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Axe
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
1009 Abbot Kinney BlvdVenice, CA 90291
Neighborhood: Venice
(310) 664-9787
- Hours:
Wed-Fri 11:30 am - 3 pm
Wed-Thu 6 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 6 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat-Sun 9:30 am - 3 pm
Sun 6 pm - 9:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
196 reviews for Axe
Review Highlights
-
"If I could I'd eat this rice bowl every day." In 23 reviews -
"And the warm Chocolate Brownie Pudding." In 4 reviews -
"...enjoyed the fact that the almond milk was homemade." In 6 reviews
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196 reviews in English
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Review from Jeanine V.
Santa Monica, CA
4/23/2012
Simple, well-prepared food in a sleek environment.
+ Food is delicious and features seasonal, local fare. We ordered the kobe beef (excellent), posole, cod, and mussels. Everything was superb, and I liked that the portion sizes were reasonable rather than enormous.
+ Service was attentive yet laid-back and friendly. For some reason I was expecting poor service based on some of the earlier reviews, but we were met with nothing but kind and polite servers, waiters and hostesses.
+ Ambiance is modern and minimalist; the outdoor garden is very charming but can get a little cold. There are some blankets provided, but if you dress accordingly and drink wine you'll be fine.
- The music could have been a little bit louder, as we couldn't hear it even as the noise level died down.
An excellent dining option; I am looking forward to trying it out for brunch. -
Review from Amy D.
5/25/2012 1 photo
After spending the morning in Santa Monica, we decided to come over to Venice beach for the afternoon. On our last visit we went to Gjelina for lunch, and we thought that we would keep with tradition. We then passed Axe, and the building looked great, and the people inside looked young, hip and totally Venice. It was over lunch, so we didn't have to wait in line which was perfect. Upon walking in, we noticed right away, sitting 2 tables down was Marisa Tomei and Lisa Bonet. It was really neat to see the two celebrities, and everyone acted like they were just regular people, it was really neat to see. For our lunch we decided to get the Hook Cheddar sammy, this portion was massive. I have had many grilled chesses' in my day, this was the highlight of the meal. They use bread baked in house, it was thick cut, and the cheese was gooey and super old. We also ordered two salads on the side. One tip would be that you can share a salad, the portion was massive. The first was a shaved green salad with red wine dressing and parm. This salad needed more dressing, i actually took some of the excess from my salad and used it on my sis'. The salad that i had was quiet expensive, it consisted of chicory, capers, apples, fennel, and chicken. You can add chicken and other proteins to a lot of meals, i asked for them to not include the chicken so that the salad would be less expensive. I am not a vegetarian, i just didn't want to pay 16 dollars for a salad. So the bill came and i had to pay the exact price for no chicken as i would if i would have had it, i was not impressed. Also the service was terrible, our waitress just wanted to turn over our table and go home, she seemed very unpleasant, and snobby.
Overall, i am glad that i went, and i may go back for the amazing sandwich and views of the celebrities, but the service was a total turnoff. -
Review from Mary G.
Westchester County, NY
4/21/2012
Came here in the middle of the week with my daughter and her friends. We had a reservation which was graciously honored - we were seated inside immediately.
Great food! I had the chicories, fennel + apples salad w/ white cheddar dressing -
one of the tastiest salads I have ever eaten. For my main course, I ordered the grilled sake beef - it was absolutely delicious - tender and very full of flavor.
The service was fine - I think once the waiter decided we were not going to be snooty or anything he warmed up to us.
Will definitely come back - would love to try other things on the menu but will probably order the grilled sake beef again - it was excellent. -
Review from Amanda C.
Marina Del Rey, CA
5/24/2012
A lot of other yelpers mentioned Axe's poor service, but I'm pleased to say that was not the case when I visited for breakfast! The service was fantastic! The waitress was so nice and attentive plus gave great recommendations when we were indecisive.
The food was even better! I ordered the 9 grain pancake with a side of seared tofu, and even the half portion was enough to take home for leftovers.
Yes, it's a pricier breakfast, but worth it for a once in a while treat! I'll be back. -
Review from Angela W.
Los Angeles, CA
3/21/2012
After reading many of the reviews here's my take for any who may be interested.
Upside: The food is fabulous!! The dishes are well made using local and organic ingredients and you can taste the difference. I love the vibe on Saturday mornings after my bike ride. My favorite things to order are the multigrain pancake (big as your head, or at least mine), the handmade sausage, the rice bowl, the sauerkraut and the roasted root vegetables.
