Need L.A. restaurant recommendation
 

We are taking our college students to dinner this Saturday or Sunday. They attend school near Marina del Rey. We will be a party of 8, I think.

We're looking for a nice restaurant (but not four-star per se) that would offer fish and beef, and/or Italian, with entrees less than $30. A cool atmosphere for the college kids (they are in the film/television school), with good food and service for the adults.

Someplace with a waterfront location? Or the newest coolest place to go?

We've considered the Cafe Marina del Rey, The Ivy, etc. But they look too expensive.

Any recs?
:)>-

Not the newest, in fact I think it's the oldest, but a big, fun place:

The Warehouse
http://www.mdrwarehouse.com/home.html

menu is on the website.

What about a restaurant that is smaller, and more 'sleek', more edgey? These kids (actually 19 year olds) are into the indie style of music, film, etc. Maybe a low-key club atmosphere for a nice dinner? Impossible?

Or, going the other, more traditional direction, I'm thinking of The Palm as a trusty standby. But which location in L.A.? The kids hang out in Santa Monica, so maybe going downtown would be a nice change of pace for them. Is the downtown Palm nice?

Thanks, all!
:)>-

Do your kids go to LMU? I went there, and a favorite dinner spot was C&O Trattoria. There are two locations, both on Washington Blvd. Go to the one nearest the beach. They have good Italian food with monstrous portions and it's very affordable. If you can, sit outside in the courtyard area--it's very pretty. And don't miss the nightly sing-a-long!

Wow, I had completely forgotten about the Warehouse. I ate there more than 20 years ago. I remember it as a casual, fun atmosphere. Thanks for the memory Patrick.

There was also a place called Charley Brown's nearby, a similar type of fish/steakhouse right on the marina, although I don't know if it is still in business or not.

Vicgoddess, you are entirely right! We went to exactly the C&O, near Venice Beach, on our last visit. It's a really great place to go. So this visit, we need a new place. Thanks! (Did you like LMU?)
:)>-

There are several great restaurants in Manhattan Beach, if you decide to head south instead of north. Hennessey's is a Irish-style pub, but may be a little lower-class than you're looking for. There is a tiny hole-in-the-wall called Mama D's across the street that I remember going to for a Valentine's Day dinner. The Kettle is an all-night diner type of place, but a little more upscale. Beaches restaurant is right near the water, too. Just a tad bit inland is Il Fornaio, which I remember dressing up for (but it's not too fancy. It also might be a chain...not sure).
Yes, I liked LMU. It is a beautiful campus and a great school. Do your kids like it?

Well if you're looking for 'edgy' and willing to go downtown, there's the Edison:
http://www.edisondowntown.com/

A nice place for drinks is the revolving bar at the Westin in downtown, pricey but a fantastic view.

Vicgoddess, thanks. We are on the same wavelength, because we also went to Mama D's, for a wonderful hole-in-the-wall Italian dinner.

Yes, they seem to like LMU a lot. This is their freshman year, so lots of changes.

And we like visiting California all the time!
:)>-

Not sure on the menu but we love BOA it is in Santa Monica... right on the corner of PCH. Very hip place...

Ah, LMU, my almost alma mater... :-) I really liked it there.

Lee Ann

Hmmm...seems there are a few fellow Lions out there in Fodor's world. I think I'm going to post a thread in the Lounge to seek more of us out.

I'm the mother of a graduated Lion!
Rock'N Fish, with a partial view of the Pier and Ocean, in Manhattan Beach, is one of our favorite restaurants in town. Dinner is around $20-30 a person. Make sure you have a reservation because it's one of the most popular places.

http://rocknfishmb.com/

If Manhattan Beach isn't too far, try Fonz's Restaurant just 3 blocks south of Mama D's.

1017 Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan Beach
310-376-1536
www.fonzs.com

or Rock 'N Fish (around the corner from Mama D's, first block above the pier)
120 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach
310-379-9900

Fonz's would be slightly more expensive and quieter.

Don't forget downtown El Segundo:

http://secondcitybistro.com/
www.farmstand.us

Caffe del Rey in the Marina is everything you want--hip, on the water, great food for years and years. Somewhat pricey, but worth it for both food and ambiance.

