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Figtree's Café & Grill
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New)
429 Oceanfront WalkVenice, CA 90291
(310) 392-4937
50% off Breakfast every day
Half off on any item on our menu excluding alcohol every day from 8 am to 9 am, including Saturdays and Sundays. (major holidays excluded).
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 8 am - 6 pm
Fri-Sun 8 am - 7:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Touristy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
184 reviews for Figtree's Café & Grill
Review Highlights
"Great place to start your day on the boardwalk."
(in 83 reviews)
"2) The people watching is awesome."
(in 32 reviews)
"it is a scramble w/ chicken-apple sausage."
(in 8 reviews)
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184 reviews in English
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Review from michele k.
Northridge, CA
1/3/2012
The best part about the place is the location, but the food was good, too! We actually stumbled upon it on a walk from Santa Monica to Venice and back.
We didn't wait but a minute for a table on a beautiful, sunny afternoon, January 2 no less! I ordered the breakfast quesadilla (served all day). Whole wheat tortillas filled with guacamole, feta cheese and chile sauce, served with home fried potatoes. Add a little Topatio sauce and, voila, comfort food! Husband ordered grilled ahi tuna sandwich (on the rare side) which he liked. His draft beer was just so-so (I can't remember the brand, Red-something).
Although seating is a bit cramped, it's true "California" fare--beach, sun, people watching, wine or beer and good food. Sure I'd come back, but it'll probably be a while before I'm on the Venice Beach boardwalk again. -
Review from Eva K.
12/27/2011
I thought this place was okay and am giving it three stars; however, my companions would probably give it one star as the turkey burger dishes were extremely overpriced and dry, lacking flavor. So two stars then, right in the middle.
I'd recommend the open-faced california chicken sandwich, under the favorites section (although I also thought the chicken was bland). The Avocado Chicken Melt was okay, as well (dry chicken aside).
The ambience is the best thing about this place, right on the boardwalk. It would be a great little cafe for writing if I lived in the area. Great dripping golden sun.
Honestly, I'm not at the point where I can afford to just go out and spend 13.00 for just an okay dish everyday. I think there are better options in the area. For the quality of the food and the portions, it's just too expensive.
But if you're going just to people watch then yes, come here. Grab a menu and seat yourself - sit out on the patio if you can, watch the passersby.
I'd recommend that. Definitely. Especially on a sunny, clear day, blue skies for miles. -
Review from Susan P.
Manhattan, NY
11/15/2011
As out of towners from the east coast, breakfast on the beach sounded like a vacationers' dream...thanks to some reviews from Yelp, Figtree's Cafe was our destination of choice for breakfast on a Monday morning.
We were able to grab a table right away along the sidewalk next to the beach...a vendor was outside playing guitar, which provided a nice backdrop to the overall experience.
Waitstaff was great and my coffee cup never went empty (that's a big feat if you knew how much coffee I drink...), and we both enjoyed our Austin's omelettes. Couldn't get enough of the guacamole and the potatoes on the side were delicious. Apple butter for the toast hit the spot.
Only complaint was that flies were pretty common throughout our meal, landing on/near our food. I guess that's the trade off for being right on the beach? -
Review from Jessica S.
Laguna Niguel, CA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
We went on a Friday afternoon and watched people walk by on the boardwalk. There's definitely some crazies out there. They have free wifi, which is nice, because I had to get an email out while I was there. We just went for their hh specials, from 3 to closing (they close early...like 7, depending on the sun etc). I had a sangria for $4 and my bf had a Heineken bottle for $2.25. We weren't hungry but they also had food specials on the board. My sangria was a bit thick, so not a summery refreshing drink, but it was still good and it tasted strong enough for me. Server was friendly, and they keep you with a full water glass. I'd recommend for a few drinks to people watch. Funny how different the boardwalk gets once it turns dark. Everyone closes up shop, including this restaurant.
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Review from Alex H.
St Paul, MN
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Service was great! The ambiance is wonderful, and the food is very enjoyable. Would highly recommend the coconut scones, turkey omelets, Austin's or lulu's!