Downside: Waitstaff could at least seem to care that your money goes to pay their salary.
Downside: Seating people with online reservations outside. Is there an actual explanation for that?
Downside: If you're going to force people to sit outside invest in some heat lamps or some wood burning stoves that actually produce heat.
Other observations:
Portions are not typical American sized portions, which I feel are too big anyway. Just be prepared to pay American prices for European sizes -
Review from Lexie K.
Venice, CA
3/20/2012
Had brunch here on Sunday and it was fantastic! If I would have read some of these other reviews I might have missed out on this fabulous place. The menu at first didn't look like something I wanted but I was pleasantly surprised by Axe's breakfast! The 9-grain pancake is so tasty and great for sharing. There are many great egg options - try the white cheddar, so good! Great fresh squeezed juices.
The back patio is super cute and makes a great lazy Sunday morning atmosphere. Our waiter was really great as well - helpful is picking out items and making recommendations.
I would definitely send my friends here for breakfast and I'll be back again to try the bowls which I hear are amazing. -
Review from Gerard R.
Los Angeles, CA
2/16/2012
Food is a 4.
Service is a 2.
After hearing how good the food was, I made a reservation on Open Table for a Friday night. Big mistake.
The next day, someone called to say that since they were busy, the only available seating was outside at a community table. I wasn't thrilled, but since my expectations weren't too high, I figured I'd give it a try. But my girlfriend, who had eaten there before, was clearly disappointed.
So the next day, when they called again to confirm my reservation, I inquired about the possibility of getting a table inside. I was put on hold while they checked. After almost 10 minutes on hold, I finally gave up.
When we arrived at the restaurant for our reservation, it was practically empty. Instead of being seated inside, we were escorted to a large community table in the farthest corner of their outside patio: their own version of Siberia.
What was even more pathetic (and comical) was that this table was packed full of people - in complete contrast to the empty rooms inside. Furthermore, we were seated side-by-side, which made it difficult to have a decent conversation.
Fortunately - or unfortunately - the staff cared so little about the people sitting here, that were were essentially free to sit wherever we wanted, which we did.
On a warm summer night, the outdoor seating would be delightful. Not so on a cold winter night, but at least they supplied blankets and small fireplaces to keep us warm.
I've dined at a lot of restaurants, but this is the first time I've ever encountered something this bizarre. I'm a pretty easy-going low-maintenance kind of guy, but you really have to wonder what the hell they were thinking with this crackpot reservation/seating policy.
The actual wait service and quality of the food (on small plates, meant to be shared) was quite good. The busboys especially deserve honorable mention for providing the best service we experienced all evening. We ordered:
An excellent bottle of Ridge Zinfandel, recommended by our waiter (who turned out to be the manager). Unfortunately, he seemed a bit fuzzy on the overall wine list, or was at least unable to talk about it with much knowledge.
Dungeness crab salad, with grapefruit - a bit pricey at $20, but tasty, if uninspired.
Marinated sake beef - I don't know what cut of beef this was, but it was cooked a perfect medium-rare. In addition, there is a large grill on the outside patio, where this was clearly cooked over an open flame. Delicious! The only problem was that the portion was a bit small. Instead of sharing, we could easily have each eaten one.
Lamb stew - this was a large portion in a bowl. Very tender lamb with Moroccan spices. Surprisingly good!
Root vegetables - a side of yams, carrots, parsnips, fennel, etc.
Chocolate brownie pudding - hot with a vanilla sauce.
As we were finishing our meal, another group of patrons were seated at the table - including some smokers. Gross. I thought smoking in public places was banned in California. Apparently the staff at Axe, despite their green organic persona, don't do anything about it. I have to admit I'm totally baffled by their attitude towards their patrons.
Prices were very reasonable and the food was very good. Too bad the customer service was so lame and clueless. It really detracted from what should have been a very nice evening.
If you want to eat here, whatever you do, call the restaurant directly or you will be treated like a second-class citizen. Even then, I can't make any promises. -
Review from Tyler S.
Los Angeles, CA
3/1/2012
I hate this place.
We got lunch for the office here. They charge my credit card in order to place a phone order for pickup, then void it back to you if you show up with cash. Thats just an anti-customer policy to begin with.
The flavor is there, but it should be when you're paying $20 bucks for a bowl of rice.
The portions are perfect if you're feeding your rabbit. However if this is for a human being you might plan on ordering one entree for every 70 pounds of human.
