Shima
1432 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA
(310) 314-0882
Cuisine:
Sushi, Health Food, Japanese
April 28, 2008
Authentic Japanese
This place is fantastic. The sushi dishes are amazing. I recommend the yellow tail with jalapeño. It’s very “Nobu” — but somehow better.
If you’re in the mood for more of an “authentic” Japanese dining experience, I’d recommend Shima. No scene. Very nice. And extremely good.
Dishes I tried:
Yellowtail with Jalapeño
They do it better than Nobu.
Canal Club
2025 Pacific Ave
Venice, CA
(310) 823-3878
Cuisine:
Sushi, International, Latin American
April 28, 2008
Best Sushi Happy Hour in Venice
The food here is pretty good. Nothing too crazy, extravagant, or out of the ordinary… pretty standard stuff.
I recommend coming by for Happy Hour. Large Kirin beers and lots of sushi for not a lot of $$. Great service. Always consistently good. And a perfect location around the corner from my office. :)
It can get a tad crowded on weekend nights… especially when the cool kids come down to eat and James Beach is packed.
Capri
1616 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA
(310) 392-8777
Cuisine:
Italian, Californian
April 28, 2008
Western Italy in "Venice of America"
Low key. Great wine. Very relaxed. Great menu.
This place is really very good. The menu is light. The dishes are all prepared with very fresh ingredients. On more than one occasion we got there a bit on the late side and they were out of the items that you’d hope were flown in fresh.. :-)
Ask the wait staff for suggestions on wine pairings.
Axe
1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA
(310) 664-9787
Cuisine:
Californian, Organic, Brunch
April 28, 2008
Finally!
A nice place with great service that serves local farm-direct and organic foods. Most of the healthy or organic places you go to feature slow service or an icky dining room. But not Axe.
This place is great. An interesting menu with some good variety, a really nice wine list, in a very fun environment.
Be sure to make reservations. This place fills up fast.
April 28, 2008
Best Burgers in Venice
Ok, this place is a dump. Eventhough, they just painted the outside ( see http://www.yovenice.com ) it’s still a hole in the wall.
And it’s awesome.
Great crowd. Amazing burgers.
Bring a friend, get a pitcher of beer and order 2 burgers.
Don’t ask questions. Just go and do it.
Now!
Dishes I tried:
Cheeseburger
Best burger in Venice. Period.
Islands
404 Washington Blvd
Marina Del Rey, CA
(310) 822-3939
Cuisine:
American, Hamburgers, Burgers
Uncle Darrow's
2560 Lincoln Blvd
Marina Del Rey, CA
(310) 306-4862
Cuisine:
Cajun, Soul Food, Cajun/Creole
July 5, 2008
Spectacular!
This is probably one of the best, original restaurants in Venice/Marina del Rey. Sure, there’s good Italian (Alejo’s) and Mexican (Lulu’s) and Sushi (Kifune)… but Uncle Darrow’s is something special. It’s not your run of the mill cookie-cutter restaurant. It’s a flavorful experience, a friendly atmosphere, and fresh ingredients.
I first visited Uncle Darrow’s when they were in the ground floor of a house in Vencie Boulevard down in Culver City. The food was good then and it’s even better now.
Their location on Lincoln Boulevard is a nice, “fast food-like” place. Clean. Comfortable. Friendly. But you’re not coming in for the dining room.
You will never have better cajun dish anywhere in Los Angeles. The seafood is fresh and corn-meal-batter fried to light perfection. The red beans and rice are meat-free and a fantastically delicious menu item. I’m a big fan of their catfish — in their supper and Po’ Boys.
If you are up for something new, and want to have a great dining experience that’s not your normal, run of the mill meal run over to Uncle Darrow’s ASAP.
Dishes I tried:
Zeek Po' Boy (Catfish, Shrimp & Tater Salad)
Catfish & shrimp po’ boy with tater salad… An amazing collection of flavors done just perfectly. I’d give it 6-stars if I could!!!
Kifune Sushi Bar
405 Washington Blvd
Venice, CA
(310) 822-1595
Cuisine:
Sushi, Japanese, Asian
April 28, 2008
Great Neighborhood Sushi
Not fancy. Not romantic. Not trendy.
But my favourite sushi spot in Venice. The food is great. Service is speedy. Wait staff is nice. The price is right.
I recommend eating at the sushi bar. Roll in after 8p on a week night and sit at the corner. Great way to meet your neighbors and have a good time with the chef.
Dishes I tried:
Lobster Dynamite
One of my favourite things on the menu!


annie
04/30/2008i’ve gotta ask – have you tried the “heart attack” on the menu?