happy vegan thing.
posted by atomicstone at 10:05 AM on June 16, 2017


There's the ever wonderful Versailles, on Venice around Motor in Culver City. It's Cuban food - the garlic chicken is AMAZING and it's the popular dish here. Extremely casual, but fairly noisy.

Or, even better, this place: Cafe Brasil (this is the Washington Boulevard location, I haven't been to the other one). Very neighborhood-y, casual, but nice, pleasant atmosphere, delicious food.

Even more neighborhood-y (esp if you're househunting in Santa Monica at all) is Gilbert's El Indio. It's a really low key and full of character neighborhood Mexican place. It is owned by a family with like 8 or 9 children, all of whom work in the restaurant and are SUPER friendly.

I'd downvote Westside Tavern - it's expensive and quite hipsterish - compared to the Chinese places in SGV at least. The food's good though.
posted by bluesky78987 at 10:49 AM on June 16, 2017 [1 favorite]


Dinah's at Sepulveda and Centinela is an institution, though not fancy.

I was going to recommend a hamburger place in Playa Vista that used to be among the remaining Hughes Aircraft buildings, but it looks like almost all the restaurants in the area have disappeared or moved down to the mall now that it's open. However, there's still a neat little park/garden that I think is all native/water-conserving plants, at Millennium Way and Artisans Drive, that's good for a little stroll after lunch.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:50 AM on June 16, 2017


J. Nichols on Glencoe Avenue in Marina del Rey. Tasty food, not too expensive, close enough to the high-rises and the beach to make you glad you don't live there, and close enough to Culver, Venice, Mar Vista and Oakwood to make you see what it's like to live on the Westside as a non-1%er.
posted by infinitewindow at 11:04 AM on June 16, 2017


The Wallace http://www.thewallacela.com
the Maple Block Meat Co. http://www.mapleblockmeat.com
posted by Ideefixe at 11:23 AM on June 16, 2017


Oh, there's also the Carving Board, for delicious sandwiches.
posted by bluesky78987 at 11:25 AM on June 16, 2017


Oooh, J Nichols is great.

We went to happy hour at Casa Sanchez a couple of weeks ago, great value and a nice patio. Seems they are only open for dinner (at 5) so that's something to keep in mind.

You might also consider The Cheesecake Factory in the marina, although they do have valet parking. But they also have a nice patio (the weather is so great for patios right now).
posted by vignettist at 11:44 AM on June 16, 2017


Oh, Westside Tavern! I'd forgotten about that place. When we lived in Playa we'd go there for nibbles and cocktails before taking in a movie. Yes, seconded, it's a great place (and they make a great martinez). I don't get a hipster vibe from it--the crowd's too mixed agewise and, really, do hipsters hang out in malls these days?

I was never keen on Versailles (went twice, super greasy and bland both times), but yes to Cafe Brasil.

Honestly, why not park in the deck above Trader Joe's right at Culver and Washignton and just mosey south along Culver until you find a place that tickles your fancy? Everything on that stretch has glorious broad sidewalk seating and menus on display.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 1:08 PM on June 16, 2017 [1 favorite]


there's a branch of el cholo on Wilshire bl.
posted by brujita at 1:31 PM on June 16, 2017


C & O Trattoria
posted by willnot at 10:19 PM on June 16, 2017 [1 favorite]


C&O is so much fun.
posted by infinitewindow at 3:46 AM on June 17, 2017


Right next to Cafe Brazil is Bamboo Restaurant, a large but unassuming spot with lovely self-described latin-fusion (Carribbean?) style dishes.

When I ate there the food felt like a tasty treat (nicer then I usually eat) while the atmosphere was still relaxed and casual, catering to adults or larger groups.

It was surprisingly not crowded or hip-feeling (which is something to keep an eye out for in Culver City if that's not your thing) when I was there.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 7:11 AM on June 17, 2017


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