Pretentious yuppy garbage dump. Go somewhere else. -
Review from bella a.
Venice, CA
2/6/2012
I've refrained from coming here because of the policy that requires one to leave their credit card when making a reservation for the weekend. I just didn't wanna do it! Well I finally caved and organized a group dinner because of diverse food interests and aversions of our party.
Well I'm happy that we went because it was a great meal an everyone left happy. The scene was cool, it wasn't overcrowded and the service was prompt yet laid back. The wine list was good.
Here's what I recommend: the crab salad, the radicchio salad, the bowl (wow), the mussels, the carbonara, the polenta, and best of all the sake marinated filet was incredible. Actually all the meats are grilled on a barbecue and delicious. Mmmm. For dessert try the lemon curd!
I would hold off on the pickled veggies, Brussels sprouts, the chicken (minuscule portion) and the brownie dessert (ho hum).
There is a wide range of choices and something for everyone.
I can't wait to go back for lunch. I want to try the soup and the sausages and the homemade sauerkraut. -
Review from Matt O.
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went on OpenTable and found Axe had a reservation available. I could not wait to eat at this neighborhood restaurant which I had never eaten....so I made the reservation.
When I walked in the first thing I noticed was the bar facing the kitchen so the chefs were on display. I thought "kick ass" this place is going to be awesome. It was really chilly outside and so cozy and warm inside. I told the hostess my name and reservation and she replied with "oh, you reserved online? One thing we don't tell you is you have to sit outside if you book online". Normally I would have no problem with that but outside was so cold I could see my breath.
I'll spare you the detail of a pretty nice conversation but because Seth and I were excited to eat (and there were no other restaurants we could get into on a Friday night) we agreed to eat outside and if a table opened it would be ours.
When we got outside it was so frickin adorable. Seriously, I would give it a 5 star for just the outside. They had a grill, bamboo and little fireplaces (that did not give off heat) scattered. Seth said "it's too cold to eat out here" and I agreed but I also pointed out it would be awesome to have a glass of red wine to warm us up. The hostess said she would come take our drink order and never showed back up. We waited 20 mins and I finally found her and asked for wine. After another 10 mins she brought us wine and a table opened up!
We went inside and had a really good meal.
Here's the thing with this review. "To whom much was given, much will be required". When you have an awesome place, a good concept, an awesome neighborhood location and decor you have to step up the service. Venice is a food town.
I'll be back for sure and I hope to up the star rating. I'm reading Dylan D's post and I have to agree with him. They are not helpful. -
Review from Ethan G.
Culver City, CA
5/13/2012
Our family group of 10 went for a birthday celebration. We waited outside in the patio for about 15 minutes for an inside table.....not too bad even though our confirmed reservation was re-confirmed by phone numerous times.
They must have a phobia about 'no-shows'!!!!!
In contrast to other reviews, the service was also not too bad. The waitress was cheerful and accommodating.
Even though it was crowded, service was quite timely.
Bus-boys were especially nice and when I asked in Spanish they brought a constant supply of yummy French bread & butter....but you must ask for it.
Well, the food was another story. Whoever said it was best ever must have been eating at another restaurant. The 3 oz. of bbq brisket was mediocre and fatty for $14.
I had to ask for salt and pepper.
Spicey chicken soup was delicious and various veggies were good but overpriced......5 pieces of oily wedge potatoes = $6+! 3 large pieces of asparagus $14? Etc.
Small portions are the standard and even the waitress reminded us of that.....kind of seemed she wanted us to order more so we wouldn't be hungry....except for the large half chicken ($22!!!!), but also completely alacarte, not even a piece of decorative parsley.
Warm chocolate brownie was quite yummy.
So overall food was generaly underwhelming, considerably over priced and under spiced.
As another review put it: if you want to look cool at another pretentious nouveau uncomfortable Venice restaurant regardless of cost, go for it.
Cost: $550 for sitting at a wooden bench table with no seat backs...very hipster but very unsupportive!
2 stars in my opinion.
At least my brother-in-law paid the bill!
I won't be back. -
Review from Christina Y.
Santa Monica, CA
10/30/2011
All I could keep thinking during my first visit to Axe was: this place is SO Venice. Located on the end of Abbot Kinney, it's a stark white space with limited decor (it reminded me of the interior of Animal), as well as a gorgeous patio out back. During busy nights it gets pretty noisy and bustling, but we requested a back table when we called to make reservations so it was a bit more peaceful for us. Although the crowd is pretty Venice-chic with weird eyeglasses and hairstyles, I liked that it was pretty mixed in terms of age range.