Thanks, everyone. We have decided on The Palm in Santa Monica. I think it will please everyone. We didn't want to drive far from campus, and wanted a place to walk around after dinner. I'll report back if it's a remarkable dinner.
:)>-

The Palm in Santa Monica?

OR

The Palm at 9001 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood? www.thepalm.com

Remarkable? Maybe. It's a famous restaurant chain. But it could also be rather expensive if you don't order carefully. Everything is ala carte.

It's not very far from LMU, but the drive is almost entirely on surface streets, so it may feel sloooooww.

Jean, good question. On-line it only showed two restaurants, and the other one is downtown. The resie does say West Hollywood, on Santa Monica Blvd. Is there another one in Santa Monica? Or did I just assume it? I know it's relatively pricey, but their side dishes and desserts are sized to share, so that helps. It's a treat for the college kids and their parents, anyway. Thanks!
:)>-

I'm not aware of a restaurant in Santa Monica by the name of the The Palm, and no restaurant of that name in SM comes up on Google.

I think your night at The Palm in WeHo will be something to talk about, but I'm not sure it will be a remarkable meal. They are famous for the atmosphere (not sleek and edgy but very "old school" traditional) and their (expensive) steaks.

In your OP you mentioned Cafe Del Rey and The Ivy as looking too expensive. I put The Palm on a higher cost level than those two.

But, your money = your choice.

Gee. I'll join that chorus. If you do in fact mean The Palm in WeHo (and it sounds like you do), one of a chain from around the country, then I'm dumbfounded by the choice after the criteria you described. I consider The Palm a very expensive traditional steak house mainly for business dinners and expense accounts. I mean, I think it's excellent, but it just doesn't seem to have any relation to what you were talking about.

Not to pile on, but I don't think that area has the "walking around after dinner" atmosphere that you are looking for.

Oh, I don't know. It's right in the middle of the biggest and most popular gay bars and gay dance clubs.

LOL, Patrick, I was referring to it being located on a wide, busy, commercial boulevard. But you have a point too.

Now I must add, "Not that there's anything wrong with that!" :)

Mambo,

Do report back to us, your dining experience, at the Palms in Weho, with the students. We are always interested in other's experiences, and if the price was kept under $30 a person.

I am glad others wrote what I was thinking and was afraid I might sound unhelpful.....but I also was wondering why you would want to take your group to an expensive chain restaurant....

The first time my son went to the C&O Trattoria, the one closest to the beach, as noted above, he was around the age of the young people in your group. I recommend that as a fun place that also has really good food for what I consider bargain prices!

Another vote for C&). My nephew is at LMU and he took my son and my mom there, and they both said it was great! They said the garlic bread is amazing!

Hal's Bar & Grill on Abbot Kinney in Venice. Everything you're looking for.

I'm going to dissent here, but I find C&O Trattoria to be the EPITOME of mediocrity. HUGE portions, fun atmosphere, sure-- but the food itself is not great. It's not Buca di Beppo awful-- but it ain't great.

Alongside the MdR recos you already have (how about jer-ne at the Ritz-Carlton MdR?), I might think about Border Grill up in Santa Monica. Somewhat edgy high-end Mexican in a loud, fun room. Or I. Cugini, which is a good Italian specialist right on Ocean Ave. I work up the street from BOA, and it's pretty good. Jiraffe is no longer THE hot thing in SM, but it's still good. On the Third Street Promenade, Monsoon is STILL a fun pan-Asian place. Houston's has an outpost at Wilshire and Second; for a chain, the food is really good.

If you want to splurge, the Lobster turned out to be a great seafood place with outstanding ocean views (it's at the base of the SM Pier); but it's quite expensive. Ocean Avenue Seafood is up Ocean and a little less pricey; it's owned by the same people who run I. Cugini (and the outstanding 555 East down in Long Beach), and the seafood is really well-done. A new place has opened just down the street from the super-overrated Ivy at the Shore-- Tengu, which is an Asian fusion and sushi place. I haven't been there yet (I no longer live near SM), but the buzz is really good.