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Review from Shannon H.
Los Angeles, CA
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Gotta love a fine breakfast or lunch with a loved one with a great blue ocean view. That's what Figtree provided to my fiancé and I for our breakfast on Venice beach.
They offer both inside and outside dining but eating outside is great with the weather Cali has to offer. The host is a French guy with a pretty cool accent and the waiters are very nice and helpful with food selections.
Started my breakfast off with a chicken salad that was amazing. Green fresh lettuce topped with croutons and grilled chicken with a side of red potatoes.
For my main dish I had a open faced chicken pita sandwich. The meal was great but the description in the menu and from the waiter was completely different than what was brought out to me. It wasn't really a sandwich but more of a chicken salad on pita bread. There was no way to make this meal into a sandwich without making a complete mess.
Overall the food was great. The only.thing I suggest is to just pay the $8 for all day parking because regular parking is $1 for an hour but you're hour is up by the time you walk down Venice Beach to the restaurant, place your order and have it come out to you. -
Review from Marvin S.
Dallas, TX
Updated - 10/28/2011
-------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Victoria B.
Owner
One week ago
Dear Marvin,
I am so sorry about your negative experience on a Sunday afternoon. I will share your message with our staff to make sure they are aware of the problem you experienced. We prepare our Bloody Marys with Han Vodka, which is a low grade Vodka with less alcohol and fewer calories since it is allowed with our alcohol license. We welcome any suggestions for change and more information about the dishes you had.
Sincerely,
Victoria Bunge
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Hey Victoria.....
For your reference we had the far eastern ginger noodles and turkey burger... neither of which looked very appetizing and didn't taste any better. From the faces of other customers around us when their food turned up, I'm sure they must have felt the same way - dissapointed!
I am not familiar with Han Vodka.... as a suggestion why not make a note on the menu that it is low grade/ low alcohol (basically crap) vodka (but apparently not cheap?). This is just not appropriate when all you want is a stiff livener on a Sunday afternoon.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/17/2011
Visited this place on a busy Sunday afternoon.
Great location.... slow service (not that this was a… Read more »
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Review from Robert H.
Columbus, OH
1/1/2012
I am giving Figtree's Cafe 3 stars for the food and 5 stars for the location. Of the places I walked by in the area (and looked up on Yelp) this may be the best Venice has to offer in oceanfront breakfasting.
Figtree's Cafe gives you the opportunity to start your day with a view of the ocean and all of Venice's finest residents and patrons -- who also have a good view of you. Their boardwalk seating can hold quite few and there wasn't any trouble getting a table at around 9:30AM on a Thursday. They have umbrellas which can shield you from the sun, and glass screens to block the wind... and likely the hands of passers-by.
The food at Figtree's Cafe is average given the price point and location, and I'm OK with that. I had the chicken hash with eggs and tomatos. The hash was OK, but seemed to be overpowered by the potatos. It came with a scone, and I chose the coconut and pineapple option. It was sweet, buttery, and crumbly. Even though it was covered in coconut flakes and had pineapple pieces inside, I could not taste their specific flavors very well. Other than that, the tea was hot, the eggs were prepared as ordered, and the tomatos seemed fresh and firm.
If I were back on the beach looking for breakfast, would I stop in again? Yes. Will I order my last meal from Figtree? Alas, no. -
Review from Tiana T.
Slow Service. Food was ok, not great. Sandwich came as a salad, not as described by waiter. Soda was watered down. Chicken strip appetizer was cold and unseasoned. Overpriced. Disappointed after purchasing the http://Restaurant.com gift certificate. GREAT location which is why I gave it 3 stars.
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Review from Lauren G.
Van Nuys, CA
11/8/2011
Venice Beach was on my out of town friend's checklist and the weather was amazing so off we went. We wanted to get some drinks and food before we hit the beach and landed here.
My friend ordered a specialty drink that she just loved and they kept coming. I was in a beer drinking mood and the selection was kind of slim, but the Stella's went down smooth. The inside of this place looks quite small so I'm sure there isn't a ton of space to keep stock room for many types of beer.
