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Beechwood - CLOSED
Categories: Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants American (New) Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Lounges, American (New), Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
822 Washington BlvdVenice, CA 90292
Neighborhood: Venice
(310) 448-8884
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
384 reviews for Beechwood
Review Highlights
"Must Try - sweet potato fries w/ dipping sauces."
(in 97 reviews)
"I'll def bring someone here just for the fire pit."
(in 71 reviews)
"I tried the blood orange martini and LOVED it."
(in 12 reviews)
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384 reviews in English
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Review from Jd Lynn C.
Chula Vista, CA
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Too bad I don't live in the area to go here more often. I had a great time last night for a birthday celebration. Made it for the late night happy hour which was perfect timing to try out the Happy Hour menu.
Ordered the Fried Calamari, Togarashi Garlic Fries, Tostones, and the Beechwood Sliders. Calamari was the 1st to come out. Not bad, but not the greatest either. Portion size was definitely sharable. Beechwood Sliders had 2 burgers and per my bf, they were very good. The buns were toasty and the meat was very juicy. I didn't like the Tostones very much. What killed it for me was the cumin-lime sour cream. It was too overpowering and salty. Glad there was watermelon to counter the saltiness. The watermelon was sweet and juicy, wish it came with more slices. The garlic fries were not bad either, but didn't get to finish them though. We were already full by the time we got to eating them.
The service was actually spot on. Went to bar and we serviced right away. All the bartenders very nice and made sure you were helped. I tried the Orchard Sour and Vanilla Mule. Vanilla Mule was my fave for the night...had a few of those! Music not too loud so you can still have a decent conversation. The bussers were quick to clear out our plates and glasses...to make room for more.
Overall, this is a good place to eat have a few cocktails and enjoy the company of friends. -
Review from Joey B.
Venice, CA
This Burger is the Big Time and it lives up to the hype...
One of my favorite Burgers in the city.....
Togarashi Garlic Fries were tasty and dipping um in the sriracha ketchup and pickled herb aioli made um even better...
I can see why people bitch at the service here..I had a to-go order and the service was still suspect...i think if they can fix their service i would give um another star...
Highly Recommended for the Beechwood Burger and the Togarashi Garlic Fries.. -
Review from Michael S.
Marina del Rey, CA
+ Outstanding Service
+ Cool Vibe
+ Average Food
+ Standard Drinks
+ Typical Happy Hour
Beechwood is more of a lounge than a restaurant. For a group of friends after work, Beechwood is a trustworthy substitute for your favorite Happy Hour when in Marina del Rey.
- Togarashi Garlic Fries are a mix of Regular and Sweet Potato Fries sprinkled with Fried Garlic, Togarashi Salt, and Thai Basil. Best of all they come with Sriracha Ketchup and a Herb aioli. These were so popular, we got a 2nd order. (4/5 stars)
- Tempura Onion Rings are one of my favorite style of O-Rings. These were ok, but the batter was cooked too long and not flaky enough. Neither the regular Ketchup or the Sherry Vinegar Dipping Sauces really matched the Onion Rings (2/5)
- Ordering Tostones not only led to 15 minutes of Junior High humor, they also brought on the most interesting dish of the night. It's crispy Plantains covered with a tangy Cumin-Lime Sour Cream, Radish, Greens, and Cotija Cheese. They weren't popular, but I kind of liked the different textures/flavors. They come with a side of Watermelon Slices which were popular. (3/5)
- Fried Calamari is a safe choice for almost any Happy Hour. It's true at Beechwood, too. These simple bits of Squid covered in Cornmeal Flour were a nice dish to pass around and share. Not really memorable. (3/5)
- Coconut Shrimp always seems to sound better than it really is. The description for the Beechwood version reads "Grain Mustard, Orange Marmalade Glaze, Papaya, Tarragon-Ginger Oil". It tastes "Meh." (2/5)
- Edamame were sauteed and served with Garlic, Rice Vinegar, and Soy Sauce. This turned a simple favorite into a disturbing miss. I'll pass. (2/5)
- The Cheese Plate came with high hopes and though the French and Spanish cheeses were nice, they weren't the easiest for sharing in a larger group. (3/5)
For drinks, I started off with a couple Hop Rod Beers (not on draft). It brought medium hops to the party. Nothing wrong with drinking this beer in October. We then graduated to 16-year old Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch. The Peat and Smoke aroma is like roses for my nose, but definitely wasn't for everyone. A good Single Malt always makes me happy and it will you too by the third sip. Olivia had a well Gin & Tonic (ok) and a classsic Mojito (tame) which I tasted just for reference. Overall, the drinks were up to snuff (3.5/5)
By far, the best part of our time at Beechwood was the outstanding service from our main waitress. She had her hands full with orders flying in from all sides. Despite the crush and confusion, she always seemed to be treating us with a personal touch. Bravo (4.5/5)
Beechwood passed the test as a lounge or happy hour retreat. Bring your own group and own fun. Let Beechwood take care of the rest. -
Review from Shauna R.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 12/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
They have recently changed this hot spot to the all new "SUNNY SPOT" and all I have to say is that...it's NOT so sunny there. When you walk in, it's really dark with little candles (which you can barely read the menu yet alone see what you're eating). The food is alright (they have goat, which I will say wasn't bad). But they try to make it like a caribbean tapas place which doesn't quite fit. There is not a lot of seating where groups can really "hang out". Only 2-3 at a table with two long tables on each side. No fire pit anymore with a bunch of chairs and tables (thinking that will generate more business). Sorry guys, but people want to "hang out" at a bar with a more "loungy" type feel. This went from bar/lounge to strictly more of a restaurant. I don't think I'll be going back. I tried it once, but just too many other options with better food.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/18/2010
A great fallback when you're tired of going to the other bars in the area. If you want to be able… Read more »
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Review from Celia C.
