Dive In - Marina del Rey Restaurants
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Dive In!
Famous For Water-View Restaurants, Festive Happy Hours and Award-Winning Brunches, Marina del Rey, A Culinary Center, Offers Diners Everything from Upscale To International
MARINA DEL REY, CA (Release At Will) - Vacationers and business travelers flock to Marina del Rey for unbeatable weather, the romantic harbor and its prime position on L.A.’s Westside. The Marina is at once a serene sanctuary that provides protection from the hustle of L.A.’s bustling metropolis and immediate access to the best restaurants and clubs the area offers. Locals and travelers alike know another reason to spend time in the Marina, namely its burgeoning dining scene. With reinvigorated restaurants and trendy new hot spots, the area has spruced up its number of serious and see-and-be-seen restaurants that cater to an increasingly sophisticated and hip clientele. Along with innovative cuisine that’s often accompanied by stunning harbor views, the Marina features classic Californian and American fare and flavors from around the world. What’s more, the Marina has long been known as one of the city’s best-kept secrets for high energy happy hours and award-winning weekend brunch dining. With more than 60 full-service restaurants packed into less than a two-mile radius, the Marina offers something for everyone.
Fine Dining with a View
The Marina has elevated dining on the water to an art form, offering a variety of experiences from elegant white-linen harborside tables that overlook the docks to endless, festive buffets aboard public yachts. On the water, Hornblower Cruises & Events (Fisherman’s Village, 13755 Fiji Way, 866-548-9563; Hornblower.com) is the tops in tantalizing with an array of public cruises. The company is renowned for its weekend dinner dance cruises, cocktail cruises, weekend champagne brunches, lunches and holiday-themed cruises, complete with music, decorations and breathtaking harbor views. Book brunch for a sun-drenched celebration, or climb aboard a cocktail cruise for few fun hours spent unwinding on the water.
Ashore, the Marina boasts many culinary jewels set right into the harbor. In Fisherman’s Village Sapori Italian Restaurant (13723 Fiji Way, 310-821-1740; sapori-mdr.com) turns out sophisticated Italian pastas like pillowy agnolotti stuffed with cheese and wild mushrooms in a truffle butter-sage sauce and main dishes like classic Tuscan chicken under a brick. Enjoy a casual meal on the heated outdoor patio as the sun sets, or settle into a snug table in the charming dining room. Nearby Shanghai Red’s Restaurant (13813 Fiji Way, 310-823-4522; shanghairedsrestaurant.com) is known for an award-winning champagne brunch on weekends – featuring more than 100 specialty items – and harbor views from every dining area. Whenever you choose to dine, know that this Marina classic specializes in seafood and fine California cuisine served in an intriguing setting with lush gardens and an interior that’s a little bit tiki and a little bit old-school Victorian.
Along Admiralty Way, The Warehouse Restaurant (4499 Admiralty Way, 310-823-5451; thewarehousemdr.com) is another eatery that serves its cuisine in a Polynesian-themed atmosphere – this time liberally seasoned with a little South Seas kitsch. The restaurant’s been open since 1969, but the preparations for its stellar steaks, fish dishes and starters are all decidedly up-to-date, like the lump crab and avocado terrine on a bed of mizuna, and the Maui-onion crusted Chilean sea bass with garlic-ginger shiitakes. Enjoy your meal in the Trader Vic’s-style dining room, or on the heated patio with its lovely water views. On the way to your table, take a minute to peruse the photographs of the rich and famous who have dined here, from basketball pros to Hollywood legends.
At the casually elegant Cafe del Rey (4451 Admiralty Way, 310-823-6395),innovative cuisine shines in a contemporary, open dining room with views of the harbor from just about every table. The restaurant’s Wine Spectator award-winning wine list offers more than 340 selections to go with cutting-edge dishes that change with the seasons, like truffle-topped thin crusted pizzas, a salad of frisée with banyuls vinegar topped with duck prosciutto and fresh fish flown in daily from Hawaii. Evenings enjoy live piano or guitar music in the lounge.