My favorites of the night were the butternut squash bread pudding, recommended by the waiter, and a delicious fennel salad with apples and cheese. I also had a few pretty forgettable dishes including the broccoli with garlic and the hanger steak, as well as a couple other things that were so forgettable I can't recall them. We also had the bowl with brown rice, sausage and beets which tasted really clean and healthy but didn't necessarily wow me. We did really enjoy the bottle of wine we shared, though.
The meal ended up being about $60 a person, which wasn't terrible but something about the small plate format keeps me from feeling really satisfied. I know some people really like small plates to get more variety in their meal, but just keep in mind that these are pretty pricey small plates, so expect to still pay for the variety you crave!Listed in: Abbot Kinney Must-Trys!
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Review from Jamie B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/29/2012
Looks great with a nice vibe. Shame the waiter and food don't live up to the same standard.
Pretty sure we must have tried it on an off day for the staff considering a lot of the other reviews are so positive, but $18 for a few mouthfuls of very mediocre bolognese which was so hot it must have come flying out of the microwave seems way too much. Plus they delivered the parmesan after I had finished my dish - nice work! My friends egg stack brunch was cold and decidedly average. Not to forget that we waited over an hour for the pleasure (and they weren't even busy!) while having to deal with our server who was so utterly useless he must have been either stoned or had just undergone a frontal lobotomy!
After complaining the manager comped the meal and was very gracious. Silver lining I guess, but can't see a return likely. -
Review from Charles R.
Los Angeles, CA
3/24/2012
4.5 Stars actually... But Yelp doesn't give us that rating option.
And NB: This is a rating for their lunch only (but we did eat lunch there two days in a row).
Recommend Highly: the pasta bolognese dish (delicate, fresh, homemade pasta you will not soon forget; the lentil & sausage soup (a satisfying meal in itself); the line-caught, wild salmon (ok, it was a dainty little portion... but grilled to perfection); vegetable soup bowl was FANTASTIC
BONUS: charming outdoor garden-y seating area in the back w a long communal table (we sat next to some young people speaking French and, for a moment, it felt like we were summering in Provence)
Re: the service - Deal with it people: popular restaurants that serve delicious food in beautiful settings are going to be BUSY at times. I thought the wait staff were friendly, helpful (one suggested trying the outdoor garden patio) and, important, knowledgeable about the menu.
Ambiance inside: minimal chic -
Review from H S.
Culver City, CA
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Just tried Axe this weekend...YUM! not only was the service good, the ambiance is pleasant, light, and comfortably Euro. Axe has a lovely menu and our meals did not disappoint. Go, eat, sip and people watch. You'll be glad you did.
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Review from gator l.
Los Angeles, CA
11/30/2011
Axe rules. I can't figure out why so many eating establishments in Los Angeles just can't pull it together. Axe pulls it together. everything I have eaten there has been phenomenal.
Rice bowl, sauerkraut (kinda more Japanese-style than German) and whatever rosé they had. best afternoon of my life. -
Review from Emily H.
Santa Monica, CA
3/11/2012
I feel totally ripped-off by this place. I paid $25 for one egg, a scone, and a glass of tea (none of which was even good)! How did this happen?! Unless you have money to spare I suggest you save yourself the time and expense!
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Review from Dylan D.
Pasadena, CA
1/23/2012
ATROCIOUS. I don't know if I've ever dined at an establishment less concerned with my satisfaction. The good reviews baffle me - it's as though others ate at a completely different restaurant...or were perhaps blinded by the random celebrity sightings. Dined with my family there for Sunday brunch and Axe's first major sin was that every single coffee at our table took at least 40 minutes to arrive, and that is not an exaggeration. Compounding this problem was our server's absolutely lame excuses for the delay - once we were told that we had too many cups on our table and that was holding up the coffee (again, no exaggeration, almost verbatim what we were told). In fact, our server's only expertise was in the total rejection of accountability. She made no remark when our tables' dishes arrived at different intervals within a 30 minute time span; by that point, I didn't even expect her to inquire about the quality of our food, and, boy did she meet those expectations! Most dishes arrived lukewarm and when I informed her that the potatoes were bland and disgusting, she only asked if I wanted a new order...her seeming obliviousness to her and Axe's incompetence was so total as to be almost believable.
