For all new hires (and existing staff) a small guide of restaurants mostly in walking distance, or short drive from ISI.
If your favorite place hasn't made it here, please send feedback to voeckler at isi dot edu with the info for all columns. No real promise that I may include it - after all, I'll have to try it first.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price | My Rating | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | fast food | $ | don't complain to me | across the road |
| Panera Bread | Sandwich, Salad | $ | OK | 4730 Lincoln Boulevard |
| Panda Express | Pseudo-Chinese | $ | OK | 4325 Glencoe Ave #C4 |
| Subway | Sandwich | $ | cheap | 4706 Lincoln Blvd |
| Quiznos | Sandwich | $ | toasted! | 4317 Glencoe Avenue |
| Panini Coffee & Cafe | Soup, SW, Salad, Burger | $$ | OK | 4325 Glencoe Avenue |
| Wharo? | Fish-Taco | $-$$ | OK | 4714 Lincoln Boulevard |
| Irori | Japanese | $$ | better | 4371 Glencoe Avenue |
| Sugar Fish | Sushi | $$$$$ | (too expensive) | 4722 Admiralty Way |
| Ralph's | Sushi, Soup, Salad, Deli | $-$$ | cheapest sushi, slow deli | 4700 Admiralty Way |
| Pavillion's | Sushi, Deli | $-$$ | 4365 Glencoe Avenue | |
| Gelson's | Deli counter | $$ | OK | 13455 Maxella Avenue |
| Jerry's Famous Deli | Deli | $$ | dislike, but open late | 13181 Mindanao Way |
| Rainbow Acres | Soup, SW, Salad | $$-$$$ | organic | 4756 Admiralty Way |
| Chipotle | Mexican | $ | once-a-week must-have fix | 4718 Admiralty Way |
| Mendocino Farms | Sandwich, Salad | $$-$$$ | Upscale tasty sandwiches | 4724 Admiralty Way |
| Fresh Brother's | Pizza | $$ | lots of cheese | 4722 1/2 Admiralty Way |
| Baja Fresh | Mexican | $ | OK | 13424 Maxella Avenue |
| Rubios | Mexican | $ | OK | 4250 Lincoln Boulevard |
| El Torito | Mexican | $$-$$$ | good; long walk | 13715 Fiji Way |
| Singapore Express | SE Asian | $ | good | 4236 Lincoln Boulevard |
| Antica Pizzeria | Italian | $$ | OK | 13455 Maxella Avenue |
| Pizzarito | Pizza | $ | OK; cash-only | 4371 Glencoe Avenue |
| California Pizza Kitchen | Salad, Pizza | $$-$$$ | calories galore | 13345 Fiji Way |
| The Counter | Burger | $$-$$$ | occasional treat | 4786 Admiralty Way |
| Fat Burger | Burger | $$ | OK | 4325 Glencoe Avenue |
| Shershah | Indian | $$ | OK, lunch buffet | 13444 Maxella Avenue |
| Shanghai Red | not-Asian Fusion | $$$-$$$$ | OK; long walk | 13813 Fiji Way |
| Cafe Del Rey | Upscale Fusion | $$$$ | excellent | 4451 Admiralty Way |
| Cousin Cheryl's | Bakery | $$ | mixed, closest, cash < $10 | 4662 Admiralty Way |
| Souplantation | Soup, Salad buffet | $ | ask for USC or AAA discount | 13455 Maxella Avenue |
| Brennan's | Irish Pub | $ | not sure about lunch | 4089 Lincoln Boulevard |
| Benny's Bar-BQ | BBQ | $-$$ | once a year | 4077 Lincoln Boulevard |
| IHOP | Pancakes | $-$$ | (untested) | 4070 Lincoln Boulevard |
| Nichol's Restaurant | American | $-$$ | (untested) | 4375 Glencoe Ave |
| Wharo | Korean | $$-$$$ | OK meat-fest | 4029 Lincoln Blvd |
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price | My Rating | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamara's Tamales | Tamales | $$ | best far and wide | 13352 West Washington Boulevard |
| Akbar | Indian | $$ | very good | 3115 Washington Blvd |
| Gaby's Mediterrean | Lebanese, Greek | $ | good | 20 Washington Blvd |
| Gaby's Spin (Express) | Lebanese, Greek | $ | good | 3216 Washington Boulevard |
| Mitsuwa's Food Court | Japanese | $$ | best Ramen in L.A.; cash-only | 3760 South Centinela Avenue |
| Sakura | Japanese | $$ | very good | 4545 South Centinela Avenue |
| Cheesecake Factory | you know | $$$ | calories galore | 4142 Via Marina |
| The Organic Panificio | organic stuff | ? | heard horrible reviews | 4211 Admiralty Way |
| The Shack | Frittenbude | $ | when lunch-break surfing | 185 Culver Boulevard, Playa Del Rey |
| Outlaws | Burger | $$ | OK | 230 Culver Boulevard, Playa Del Rey |
| Thai Talay | Thai | $$ | 8411 Lincoln Boulevard, Playa Del Rey | |
| Siam Thai | Thai | $$ | OK | 7241 West Manchester Avenue, Playa Del Rey |
| Taj India | Indian | ? | 8320 Lincoln Boulevard, Playa Del Rey | |
| Celadon Thai Kitchen | Thai | $$ | (looks nice, untested) | 13364 W. Washington Blvd, Culver City |
| Islands Restaurant | Burger | $$ | OK | 404 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey |
