More wine bars to come for BottleRock fans
(Credit: Beatric De Gea)
Navigating: Culver City
A year-round gastro-drinko destination
By Jiyeon Yoo, Metromix and Amir Kenan, Metromix
March 9, 2008Akasha
9543 Culver Blvd., Culver City310-845-1700
Green is so big right now—and Culver City’s latest citizen, Akasha, proves how huge it is. The restaurant-cum-bar-cum-bakery has taken over the cavernous San Gennaro space inside the landmarked Hull Building. Sustainability is not a buzzword, but a way of life for Chef Akasha Richmond: She’s a spokesperson for Silk soymilk, has maintained a column for "The Vegetarian Times" and most recently published a health-food cookbook called "Hollywood Dish."
Backstage Bar & Grill
10400 Culver Blvd., Culver City310-839-3892
Back in the day, Cary Grant was a regular at this unassuming dive bar across the street from Sony Studios. Now the biggest stars you’d find are the ones that take on the karaoke mic after chugging down a cheap pint or tossing back something called a Culver City Slut. But if you ask us, the food is the real star. Backstage not only claims “the only bar kitchen in history without a freezer or microwave,” the menu also features a deep-fried Snickers bar served with chocolate sauce and whipped cream! No contest.
Beacon
3280 Helms Ave., Culver City310-838-7500
Back in 2004, chef Kazuto Matsusaka couldn’t have known how portentous was his decision to keep the name and the art deco signage of the laundry that had previously occupied the space. This Beacon heralded an unlikely dining explosion when it opened in Helms Bakery to rave reviews and the most coveted reservations in Los Angeles. The modest yet elegant Asian cafe is still one of L.A.’s best (and most affordable) foodie experiences. Take note: Matsusaka is a pioneer of fusion cuisine.
BottleRock
3847 Main St., Culver City310-836-9463
The concept at BottleRock is brilliant: Select from any of the 700 bottles on the shelves (or from the vast cellar) and drink it by the glass, with a two-drink minimum. The decor is New York-loft chic, with exposed ducts, hardwood floors and polished aluminum stools. A refined menu of small plates and fancy bar snacks (think olives, cheese and Marcona almonds) is a great excuse to keep the vino flowing.
Carbon
9300 Venice Blvd., Culver City310-558-9302
Westsiders sometimes have to trek all the way to Hollywood just to get their groove on. But thanks to Carbon, Culver City is as far as they need to go to listen to Timbaland’s latest and dance, bump and grind the night away. The drinks are stiff, the staff is hot, and the clientele is always out to have a good time. Take that, Hollywood!
Duke's Hideaway
9400 Culver Blvd., Culver City310-838-7963
A true remnant of Old Hollywood’s studio days, this piano bar is in the lobby of the historic Culver Hotel. The gorgeous vintage room is spacious enough to hold the mixed bag of theatergoers, entertainment execs, hipsters on the wrong side La Brea and the recent upswing of yuppified locals. Go during happy hour, when the drink prices are not epic. Oh, and “Duke” refers to John Wayne, who once owned the entire building.
Ford's Filling Station
9531 Culver Blvd., Culver City310-202-1470
Let’s get this out of the way: Chef/owner Ben Ford is Harrison’s son. While that kind of connection would keep any second-rate spot going for years along Sunset or Hollywood, the bona fide chef has earned his chops in this dining mecca. This filling station is still one of Culver City’s busiest restaurants. And while it claims to be L.A.’s first gastropub, menu items tend to be higher on the foodie chain, like braised Kobe beef cheeks and stuffed suckling pig. There’s a respectable wine list as well.
Fraîche
9411 Culver Blvd., Culver City310-839-6800
One of our favorite restaurants to set up shop in 2007, Fraiche has a boatload of things going for it: great food crafted by skilled chef Jason Travi, formerly of La Terza, who knows how to bring sophistication to rustic, belly-warming dishes; a welcoming room that feels both spacious and bustling at the same time; and one of the best sidewalk patios for going al fresco year round. Looking for a nightcap? The formidable bar is open until 1 a.m. every night.
