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Categories: American (New), Gastropubs
Neighborhood: Culver CityJoin Ford's Filling Station this holiday season. We will be merry and bright on Xmas Eve and rockin' on NYE with music from The Banditos!!
Mon-Tue. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Wed-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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This was my second time to Ford's Filling Station and I had a great meal, but the service was a bit slow, particularly given that the restaurant wasn't that busy when I came with some friends.
On this occasion, I came for a brunch/lunch and enjoyed the Steak and Eggs which had a nice herb butter atop the steak. The food was good, as it was my first visit, but the prices are a little on the high side. There's certainly no doubt that you don't walk away hungry and satisfied.
I am flabbergasted when I read that a lot of people were not fans. I love this new American gastro-pub, and I think that you will appreciate Ford's clever spin on some classics like his "clam chowder" if you give it a try. Every time I have gone there I have had great food. I also had the opportunity to meet Ben Ford and he even made me a special dessert.
The best way to experience Ford's is at Happy Hour. You can get a lot of the great things at a reduced price, of course smaller portions, but you can sample more this way. Last time I went though he took something phenomenal off the menu, which nonplussed me. The shrimp curry was amazing! It had two large strips of bacon atop multiple layers of shrimp and sweeter curry with some chutney. I have never seen such a generous portion in a higher end restaurant.
As I mentioned earlier, the clam chowder is so creative and modern and tastes wonderful. The chowder comes with Manila clams and bacon lardons (what can't bacon do!) in a light broth, unlike the heavy, milky classic. It is also perfectly accompanied by a crostini, which makes it great for dipping/dunking, if you are into that.
I also like their other appetizers like the white bean hummus, if you like white beans you will appreciate this. Although another Yelper complained of the flat breads, I have never encountered that. I have had them a few times now, I always like them.
You definitely pay a pretty penny for your meal, which is why I suggest you either go for Happy Hour, or just splurge on dinner (lunch is the same price, so no bargain). I think it's a fun, laid back place in Culver City where you can just be you, the foodie that you are.
If you're looking for a HEAVY/ greasy, not-so-cheap meal, look no further! The flatbread was soggy with oil. BLEH! The lentil salad was not good either. And the polenta was disappointing...even though I love polenta and am normally quite forgiving no matter how it's prepared. :(
That is strike two on Culver Blvd. (The other thumbs down place is Ugo next door)
3 Stars
So Harrison Ford's son is a chef.
I finally had a chance to try this place. I've read a lot about Chef Ford and seen him perform on TV. So my expectations might have been a little too high.
The restaurant is located in a great part of Culver City, a lot of foot traffic and food options. We were in that part of town for a business meeting and decided to stop by. Our meal started with the Spicy Garlic Shrimp, the dish was a bit bland and could have used more spice. For our meals, I had the Ipswich Clam Roll with Meyer Lemon tartar sauce, my friend had the Pulled Pork Sandwich. I enjoyed my sandwich, but then again I'm a sucker for fried seafood sandwiches with tartar sauce.
Potato Salad was served on the side and it was not memorable.
My friend said his pulled pork sandwich was dry and needed more sauce. We had a couple glasses each of the Beaucanon Sauvignon Blanc. The meal was okay, but for the prices I expected much better. The service was efficient and speedy. If I'm in the neighborhood, I would give it another try.
As a neighborhood pub, Ford's hits all the right notes: a worn walnut bar with comfortable stools, reasonably priced beer, and a soundtrack that favors pre-iPod collegiate staples. Draining pints of IPA, while listening to Widespread Panic and snacking on deviled eggs with cured meats and cheeses, you could easily be in North Carolina, New Hampshire, Colorado, or downtown Culver City. It's the kind of familiar escape where you can effortlessly pass an afternoon.
But as a dinner destination, Ford's doesn't work as well. Mind you it's good, it's just not great. Some of the specials can be spotty, the cocktails are generally underwhelming, and the check always ends up feeling more substantial than the meal itself.
I don't recommend dining outside because of the bland stained wall, confusing framed art, and wilted table flowers. Iced tea gets refills but lemonade does not. If you try to eat around 4:15 they give you the counter menu. My onion rings were like doughnuts and couldn't be dipped into the ramekin of ketchup because they were too big. The ham flatbread is an entree in itself.
The seasonal hamburger has a marbled brioche bun that I had to slice because it wasn't going to fit in my mouth. I ended up eating it like a salad because it fell apart. This is a greasy and messy entree. Even the greens inside the sandwich should have been portioned for a better bite but were stringy instead. The special was the DIne LA menu which wasn't available before 5:30 p.m.