The salad my friend ordered disappeared and she absolutely loved it. I ordered the fish tacos and it was my mistake to do so without asking what kind of fish because it was salmon. I want to love salmon, but any way it's prepared it's just too fishy tasting for me. Most of the places in LA serve cod, mahi, or ahi for their fish tacos- no more assuming!
I have to say nothing on the menu stood out at me. While reading the menu descriptions I found that each item had many ingredients in it that sound like they don't go together and that the restaurant might be trying a little bit too hard to be unique. Hats off to them if it's working and pulling in more revenue than the location alone does.
Last comment about this place is about the bathroom. The bathroom is the worst I have ever seen in a restaurant. It is about 3 feet wide by 4 feet deep and this area includes a sink and a toilet in it. It smelled so bad that I gagged when I opened the door. I'm not sure if there is any ventilation. I am 5'3" 125 lbs and I could barely move in there! I imagine the average sized American couldn't even use this bathroom. If possible they should remodel the bathroom situation A.S.A.P. -
Review from Amber G.
8/23/2011
Holy cheesecake !!! They have one hell of a cheesecake here folks, not sure if they are making it in house, but who cares, it's goooood. For only $5.95 you have to try it.
Came here really just to have some drinks and people watch. I had some excellent sangria that was delicious and refreshing for about $7. Service was excellent and I will be back here again when I am in town, go check it out. -
Review from Michael S.
Marina del Rey, CA
Bedouins can live for three days on one fig. I'm not Bedouin. Nor am I a fan of Figtree's Cafe in the beach-side restaurant desert of Venice. The convenience of being at the beach is supplanted by a sense of regret for choosing location over quality.
*** Location / Atmosphere ***
Being on the Venice Beach Boardwalk on a beautiful Southern California day with the ocean breeze keeping it cool is THE reason to come here. Loved sitting in the sun (thanks to sunscreen) and relaxing on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Of course, the freak show that IS the boardwalk can be just as disturbing as it is entertaining. (4 stars)
*** Food ***
* Grilled Salmon - Fishy. Very fishy. When salmon carries such a strong pungent taste/smell, it is such a turn off. One bite and I was done. Olivia fought through the torment to finish the fish, but neither of us could stomach the scorched Brown Rice or debilitated Grilled Vegetables. Both were taken back to the kitchen (1 star)
* Avocado Chicken Melt - Reading the ingredients, this sandwich sounded dreamy: Swiss Cheese, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Red Onions, Watercress, Pesto Mayonnaise on Sourdough. No dreams, but it did put me to sleep. Humdrum. The Organic Green Salad had a zippy sauce that helped mask the lack of freshness. (2.5 - 3 stars)
* Brownie Sundae - a large boring brownie brick was topped with a large scoop of Vanilla and drizzled with Chocolate Magic Shell. It would be better with more of the Ice Cream/Chocolate and less of the Brownie. (2 stars)
* Blueberry Blitz Smoothie - Blueberry, Strawberry, Banana, Orange Juice, and Raspberry Swirl made for a well-presented, sweet, and tasty small smoothie (3.5 stars)
*** Price ***
OMG (Oh My Groupon), I'm glad we didn't have to pay full price for this. (2 stars)
*** Service ***
The hostess and waitress were friendly. At first, service was outstanding, but it wandered away. By the end we were begging for attention to order dessert & water refills. (3 stars)
If you've already got a Groupon for Figtree's Cafe, you might as well use it. Get drinks or something to avoid the food. Come to Figtree to just hang-out in the sun at Venice and you'll be happy.Listed in: America's Got Talent
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Review from Tiffany L.
Manhattan Beach, CA
Great location and the waiter was quick and friendly. We didn't have any food but plan on coming back to try it. We just happened upon this place while browsing around with all the freaks one day. Beer prices were reasonable and they have happy hour specials. Looking around we noticed others' food looked yummy!
We will be back for sure to try the food and more beers!! -
Review from shawn v.
Los Angeles, CA
I have eaten here countless times, and have never reviewed it. Well, it's about time I pipe in on this local spot.