10/4/2011
Beechwood is a great place to hang with a few friends, drink some wine, and have some great appetizers all while being able to hear eachother's conversation. I love that this place is never really too crowded and the relaxed ambiance.
They got a new chef fairly recently and my friend and I ordered the burger and the fries (hodge podge of both regular and sweet potato). I'm not sure if it was the 4 glasses of wine I already had or the added Saison, but it was amaaaazing!
Nice little spot to come to. -
Review from Kristan H.
Redondo Beach, CA
9/30/2011
I went on a Thursday evening and the place was not very crowded at all -- actually a perfect level. My friend and I ate outside which was gorgeous -- fabulous ambiance. The patio is fantastic and can accommodate a large amount of people, without feeling cramped.
Food was amazing, but the coconut shrimp appetizer wasnt the best I've had, the outside was soggy/chewy and the shrimp were a bit tough. Sauce was good, but you only got 4 small-medium sized shrimp.
Would highly recommend for a date night, or girls night! -
Review from shelley c.
Alhambra, CA
9/28/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Came here for drinks with friends after a project meeting.. obviously needed a drink! We had the fennel salad and grilled zucchinis. THe zucchinis were delicious! not so much for the fennel salad. The cab the waitress recommended was just perfect.
Outside area is very nice with a long fire place, service was also great. Coming back here again! -
Review from pauline c.
Los Angeles, CA
8/9/2011
Beechwood is a nice lounge bar on the Washington strip in Venice. The decoration almost shouts douchebag LA but it's a little more laid back than that, especially during happy hour, if you actually get off early enough.
Anyway there are some nice firepits and outdoor lounge seating, which is quite nice with that ocean breeze. The food is pretty mediocre but the garlic fries aren't bad. Everything else has some Asian fusion flare to it, but mostly too salty or unflavored.
You can reserve some seating ahead of time if you have a bigger party or just grab whatever is available.
Parking sucks. You can valet, or look for street parking, as it is free after 6pm, but check the signs just in case. -
Review from Soo H.
9/17/2011
I love Beechwood!
The vibe is sexy and romantic once you go past the bar. If you just want to hang out and have fun, the bar usually has a fairly good (looking) crowd hanging out. Otherwise, the dining area makes for a terrific date spot.
The food is solid good food. I went a while ago and had some delicious halibut and I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Monica R.
Culver City, CA
9/5/2011
Okay, let me start by saying I hate reading those angry 1-star Yelp reviews that proliferate here where a diner's water wasn't chilled properly which prompts a drunken and bitter 12-paragraph review.
Let me also say this is kind of one of those reviews.
Went here for a ladies outing last night and decided to mix it up with a new spot, hearing now that Roy Choi's got a hand in the menu. We took a seat at the bar (with a counter so high and stools so low it bugged me right off the bat that at 5'8 I practically needed a booster seat) and the waitress came over.
We each ordered a cocktail. Right as she repeats our order some jerky dude butts in and asks for a cocktail too. She asks us for our IDs and then proceeds to make his drink. Then proceeds to walk to the other end of the bar and make some more drinks that weren't ours. Then proceeds to ignore us for a couple minutes as we sit dumbfounded with our IDs on the bar. We're dressed up, in our mid-to-late 20's, and here they are treating us like a schizophrenic crackhead that you pray just gets disinterested and wanders away.