It's Dine LA week people and I'm dining out!
RL and I dined at Ford's on Sunday as our first stop.
Dined here at the end of last month with Skim for lunch and it was delish. Have been craving their iced tea and butterscotch pudding like a mother.
RL and I of course opted for the Dine LA special menu. We did start off with their Charcuterie of their regular menu as we have had this once before and could not pass it up. Mighty tasty it was. They slice the meat to order and you can taste the difference.
Ordered the iced tea (of course and took the biggest first swig ever and was a little bummed. Where's the vanilla essence? Do you only serve that tea at lunch. Pllh...
First course RL: Beet Salad and I: Endive Salad. I enjoyed RL's but mine was missing the flavor.
Entree, RL: Braised Pork Shank and I: Lamb Pot Pie (yes I ordered lamb). Pork was good. Tender and fell off the bone but was missing some sauce. Served dry which was kind of odd. No natural braising juices coming out of or being pored over this one. And my Lamb Pot Pie, I have to be honest and give this one a thumbs down. It was not a pot pie at all. Chopped up lamb with onions and mushrooms with an absurd piece of puff pastry on top. The best part of a pot pie is the gooey crust at the bottom that you get when you dig your fork in or smashing down the top crust into the creamy goodness underneath. None of this happened.
Desserts RL: Vanilla Ice Cream with Candied Bacon (even with bacon this was nothing special) and I: Pecan Tart with Maple Ice Cream. Tart was blah but ice cream and crushed pralines were yummy.
Was not the biggest fan of their Dine LA menu. Their regular menu is so great the just missed the mark on this menu by far.
Skimmy and I dined her for lunch earlier this week. RL and I dined here over a year ago (before I… Read more »
Pecan tart was good. My friend said the duck confit was good. Unfortunately, this item apparently is only for DineLA so it doesn't really tell you much about the restaurant in general. The only thing we ate that is on the regular menu was the hummus. It was nothing special and lacked seasoning. Plus I was still tasting the garlic hours later.
The atmosphere was nice, and the server was attentive, but the one thing that really grossed me out was this kid that I'm guessing was the owner's or chef's son. He seemed like a nice kid, but I saw him walk to the kitchen (it opens into the dining area) a couple of times, and grab food from the area the cooks were working and put it in his mouth. Isn't this a health code violation? Pretty sure that's not only gross but unsanitary. Luckily our plates had already been brought out but still...probably won't be coming back here.
I had the pleasure of enjoying the "special" duck confit salad as well as the jamon Serrano flatbread. The salad was a lovely contrast in flavors and textures with figs, pears and of course the duck which fell off the bone, yum. The flatbread's crust was perfectly crisp and the toppings were delicious and melded well. The service was friendly and quick. I would like to go back and try the shrimp flatbread, the mussles and the mac and cheese with ham.
I've only been for dinner but I agree with others...the food is okay (not bad), but the check definitely is more impactful than the food itself.
The menu looks good. The setting is nice. I love the feel and decor of the place. It feels really comfortable and unpretentious. The first time I walked in, I immediately felt like I could easily hang out and drink and talk for hours with good friends. It has that feel to it. Very European in a way.
Unfortunately, the food doesn't necessarily shine very brightly. We had the flat bread appetizer to share. That was okay. I've had better. I had a burger and that was okay, too. Food-wise, everything seemed to be just okay. My dining crew also felt the same way. No one was wowed by their meal. No one was angry or sick but it was still only okay.
For how you end up feeling about the food, you notice the price, so most people are going to think this place is slight overpriced (maybe $2 too high per dish).
I honestly cannot remember how the service was. No impression good or bad was made on me. Take that for what its worth.
Went for the dineLA menu.
I had mussels for appetizer, marinated bistro steak for entree and squash bread pudding for dessert.
My eating companion had shrimp salad (squid was not on the menu) for appetizer, pork cassoulet (brisket salad not available) and ice cream w/bacon for dessert.
We were satisfied w/the meal and the service was perfect. I plan to go back to try the regular menu.
The atmosphere is flawless. I love the vibe.
As an added bonus, my dining companion, who is a star-struck person, saw Benjamin Ford twice and that absolutely made her day.
I would give Ford's a 3.5 if i had a choice, as the .5 extra is for a great outdoor eating space. I had been wanting to try this spot for a while and got my fix twice in the same week, once for lunch and the other for dinner.