I've had some great and absolutely unacceptable service at this place, where at one point I boycotted it for over a year, but it calls me back as one of my local hangouts. Venice is one of my favorite places in the city, so the view, breeze and venice chaos is the biggest draw, second would be the fact I can enjoy a beer here and watch the sunset. There are only a handful of places on the boardwalk that serve alcohol. Oh yeah what about the food?
Hands down my fave thing here is the Santa Fe Omelette! I have had this more than anything on the menu. An omelette stuffed with roasted red peppers, avocado, jack cheese and smoothered in black bean chili.
TO DIE FOR! Comes with La Brea sourdough, accompanied by fresh apple butter, and rosemary-roasted potatoes. Any time I order anything else, I always wished I had ordered this!
Quick breakdown of other dishes I've had:
Huevos Rancheros $11.95 - respectable
Eggs Benedict $11.95 - smoked turkey instead of canadian ham, nice
Nachos $7.95/$10.95 - i'd get them again with a group
BLTA $12.95 - a little pricey for a BLT but still good
Figtree Quesadilla $11.75 - didn't really dig it at all, too many veggies, not enough cheese, salsa has no heat
Adolfo's Fish Tacos $10.95 - pretty good
Fruit plate - substantial bounty (check out my pic, beautiful)
Great place to take out of towners, they are so engulfed in the surroundings, food is secondary.
Service, like I said is hit or miss, but really we are all there for one thing and that is to take a load off, watch the people, feel the ocean. Everything else are pure enhancements. -
Review from Erica B.
8/31/2011 1 photo
I really like this place! It's refreshing to find a healthy (and yummy) place to eat on the boardwalk.
My friend and I wanted to eat on the edge of the patio so we could people watch, and the waitress was super sweet and bussed a table just for us.
I ordered the corncakes and my friend ordered the salmon with brown rice. Both were delicious and well-portioned :) The food is fresh and lot of it is organic. We saved room for dessert and ordered the brownie sundae, which was HUGE! Definitely enough for two people to share.
I'm only giving it four stars because it was a bit pricey for what you get. But it's a great sit-down place at Venice Beach where you can enjoy the sun and atmosphere.
The service, food, and outdoor patio are all awesome! I will be back next time I'm out there. -
Review from Stephanie P.
Playa Del Rey, CA
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Disappointing!
Went with Hamed and if you read his recent review you'll see we had a horrible experience.
I'm no sommelier, but I know Sangria. I know its made with wine, fruit juices, and fruit. The fruit needs to soak in the alcohol and get flavored. The Wine needs to have time to absorb the fruit juices. You cannot go and grab some white wine, pour in some apples and oranges, and call it White Sangria. It was pretty horrible.
And yes... there was a long black hair in our Nachos. I have short hair and it was not mine. It was gross. At least they didn't charge us for the nachos. But I don't like eating hair. -
Review from Sunny L.
6/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Parkings about $10 to $15 and it's right around the corner from this place. The Figtree's cafe is on the boardwalk and you have the beautiful view of Venice Beach!
It's pretty much your average cafe, with few seatings on the patio, few inside, wooden chairs, smallish size, and a visible kitchen in the back. Service was slow, even on a slow day, staff wasn't unfriendly, but they weren't friendly as well if you get what I mean.
I enjoyed the fresh squeezed orange juice, and the beautiful view. Besides that, there isn't much to this place. ((sigh)) The crab cakes were okay, and the ahi tuna was borderline horrible. It maybe my poor choice of order, but I'm not planning my next trip back. -
Review from La C.
Los Angeles, CA
9/10/2011
Great location but disappointing. Parking attendant should really entertain taking courses in the art of customer service and parking cars. How hard is it to acknowledge customers and make sure they park between the lines? This guy should leave the parking attendant duties to someone else and hang out with the freaks. He would fit right in.
Food at Figtree was blah.....Had french toast. Wasn't impressed at all. Apple butter that came with french toast was the highlight of my breakfast. Service was sketchy. -
Review from Lucy Y.