Well I guess that last bit's right, because we left. Screw you Beechwood. -
Review from Ian W.
9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a pretty good alternative to the more popular, crowded restaurants on upper Abbot Kinney. It's pretty sweet inside - once you walk through the doors you forget that you're on Washington Blvd. The decor is great - modern, hip, and elegant.
The food is good, too. Although I feel like I was led astray a bit by my server. I was wavering between the chicken and the scallops, and I was told that the scallops were a lighter option. So I ordered them. They were, however, some of the richest scallops I've had. Don't get me wrong - they were fantastic! But light they were not! The sauce was so buttery and rich that I could barely finish all four mollusks.
The drinks are great, the atmosphere is at once elegant and casual, the food is pretty tasty and nicely presented. I'll definitely be coming back, probably more for the drinks than the food, but nonetheless, it's a cool place to spend a evening on the westside. -
Review from Danielle H.
Venice, CA
9/30/2011
Outdoor seating with heat lamps and fire pitt +++
Went for dinner at 8 on a Thursday, was crowded but not too packed.
App: Coconut Shrimp (I've had better, the breading was Little too crunchy but the sauce it came with was good). Not quite worth $14
Entrees:
PAN SEARED AHI TUNA
came with a large serving of sliced seared tuna over caramelized pineapple which went amazing together, there was also a small salad and soy sauce for dipping - it was like a tasting plate and I loveddd it.
SEARED SCALLOPS
4 large scallops; topped with a champagne herb beurre blanc - this sauce was delishhhhhh
I'll be back.
Tip: happy hour prices are great discounts 5-7 EVERYDAY
Thursday - Saturday late night 10-midnight -
Review from Megan B.
Los Angeles, CA
9/5/2011
A few friends walked in and sat down at the nearly empty bar, waited 5 minutes for someone to even say hello. After looking at us like we were looneys when i asked for a menu, once she finally took our drink order she couldn't remember what we ordered (since she was clearly pre-occupied with something else). We told her our drinks for a 2nd time, she carded us, which wouldn't normally be a big deal, but instead checking our ID's she proceeded to help someone else, make his drinks, settling his tab and keep us waiting. We waited at the bar for a full 15 minutes and she never came back to help us. Needless to say we walked out and found amazing help at one of the 100's of other bars nearby.
Too bad, this place had great potential, but with terrible bar tenders we are definitely not going back anytime soon. -
Review from B S.
Santa Monica, CA
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Why are people loving this place? Is it because it's not crowded? I just don't get it. I guess it's just another place where girls can get away with wearing a straw derby hat with jeans. (Barf.)
The couches or divans or benches or whatever you want to call them are ridiculously uncomfortable and ugly. The wooden seating outside is even more heinous. Maybe it's designed to make you want to leave after one drink?
The servers act like they don't want to talk to you unless you're ordering top shelf items. The food is not worth the price. I don't mind high priced QUALITY food, but this is like taco truck level food. Gimme a break! -
Review from Jeff R.
Los Angeles, CA
7/24/2011
This place has gone from 'eh' to 'don't bother'.
I've been to Beechwood a couple of times before the kitchen responsibilities switched over to Jamie from Top Chef. So, because of this switch and the fact that we're Top Chef fans, we decided to give it another shot. Big mistake.
The food was better than average bar food - but don't expect to pay bar food prices. We ordered appetizers, a mix of entrees and dessert (the works) and everything was ok.
The cherry on top of our otherwise mediocre evening was to have the very witchy hostess (I could use other terminology but wanted to keep this review rated G) come over and literally kick us out of our table because she had another reservation coming in. Mind you, no one had bused our table - I barely even paid the check. Look, missy, if you need the table, plan better or at least do the right thing and have your staff bus tables properly or offer a special incentive like "come to the bar and have a free drink". Anything but how she handled this would have been better.
Never again will we visit this place. Sorry Jamie. Fire your staff - particularly the witch for an excuse for a hostess. -
Review from Roth S.
Mission Hills, CA
8/15/2011
Upscale lounge with a solid dinner menu. Went to this place when the top chef contestant was there and was disappointed. Now that Roy Choi of Kogi fame has taken over the chef duties, the food has gotten remarkably better. I had the skirt steak frites which was prepared very well. My friend had their burger which might be their best item on the menu and very affordable ($12). Scallops were solid as well. The waitress recommended the zucchini appetizer, which did not disappoint. Overall, a very pleasant experience.