I really enjoyed the service and atmosphere during both visits, and the food was good. But I think in order to get a full 4 stars it has to be somewhere that i'm pretty excited to return to. So during both visits, the menu was pretty much the same with exception of a few specials. Across both visits, we ordered a cheese board and along with flat bread, meats, yellowtail ceviche, salads, the pork sandwich, fish and chips, fried clams...you get the idea... almost half the entire menu. My favorites were the pork sandwich, ceviche and meet and cheese selections. I'd have to say the flatbreads and salads are good, but nothing Tobin can't replicate at home.
The wine and beer list was good, with enough to choose from and a few different selections for those wanting to try something new. During lunch i couldn't pry myself away from the Pomegranate margarita with jalapenos.
So all in all, i'd come back when looking for a nice, relaxed outdoor meal and when I'm in Culver City. But i'll most likely be chillin' on the Eastside until then.
My parents and I came here on their latest visit to town. We went for brunch and we had a great time. My best friend met us there, and all 4 of us were able to find something enjoyable that fit our taste.
I have not been here for lunch or dinner, but I definitely recommend it for brunch.
Went here for a late evening meal and as it was pretty crowded, my friend and I sat at the bar. I had the Pub Burger with Maytag blue cheese and carmelized onions which was pretty tasty. The dish came with onion rings which were crispy, just the way I like them.
The bartender, Ian, was adorable and perhaps the best part of the dining experience. Overall, I'm glad I tried the place, but can't guarantee I'd make a trip out of my way to come back.
The service is good. The onion rings are good. The mushroom flatbread was ok.
The polenta cake was kinda gross. Everything on the menu seemed really heavy and unappetizing.
I won't be going back.
I liked this place, but the wait after wait killed me. We had to wait for a table that would fit just the 2 of us despite there being seats. We had to wait for our waiter every so often because it was so crowded and busy. I get it, it was a Saturday night. No harm done. Lovely atmosphere. Very rugged, but upscale at the same time.
Our waitress was super sweet and helpful in giving her options to what we were up for. I ordered a drink that was something along the lines of a Long Island Ice T, but with a flair of citrus for that summer time feel. We weren't that hungry and I was trying to plan out my course of action of where and what I was eating at later. I wanted animal fries from In n' Out. Don't ask! Anyway, we ordered the yellowtail ceviche and the hand rolled pasta. The yellowtail ceviche was a mix of diced yellowtail, avocado, chilies and cilantro. The hand rolled pasta was accompanied w/bbq pulled pork, peppers and some greens. All very tasty. I love the ceviche the best. I could eat that all day. As for the pasta, the flavors all though wonderful, overpowered at times. Would have stayed for more, but being on a tight schedule of things to eat while there, I had to spare room for the next spot.
I hear the cheese and cured meat platter is the thing to sample, but maybe next time...
Hello Kobe beef cheeks! After splitting this with my sister, her and I proceeded to hallucinate in the streets, due to overwelming richness and taste. Good grief!
We had the rabbit special, which was okay. The clams were not worth a damn. So don't get them. But then again, this is coming from two palates, a foodie and a chef, that cannot deal with such things. Our server recommended it so we went for it. Bleh. You can tell they were of great quality and taste, but deep fried and battered with aioli that was lookin' a little worse for wear! We had the curried lentil salad, it was spectacular. It's a must if you value simple flavors and freshness. All of it paired with an amazing server and a fine bottle of white wine, made our afternoon blissful.
**With one weeks in advance notice you may have your own suckling pig served to 4-6 of your friends with all the fixin's. My sister saw it on tv somewhere, we shall be returning for that gem. Bet your balls!
I had a lovely dinner here with my friend. I've heard mixed reviews since this place opened, but I was excited to finally give it a shot. I agree that the food is good -- not great -- and that it's a bit overpriced. But I like the chic casual vibe and that there is plentiful outdoor seating. My friend and walked in on Saturday night around 7:15 and were able to get a table right away. She was taking me out for an early birthday celebration, and we were starving, so we ordered A LOT.
First off, I love the hot toasted garlic rolls. My friend's was more toasted than mine, however, so I ended up sharing hers. Mine was a bit doughy.
Appetizer: meat and cheese plate.