Los Angeles, CA
I brought an out-o-towner here today for some people watching over breakfast on an early weekday morning.
The decaf ($2.65) hit the spot for me, and server Austin read my mind when he kept the refills coming!
Because I'm fixated on protein lately, I was impressed when I just told him what I wanted, and he didn't bat an eye and then produced it exactly right:
6 Eggs & a side of guacamole ($11.25 + $3.50) - my eggs were scrambled with no salt, and served with no toast and no potatoes, just as I asked - just a few slices of ripe tomato. The guac was fresh and chunky and perfect!
My friend got:
Eggs Lulu ($11.95) - scrambled eggs with chicken sausage and spinach, with potatoes and toast - yum!
We sat on the outside patio and had just the right amount of sun and shade, and then were off to explore the Boardwalk : D.Listed in: Where to take out-o-towners
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/9/2010
After strolling the Venice Boardwalk for a couple hours, passing pizza and corndogs and funnel cakes… Read more »
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Review from Christina N.
Redondo Beach, CA
8/28/2011
This place was definitely a little gem on the boardwalk! We only ordered appetizers and drinks and everything was delicious. Service was super friendly too! We ordered cocktails (a peach puree and champagne drink and a lime juice and brown sugar drink - forget their names now) and some beers. Drinks were decently priced and were really great.
The only bummer was the two-patty plate of crab cakes we ordered ONLY because they were like, 12 bucks for the plate. They were, however, so, so delicious that it was definitely worth it :) -
Review from Sophia P.
Los Angeles, CA
8/22/2011
Food was delish! Location was awesome. But service was slow, and portions were small.
Though really, it's like the only decent sit-down place on the Venice boardwalk. -
Review from Kelly B.
Saint Louis, MO
5/19/2011
Figtree's Cafe is located on the section of the Venice Boardwalk that is closest to Santa Monica Beach. I like this section of the Boardwalk because there are ample people watching opps, but it is not as hectic as the other end of the boardwalk.
Figtree's has been around a long time and is slightly run down. It doesn't look as good as the pics on the website and brochures. I've only been for breakfast, which is fairly pricey ($12 on average), but the food is a step up in quality (better than anything I've had on the Boardwalk) and most of the ingredients are organic/whole grain, etc.
The last time I was there, I had the potato latkes with house-made chicken-apple sausage, sour cream and apple butter. My dining partner had the tofu scramble with fresh veggies and herbs, La Brea toast,and rosemary roasted potatoes. Both were $11.95 and awesome.
I give this restaurant 4-stars because of the location and quality of food. They would have 5-stars if the ambiance and prices were better. -
Review from Tommy Q.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Walked in here on a whim with my friend from UCLA. Saw the penne pasta special on the blackboard and we decided to go in.
We sat outside on the patio which has an AWESOME view of Venice Beach. Going here just for the view is worth it. We went around dinner time so it was starting to get cold so make sure to bring a jacket!
Service was slow and mediocre. It took the waiter forever to bring out more water and the check at the end of the meal.
As for the food - the penne pasta turned out to be pretty average. There was hardly any sauce except for maybe an olive oil drizzle and I'm a big fan of a red sauce on penne. Also the portion was really small so my friend and I had to order another dish. -
Review from Hannah M.
Fountain Valley, CA
11/3/2011
I noticed Figtree's after I had (unfortunately) eaten at Sidewalk Cafe the previous time I went to Venice. I made it a priority to eat there the next time, which was yesterday. Location is great, if you sit inside at this little counter with stools, it's a great place to people-watch. It was also fun watching everyone move all over the place on the patio because of how small and cramped it can get. The service was very slow, even though it was pretty empty on a Wednesday afternoon. It took us about 15-20 minutes to finally get our food. I got the Margherita Panini (mozzarella, tomatoes, pesto, olive oil on a soft ciabatta), TO DIE FOR. YUM! It was 12 bucks, and it came with a side salad. I normally would say it wasn't worth the money, but it totally was. And the wait. Will definitely stop by next time.
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Review from Ari A.