Drinks were stiff, had the old fashion which turned out really nice. $12 per drink, typical la prices so if you decide to go big, make sure to bring the check book with you.
Of course the ambiance is great for a round of drinks with friends/ solid date spot. -
Review from Samin A.
San Jose, CA
10/3/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Came here the other night to grab a bite to eat with the lady. We had reservations and were seated promptly but didn't get a waitress until about 15 minutes after we were seated. No worries; we made conversation in the meantime.
After the waitress arrived, the service was pretty good. She came by fairly often and asked if we needed anything. We started off with the sweet potato fries, which were just okay. They seemed to be a little overcooked and almost burnt. The dipping sauces were good but not enough to mask the burnt taste of the fries.
I ordered the steak frites, cooked medium, which was pretty good. It was well cooked, still pink in the middle and tender. The shoestring fries were good as well as the arugula salad. My girlfriend just ordered the chinese chicken wings and, judging by how many she took home, they weren't that great. She did say that the french onion soup was good though so that's a plus.
All in all, the ambiance and dynamic of this place make it a nice place to grab drinks and appetizers with friends but not the best place for a sit down dinner. The outside patio is very nice and they have a sweet fire pit. We'll be back but next time just for drinks. -
Review from Lorraine P.
Los Angeles, CA
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Beechwood has a super chill, sexy vibe. The layout of the space is nicely designed and I like that the dining room is completely separated from the bar/lounge area which seems to be swarming with Venice's best (yuppies, hipsters, yuppsters, etc). For an even hotter setting, you can drink/dine on the patio by the fire pit!
The menu is all over the place. Right away, you're eye is drawn to classic comfort food like the grilled cheese w/ tater tots... and then you have a Sesame Street flashback moment when you see something that doesn't belong, like toasted edamame... Wtf? Thankfully, it's easy to pick out several delicious sounding dishes. Here's what we had:
DFR cocktail- tequilla, bitters, orange peel, grapefruit ($12) awesome
Fried chickpeas ($4) meh
Mac and cheese, tots ($8) pretty tasty
Mixed frites (reg fries and sweet potato) super tasty
Grilled cheese w/ figs ($12) good not great; kinda oily
Blackened pork confit ($18)
Duck tacos ($12) pretty good
Wedge salad ($12)
Hickory Smoked Ribs ($13) decent
We met Executive Chef Jamie Lauren (from Top Chef Season 5) who was really cool and super tiny! The food may not be Top Chef-winner worthy, but it's good. The service is really good and the atmosphere is great. Parking is sucky, so you may as well valet. -
Review from David M.
8/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Been here a few times and never really impressed with anything on the menu. I'm glad they're closing in October (hopefully to be replaced with something better).
I do like the layout of the place but the food definitely needs an overhaul. -
Review from Mot C.
Venice, CA
Updated - 10/23/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Apparently Roy Choi is helping out here for a few months. It is supposed to be Caribbean? I did not taste that at all. The HH is good. The have a reverse one as well. I do not like the attitude of the people who work here though. Pre writers/actors.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/16/2010
Parking is insane here! Go park on a side street for free. Drinks are good and the appetizers are… Read more »
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Review from Julie M.
Marina del Rey, CA
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
When: Friday night after dinner for some drinks around 9pm with 3 couples.
The Drinks: The guys stuck to beer, we tried some of the signature drinks which were pretty good, but nothing fantastic. We had the basket of fries which were a mix of regular fries and sweet potato fries all tossed together.. GENIUS! There are couches on the inside in the middle and tables on the inside and outside.
Overall, it's a pretty cool local place and I'll be back. -
Review from Joy B.
5/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Always a fan of the indoor/outdoor low lit hip ambiance type places. Beechwood fits into this category just right.
Came here for a friends birthday party and had a great time. Perfect setting for group outings or date night. The service is friendly, always a biggie in my book.
Got the boardwalk cocktail, light & refreshing. Shared the edamame and frites family style and got the thai shrimp sandwich for an entree. Not crazy about the meal, it was decent but just average. If you love frites, you'll be happy because you get a generous share of it with most of the sandwich entrees. The ding dong was doggone scrumptious. It's decadent, so limit yourself to 2 bites. Or three. Max. :)
Overall an ideal meet up spot for drinks & conversation if you're in the Venice area. -
Review from Eric M.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
High priced drinks, slow service. The patio is nice, but you can't smoke out there.
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Review from Team P.
Los Angeles, CA
4/9/2011
Fireplaces on the outdoor patio, low seating that encourages cuddling up, and a sexy-without-trying-too-hard vibe make this a good spot for a date or dinner with friends. Would have been even better if they had turned the heat lamps up, because it was cold!!!