I have to say that I'm a fan of the portions here. I've had some meat and cheese plates that barely give you a bite sized portion...we could have easily stopped and had meat and cheese as our dinner. I mean, really, what is better than meat, cheese and warm toasted baguette? We tried a proscuitto, salami and sausage. For cheese, a semi-firm cheddar from Wisconsin, a goat cheese, and a bleu cheese. The meat comes with olives, and the cheese comes with walnuts, currants and raisins. We made little sandwiches, mixing and matching the meats and cheeses. All delicious. And seriously, HUGE portions of cheese. The only downside is that you can either pick one meat or cheese for $10/each, or 3 meats/cheeses for $15 each, so clearly it makes sense to get 3 of each.
Entrees:
My friend had the special pork chop, cooked medium rare with arugula and grilled peaches. I tried a couple bites...great flavors. Certainly better than my crispy jidori chicken with mashed potatoes and corn. I was seriously so full from the meat and cheese that I pretty much boxed up the whole thing. It was just okay. Mashed potatoes weren't anything special. Chicken tasted like, well, chicken. The corn was the highlight of the plate.
We also ordered a side of mac & cheese, which I must try wherever I go (much to the chagrin of my skinny jeans). Ford's version is creamier rather than cheesy, and comes with ham and toasted bread crumbs. Smoky flavor. Pretty good. Not the best ever, but pretty good.
We were impressed with the (strong) cocktails. My friend tried the Air Mail martini, while I tried the pomegranate margarita with jalepenos...not something I would normally try, but I loved the savoriness of this drink...and it's strong alcohol content.
Overall, Ford's was an enjoyable experience and certainly worth a try.
I'll be honest. We showed up two minutes before closing.
Instead of NOT SEATING US, they agreed to seat us. We ordered drinks and food quickly. Waiter tried to be nice, but his disdain for us late-comers dripped from his lips.
All told, we spent $100 at a restaurant that was pretty damn empty on a FRIDAY night in Culver City. Rush Street was jumping, as was UGO (also mediocre), so they should have welcomed some hungry/thirsty patrons who tip big and Yelp our butts off.
My $18, tiny, tasteless polenta cake sucked, as did the assortment of cheese, vegetables, and mushrooms, which added nothing.
Our tiny, $12 Sweet Tea cocktail (had some cutesy name) was ok.
We tried two desserts: the lamest banana split ever and a chocolate cake/tort thing. We were hungry so we ate it all up, but damn, the experience was less than stellar.
I don't care if it's owned by a celebrity's son. Skip this place and cook at home.
Oh, the chairs outside are metal and make a shit-load of noise when you move them.
Friday night, 8:30 p.m. reservation.
I was nervous because we were running late, thinking maybe they'd given our table up considering all of these reviews stating how long the wait and how many people are drooling at the door (*profuse rolling of the eyes ensues*).
When we got there, *crickets* there were so many empty tables! We stayed until 10:30 or so and still crickets. So no, this place is not always crawling with desperate patrons.
Drinks:
*Water with lemon for me (as usual), but I had a sip of the Draft beer here and it's very tasty for the small price. I didn't get to taste the Vespa or the Boont but heard great things about them.
*Vespa ($12.00) / Ford's Draft ($6.00) / Boont ($6.00)
*Bread: Too much garlic and not nearly as soft as I'd like it to be. It's hard!
Appetizers:
*Jamon Serrano Flatbread ($13.00) - is amazing in flavor and texture. The combination of flavors and ingredients really wowed me.
* Ipswich Fried Clams ($12.00) - were okay but it would've been better if the pieces were actually bigger and not mostly fried bits without much of the clam in there. Disappointment.
Entrees:
*Flat Iron Steak ($28.00) - medium rare and it was cooked to perfection (slightly seared on one side, tender otherwise). The dish comes with roasted fennel mashed potato and buttered english peas. Would've wanted more pronunciation of the fennel for a bit of crunch but eh. Didn't care for the olives, or the overabundance of the english peas or the bland potato but the steak itself was good. Was it worth the $28.00? Not really.
*Fish n' Chips ($22.00) - cod, shrimp, asparagus, fries, and pickled vegetable salad. The shrimps are huge! Delicious, actually.
Didn't get to try (but heard were pretty good):
*Polenta Cake ($18.00) - pearl onions, mixed mushrooms, blistered tomatoes, and truffle mascarpone cheese.
*Trenne Pasta ($18.00) - pulled pork, three chili pepper relish and spicy greens.