In the mood for seafood? Contemporary and sophisticated, Harbor House Seafood Restaurant (4211 Admiralty Way, 310-577-4555, harborhouse-mdr.com) features a cocktail lounge with adjoining patio perfect for enjoying a glass of wine and the sunset. Enjoy brunch, lunch and dinner in the harbor view dining room while feasting on fresh seafood, steaks, and delights from the oyster bar. Meanwhile, the Marina del Rey outpost of the Chart House on Panay Way (13950 Panay Way, 310-822-4144; chart-house.com) offers fresh seafood, tender steaks and decadent desserts in a splendid setting with spectacular views. Try the Snapper Hemingway, Shrimp Fresca or the slow-roasted Prime Rib.
Eccentric, playful presentations mark the menu at Jer-ne Restaurant + Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey (4375 Admiralty Way, 310-823-1700; ritzcarlton.com/hotels/marina_del_rey).The fashionable, whimsical dining room of The Ritz features marina views and stellar New World fusion cuisine made with sophisticated ingredients. Enjoy a menu of globally influenced small plates, including a fresh heirloom tomato and burrata caprese salad and a flavorful Japanese squash soup. Main dishes include a hearty New York strip and delicate fish dishes including turbot served with guanciale and hedgehog ragout. There’s also Jer-né’s lavish high tea accented with truffles and lobster, and an award-winning, expansive Sunday brunch.
Scene and be Seen
Glow (4100 Admiralty Way, 310-301-3000, 800-228-9290; marriott.com/laxmb) in the Marina del Rey Marriott is one of the area’s newest nightspots. This lush outdoor lounge with sleek black rattan couches, warm amber lighting, fire pits and a crushed glass waterfall, is the perfect setting for gathering with friends to nibble on sophisticated appetizers and sip a selection of hip cocktails. On weekends the soundscape includes DJs spinning house music. At Club Narain (13723 Fiji Way) upstairs from Angler’s Choice in Fisherman’s Village, late-night revelers can expect Mediterranean eats and hookahs while dancing the night away to world music with the Marina skyline as a backdrop. On Admiralty Way, Tony P’s Dockside Grill (4445 Admiralty Way, 310-823-4534; tonyps.com) sports fans can gather in the tavern located inside the restaurant to catch the game on one of the 28 television screens while enjoying an innovative selection of martinis, “foo-foo” drinks and a wide array of classic burgers, salads, sandwiches and entrees. The restaurant is well known for its happy hour and its expansive patio which features some of the best harbor views around.
On Washington Boulevard, right at the south end of Abbot Kinney Boulevard is Beechwood, (822 Washington Blvd., 310-448-8884; beechwoodrestaurant.com) where the bar is the center of the action. The restaurant’s sleek, modern décor features leather couches, a large bar, smaller dining room, and a patio with an outdoor fire pit. The creative comfort food menu, cool vibe, wine list and cocktail menu attract a broad clientele from Hollywood and business types to artsy surfers for dinner, drinks and late-night dining.
At the western tip of Washington Boulevard where the Marina meets Venice, sidewalk patio dining and large picture windows make people-watching as much a part of the experience as the food. Here, happy hour rules at venues like the Venice Whaler Bar & Grill (2-10 Washington Blvd, 310-821-8737; venicewhaler.com) which attracts singles, couples, groups and lots of locals for casual cuisine, live entertainment, and an extensive drink menu. Grab one of the coveted tables on the upstairs deck or a seat in the downstairs picture windows and enjoy the view. Bite (30 Washington Blvd, 310-305-4010) brings in tourists and the after-work crowd alike who occupy patio tables or seats at the bar for the daily happy hour with Asian “street food” small plates, exotic cocktails, sakes and wines. For dinner or a light bite, the sleekly designed restaurant features Japanese sushi and robotaki, Thai-style satays, noodle dishes and Chinese-influenced meat and rice dishes. Another happy hour hotspot is Baja Cantina (311 Washington Blvd., 310-821-2252; bajacantinavenice.com), a casual Mexican hangout that serves traditional dishes from burritos and tacos to fajitas. Communal tables, TV monitors tuned to sports and multiple bars serving frozen margaritas make it a hit among beach lovers and Hollywood types.