K-Zo
9240 Culver Blvd., Culver City310-202-8890
The unassuming space next to Trader Joe's continues to attract droves of chow-crazed sushi lovers, who run up a steep tab while grazing through the irresistible selections of sushi and fusion small plates from chef Keizo (get it? K-Zo?) Ishiba. Be sure to call ahead for reservations, or be prepared to wait. And don't confuse this place with nearby Sushi Zo, although you wouldn't be the first to do so.
La Dijonaise
8703 Washington Blvd., Culver City310-287-2770
La Dijonaise was the first restaurant to gain admittance into historic Helms Bakery—back before either Culver City or casual French were considered gastro-worthy. Now the oh-so-Parisian red awnings offer a charming setting for a relaxed afternoon conversation. While the fare is moderate—you’d likely find better bistro elsewhere—the pastries, especially the buttery croissant, continue to feed the diehard fans.
Mandrake
2692 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles310-837-3297
The Mandrake takes hole-in-the-wall to new heights with its blink-and-you'll-miss-it neon BAR sign. Don't worry: If you're thinking, “This can't be the place,” you're right outside this dive. Owner Justin Beal decked the bar with wall-to-ceiling wood panels and mini-tree-ring tables he crafted himself. There's no dancing allowed, but the Mandrake's artsy clientele (from the cluster of surrounding art galleries) come for the low-key vibe and rotating art exhibits.
Saints and Sinners Lounge
10899 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles310-842-8066
The naughty and nice line up to do shots of Hell Fire (flaming cinnamon liqueur) and Holy Water (infused vodka) at this Culver City tribute to the ’70s. The plush furniture and dark alcove wallpapered in images of an orgy encourage sinning, while the baroque cupids near the bar serve as a gentle reminder of heavenly retribution.
Tender Greens
9523 Culver Blvd., Culver City310-842-8300
Gosh, who’da thunk that a gourmet salad place would do so well in Los Angeles? The high-concept organic menu is relatively simple: It’s a structured like a cafeteria, but with the freshest locavore ingredients available. Lines snake out the door at practically every hour of the day or night, but there’s no need to be impatient. Service is a fine-tuned machine—plus, there are plenty of boutique wines and draft microbrews to be had.
Ugo Italian Bar
9501 Culver Blvd., Culver City310-204-1222
Fashioned after the cafes of Italy, this stylish new extension of Ugo Café serves coffee, gelato and liquor—yes, we’ve just about died and gone to heaven. The sidewalk patio along downtown Culver City’s main drag provides most of the seating and plenty of people watching. Drinks are fancy (please, anything with limoncello!), and coffee can be spiked with a shot of grappa or any other poison. The menu of small plates even manages to outshine its older sister’s more traditional fare.
Ugo Wine Bar
3865 Cardiff Ave., Culver City310-204-5645
It’s rustic enoteca-meets-The Jetsons. Using futuristic-looking Enomatic machines from Tuscany that keep wine from oxidizing, Vinum Populi lets customers sample as little as one ounce of as many as 48 wines in stock. While vinum is the main attraction, good food makes everything a little better. An edited menu of insalata, antipasti and salume is available, but if a platter of pasta is what you’re after, Ugo Café is right through the portal next door.
Wilson
8631 Washington Blvd., Culver City310-287-2093
Tucked in the corner of the Museum of Design Art and Architecture, Wilson is equally spare and stylish. The food also does its modernist part: Chef Michael Wilson spins out defamiliarizing avant-garde interpretations of Americana. The sloppy Joe is made with ground rabbit, the BLT is stuffed with barbecued eel, and the slow-roasted pork shoulder may just make you wish that you grew up with Wilson as your mommy.
And, coming soon to a Culver City near you…Rush Street, Father’s Office II, Vinoteque (from the makers of BottleRock) and the yet untitled Mark Peel wine bar project.
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