Fun spot between Long Beach and UCLA

[bekkiz]

We're taking a cousin who goes to UCLA out to dinner, after attending a sporting event in Long Beach on a Sunday evening. Price is no issue, but probably no where that has "weird" (read things with foam or menu descriptions that are 3 sentences long) food, as cousin's palate is still a little young. We're working on it

So I'm looking for somewhere fun to take her on the drive back to her dorm--something to make her forget all the dorm food she's been eating the past few months!

[rjwong]

I'm more than willing to help out someone from UCLA. Go Bruins!

In Long Beach, try Tracht's. I've never eaten there, but I have eaten at Jar, Suzanne Tracht's original restaurant on Beverly Blvd., between La Cienega and Fairfax. Tracht's is located at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel. The food is pretty much a modern take on American food.

In Venice, there's Joe's Restaurant. Popular place, parking on your own is an adventure. Use valet parking instead.

If you want Italian, drive to Culver City to Fraiche. No, I haven't eaten there yet, but I know the chefs there and they're great!! Very popular place with THE prime location on Culver Blvd.

Any of these restaurants should be fine, but make reservations, even for Sunday night.

Enjoy your time with your cousin!

[Pierogi]

Absolutely Go Bruins !

And Go Long Beach !

Tracht's has gotten excellent reviews (I've not been there either, but its on the short list of "places to go"). Also in Long Beach are Lasher's (which is also American food, but very well done) and Christy's, which is Italian. Both I can recommend. Food well above average, service very good and attentive. I am assuming that the sporting event is downtown, Tracht's would be most convenient to that. Christy's and Lasher's would be close, and would also be good if the event were at Cal State Long Beach.

In Torrance, there's a place called The Depot thats a rennovated Pacific Electric trolley station I believe. It's very cute and again has above average food and service. Torrance is about half-way between LB and Westwood.

Santa Monica is thisclose to Westwood, and there's a TON of choices there. Border Grill comes to mind for the fame factor (the 2 Hot Tamales of Food Network fame own it). "Fusion Mexican" cusine is how I'd describe it.

Joe's Restaurant is another excellent suggestion. Also in Venice and very very good is Hal's Bar & Grill, and on Sunday nights they have live jazz.

Sorry, don't know how to do the link thing, but I did check and all of these places have web-sites. And yes, make reservations.

Enjoy the 'hood !!!