As for the food, I will say that my multigrain pancake (when it arrived) was delicious and my cousin's lentil soup was quite good, but that's the end of the praise. I saw my family suffer through disgusting looking (and disgustingly small portioned!) eggs and pathetic, greasy bacon. I can understand and appreciate healthy, organic, eco-friendly approaches to cuisine, but Axe is simply dressing up sub-par food and an apathetic attitude with those kinds of labels.
Axe epitomizes Venice pretension - you know, where they make it clear that they have deigned to serve you and expect your overpayment in gratitude.
But, hey, we saw Ted Danson, so I guess I'm supposed to give it 5 stars. -
Review from Simone G.
Los Angeles, CA
10/16/2011
Fukin' fabulous.
Love slipping in here for their notorious veggie/brown rice bowl. When I'm pressed for time, on off hours, I can just grab a stool and a bite, they're relatively fast. The back patio is super quaint and great ambiance depending on your company and the weather... At night, no go for business out back unless you want want to cast a spell on your colleague. (Read: romance) If you're with friends or lovers, then trek out back. The window tables are great too, if not a little hard on your ass though. Fresh California cuisine, simple, minimalist decor.
Great staff, appreciate the open kitchen and watching the chefs work.
The incense they burn in the bathroom makes me gag. -
Review from Stephanie P.
Playa Del Rey, CA
I am happy that Axe is back after their fire. It's always good to have a variety of places to go on Abbot Kinney. I wish I could say that I loved this place though.
I went for Sunday Brunch and luckily there wasn't a wait. So, that's a good thing. Or is it? Places with waits usually have amazing food. HHhhmmm. Was that a tell tale sign?
The menu is very limited. I ordered the Breakfast Pilaf. This was brown rice, dates, maple syrup and homemade almond milk. It was good. Not spectacular. I especially enjoyed the fact that the almond milk was homemade. I also liked the fact that this breakfast did not have so many ingredients. It was simple and wholesome.
My friend Anthony ordered the heirloom lettuce salad and the grilled cheese with bacon. It arrived, after a very long wait, without BACON. So we waited some more for his bacon. Not the best service, not very attentive at all.
Also, this isn't the kind of champagne mimosa brunch spot most people would go to for brunch. They do have a great stout and some good Sake though. I'd go back just to see how the menu varies. I posted a photo of the hours because they can be tricky. Make sure you check them out before you go! -
Review from Sheenon O.
Los Angeles, CA
2/16/2012
So, I kind of ended up here by accident. I have to say that I was pleasently surprised. For starters they have this amazing back patio. Since I had not made reservations(ending up here by accident) we decided to have a glass of wine in the back till our table was ready. The wait was not long, the time our wine had arrived they were ready to seat us.
Did I say the patio was amazing. Yeah they have three of those mexican terra cotta fire stove things(what ever they are called) So they have these fires cranking and putting out lot of heat and if that was not enough they have these wool blankets that you can use to wrap around yourself to ensure you are toasty.
Ok back to the dinner, nice ambiance in the restaurant and our server was great at guiding us through the menu and giving some really good suggestions. We took both of the suggestions. The first was King Salmon which was cook medium rare which was perfect. The fish was so fresh and extremely tender. I don't normally like salmon because more often then not they over cook it or it is not fresh(fishy smell). I ordered the Duck confit. This was amazing nice crispy duck that has been salted. The duck sat on something like a yam puree and the some sauteed arugula with fresh lemon. If you eat the duck alone the salt could be a bit strong. But when you get a little bite of everything it is AMAZING. The lemon on the arugula and the yam puree mixed with the crispy duck was perfect. The yams were not over seasoned or too strong in any direction. so they really supported the rest of the meal.
The only dish that I felt lacked a little punch was the spigarello(broccoli greens) I enjoyed it but I felt that just lacked culinary craft that the other two dished delivered. I look forward to coming back here. I notice there was a beef brisket with polenta that I will definitely get on my next trip back. -
Review from Laura L.
New York, NY
8/13/2011
I would like to say something nice about this place, but can't since I have been waiting an hour for a pancake.
Good celeb sightings nice ambience and pleasant staff but that's about it. -
Review from Ron B.
Santa Monica, CA
1/29/2012
Don't bother making a dinner reservation because when you show up they will tell you it's only good for seating in back outside. They were not even remotely accommodating......why even take reservations then!??
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Review from Raquel C.
San Francisco, CA
9/19/2011
Axe is part of this new breed of restaurant that can best be described as organic, minimalist-hipster. If Bon Iver were to ever leave his cabin for brunch, he and his beard would eat here. Because they serve "cows" milk in addition to soy milk and only have espresso drinks but no coffee.