| Piknic Cafe | ?? | $$-$$$ | recommended by Tatiana | 13020 Pacific Promenade, Los Angeles, (Playa Vista) |
| Siamese Garden | Thai | $$-$$$ | no lunch! | 301 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey |
| Baja Cantina | Mexican | $$-$$$ | good | 311 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey |
| Agra Indian Kitchen | Indian | $$ | dislike | 2553 Lincoln Blvd, Venice |
| Hurry Curry | Indian? | $-$$ | OK in a pinch | 12825 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles (Venice) |
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price | My Rating | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalet Edelweiß | Swiss German | $$ | good | 8740 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Westchester |
| Paco's Tacos Cantina | Mexican | $$ | OK | 6212 West Manchester Avenue, Westchester |
| Annapurna | South Indian Vegetarian | $$ | lunch buffet | 10200 Venice Boulevard, Culver City |
| Natalee Thai | Thai and Sushi | $$ | pretty good, loud | 10101 Venice Blvd, Culver City |
| Swanya's | Thai | $ | OK | 4322 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City |
| Green Peas Organic | Sandwhich, Salad | $$ | good | 4437 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City |
| Tito's Tacos | Tacos | ? | lunch queues around the block | 11222 Washington Place, Culver City |
| Samosa House | Indian Vegetarian | $ | good | 11510 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City |
| Tender Greens | organic stuff | $$-$$$ | tasty good | 9523 Culver Boulevard, Culver City |
| Rush Street | Fusion | $$$ | very good, reservations | 9546 Washington Boulevard, Culver City |
| Ugo | Italian Cafe | $$$ | very good; gelato | 3865 Cardiff Avenue, Culver City |
| Ford's Filling Station | American | $$-$$$ | 9531 Culver Boulevard, Culver City | |
| Akasha | Indian Fusion | $$-$$$ | pretty good | 9543 Culver Boulevard, Culver City |
| M Cafe (Chaya) | Asian Fusion | $$ | very good | 9343 Culver Boulevard, Culver City |
| Border Grill | Mexican Fusion | $$-$$$ | tasty | 1445 4th Street, Santa Monica |
| Chaya Venice | Asian Fusion | $$$ | very good | 110 Navy Street, Venice |
| Joe's Restaurant | Fusion Squared | $$$$ | very good, unusual | 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice |
| Lilly's | French | $$$$ | very good | 1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice |
| Abbot's Pizza Company | Pizza | $ | Marcus's favorite | 1407 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice |
| Sauce on Hampton | Rustic Fresh Organic | $$ | tasty | 259 Hampton Drive, Venice |
| French Market Place | French Cafe | $-$$ | good (weekend breakfast) | 2321 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice |
| 3 Square Cafe | German Fusion | $$ | very good | 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice |
| Lemonade(la) | ? | untested | 1661 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice | |
| Urth Caffe | Organic Meals | $$$ | tasty | 2327 Main Street, (South) Santa Monica |
| downtown Culver City | ||||
| Venice and Abbot Kinney | ||||
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price | My Rating | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterfront Cafe | Swiss, Beer | $-$$ | ISI's hang-out | 205 Ocean Front Walk (end of Rose), Venice |
| Father's Office | Upscale Pub Food | $$$ | 30+ beers on tap, no lunch | 1018 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica |
| Father's Office 2.0 | Upscale Pub Food | $$$ | 30+ beers on tap, no lunch | 3229 Helms Avenue, Culver City |
| Fig Tree Cafe | $$$ | Sangria | 429 Ocean Front Walk, Venice | |
| Hotel Erwin | this and that | $$$ | roof-top bar rocks | 1697 Pacific Avenue, Venice |
Stuff to remember, but far, far away. Don't hope to go there. At least, not for lunch. But something to aspire to.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price | My Rating | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mastro's | Steak | $$$$$$ | Best. Steak. Ever. (But loud.) | 246 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 |
| Kenichi's | Sushi | $$$$ | Best. Sushi. Ever. | 78-6831 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 533 E Hopkins Ave #2, Aspen, CO 81611 419 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701 |
Last updated: 2010-11-29