Wurstküche Lunches

If I've been to the same restaurant in twice in a week then you know it's good!

Venice Beach's Wurstküche, pronounced verst-koo-shay and meaning "sausage kitchen" in German, is a new favorite around the office. It fits all the criteria of a Favorite - good food, good beer, cool atmosphere and well-priced. 

The "Purveyor[s] of Exotic Grilled Sausages" (as they call themselves) really know what they're doing - let's just go down the list...

#1 - Good Food. The main and most important thing on the menu - sausages (sausage sandwiches to be exact). They've got 20 different types on the menu! Everything from your favorite Bratwurst to the gourmet Sun Dried Tomato & Mozzarella or Kielbasa to the Exotic Alligator & Pork, Smoked Andouille Sausage. Oh, and did I mention they have 3 different types of vegetarian sausages?! That's right, they've got Vegetarian Italian, Mexican Chipotle and Smoked Apple Sage. If you're still hungry, they even have amazing Belgian (double-dipped) Fries with your choice of dipping sauces. Oh, and I have to mention - they have 5 different mustards!

#2 - Good Beer. Being a sausage place, their beer selection is concentrated on Belgian and German beers with only a handful of North American choices thrown in. Some of the favorites from our group - Spaten Optimator, La Chouffe and Duchesse De Bourgogne. Of course they've got the cider drinkers covered as well, with Aspall English Cider.

#3 - Cool Atmosphere. Just imagine, large open room with a bar on one side, a small elevated dining area in one corner (complete with built in turntables), an enclosed patio in another corner, giant industrial windows lining the front wall, with three extra long picnic style tables in the middle (each sitting over a dozen people) and several smaller tables all along the exposed brick walls. I could live in that room!

#4 - Well Priced. The sausages run from $5.75 for the Classics, $6.50 for the Gourmet and $7.50 for the Exotics. The fries are $3.50-$5.50 depending on the size, with the white truffle oil glaze costing an extra $2. The beers range from $2.50-$250. Okay okay, those are the extremes (PBR can and Duvel Special Methusalem respectively). Most of the beers are about $6 to $11 while the fancy sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages are $2-$5. 

Basically, it's just a fun place to hang out and talk with friends while enjoying a really good meal in a very social situation. I can only imagine how much more fun it gets at night! I can't wait to go back!

Images: 1, 2, 3 (Thank you to the original photographers! I was too busy scarfing down my ridiculously good food to take pictures - which is truly rare for me!)

City Tavern Dinner

The boyfriend and I had yet another great dinner last night - this time at City Tavern in Culver City. 

I had heard about their booth taps (and origins) from some source or another and thought it would be right up Brian's alley. We were nearby, hanging with some friends, and decided to change locations on a whim. The hostess, normally a server, was sharp and we didn't have to wait too long before we were seated. The "rustic chic" atmosphere was welcoming with exposed brick walls, reclaimed wood floors and worn wooden tables and chairs. 

The boys started off with Iron Fist's Renegade Blonde while the girls started off with Julian hard ciders. As with all of the Tavern's beers, the cider is California made. It was served in a tall, skinny glass (almost like an oversized champagne glass without the stem) that complimented the lightly carbonated, tart but not sweet, dry cider well. 

We started off with the appetizer special - Squash Blossoms Stuffed with Goat Cheese. Ah-mazing!

Next up was our entrees. I went with the Yellowtail special while the rest of the gang went with the Southern-style Grilled Cheese with pimento cheese. It was all delicious and perfectly portioned. I was so enamored with the tuna that I totally forgot to take a picture. It was lightly seared, served with a slightly spicy sauce and a cool cucumber and grape salad. I tried Brian's sandwich and it was really hard to admit that it was right up their with mine but got comfort food points. To top off the meal, Brian got a taster of the Craftsman Triple White Sage. It's described as a fruit/vegetable beer and tastes very similar to a Belgium White - quite interesting. 
Can't wait to come back - I hear they have fried green tomatoes too!!

Dinner at Oscar's

Brian and I stopped by a new local hot spot on Friday and had a wonderful date night...

By 6 pm, Oscar's Cerveteca was already busy so we hung out and grabbed drinks while we waited for a table. Brian ordered one of his favorites, Vitus, while I grabbed a cider new to my palatte, Crispin. It was served over ice and quite appropriate for a beautiful summer evening! The vibe of the restaurant was very chill, simplistic, modern with a touch of turn of the century elegance - smooth marble, square tube metal legs, dark wood, high top tables, a long picnic table, mason jars and simple white and wood dishes. 

As we were waiting and soaking in our new hip surroundings, we ordered the Fried Pickles appetizer. I'm a Southern girl so this is one of my favorites when I can find it. They seem to be popping up everywhere recently but these were distinctly different. Not only were they homemade spears but the batter was perfect, the taste unique, and they went well with (or without) the aioli on the side. 
Finally, the waitress whisked us to a wonderful table on the patio where we promptly ordered. 

I went for the Squash Blossom Quesadilla with Roasted Cactus... 

while Brian went for the Chicken & Cheese Empanadas. Both were incredibly delicious and I have to give it up to Oscar Hermosillo (of Venice Beach Wines next door as well) and his kitchen - simply amazing! The servings were just enough to be satisfying and well priced too. 
I highly recommend anyone visiting Venice or even LA make a stop at Oscar's. Wonderful food, great beer/cider/wine selection, with a fun local vibe. (Give me a call and I'll even join you!)