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.