The food was great. Fresh, inventive without trying too hard. Highlights were the buckwheat pancake with berries and the egg and avocado "sandwich" with cheese on pistachio bread. MMMmmmm- the bread!! I wish you could by loaves of this to take home! The sandwich, and all its simplicity, is actually open faced- which the menu doesn't tell you- and comes with a side of pickled carrots and cucumbers. I ordered a side of chicken to go on it, and it was delicious.
What I didn't enjoy so much about Axe is that the service is AWFUL. Really awful. Really really awful. The service was so disjointed, slow, and inattentive that I was almost THAT patron who gets up and walks to the ledge of the kitchen to ask where my food, water, and check were. We were visited by our slow, aloof, waitress for the first time about 10 minutes after we sat down. When we said we needed a few more minutes to look over the menu, I didn't mean 10 more minutes. And that's generally an opportunity a waitress takes to see if we have questions- not just say "OK" and dart off. Up until this point, mind you, we were waterless and thirsty. I actually had to ask for water before the waiter finally came around to fill up our glasses. And then I had to ask again for a refill some 20 minutes later after my first glass had been long long gone.
I asked for the chicken to go on my sandwich and they said they would just put it on the side. OK. Well, it was either eat the sandwich cold waiting for the chicken, or warm without chicken and satisfy my growling belly. I had to ask for my chicken twice, before it was finally brought out to me and i could savor only two bites of my half the sandwich with it.
Once we were clearly done and ready to go, the waitress took her sweet damn time getting us a bill. And then she took her sweet damn time picking up our cards. Then, astoundingly, she took her sweet damn time getting our cards to the register. The place is small, so we watched her and betted on how slow she would be. The register was about 5 steps from our table, and yet our waitress managed to stop along the way to talk to other tables, seat some people, chat with her manager, talk to a bus boy, and then 10 minutes later (no joke) reach the register to ring us up.
The food is good. But not worth the service. You can get fare like this at a million hipster places popping up all around LA. Take your money and TIME elsewhere. -
Review from kristin c.
Hermosa Beach, CA
2/20/2012
Boyfriend recommended the place because we like healthy food. Service was very very snobby. Felt stupid asking questions - it was our first time. People next to us tell us they go there a lot and our waiter was just rude. Coffee took 30 minutes and food took an hour. Flagging down the waiter to get check another 15 minutes. Too Hollywood for me, I will stick with Gjelina and writing their 5 stars next!~~
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Review from Meghan C.
9/1/2011
All around. Pretty dissappointed. Service needs a jump kick, and big need for improvement. Food- while very fresh (like most organic places) was pretty plain and underwhelming.
What started out as a promising start, with taking a seat in the "lounge"- back patio for a glass of wine while we waited for our table started going downhill after 30 minutes and the server saying that they would be back with our wine bottle "any minute". The wine we ordered was no longer available. We were supposed to have been seated inside, but then were moved over to a few tables on the patio.
Turns out, Zach Galifianakis was in the house, and from then on out the entire wait staff catered to him. Once we had our food delivered, we never saw our server again. Not to pour our wine, or water (I did all of that), not to bring silverware (I had to flag down a busser). Pretty much a shoddy service job. Not to mention, the food. Food? Bleh. Again, might just be new opening bumps- but they need serious improvement. -
Review from nicole d.
Los Angeles, CA
1/2/2012 2 photos
Don't go if you are in a rush... That being said, I love the relaxed slow pace of this place..sit breath and chill. ;0) ambiance is warm yet modern and the food is excellent!y 9 grain pancake was epic with pure maple .. This place doesn't skimp on a thing. The pancake had whole poppy seeds, quinowa, faro and corn amongst other to shelf rustic grains! Awesome! Also the cappachino was smooth and delishious . We had the birds nest too wich reminded me of a old dish my grama made.. Complete with southern style colla greens. Go hear!
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Review from Ryan E.
Santa Monica, CA
1/5/2012
eh! The food is pretty good, but it's seriously overpriced. It has this kind of weird, pretentious vibe that I'm never a fan of. Some people will love it because of that pretentious vibe. There is food as good or better and as unique as this place has with less attitude and cost. Honestly, you pick Axe because you want people to think you're cool and trendy in-the-know... and you pay for that image.
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Review from Duncan R.