This type of aesthetic is usually accompanied by disinterested service, but both the hostess and waiter were very friendly. Food was fine - standouts were the lamb sliders and duck tacos. Hubs really liked his brat with red sauerkraut. He noted that places with this vibe usually have food that requires him to hit a taco truck after dinner to get full, not so at Beechwood. So it was a win-win. -
Review from Brittany A.
New York, NY
6/15/2011
I wish I came here on an empty stomach. The food here looked pretty appetizing.
I came here for a birthday party on a Friday night, and truthfully, to hold a gathering with a bunch of your friends, this is the perfect place. The music is low, the ambience is relaxed, and there are couches throughout the venue where you can sit (without being told to get up because you didn't buy a table). There is a beautiful outdoor patio with a fireplace, and the interior is open and airy. This is a perfect place to go if you want a chill night. Don't come here if you are interested in partying hard. There is absoultely no dancing, just talking.
Beechwood is located on the corner of Abbot Kinney and Washington Blvd. There is plenty of street parking, so don't bother to pay for valet.
Drinks are pricy. I had a glass of red wine for $9 dollars. No drinks are cheaper than $8.
Conclusion: Chill place but not worth going to unless you live in the area. -
Review from Yvonne W.
Torrance, CA
6/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I didn't even know I was in Venice. This place is literally blocks from where I had dinner which was in Marina Del Rey. In any case, this is a really nice hangout lounge for young professionals. I loved it and will probably hang out there more often if I lived closer by. I heard that people that actually go to Beechwood are people that comes from local businesses all over LA rather than Marina Del Rey local residence.
I loved the crowd, the outdoor seating, and of course the unique fire place in the middle.
The bar can be very crowded and difficult to order drinks but -- isn't it like that everywhere you go?
They don't play loud music and really establishes a nice networking ground for professional to enjoy a relaxing evening with close friends and colleagues. -
Review from Clark F.
Granada Hills, CA
8/14/2011
Came here for a party and the first thing that stuck me was the decor and the layout of the place. You knew right away that this was a fun place, not pretentious at all. The drinks are moderately priced considering it's a pretty trendy area. You have to order the fries at this place, they're very addicting. The shrimp cocktail was decent. I wasn't a fan of the coconut shrimp.
All in all, a great place to meet with friends and have a few drinks -
Review from Castine R.
Studio City, CA
5/13/2011
Went here on a Thursday night with my boyfriend and a friend from out of town. She was staying in the area, so we picked Beechwood. None of us had been before. I should point out we had no idea Jamie Lauren was the chef here. If we had known, we wouldn't have gone. We ate at Absinthe in SF when she was the head chef there, and had the worst French Onion Soup and Moules Frites.
Boyfriend and I were 30 minutes early. Two hostesses with nearly identical get ups told us we could sit at the bar, which was a little crowded. The bartender was very busy, but the hostesses didn't bother to give us a drink menu or anything to help out the bar staff. They were very busy smiling and looking pretty. The bartender came over though rather quickly and gave us a menu and took our order. He was very nice, and our pre-dinner cocktails were fine.
The ambiance is way too loungy in my opinion for a "Restaurant". The bar/lounge area was also the restaurant area. People were literally laying on the lounge couches, which isn't what I want to look at while I'm eating. Also, everyone there was a "hipster". Someone was wearing an Elmer Fudd type hat. In LA. In May. Lame. Also, people were smoking on the patio, which I thought was now illegal??
Anyways, they sat us at 7:30 which was when we had our reservation. However, we were sitting for 15 minutes, and nobody approached us. I finally flagged down a busser and asked if we could get a server to come over. About 5-10 minutes later, one arrived. So it was literally 25 minutes before we had service of any kind. Big, huge mistake. The server was quite nice, and I don't blame him. I think there were only 2 (maybe 3) servers for the entire restaurant, and management clearly should have had at least 4-5. The place was really busy, and there's no way that 3 servers could handle it. This resulted in us poor dinners getting really bad service, but I don't blame the server as much as I blame management.
So he finally came over and took our appetizer and drink order. Boyfriend ordered a bottle of Oregon Pinot, and had to repeat it 3 times because server didn't know what it was. Server had to take the wine list to the bar to point out which one it was. For appetizers, we ordered the Indian Spiced Mini Lamb Burgers with onion chutney, dill yogurt and the Mezze Plate. The lamb burgers were quite tasty. 3 little sliders, perfectly cooked medium rare, good sauce..successful. The mezze plate was okay: some feta, some fregola, hummus, and tatziki with a few pita pieces. Nothing imaginative.