Thanks, all. I haven't had internet access for a couple of days. (What's up with very expensive hotels that charge extra for wireless in the rooms-- really tacky, I think! Why is it free at Holiday Inn Express, Marriott Courtyard, but costs at The Ritz? But that's a whole nother thread. . .)

I mentioned a budget of under $30 per entree, not per person, just to clear that up.

The Palm may or may not be the place, given its location doesn't sounds too cozy.

But, what I like about The Palm for a 'traditional' place, is that it's a relaxed atmosphere. And side dishes, desserts are for sharing. So that helps add to the informal atmosphere, and also cuts the price down a little bit.

I'll check out Boa, too.
We've moved the dinner to tomorrow night, so your thoughts are still most welcome.
:)>-

Forget the Palm.

There, I said it.

Wrong for this group, and the food isn't particularly good given the prices.

If you're going to bother driving up to WeHo, why not go a bit farther-- mid-Wilshire-- and more upscale and unique-- say, Opus?

www.opusrestaurant.net

A truly LA experience.

Ok, I've checked out Boa and Opus, but I think the menus are a bit too complex (i.e. fru-fru) for the student groups we've got.

That's why I like The Palm, too, for its simple menu.

But, I'd like more ideas about restaurants that wouldn't be far from LMU. No one wants to drive too far. I'm not that familiar with The Palm location, compared to LMU, but I did get the directions on-line.

Any other thoughts-- under $30 entree preferably, steak and seafood, casual elegant and informal atmosphere? We went to the Charthouse in Malibu last night, and it is similar to what we want tomorrow night, with good food, not incredibly expensive, good service, casual atmosphere. But don't want to go there again.

I know I'm spending way too much time on this. The students will appreciate a meal out, regardless!
:)>-

There's a branch of Trastavere at the corner of Third and Santa Monica in SM. Good Italian, dramatic room. Might fit the bill.

If you want something REALLY fun but way off-beat-- how about English pub grub at Ye Old King's Head? Good food, lots of it, British beer on tap, large ex-pat British clientèle.

What about Morel's at The Grove?

Kincaid's in Redondo Beach comes to mind and it offers you the waterfront location that you were looking for originally. www.kincaids.com

For something waterfront and different, Samba in Redondo Beach is a Brazilian Churrascaria. I think it would be a big hit with college students. www.sambaredondo.com

Well, the dinner's tonight or tomorrow night, so presumably Mambo has already decided.

We actually drove by Trastavere tonight. We happened upon a great little Italian restaurant on Westwood Blvd., La Bruschetta.

We will be going to The Palm tomorrow night. I talked with the other parents today and they prefer it. So I'm sure it will be fine. I'll report back. Thanks so much.

P.S. We drove by the Warehouse the other night, and I had forgotten we'd eaten there when we were here last. It's definitely past it's prime.
:)>-

Mambo, have a great dinner.

I just read a review of a new place in Playa del Rey that you might want to file in your "next time" folder. It is called "The Del" on 119 Culver Blvd.( in the former "La Marina Inn" space). The menu looks very interesting, open for dinner only Tues-Sat, very close to LMU. I couldn't find a website. Here's the review: http://tinyurl.com/yqekge

I also read a positive review of The Del. A million years ago, my husband and I used to go to La Marina, and I always liked the location near the water.

Although it's too late for Mambo, I did think of another place that would be fun (and I can't believe I only now remembered it):

Ford's Filling Station
9531 Culver Boulevard
Los Angeles (just east of Culver City
www.fordsfillingstation.net
Cal-Med cuisine.

Benjamin Ford is the son of Harrison Ford, but this isn't a spoiled-child-of-celebrity story. He's the real deal, with experience at Campanile, Opus, The Farm and others. He studied in France, at the S.F. Culinary Academy and with Alice Waters.

Jean, we went to the La Marina a million years ago too, but also in recent times. The wait staff was there forever, and the food always good. In fact, when we heard they were going to close in one week, we went for a good bye dinner. I didn't know it had reopened, Ivk, so thanks for the link.