Malibu, CA
8/15/2011
Hey, Axe has reopened. It is EXACTLY the same as it was....but better. Everything that was burned has been lovingly recreated. I am so happy that it reopened after the fire that took it out a year ago. Great food, lovely people, delightfully limited menu. We ate goat stew. We ate delicious flat bread. We ate home-grown tomatoes and burrata.
I cannot tell you how happy I am. -
Review from Rob B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2012
The food is very good, BUT the portions are obscenely small and extremely overpriced (for the portion size). In fact, it is almost comical how small the portions are. They seem to be even smaller than a tapas dish serving, but are priced like a full entree.
On top of that, they do not include ANY sides with the main entree. So, if you want potatoes on the side (which taste great), then you have to pay extra for that side, which is also incredibly small in size. This is the same sort of arrangement you find at a steak house like Ruth's Chris or something along those lines. At the end of the meal we paid $80 per person, and I had virtually nothing to eat, but was plenty drunk from the bottle of wine.
While I liked the food and atmosphere a lot, the cost and portion size are so ridiculous I would never return. I do not recommend. -
Review from Angie S.
Santa Monica, CA
1/9/2012
Went here because a friend gave me a gift certificate. Great food and my friend said it was the best pork chop he had eaten. However the pretentious energy from the staff upon entering the restaurant is intense and not what I would consider welcoming. A restaurant experience is not all about he food.
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Review from good food for me to eat ..
Venice, CA
3/23/2012
quality of food= good
service= below average
vibe= hit or miss -
Review from joseph v.
New York, NY
7/23/2011
Axe reopened tonight
Our dinner was delicious, with wonderful flavors and pristine ingredients, warm service, and a well priced bottle of Ridge zinfandel
Very glad to have Axe back on Abbot Kinney -
Review from Carla C.
Venice, Los Angeles, CA
1/7/2012
This place is awful. It took forever for them to come back and get us menus and just as long to get water. The ribeye was so full of fat we had to send it back. It seems their placement on Abbot Kinney has given them some sort of sense of entitlement to douchebagery. The whole restaurant was polishing glasses while we tried to get SOMEONE'S attention to pay a lofty check. We never got a dessert menu. The broccoli was really good but I'm really trying to talk myself out of it at this point. Awful. Mediocre and douchey. Oh you don't have time for me? That's really cute. P.S. 'Bend 'n Snap'ing in front of my boyfriend will definitely get you a bigger, tip hostess. Quit acting too cool for school and act like we're human beings.
-
Review from Sanaz M.
Santa Monica, CA
6/22/2011
This place was the best!!! Axe come back! I miss you!!!! :(
2 words: Salmon Bowl!!!!! -
Review from Nancy P.
Venice, CA
1/27/2012
Let me break it down for you: we (3 of us) had a 7:30 reservation and did not receive our appetizer - which we ordered as soon as our server arrived at our table - until 8:30. No check-ins along the way from the slacker waiter, no apology for the ridiculous delay of a dish that involved a piece of flatbread and 5 pre-made dips. The rest of our food arrived at 9:00; a few small plates & one large plate. We were confused by this alleged large plate dish, ironically served on a small plate: a negligible amount of black cod on a bed of mushrooms. Could they have made a mistake and thought we just wanted an appetizer size? We asked our server; nope, this was the grown-up portion. Had anyone else ever complained about the portion size? No. Really? Really?? Because this restaurant used to serve one of the best ever fish dishes, trout with braised cabbage and lentils that was always a generous serving; the anti-thesis of what sat before us. We can't bear to pay $23 ($25?) for this thimble of fish and send it back. Moments later, the server comes back with the dish and blithely informs us that the owner says we'll still be billed for the order, whether we eat it or not. We are dumbfounded. Shocked. Appalled. It's such the wrong response that I actually wonder if we missed something along the way that would have clued us into why we'd be treated so wildly inappropriately.
To add insult to injury, the fish was inedible; it was like eating a salt-lick.
Axe used to be one of my favorite restaurants and I was looking forward to eating there after it re-opened, so this was a huge disappointed on multiple fronts: the incredibly lame server, the inedible fish, the rude response to our dissatisfaction. It would have been so easy to make the situation right.
I'm giving it one star because the wine was good, per usual, and same for the polenta. -
Review from Camellia C.
Los Angeles, CA
When I saw the name of this restaurant, I was like say wha? Axe? Like the deodorant spray?
Nope, "ah-shay." Ahhh yes. Pretentious much? Oh, and it's all organic so you can't get anymore LA than that! But hey, I'm always open to trying new places. I give this place 3.5 stars overall.