Unique Eateries in the Marina
From French to Persian to Korean, the Marina has it all, including one-of-a-kind eateries only to be found here. Tucked away in the Marina Beach Shopping Center on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Via Marina is Joni’s Coffee Roasting Cafe (552 Washington Blvd., 310-305-7147; joniscoffee.com ), a café and coffee shop that’s been a neighborhood staple for 20 years. Using an antique roasting machine, Joni’s creates its own brews which can be purchased on the internet. Stop by for breakfast (served all day), lunch or early dinner of soup, salads and sandwiches in the cozy, casual dining room or at a table on the sidewalk patio.
Korean barbecue restaurants are becoming increasingly popular with Angelenos, and the Marina is in on the trend. For a unique, interactive and healthy eating experience, try Wharo (4029 Lincoln Blvd., 310-578-7114; wharo.com) which features a menu of Korean barbecue items marinated in a choice of traditional sauces, as well as a selection of fine wines and soju cocktails. Choose from kalbi (short rib), bulgogi (slices of flank steak), kobe beef, chicken, filet mignon or seafood and cook them to taste over the gas barbecue at each table. Don’t miss Korean specialties like the scallion pancake and the sizzling, spicy rice-egg-veggie dish bibimbap.
For authentic Naples-style pizza, look no further than Antica Pizzeria (13455 Maxella Ave., Villa Marina Marketplace 2nd Flr, 310-577-8182; anticapizzeria.net/index.html) where owner Peppe Miele serves up authentic pies certified by the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association. The restaurant was the first in the U.S. to bear the Naples-based organization’s seal of approval and Miele is the North American division president. Along with crispy-crust wood-fired pizzas baked in a brick oven, the restaurant also features a large selection of pasta dishes and salads for lunch and dinner crowds daily.
Have a hankering for Southern or Cajun fare? The Marina has both. Aunt Kizzy’s Back Porch (4325 Glencoe Ave., #C-9, 310-578-1005; auntkizzys.com) is a long-time lunch, brunch and dinner favorite for traditional Southern cooking served in a no-frills restaurant with red and white picnic tablecloths and walls covered with photos of famous patrons. At Aunt Kizzy’s you’ll find all the finger-lickin’ Southern favorites, from succulent fried chicken and barbecue to cornbread and greens. Sunday brunch is an all-you-can-eat affair with a large buffet spread featuring barbecue, all the traditional sides, and breakfast items like buttermilk biscuits, waffles, grits and breakfast meats. For a taste of Louisiana in L.A., there’s Uncle Darrow’s (2560 S. Lincoln Blvd., 310.306.4862; uncledarrows.com), a small casual eatery on the corner of Washington and Lincoln Boulevards that serves Cajun/Creole specialties like filé gumbo, jambalaya, spicy red beans and rice and po’ boy sandwiches. Southern desserts include beignets, sweet potato pie and peach cobbler. Like shrimp? Look no further than Killer Shrimp (523 Washington Blvd., 310-578-2293). Fresh Louisiana Gulf shrimp are brought in daily and served in a spicy butter-garlic sauce with only three variations: peel and eat with bread, or on a bed of rice or pasta.
In the two-story mini-mall that houses Killer Shrimp, find Pradeep’s (517 Washington Blvd., 310-577-9293; pradeeps.com), a must-go, where Indian food lovers watching their waistlines can get their fill of saag paneer, chicken tikka masala and bharta without butter or cream. The restaurant also serves salads made with leafy, organic greens. Popular dishes include Pradeep’s salmon, roasted eggplant curries and traditional sweets like gulab zamun, kulfi (traditional ice cream) and tangerine sorbet served in a festive, bright atmosphere. Downstairs, Tajrish (507 Washington Blvd., 310-301-3344; tajrishrestaurant.net) offers diners an authentic Persian experience in a quaint café atmosphere. Nibble on fresh onion, mint, radishes and soft lavash bread with butter while deciding what to order. Popular menu items include a juicy koobideh (ground chicken or beef kabobs) and a selection of skewered chicken and meats served on a bed of saffron rice and/or crisp romaine salad. For an aromatic Persian stew, try the fesenjan – chicken in a pomegranate and walnut-rich sauce.