Los Angeles, CA
6/20/2011
The Figtree Cafe is a nice dining option on the Venice oceanfront walk, with patio seating to make sure that you don't miss out on any of the action.
The quality of the food and the ingredients is better quality than at most eateries in the area, while prices are average for the area and even a few dollars cheaper than some much worse eateries.
My favorite dishes are the rosemary ahi skewers with tapenade and organic greens($11.95), the grilled turkey tacos with avocado, black beans, and salsa($9.95), and the avocado chicken melt($12.95). Which consists of grilled chicken on sourdough with Swiss cheese, avocado, watercress, sun dried tomatoes, red onions, and pesto mayo. You can wash your meal down with Cricket Cola($3). It's a cola made with green tea, vanilla, cola nut, and pure cane sugar. It has a crisp cola flavor with a slight vanilla undertone.
The emphasis at Figtree Cafe is on healthy foods and fresh ingredients. Service is great, and while I prefer the patio, the dining room is nice and modern yet has a classic cafe appeal. That, plus the beach scene make Figtree Cafe about as good as it gets in that area! -
Review from Andrea C.
Berkeley, CA
2/26/2011 9 photos
Groupon, what have I done to you? I try so hard to be good to you. I read your mass e-mails. I support you. I even tell my friends about you.
And yet, you lead me here.
WHY??
So I went here for brunch on a Saturday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised that we got sat so quickly. Since it was a bit windy, we opted to sit inside (sand+wind+food does not bode well for me).
Our server was wearing sunglasses (indoors) and took his time in greeting us and bringing us drinks. I got the pesto eggs and some bacon. I would like to note right now that my food came with toast and that my server made that clear.
Food arrived, I saw my eggs. I saw my bacon. I did not see my toast. The food runner actually told me that my toast would be another minute. That's cool, I'm not trippin. The eggs with pesto were ok, but were a bit salty. My dad got a chicken dish he said was 'just ok'. Yeah, no. I love food, I want to be blown away. I want to be impressed. Here I was bored. I was uninspired. It was so whatever.
Anyways, as the pesto eggs disappeared and the bacon dwindled, I realized I still never got my toast. I flagged down our server and he said 'oh yeah huh. I'll be right back with your toast.'
Here's why they lost all their stars:
1. He never came back.
2. We ended up finishing our food, sitting there hella bored, and went up to the counter to pay.
3. When I went up to the counter with my groupon, I saw him, looked him in the eye, and he walked back into the kitchen.
The server was hiding from me, presumably because he forgot my toast and was incompetent.
My father once told me to vote with your wallet. So, idiot, if you're reading this, that is why you did not get tipped. I've waited tables before. You cannot assume a tip. You work for it. Do your damn job. -
Review from Aavigalle H.
Venice, CA
8/31/2011
I love FigTree/ They are one the BEST spots on the boardwalk to grab a yummy and healthy meal. Staff is really friendly and attentive, too. They have a lot of Organic options and use all clean ingredients in preparing their food. The location is pretty great, too. By the way, go in between 8-9 a.m for half off breakfasts! You really can't beat it!!
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Review from Francisco D.
Campbell, CA
3/23/2011
Total Tourist Trap!
I ordered the "chicken and hash" and got chicken bits and mush. I think someone in their kitchen loves thyme and other fresh herbs a little too much. I like fresh herbs, but my potatoes were jam packed with them that I couldn't taste anything else. My eggs were not cooked properly, I hate runny whites!! -
Review from R M.
Venice, CA
8/1/2011
It seems that the current popularity of our little "Circus By The Sea" has brought pedestrian tourism from around the world to view all that prevails. Back when the figtree's Café first opened (Previously owned by the Fig Family) I lived next door and was the first artist to exhibit there. My photographic imagery included the first showing of the renown "Boardwalk Panorama" before it gained a reputation as being one of the key images for being responsible for the current popularity of the Venice Beach Boardwalk.
A salad then, cost a mere $1.50. Like everything else in this world things do change, but this little eatery is still a wonderful place to meet the local residents, experience the tourism, people watch and have a bite to eat. -
Review from Christa A.