My bff Youny and I came here for dinner with low expectations thinking that it would be pricey after reading all these mixed reviews. The area is very cute in the Abbot Kinney area in Venice but crowded and compact. Luckily, we avoided the valet and scored a parking spot further down the street.
Fortunately, we didn't have to wait and had the option to sit out by the patio (no heat lamps), on the long tables where you would sit with others, or the stools in front of the kitchen. We decided to do it Iron Chef style and sit by the kitchen.
The restaurant itself is a bit small and the format seems like it used to be a house. It had an older crowd where people are there to watch and be looked at. Cougar alert?
We asked the waiter for some suggestions and he pretty much listed everything on the menu which I thought was funny and pretty useless. Except, he said he didn't like the pancake which sounded delicious to us. We just went with what our tummies were growling for.
We got:
- Shrimp squid scallion pa-jeun pancake with spicy sauce ($14)
- Half roasted free range chicken that was herb marinated ($24)
- Strawberry shortcake the dessert of the day ($10).
Our pancake took awhile to come but when it did, it was fresh from the kitchen. It's definitely like a korean pancake where it had the scallions and seafood bits in the pancake. It came with six pieces and a sauce that had soy sauce, sesame seeds, and some peppers. The pancake was thicker and more fluffy than the usual thin pancake I have at the korean bbqs. The outside was extra crunchy which was my favorite part! The extra crunch, the more pizzazz it gets. 3.5 stars
The herb marinated chicken came out later and It came with a side so we got the vegetables that had corn, tomatoes and green beans in a very buttery sauce. The chicken portion was surprisingly big so we were able to split that in half. The meat was quite tender and moist and went great with the vegetables. I liked to dip the chicken in the buttery sauce they put on the vegetables. However, I don't think I will pay $24 for chicken in awhile, I'm content with $5 costco chicken. 4 stars.
The dessert of the day was strawberry shortcake. This was probably my highlight of the meal. This warm, buttery, crumbly shortcake is the only reason why I give it 4 stars. The fresh strawberries were toppled on top of the sweet whipped cream. $10 is a bit steep for the portion but it made my tummy quite happy.
Definitely expect a wait with average service out there. When we tried to order dessert, we said "excuse me" several times to our waiter who proceeded to pretend not to hear us while he counted his change. It's ok douche lord, we understand if you're a little hurt when we didn't follow your recommendations for not getting the pancake.
Overall, the food was up to par. But the price and service? Not so much. My gf and I enjoyed our experience but probably won't be back. -
Review from Sara T.
Marina del Rey, CA
We've been wanting to try this place for dinner but went for brunch instead. When I walked in and saw how busy they were I thought that was a good sign, however when I went to give my name the hostess couldn't even give me an estimate on how long I would expect to wait. Actually, she didn't even notice me and went about doing her own thing for a couple minutes before looking my way. So, we decided to wait it out and were seated about 30 minutes later.
We both ordered a glass of sparkling wine and waited and waited and waited...our food came out before our drinks. I ordered the mediterranean tuna salad not thinking that I'd be eating canned tuna. My husband ordered an omelet with prosciutto and basil. After finishing his meal he ended up eating half of my salad and still left hungry.
I think we'll go to Joe's for brunch instead. Maybe we'll come back for dinner one day... -
Review from Tanya F.
Venice, CA
7/27/2011
welcome back. i missed you.
went to opening night last friday. from the friendly valet to the attentive bussers, server, hostess, and manager, i felt at home. it was a limited menu, but we didn't feel limited in ordering our dinner. my friend went to town with the steak, veggie bowl, and chicken. i had the arugula salad and white fish with pesto. yum yum yum. paired nicely with a delish savignon blanc. my friend and i almost came to blows over the strawberry shortcake, though.
i advise you to order your own shortcake.
unbelievably good. -
Review from D H.
Santa Monica, CA
2/25/2012
Great food - if you're willing to put up with sloppy and thoughtless reservation processes. You make a reservation, they demand your credit card, require you re-confirm, THEN CALL 5 HOURS BEFORE THE RESERVATION TO TELL YOU THE "ONLY AVAILABLE SEATING IS OUTSIDE IN THE BACK.". Seriously? Diners, protect yourself - WHEN MAKING A RESERVATION AT AXE, ALWAYS MAKE A SECOND ONE SOMEWHERE ELSE should they decide at the 11th hour to "put you outside". Besides, that way you can choose to put THEM outside if you decide you don't want to deal with the bull - just cancel by 6 pm. Godspeed.