The end of Washington is concentrated with eateries that will appeal to all. A favorite dining spot for families and groups, C&O Trattoria (31 Washington Blvd., 310-823-4941; cotrattoria.com) and its sister restaurant C&O Cucina (3016 Washington Blvd., 310-301-7278; cocucina.com) feature large portions of traditional Italian salads, pizzas and pastas in a casual setting for lunch and dinner. The restaurants are both known for their large, lively patios, endless – and delicious – garlic knots and a wine bar honor system where diners keep track of how many glasses they’ve poured from a communal carafe.
Interesting options on this end of the Marina include eateries specializing in fare from the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Breakfast, lunch and dinner become a Cuban-inspired treat at Mercedes Cuban Grille (14 Washington Blvd., 310-827-6209; mercedesgrille.com). House specialties include classic Cuban citrus-garlic chicken served with mojo onions, black beans and plantains and Ropa Vieja (stewed flank steak served in a mixture of rice, beans and plantains). For a healthy helping of Lebanese food, try Gaby’s (20 Washington Blvd., 310-821-9721) a few doors down. Whether there for lunch or dinner, each meal starts with warm, fresh pita and a dish of zaatar (olive oil mixed with ground sesame seeds, thyme and sumac) served with chopped onions and tomatoes. Specialties include shwarma plates and sandwiches – served with crispy French fries or a crisp romaine salad – and authentic lamb, roasted chicken and beef dishes.
Further east along Lincoln Boulevard is 26 Beach (3100 Washington Blvd., 310-823-7526), a neighborhood favorite for brunch, lunch and dinner that features a whitewashed patio decorated with cozy curios and a tinkling fountain, along with a more masculine low-lit interior dining room with rich wood tones and leather booths. The extensive menu includes an interesting array of breakfast plates like “The Elvis” (French toast stuffed with peanut butter, jam and bananas), and lunch and dinner dishes include large, inventive salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and pizzas. Across the street, the Marina branch of a family-owned Los Angeles chain, Akbar Cuisine of India (3115 Washington Blvd., 310-574-0666; akbarcuisineofindia.com) serves traditional fare in an upscale atmosphere for lunch and dinner crowds. Dishes are paired with a hand-selected wines and the restaurant also features the occasional winemaker dinner. Appetizers and entrees range from mild to spicy and heat can be added on a scale from 1 to 5, with the upper end packing the most punch. The chicken wing appetizer will please chile-heads, and even spicy dishes can be adjusted to satisfy those who like things on the milder side.
Dining Hotspots Nearby
The Marina is adjacent to the eateries of Venice, including the offerings of eclectic Abbot Kinney Boulevard. This stretch offers both casual and upscale edibles. Abbot’s Habit is a community favorite for coffee and breakfast items, while Stroh’s Gourmet is known for stellar snacks and sandwiches. Jin Patisserie, an Asian-influenced tea room and chocolate shop offers decadent confections and high tea complete with finger sandwiches and scones in the Zen courtyard. The western end of Abbot Kinney features a cluster of elegant eateries where reservations are recommended. Axe (1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd., 310-664-9787) serves organic, upscale dishes in a soothing minimalist setting. Nearby, the award-winning Joe’s Restaurant (1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd., 310-399-5811) features sophisticated comfort food with cutting edge ingredients in a relaxed, contemporary setting. Don’t miss the affordable three-course prix fixe brunch on weekends. Primitivo (1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd., 310-396-5353) offers a boisterous wine bar experience with Mediterranean tapas and an extensive wine list. Nearby, Hal’s Bar and Grill (1349 Abbot Kinney Blvd., 310-396-3105) also features a seasonal menu, lively bar and late-night dining.
The Marina is also only three miles from Santa Monica’s Main Street, home to many cozy cafes and trendy restaurants from upscale eateries like Chaya Venice and Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois on Main to casual cafes like Mäni’s Bakery, Amelia’s and Urth Caffè. For more information and a complete list of eateries visit mainstreetsm.com/main.walk.html.
Thanks to its central location, it’s also a short drive to the bourgeoning culinary scene in Culver City – think Ford’s Filling Station, Tender Greens and wine bar Bottlerock. Visit downtownculvercity.com for more information.