Portland, OR
2/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you are walking around casually looking for a place to grab a bite, I would suggest to pop into Figtree.
We dined outside and had a very relaxing lunch. I of course ordered breakfast because they serve breakfast all day and almost any place that does that makes me smitten. I think in order to be called a cafe they must offer an all day breakfast menu. They have a homemade BBQ sauce recipe that they top on some other spinach thing but I wanted a breakfast sandwich so I asked for the BBQ sauce to be smothered on my breakfast thing and it was pretty dang good.
The Fig hit the spot, the service was a little slow but you know what, it was a gorgeous day, the freaks were out at Venice and it was a holiday, we didn't have anywhere to be except for enjoying our brunch/lunch and each others company.
We agreed that we would definitely come back again. -
Review from Nicole F.
Northridge, CA
4/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
My husband and I came here for breakfast on a Sunday morning. It was our first time. There is a parking lot nearby that is $5 and you can stay all day. I ordered a egg white omelete and it came with potatoes. My husband got a egg sandwich with potatoes. Both were delicious. I like the menu and that they have soy options and lots of dishes made with turkey bacon, since I don't eat pork.
The food did take a little long but if you sit outside you can people watch and look at the ocean, so we really didn't mind at all.
Plus the food is 50% off from 8-9am, you can't beat that. -
Review from A R.
Venice, CA
4/5/2011
Best food on the Venice Boardwalk. It's all about sitting outside to enjoy the ocean and the spectacular people watching, of course, but Figtree's is unique in that you need not sacrifice taste for location. Navajo Corncakes, always freshly made and garnished with black beans, salsa, avocado and (for an unexpected but perfect twist) feta, are my favorite thing on the menu. Very close seconds are the unique, curry-infused tofu scramble, served with savory breakfast potatoes; and the blue corn pancakes, which are unique and flavor-packed. Scones with apple butter are to die for when fresh out of the oven.
Vegetarians must try the Spinach Nut Burger -- Figtree's own recipe and one of the more inventive takes on a homemade veggie burger -- as well as the simple but surprisingly flavorful Orient express (veggie stir fry with tofu). Actually, I've never had anything at Figtree's that I didn't like, including a nicely spicy Bloody Mary. Servers can be overwhelmed at times, but they always try their best. Other caveat is that it's a bit on the pricey side, but the portions are large and filling. Considering the quality of the food and the stellar location: worth it. -
Review from Tana P.
Hesperia, CA
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Given the chaos and variation of Venice, this place ROCKS! Upon passing by, the food fragrance wafted in our direction and we couldn't say no. Our food was SCRUMPTIOUS, and the service was the best of the best. We had a toddler with us, and the server took great care! That combo of service, food, and general customer experience is something you don't find too often. Especially in the Venice area. Until our next visit, I'll be cravin' that pasta!
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Review from Jordan G.
Venice, CA
6/19/2011
Pretty good food (definitely one of the better on Venice Boardwalk). Its not gourmet, but its not diner fare either. I love the breakfast deal (50% off before 9AM).
I usually go down for the breakfast, have some scones (which are top notch) and an omelet. I've tried most of them at this point and I would give all 3.5 to 4 out of 5 stars. Their coffee/espresso is average, and they have good orange juice.
People watching is a big plus and the staff are usually present but not too present, which means its quiet, for Venice, and you can watch the sun come up and the crazies go by.Comment from Victoria B. of Figtree's Café & Grill 6/20/2011
Thank you so much for your feedback. Really appreciate it!… More » -
Review from Rachel C.
Santa Monica, CA
4/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my favorite brunch spot on the boardwalk. Their california/mediteranian food is consistently fresh and flavorful and its unique location next to a half way house makes for fun people watching.
Good veggie options include the Navajo Corncakes, Mideast Salad and the Pear, Walnut & Feta Salad. -
Review from Timmy S.