Altogether: $148 (for four people), $175.00 with tip. Honestly, I didn't mind paying because these are dear friends of mine but any other day, I don't think I'd be able to say with confidence that the money was well-spent. I'd rather spend the same amount of money at *The Little Door*. ;)
(Parking can be found in the structure behind the block. Two hours for free, every hour thereafter is $1.00. The waitstaff was attentive but why wouldn't they be with the handful of people dining that night? I'll have to go on a busier night to really gauge their service.)
Flatbread shrimp pizza, Italian cured meats and assorted stinky cheeses along with some nice glasses of Sauvignon Blanc make this a nice place to sit, nibble, converse, and people-watch.
Prices tend to be on the high side, but I've been fortunate enough to have always gone with tab picker-uppers... I'll cheers to that!
So freakin good!! We had the Kobe beef cheeks and polenta entrees, which were seriously fan-FREAKIN-tastic. The fried clams (calamari-esque) were delicious too. Great food, great service. Zero complaints. Definitely a must try! Plus it's in the heart of culver city which is very up and coming...ok, nevermind, it's probably already here.
AAAND they also have happy hour which is always a positive :)
shout out to my friend cherry for taking me here!!
I had heard a lot of mixed on this place so it wasn't high on my "to try" list. However, I saw Ben Ford (chef) on a Hell's Kitchen rerun and was leafing through my Michelin Guide the other day where I noticed that Ben Ford was Han Solo's son. Therefore, we decided to give it a shot for brunch.
Ford's Filling Station is pretty much a gastropub. The decor is a cross between country chic (kind of like The Farm Of Beverly Hills) and an upscale bar. Bluesy, Western music plays throughout the restaurant. Lots of rustic wood tables in dark browns. It was incredibly hot so we ate inside. They sat us at the booth along the wall. Usually, there is the option to sit at a chair opposing the booth. But not here, we sat on the same side "bar style." Probably more natural and fun if the restaurant is busy, and you can people-watch.
They have a lot of choices on their brunch menu including a selection of cheeses (mostly Wisconsin) and cured meats. We ordered a cheese and meat plate (3 cheeses and 1 meat at $25). The cheese and meat were accompanied by some nice bread, olives, pecans, grapes, and raisins on the vine. We had the prosciutto from Iowa, which was very good. The server was a bit of a low talker so I couldn't hear which cheese was which. But there was a creamy, brie-like cheese, which was very good and went well with the prosciutto. There was also a very tasty but mild cheddar. Finally, there was a hard, dry cheese like a parmesan--nothing really wrong with it, but it would have been better grated over a dish rather than by itself.
In terms of their food, we ordered a spicy garlic shrimp, which was roasted in its shell and served with a garlic/chili pepper/olive oil sauce that was quite good. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, and the sauce was a great touch. Kind of like a sauce that would be great for dipping bread in, which is probably why they brought out an extra loaf of bread with the shrimp.
I had the steak and eggs. For $18, you get a very large portion. Two eggs over easy. Pan roasted potatoes. A cress salad. And three large chunks of Hanger steak (probably 8 ounces total). For me, the potatoes were kind of bland. The Hanger steak could have been better as well. It was cooked properly at medium rare, but it was a little tougher than it should have been and didn't have the nice taste that I was hoping for (the Hanger steak at Santa Monica's Anisette was much better).
The dessert--a banana split--was simple but good. Three scoops of ice cream (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and vanilla). They were out of dark chocolate so we were served two scoops of milk chocolate instead. Nice whipped cream. Crushed nuts. A hardened chocolate sauce. And very tasty caramelized bananas. I would have preferred a nice warm caramel instead of the hardened chocolate sauce. And while the dessert didn't wow me, it took us probably less than a minute to finish it so I shouldn't complain. The dessert is big enough for two.
Service was good, and chef Ben Ford was outside on the BBQ grill providing a cooking demonstration for a few guests. All-in-all, some of it was good and some of it okay. Good enough to justify another visit down the road.
I've been here twice now and both experiences have been fantastic. Both days were for lunch and I had a) love of the atmosphere with their homey wood tables, brick wall, and dim, warm lighting - b) good service with excellent recommendations and c) was soooo happy with the food!
The first time I went, I was with a couple of friends and we got a bunch of things and shared: the roasted tomato soup (yum), the Jamon flat bread (yummer) the smoked trout salad (delicious) and one of their delectable cheeses. Was fantastic and agreed upon by everyone at the table.
