Stu -- that's not the best shortcut. You only think it's faster turning onto Jefferson but you get stuck at some mind-blowingly long red lights, and often a lot of merging traffic at Sepulveda.

Stay on Overland all the way to Sepulveda. As it rounds the corner at Holy Cross, it turns into Playa. Then left at Sepulveda. All you have are a couple of stop signs and one potential red light.

Back the subject of food, and even though the owners are Trojans in Bruin territory, their new Skylight Gardens opening up in Westwood Village, across from Napa Valley Grille, will, if their ultimate menu when they open March 1st is anything like their friends and family evening, be THE Village destination. They snagged the chef from Pane E Vino, which recently closed down.

surfergirl...I'll have to try it..although I don't recall any traffic snags where Jeff turns into Sep...but always willing to try something new.

So Trojans have invaded our Westwod, eh. But another place to try. I like the NV Grille, too.

Any suggestions within walking distance of the Nokia Theatre for a couple of low-income college students? DD says most everything at LA Live is out of their price range.

Lee Ann

The Pantry is pretty reasonable.

The Original Pantry is pretty awful, but college student digestive systems should be able to handle it. It's also fairly expensive for what you get..$12 sandwiches etc.

They can check the menu at www.pantrycafe.com

Friend who works at 8th and Fig usually goes for lunch at Corner Bakery, IHOP (yes) or Simply Salad. There is also a Ralphs at Flower and 9th that has sandwiches, salad bar, etc.
Some of these are only going to be open during working hours.

They might check out the Yardhouse at LA Live, I think it's the best value of the lot.

I'll pass your suggestions along to them. Thanks!

Lee Ann

We just went back to Lula on Main St. in Santa Monica today and I have to reiterate that it continues to be one of our all time favorite Mexican restaurants!

Green Peas on Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City is closed for renovation. I'll post when it reopens.

A surprising find only five minutes from LAX.

Late Sunday afternoon, we had a friend on a layover on the way to Australia, so on a whim we hit Chalet Edelweiss on Sepulveda just north of the airport.

http://www.chaletedelweiss.us/

Terrific Cheese fondue (for two) and all salads were good (including a spinach salad). Our friend had the Käse-Bier-Suppe mit Schwarzwälder Schinken (Bitburger beer with Black forest ham and cheese combined in a tasty soup with a warming color and flavor) that she said was very good.

I topped my dinner off with a chocolate soufflé that the lady said was less than 250 calories (I don't know if she was kidding). Upon departing, we each were given a big bar of Swiss Chocolate (nice touch). Total was $81 for the three of us (plus tip).

Tracy and I want to go back and have Rheinland Saft-Gulasch mit Spätzle und Rotkraut
(a Goulash in red wine marinated beef and pork stew, simmered with sweet Hungarian paprika and onions that's served with homemade Spätzli and red cabbage).

Lady who owns it (well, I think she owns it) is from outside Bern, Switzerland, and she was really nice.

Now we just need someone to fly to LAX to give us an excuse to drive that far.

Chalet Edelweiss
8740 Sepulveda Blvd.
Westchester, CA 90045
310.645.8740

((H))

Just a couple of comments on already-mentioned places.
I totally loved Waterloo & City (in Culver City). Food was delicious, and our waiter (Michael?) was excellent. Looked like a nice place to go for drinks & an appetizer too. Easy parking.
As for Martha's in Hermosa Beach, the food is good, and a locals hangout, but know that it is nothing fancy. Those outside tables all slope due to the patio being on an uneven surface, and the service is ok but not great. The wait is usually quite long on the weekends, and parking is challenging.
Finally, I hope to visit Rock Sugar soon, and was interested to hear that folks here recommend it. Have been hearing about it after multiple trips by my hairstylist, who is a real foodie. He claims the Banana Custard Cake is to die for.

Also in Culver City, is Ugo which has a wonderful wine bar and cafe. We were recently there and enjoyed it very much. Very popular place, with seating inside and out (with heaters).

http://www.cafeugo.com/cafe.html

We love the charming little downtown Culver City. There are several attractive-looking restaurants near Ugo.