For entrees, boyfriend got Blackened Pork Confit braised collard greens, smoky red beans, pickled jalapeno herb salad ($18). Friend got Braised Kobe Beef Cheeks with curry spices, masala spiced smashed potatoes, sauteed bloomsdale spinach ($19). I got Pan Seared Trout with garbanzos, chorizo, basil, cippolini onions, smoked paprika oil ($20). All the entrees were pretty good, but none of them were outstanding or "delicious". The portions were pretty good though, and the prices are definitely on the cheap side. For an LA restaurant, I was quite shocked at how "cheap" everything was. Most other places would be mid $20s for those dishes.
For dessert, the waiter informed us they were out of the "Beechwood Ding Dong" - chocolate devil's food cake filled with white chocolate mousse covered in chocolate ganache. Seems to me if you have a signature dessert, you should have enough of it to not run out of it at 9pm on a Thursday night. We chose the Espresso Panna Cotta with dark cocoa crumble and whipped cream. Boyfriend ordered a glass of dessert wine that he again had to repeat a bunch of times and point out to server. I ordered a dessert wine too. Dessert arrived, but no wine. 5 minutes after dessert, my wine arrived, and server said they were still looking for boyfriend's. 5 minutes later, server came back and said they were out of that wine. Just, not good. The panna cotta was okay, but sort of had no taste or flavor, and needed some different texture to make it interesting.
So here's the bottom line:
Food - 3.5 stars
Atmosphere for dining - 2 stars (since I'm not a hipster)
Service - 1.5 stars (mostly blame management for under-staffing)
Cost - 4 stars
I wouldn't come back for a meal. If I was in the area and needed a place to have a drink, sure. The space is cool as a bar, just doesn't work for me as a restaurant. But of course, we had a blast and a great night was had. :D -
Review from Jackie B.
Los Angeles, CA
6/13/2011
This used to be a cool spot with great food and drinks. It's a GREAT location with a chill vibe; especially after a long day at work!. And I Love their patio! Recently came here not knowing that they had some "changes" and I was turned off; especially with the food. Now that I pass by I do my best to look the other way, thinking I'll never come back there again. BUT I will be re-considering,
Since the news is out... Roy Choi (think kogi, chego, a frame...get it?) may shake things up here. Finally Beechwood can have a worthwhile re-birth. -
Review from Gayle P.
Los Angeles, CA
Nice atmosphere , trendy. If you look at the menu, you can get a dish for under 20, but it adds up, especially if you want some nice wine or some dranks with your meal. Waiter we had was really nice though.
THEYRE aioli that they serve with their garlic fries (mix of seasoned fries and sweet potato fries) IS AMAZING. my table probably asked for 3 or 4 refills. haha
One thing though, if you get seated in the dinning area and not by the bar area, its pretty dim. but its mood lighting for a date? -
Review from Johnny R.
Culver City, CA
Updated - 10/27/2011
Went back recently for a couple drinks, super chill and bartener was cool. Completely different experience from a couple years ago.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/29/2009
I would never go back to this place. The people that work there are rude including management.… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie P.
Playa Del Rey, CA
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
So, I chose this place for my Birthday because I had previously tried their scallops and a cucumber cocktail. I loved both.
BUT, they no longer have either on their menu. WTH? To say the least, I was disappointed. No scallops? So here's what we ordered:
Jack & Jill cocktail: includes applejack and prosecco. It was pink and was gross. It tasted like bourbon. Not a fan. I gave it to my friend.
Mussels Frite: Mussels in a garlic wine sauce with french fries. My mussels were luke warm, not hot. My friends and I liked the fries in the mussel sauce.
Mac & Cheese: Creamy and the best thing I ate all night. It comes with tater tots on the side. It was super cheesy and they used rotini noodles.
Goat cheese Pierogies: (3) Pierogies served with carrots and peas. I wasn't impressed.
My best friend Jonny likes to drink Long Island Iced Teas. Beechwood no longer serves LI iced teas. Another, WTH? In fact, I'm teetering between 3 and 2 stars.
Finally, my birthday dessert. I was thrilled to see that they have an espresso panna cotta. Panna cotta currently becoming my favorite dessert. I'm Italian after all! BUT my friend Mulex ordered the Ding Dong. The waitress went away, and then came back, and told us they were out. It's a Saturday night! You guys should have prepared for a crowd. Then he ordered the banana whoopie pie. Out of that as well!! OMG. 2 stars it is.