The second time I was with one friend and I had their LADine special: you get an app, entree and dessert for $22.00! I had the mussels - some of the best mussels I've ever had (I wanted to lick the bowl clean the sauce was so good!) For my entree I had the pork cassoulet and lemme tell ya - I ate it very slowly because I wanted to savor each and every flavor - the pork was cooked PERFECTLY and was absolutely delicious with the greens, beans, onions and parsnip, topped with bread crumbs..MMMMMM. For my dessert I picked the squash bread pudding - not too sweet, AWESOME texture, complete with vanilla, almond ice cream and caramel sauce. LOVELY! My friend had the polenta cake which she very much enjoyed and the Purple Haze cheese plate which she let me try and I will definitely be getting that next time too! It was raining outside and it was the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a delicious lunch with our Bailey's and coffees. I am DEF a FAN!
Why can't I just listen to Yelp? Man was this place disappointing!
We came here for lunch. I got the pub burger, with chedder instead of the blue cheese. The bun is HUGE, much too huge. It also comes with grilled onions, or should I say that the grilled onions come with a side of burger? Why so many onions? And if you want, they also have regular onions that you can add on. Why??? Then there's a side of onion rings, which were so greasy I felt like I was swimming in grease. Why??? I asked for BBQ sauce, for the onions rings, they don't have BBQ sauce. Who doesn't have BBQ sauce? Why???
The girlfriend tried the fried chicken (Why???) and it was very bland. She described it as simply fried. It came on a bed of cheesy rice with some meat in it. She liked it, I didn't. Every bite I took of ANTYHING, made my arteries feel like they were closing up.
Also, it's expensive. Why???
Went back here for a pre-Mother's day dinner with my family; my mom is not a big fan of crowds so we went out on Saturday night instead of Sunday.
We walked in without a reservation and managed to get a table - it was 7 PM though and the place filled up fast.
Here are the items we ordered, in order, with review:
Drinks:
-Stone Porter: You can never go wrong with a Stone beer.
-Ford's Pale Ale: Pretty good for a pale ale, nothing crazy.
Appetizers/Entrees:
-Burrata Flat Bread: Maybe TOO many leaks and a little heavy on the burrata but I love cheese, so who cares?
-Pub Burger: Delicious, amazing, a little overwhelming. One of my favorite burgers in the city.
-Morrocan Lamb: This was my dish. The lamb was cooked well but I am not a big a fan of Lamb as I am of beef. The couscous was a little spicy but overall a decent dish.
-Flat Iron Steak: The steak is okay. I wouldn't order it just because there are so many other speciality steak places in the area.
-Kobe Beef Cheeks: !!!! My new fave dish at Ford's!!!!! Lots of exclamation points for emphasis. The meat almost melted in my mouth. I know Kobe Beef is better elsewhere too, but for Ford's this is a standout item on the menu. The cracked wheat risotto is also a hit and complements the beef well. I am ordering this next time I come in (it was my Dad's)
Desserts:
-Lemon Pudding Cake: This was okay. I like it but it's not as tarte as I usually like lemon cake to be. It was well presented and adorable.
-Flourless Chocolate Torte: This dessert was VERY rich. Don't get it unless you have a ridiculous sweet tooth, like me, which is probably why I'm the one who finished it off.
-Vanilla Creme Brulee- THE BEST. I loved their creme brulee. My mom kept saying it's not as good as the Ritz Carlton's but she's a creme brulee snob. I appreciate a well cooked creme brulee and this was just the right amount of sweet. I loved it.
My dad also got a Mexican Coffee and that tasted like a shot! It was very strong and my brother and I finished it off. It has tequila and kahlua and I was surprised that the mix came out so well with coffee, too.
I don't know why people are saying this place is expensive - we got all that food and drinks, and with over 20% tip we got out of Ford's for $220 for four people.
If you want cheap, then don't eat well! Go eat some Del Taco and quit complaining,
Overall, I still love Ford's and I'm glad I tried more of the menu.
Ford's Filling Station has delicious food, a comfortable ambiance, and friendly service. The… Read more »
It ain't all that. The food is pretty good, but, hella expensive for what you get. The portions are decent if you're a waif or visiting from Lilliput, but, for an averaged-sized human being, you're not getting much for your money.
I've given the place 1/2 dozen chances and I just won't go back any more. I think there are now enough choices in Culver City to out shine what used to be one of the first of the "hip" places since revitalizing the area. There are better deals to be found. Ones with more bar seats, matter of fact.
The first time I came here, the bf and I sat down, took a look at the menu...went "eh" and decided to leave. Granted, we weren't feeling up to a full meal and we were heading to a movie...