Ah, now this thread will make me sad, altho I will definitely keep reading it......we are heading back to Boston on Sunday night, (April 8) and will no longer be "locals"---not that we ever really were! Just temporary ones.....

We did not make it to Culver City this time, but have gone to Ford's Filling Station (mentioned upstream) in the past. Ugo above sounds great!

Socialworker, you could start a thread eating like a local in Boston!
Safe travels.

Thanks, Peace, good idea but we would only have a handful of places to recommend, as we don't go out in Boston the way we do here. However, other posters would, no doubt, have good contributions!

As a nod to one of our favorite places here, which probably does not attract a lot of locals (as opposed to tourists), I--for the first time in 8 years of Fodor participation--put up a pic on my profile that I took on Monday of this week. The view is from the veranda of the Georgian Hotel. You locals should try it if you have not yet, such a great combo of good food, amazing vista and really reasonable prices!

Late to the party here and I apologize if any of these have been already mentioned. Just returned home staying 3 nights in Century City. Places we tried and enjoyed were:

-Sushi Masu on Westwood, a mid-range sushi restaurant, excellent food and good value.
-John O'Groats on W. Pico, terrific breakfast spot, great pancakes and egg dishes.
-Guido's in Santa Monica, old school, comfort Italian cooking.
-In n Out in Westwood, best fast food burgers, cheap and very crowded at lunch.
-Gilbert's El Indio in Santa Monica, popular neighborhood spot, almost a hole in the wall (serving cokes in a glass jar), great Mexican food, huge burritos! No reservations, cash only.

Seems like this thread just won't die..good. Thought I would alert you that Conde nast Travler (May Issue)has an article on hot restos in L.A., NYC, Paris and Hong Kong. The L.A. restos that made it are the simple A-Frame in Culver City which I have touted above somewhere, Picca on Pico (Peruvian), Son-of-a-Gun and Red Medicine. Interestingly enough all of these were in the very reasonable category, especially so when compared to the offerings at all other locations. Paris is out of sight, topping NYC prices by much more than 100%. (Ah, yes, L.A. is a cultural, foodie desert..NOT!)
stu

Well, I'll try to contribute a few to keep this thread going! :)

There's Pampas - believe someone mentioned this Brazilian churrascaria. One of my favorites.

Also Urth Cafe, an organic coffee and tea cafe with a wonderful bread pudding. Has this been mentioned before?

http://www.urthcaffe.com/

And the marvelous Malibu Seafood Restaurant with its great, fresh seafood. Can't wait to get back to LA to go there again!

http://www.malibuseafood.com/

I saw the CNT article and comparing their Paris and LA prices is like apples and oranges. The Paris prices are all listed as multi course menus whereas the LA prices are starting prices for single dishes with many being small plates. The price for Septime is for a 6 course tasting. Small plates add up and I doubt you could get out of Son of a Gun or Red Medicine for less with an equivalent amount of food especially after factoring in almost 30% tax and tip on top here. LA isn't a foodie dessert but it's not less expensive either.

Oh and in an effort to actually contribute to this thread ;) some places I've eaten in the last couple of months and liked:

Racion in Pasadena, tapas style, the duck sausage stuffed squid is fab
Vol 94 in Pasadena, a wine bar with creative small plates (I think the food is better than Lazy Ox)
Papilles in Hollywood, nice changing market menu, the foie torchon (extra supplement) is great
Church & State in downtown, Sunday dinner was a good value

My weekend of overindulgence starts tonight at Newport Seafood followed by lunch at Marche Moderne tomorrow :)

Patty....too bad you didn't come across thie thread befoere..you would enjoy it. You're right..guilty of apples and oranges...but I'm basically a "small plate" fan. I still think dollar for dollar, meal for meal, plate for plate you can get by very sated in L.A. compared to the others. I've dined, snacked, grabbed a bite and munched in over 75 countries over seven decades...but I'm not a foodie per se'...love good food, but it's not my main thrust for travel.

By the way, try The aforementioned A-Frame..it's fun. See my review scrolling way back. Nice to see you on this thread.
Happy travels and happy food-ing.
stu