12/12/2010
Several years ago a friend gave me a gift certificate to eat here. I had lunch here and handed over the certificate and was promptly told it was no good. Turns out a manager who was being terminated pocketed cash given to him and handed out phony gift certificates. I talked to the current manager who actually began to accuse me of somehow being a part of the scheme. Angry, I paid and left. Later that day I talked to the owners who also refused to honor the paid-for but phony certificate nor did they offer any sort of compensation or even an apology. I vowed never to eat here again
Flash forward a few years. Walking along the boardwalk on a sunny California winter day this morning. My friend spots this place and really wants to eat here, as it looks like about the only place on the boardwalk you won't get some sort of disease. I share my story but relent and we go in for breakfast.
We are handed menus and told to sit anywhere out on the patio. The view is nice but remember, this is Venice, so you also get your share of vagrants, kooks, and folks coming and going for their daily "medical marijuana". The server is painfully slow but pleasant. The menu is full of "healthy" fare. I get the cornmeal pancakes with blueberries. I'd never had cornmeal pancakes and won't get them again - too crumbly and gritty. Not very flavorful. I kept pouring syrup on them to get any sort of taste aside from the blueberries. I really didn't enjoy my breakfast at all.
Great refreshing glass of water though!
Note: A couple hours after writing this review I found out that a new owner has this restaurant since the incident written about in the first paragraph. I am willing to give this place another try in the future - hopefully I just ordered the wrong thing. -
Review from Gina L.
Lombard, IL
10/2/2011
Great place to start your day on the boardwalk. The view (inside or outside) and the service are great. The coffee/tea is yummy and they even serve Cafe Au Lait if you are craving a New Orleans style kick. The food is yummy and were pleasantly surprised at the 50% off on our check. We didnt realize they had a discount which made the visit even better! Of course you know we will be back!
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Review from Mike G.
Playa Del Rey, CA
3/7/2011
I had a friend visiting from out of town and thought a great close to the day would be eating at Figtree at sunset. The hostess was snippy and apathetic, the service was slow and inconsistant (the waiter could not remeber what we ordered to drink and forgot about our second round alltogether). We sat outside and the table was dirty...ok, the chairs were dirty...well, ok, the menus were so dirty they were sticky...ok your grossing me out here, and there was dried, crusted food on the sugar caddy,,,that's it. Done. The food (appetizers) were mediocre at best and we decided to leave instead of staying for entrees.
UPDATE: After posting this review I recieved a message from the owner, Victoria, concerned about my experience and assured me she was sharing it with her manager! Kudos -
Review from Whitney G.
Marina del Rey, CA
Figtree's is an awesome little café!
Stopped in to grab some lunch with the family this past holiday weekend.
We were looking to find something fresh and filling, and a bit on the healthier side. The sidewalk cafe was a mad house so we passed it up and kept on moving...and we were so glad we did!
We were seated within 5 minutes at a table parallel to the boardwalk. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and let us know early which items they had run out of-- (it was a very busy holiday crowd)
We ended up ordering a number of things actually. Between us all, we started with an order of the crab cakes and then moved along to the hummus with pita. Following that, we moved on to the entrees which included a chicken chopped salad, a caesar salad with grilled shrimp, and fish tacos.
Oh My! It was all so yummy.
The crab in the crab cakes were flaky and fresh, the hummus was smooth and creamy and the pita was fluffy and soft. The salads were crunchy and topped with two slices of sourdough bread and the tacos were grilled and salsa'd to perfection!
Oh, and did I mention they came with chips too!?
(Yes, I made "salsa'd" a verb! Please don't hate)
Overall a lovely experience and can't wait to try other things on the menu.
Parking blows, but it's expected because it's Venice. -
Review from Laurenne S.
Venice, CA
4/24/2011
Love this place! I got the garden omelette scrambled, and I couldn't have
been happier. SO GOOD! I love the option of getting a scone (the apricot was amazing).
Nice coffee. Nice busboys! Very helpful.
I came for breakfast alone, and I loved that they didn't bother me to leave and clear the table for someone who would order more.
Best location.
Plus, TONS of great vegetarian options. The soyrizo is good.
The only reason they're not getting 5 stars is because there could be a few more heat lamps and they could upgrade to some nicer patio furniture instead of plastic. Otherwise, stellar place for brunch.