Last night my family stopped in for a quick visit, and we decided to give it a chance (after getting rejected by Fraiche since they were booked up for the night). Our group of 5 was seated quickly WITHOUT a reservation (just had to sit outside, but it was hot as balls and super crowded inside anyway).
What a big change from the last menu we had seen (just a month ago!) - everything sounded appetizing! The 5 of us shared the burrata flatbread and oven roasted octopus, which I washed down with a Ford's Pink Lemonade (all delicious).
It only got better with entrees. I had kobe beef cheeks and got to try oxtail ragu, moroccan lamb, and bacon-wrapped quail; all the meat was cooked perfectly - SO juicy and tender. I didn't even touch my knife! Sides were also great and perfectly suited to our dishes. My parents, brother and boyfriend all raved about the food as well - my boyfriend had been feeling sick and was complaining ALL DAY until he started eating.
For dessert we shared two flourless chocolate tortes with melted chocolate ice cream; those were gone in about 5 minutes flat. I also stole sips of the bf's mexican coffee- super strong but still tasty!
Overall we were all totally happy with our meals and great service (they definitely have proper waiters- no hovering but never did we have to LOOK for the waiter or someone to clear the table). The next day the bf and I were still talking about the awesomeness of the meal. We probably won't be regulars, but we are definitely big fans!
** I ALMOST didn't go because of the meh reviews on here and I'm so glad I didn't listen! I admit that I thought the portions SEEMED small at first, but I thought it was actually perfect - we were all full (even my fat ass brother) and I realized I was just used to disgusting oversized portions (of usually much worse quality food).
Although Ford's has the celebrity connections (chef/owner is son of actor Harrison Ford), it doesn't have the snooty Hollywood feel you might expect. I like that. The beer selection is modest, yet strong in variety. The dinner menu isn't particularly amazing with basic bar-fare that's cooked well with various improvements to quality and ingredient choice. The restaurant is in a busy location in Culver City downtown making patio ambiance vibrant and inviting when the weather is good. One of Ford's strongest areas is its selection of cured meats, charcuterie, and flatbreads...mmm, headcheese.
There we were: a group of four, around 10PM, thirsty and animated and ready for some drinks.
We were seated around a high table in the bar area. A friendly bartender immediately came over and greeted us, handing us drink menus. The Pink Lemonade is a wonderful froufrou drink (if you're in the mood for one).
When one of us wanted a special drink that wasn't on the menu, they were happy to create their own version, asking my friend's preference on label, flavor(s) and strength. The manager even came over and joked around about adding it to the menu. haha
We had a great experience. I'll have to trying "filling" up on more than just booze next time!
Had a great experience at Ford's when the folks visited recently. I went deep into the menu. We started off with some cured meats and cheeses. All were excellent, especially the brasiola and camembert. The kobe beef cheeks were rich and completely falling apart with tenderness. It's a little sad to think of those cows running around without cheeks, but there's nothing to be done about it. They were served on a wheat berry risotto (I think). Those little wheat berries were swollen to the point of bursting, yet managed to retain an al dente quality. Wonderful.
I went all out and got a banana split for dessert. This puppy was high end, with nice, rich scoops of ice cream and chocolate covered bananas. It's shareable.
Ford's Filling Station is a good spot; I will return. The menu offers original fare; the cured meat… Read more »
Harrison Ford's son! How cool?? He's the chef/owner here! I was curious because I saw him cook these awesome looking sandwiches on some food network show so i decided to try it out.
it's a bit pricey so i went with a girlfriend for lunch. i got the fish and chips plate and it came with lots of cool stuff like fried asparagus, onion rings, and chips! those were all good, and the fish was eh. my friend got the flatbread which was really good! when i go back, i'll have to get it for myself. it's the best value there. i also want to try happy hour there. will update when i try it =)
I was pretty let down by this place. I had seen it the week before while we were having lunch at Tender Greens and it looked awesome..tons of cheeses and meats I hadn't heard of and lots of fruits.
It was a little more expensive than I was expecting and since I had just gotten a $500 ticket for going through a red light, I was feeling a little frugal. I got the burger. Bf got some cured meats and the tomato soup, which was a special.
The burger was ok. It wasn't near as good as the burger the bf had gotten that very same morning at a breakfast place, though. It came with 6 onion rings which were spectacular!
The cured meats were cut super thin and they weren't that interesting. My experiences at Aroma cafe have been tastier and cheaper. The tomato soup was awesome though.
