West Los Angeles Restaurants
 

Any recommendations as to good restaurants in the Marina Del Rey/Venice Beach/Santa Monica (Main St.) area? I'm celebrating with family from out of town this weekend and want to take them out to a classy seafood/steak-ish place- I hate chain restaurants (so no Cheesecake Factory or Chart House), and have been to the Warehouse, Harbor House, Waikiki Willies and not liked them enough to go back. I'm interested in Shanghai Reds but can't find the menu online- anyone been there? Any suggestions (price is not an issue) are appreciated!

The Border Grill (two locations) in Santa Monica has received terrible reviews recently.

In Santa Monica, Ocean Avenue Seafood is a first-class place. Joe's Restaurant in Venice gets incredible write-ups in the "LA Times". I have always had good Italian at I. Cugini, but some consider it a bit overrated. Il Fornaio now has a Santa Monica branch right off the Pier, and it's pretty good too.

I happen to like Border Grill. Most of the negative comments mention its boiler-room-like noise level (and I grant you, it IS noisy). Some quibble over its "unauthentic" Mexican menu, but that's the point-- this is Mexican-inspired food, using traditional ingredients (tomatillos, chiles, epazote, etc.) in less-than-traditional ways. Everything I've had there is very tasty (and the desserts are great!). You want authentic Mexican, head over to el Cholo on Wilshire. It's great as well!

In the Main Street area, Chinois on Main is the Wolfgang Puck property, and gets good marks. Schatzi (Ah-nuld's restaurant, as I recall) received consistent pans for several years-- but I think they have a new head chef, so it might be better.

Broder Grill is a dirty restaurant where they pack you in like cattle, and the noise level is enough to drive you insane. The waiters ar really working in third-world conditions, the same as you "dine" in. The two women who started it got a lot of hype, and apparently the standards went into the toilet not long after.

I'd skip Shanghai - it is big for weddings and large parties but not top-notch - I'd run to the Chart House before going there.

Especially as it seems you are looking for a large restaurant, I second Ocean Avenue. You can't really go wrong there.

I've never (repeat: never) had a problem with "dirty" restaurant conditions at Border Grill-- and I work three blocks away, so I go there fairly often (and have for several years). It gets busy, sure-- but that's part of its vibe.

I am willing to concede that the noise level is excessive, but that isn't keeping people away. But I would be quite happy if they could bring the ambient noise level down...!

Is it possible that the evening we went there was an exception? There was food all over the floor. The waiter was about to expire (we didn't complain about anything for fear he'd bolt out the door). There were at least 100 screaming kids all over the place (there must have been a soccer game down the street). That restaurant was a dump!!! I seriously doubt the place picked the one night we were there to exhibit its worst qualities in all categories. I thought I wasa back in the hippie 60s and this was a place where fifty or so cohabited.

Frankly, I've never been there when there have been a lot of kids. I've taken large parties there-- but it's always been adults (co-workers, clients). Sorry to hear they got overwhelmed-- but I think it might have been the kids.

Border Grill is a "polarizing" place-- one eithers loves it or hates it. No real in-between.

Well, how about any other places in SM you might have visited? Say, Ocean Ave Seafood? Or Chinois? Or Monsoon (a pan-Asian place, great food, leisurely service, live music every so often)?

The Lobster, adjacent to the SM Pier is a lovely spot with fabulous views. Seafood, nice bar. Monsoon (on 3rd street is great). Anyone here try Josie's on Pico? Gets great reviews but I haven't made it there yet.

www.josierestaurant.com

www.cafedelrey.com

www.drakesvenice.com

Thanks for the replies- I'm going with Ocean Avenue (I always drive by the restaurant, but haven't had the cash yet to try it without someone else buying!)

Great choice. Seafood's been looking really good at the markets recently (so has produce), so your fresh selections should be wonderful.

I'm still thinking about vette4Paris' experience at Border Grill. 100 kids would absolutely pack the place-- maybe it was a poorly-planned birthday party? It's not an appropriate place to bring kids anyway, IMHO. Let them overrun a Round Table Pizza next time...!!