I still had a great birthday because I'm blessed with great friends. I love the decor of this place, but it just doesn't meet my standards as it once did. -
Review from dude food G.
Santa Monica, CA
7/17/2011
While i enjoyed the potential, this wasn't what i had hoped. The drinks were creative, on the pricey side and took an hour to be delivered. The food was just OK.
8/8/11 - I hear the place is changing. New chef, new vibe. We'll see. -
Review from Annie L.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2011
Went there to grab a drink with a friend and Beechwood does not disappoint!!
Amazing service from the bartender who whipped up this amazing drink for my friend that's really refreshing. This is the first bar I've been to in a long time that actually makes me feel welcomed (ahemWellesbourneahem)
Love the atmosphere and the fact that my friend and I were actually able to have a conversation on a Friday night versus other bars and lounges we've been to.
Their food is amazing too! Totally worth the price and will definitely come back whenever my girlfriends are in town!!!
(Hint, this is the perfect place for a romantic date or just hanging out with your girlfriends ;D) -
Review from Sarah T.
Torrance, CA
3/20/2011
Went here for a friend's birthday party. What a waste of money. Long wait for our food once we ordered, bartender was a JERK and food was way over spiced. Too much money to spend to go to a non-finalist Top Chef restaurant. If you want to go to a GOOD Top Chef Restaurant go to The Yard in Santa Monica. Good vibe GREAT food! And you can miss out on all the self-important Venice people. PS if your friend says you can walk to the Brig it is NOT just across the street. Just an FYI.
Gave it 1 star only because none is not an option -
Review from Kimberly C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/2/2011
There were four of us starving and trying to decide where we wanted to have dinner, and after changing our minds 3 times (AS we were already driving haha), we finally decided on Beechwood.
Walking in I was a little put off because it was loud, the decor seemed old (and not in the good way), and I was somewhat confused about where we were supposed to sit. After an awkward seating at a couch, some space outside opened up and we finally situated ourselves and got a look at the bar menu. The menu was short and well rounded, but just reading some of them, I kinda got the vibe that Beechwood is one of those places that wants to be upscale and kinda pretentious and cool and chic and hip with their flavors and ingredients, but don't completely know what they're doing. If that makes sense?
Anyway, I ordered a burger medium well, and they brought it out medium, which was great... now I only order medium burgers ;). But if you don't like blood all up in your buns than make sure they do it right. But anyway, the fries and dipping sauces were fine, not the best I've had. I think I ordered like a fancy shit soda or something like that... maybe gingery? Can't remember...... yaaawwwn I'm already bored with my review. It was an average lounge/restaurant/bar deal. Probably won't be back, maybe if I'm in the area.
food/drinks was a 3.5 (point five for effort!)
service was a 3
atmosphere was a 3.5 -
Review from Tamar F.
1/2/2011
I'm a bit of a Top Chef Fanatic, so when I found out that Jamie had moved from Absinthe in SF to Beechwood, I wanted to check this place out. J's brother was in town and with him, his girlfriend, J and I all being into Top Chef and wanting to try a neat place, we opted to make a reservation at Beechwood.
There's $5 valet parking, but we arrived in advance of our 7:30 reservation so we found on-street parking just south of Washington Blvd and walked a block to the restaurant. We were asked if we wanted to be seated inside or outside, and we chose indoors though the outdoor seating (with heat lamps) looked quite enticing. We were seated in the front room where there's a mix of handsome bar loungers in the middle and tables along the walls. There's a second dining room to the left of the entrance that's all seating.
The waitstaff was very friendly and seemed knowledgeable about the menu. We opted to split two starters - the sweet potato frites and the hiramasa crudo. I was tempted to try the shots of soup, given Jamie's history on Top Chef, but alas. Both of these came out pretty quickly and were great. I read somewhere that the frites have been on Beechwood's menu since before Jamie's reign and at $5 for a ginormous plate of them they're a great deal. They're well seasoned and are accompanied by 3 dipping sauces, though I thought the aioli was the best by far. The hiramasa crudo ($12) was 4 small pieces of yellowtail with some cilantro and pepper on it and were fresh and tasty.
We each ordered our own entree: I got the potato/leek/goat cheese pierogies ($18), J got the beef cheeks ($19), his bro the jidori chicken ($19), and girlfriend the whitefish ($20) (which had been replaced with trout that night). No scallops ordered (hah!)
There were three pan-fried pierogies in my entree, served over a mound of mushrooms and kale. I was expecting more of a pasta dish, but was happy with the flavor and texture combinations that I instead received. The pierogies were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The kale was well sauteed and a bit garlicky and the mushrooms added some meatiness to the dish. J enjoyed his beef cheeks but felt that the portion was overly large for such a rich entree. His brother's girlfriend managed to finish her dish which was also quite large. The only problem was with J's brother's dish. After eating the first piece of the chicken (which has been cut in pieces) J noticed that even with the dim lighting that the second piece looked undercooked.
Now, here's where a restaurant is faced with a make-or-break moment. Undercooked chicken is a big problem-o. We pointed it out to the server who immediately took it to the back. She returned a few minutes later and said that the chicken was removed from the bill and that his brother could order something else if he chose. He opted for the burger and devoured the darn thing.
While waiting for the burger, the manager came out and apologized about the chicken. And while we were too full for dessert they treated us to the cookie plate, which has some amazing brown-butter shortbread cookies.
The chicken had been removed from the bill and the burger was comped as well. While the chicken issue could have ruined our experience (especially if we hadn't caught it being undercooked), we were really impressed by the professionalism of the staff and their effort in making things right. We plan to return again to try a few more dishes here!Listed in: Black Widow, Top Chef Restos
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Review from maria p.
3/31/2011
I went here last night to see what the buzz was about. I really enjoyed the decor of the place, seemed like a well decorated and larger version of a friend's house. The bar and bar area is right when you walk in, then there are sofas and low tables in the dining room area and a patio section as well.
I was eager to try Head Chef Jamie Lauren's creations. The pan seared trout was an anorexic's dream. I however felt the portion was meager for $ 20. The description on their menu includes these ingredients: brown butter hazelnut vinaigrette, brussels sprouts, cippolini onions, tahitian squash, bacon. Notably absent from my plate was those ingredients and instead there were carrots surrounding the fish. Perhaps the smaller portion and different vegetables was because I arrived after the dinner rush?
I was not feeling satiated so I ordered the duck confit tacos (without cheese since I am giving that up for Lent. sigh). There were three tacos on the plate and they were definitely tasty. The duck confit had a lot of flavor. I didn't notice the grilled serranos and then stupidly gobbled it up and my mouth was on fire. We'll blame that on the dirty martinis I ordered.
Sat at the bar as I was solo. The bartender Alice was funny and did a good job at keeping my water glass full (needed with my martinis and after the serrano pepper incident).
The crowd was a mix of couples, business people grabbing dinner and drinks, mostly young but all ranges really.
It wasn't crowded which I liked although I'm sure it fills up on the weekend. I went on a Wednesday evening around 8:30 pm.
Overall I wasn't wowed but I liked the place and would go back for appetizers and drinks with friends and maybe sit out on the patio. -
Review from Nguyen L.
Mountain View, CA
1/31/2011
I was hyped up to eat here since I found out Jaime Lauren became the Executive Chef here. I've eaten at Absinthe while she was there. I came in on a Sunday expecting it to be somewhat busy but it was relatively dead. There were people scattered in patio and inside. I really loved the atmosphere of this place, from the bar to the comfy sofas to the nice patio outside. This should be a happening place but it wasn't. Why?
You'd expect better service since there wasn't many people in the restaurant but our waitress took forever to bring out my beer and a simple cocktail.
Must Haves: Mixed Frites, Indian Spiced Mini Lamb Burgers, Toasted Edamame
Ok: A Really Good Burger (could have been better without the pretzel bun)
Overall:
I would definitely want to try this place again. I was reminded that this place was once the place to be at and I can see that it has potential. I can see it as a great Happy Hour and social place. -
Review from Jenny C.
Updated - 2/21/2011
What happened to this place! The sweet potato fries used to be off the chain but now it's sloppy and w/e. The old Beechwood had 3 cuts of fries on one dish - regular, shoestring with parsley and parm, and the best sweet potato fries ever. Even though the spf were my fave, it was nice having shoestring as an alternative and counter-size on the same plate. Now, it's a messy smaller pile of spf and regular that are store bought and re-fried before serving. Very disappointed that I wasted my calories on this... The sauces have gotten better though. The garlic aioli is really nice, and you can't really go wrong with ketchup though I couldn't taste the "twist" in it.
I got the duck tacos which were ok. Meaty, juicy, runny. It is not the type of mole I'm used too - thicker, richer, satisfying. The texture tasted like shredded beef though for those of you afraid of duck.
IDK man, this place used to have it all... Food and environment. The environment still rocks as the place to hang out but not so much for dinner.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2010
This place is as good as I remember it. Loungin, drinkin, goodbyin - all on a good work night. My… Read more »
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