It's a pretty cool atmosphere with some nice outdoor seating. But I don't think I'd come here again unless it was with a group of people who insisted. It just seems too overpriced for what you get.
My Mother is lactose intolerant and I may be as well. My grandmother suggests staying away from red meat to avoid 'the gout.' Upon visiting Ford's Filling Station, I have, on multiple occasions, decided to ignore the advice of my elders. I do not regret my decision.
A must: The meat and cheese plates. If you are really hungry have a piece of bread before it comes so you can take your time enjoying the flavors of the cheese and paper-thin slices of cured meats. I like stinky blue cheeses, which aren't for everyone, so I suggest just telling your server if you like harder cheeses, softer cheeses, sharper or milder and they will take care of you. I highly recommend the Humboldt fog. For three people a 3-meat, 3-cheese plate is a plenty. It looks like a lot more than it is when it comes out.
Do Try: The kobe beef cheeks. Don't be afraid if you've never had this tender cut of meat - it is delicious and melts in your mouth like butter. Delicious.
Very good: The pub burger. Some may say you can't really screw up a burger but yes - you can, and sometimes you just need a good burger. At the filling station it's moist and the caramelized onions are wonderful against the Maytag blue cheese, which is surprisingly well balanced and not overpowering. If it sounds like too much get the blue cheese on the side and add it yourself - though I think you will end up adding it all!
Drinks: Good bears on tap - Stone IPA draft is a good one. Had a good glass of malbec on one visit and a so-so pinot noir on another. As with most places, I was not disappointing when following the suggestions of the bartender.
The scene: Gourmet food in a LA-casual setting. A little dark for some but I like candlelit dining. Sony executives love it, and celebrities (not to mention the chef is Harrison Ford's son). We saw Will Farrel there last week, looking good Will, I recommend the beef cheeks.
Tip: Make a reservation! They use http://opentable.com which is an added bonus - you don't have to make a phone call and you earn points just for showing up for your reservation.
Next time: I'm looking forward to trying the appetizer flat breads. I've seen them come out and they look and smell wonderful. After all what's better than a big plate of gourmet cheese and bread? You guessed it - melty cheese and bread :)
This was a special occasion meal that I had been looking forward to for some time and was not disappointed. Ford's Filling Station is owned by Benjamin Ford, son of actor Harrison Ford. Other reviews I read made comment to the menu being a little overpriced. I can't comment on that here, since I was treated to this interesting (and amazing) dinner.
For my brother's birthday, he invited us to the special, order 10 days in advance, suckling pig dinner. Ok, sounds interesting. Why do we have to order it in advance? Because, my pork fans, it is a six course dinner of pure pork. Every course. Pork.
Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods has actually done an episode on this very meal. Should have been my first clue for the strange things that awaited me.
Chef Salvatore graciously came out and described each course as they were delivered.
Course 1: Head cheese in a chili oil served with a baguette. Head cheese is a gelatinous loaf of pig scraps. You know. The stuff they can't make into anything else. Not even a hot dog. Have to say though...it wasn't bad.
Course 2: Pork butt pate on a garlic crostini. The pate was a little bland but worked well with the garlic crostini. Kind of reminded me of deviled ham. Remember deviled ham? Not sure it's even made anymore but they were small cans of ham that you could spread on bread.
Course 3: Flat bread with thinly sliced prosciutto and fresh mozzarella. The prosciutto was aged 18 months. Tasted like a fancy ham and cheese pizza. Quite yummy.
Course 4: Salad of mixed greens with eyeballs and ears. That's right. Eyeballs and ears. Crispy pig ears and thinly sliced pig eyeballs. Ears were tasty. I couldn't find the eyeball in my salad but was assured that each salad contained a slice of eyeball. I must've eaten it and didn't even know it. So bummed. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Plus, it was my first eyeball so I wanted to remember every detail.
Course 5: Whole suckling pig brined in duck fat for two days served with pork cracklings, collard greens and brussel sprouts cooked with bacon. This was the freaky part. The pig head, hooves, everything.....was served on the platter. The meat was the consistency of pulled pork. The eyeballs were actually peeled grape tomatoes because the original eyeballs were used for our salad. Meat was good if not a little salty from the brine. It was suggested that the head be taken back to the kitchen to be separated and eaten. It came back out in pieces. Including the brain. Let me just say....I like trying new food. I'm an adventurer when it comes to cuisine and I will try anything and everything - once. I took a bite of pig brain and had a hard time swallowing it. In fact, it took several minutes for me to actually get it down. The consistency was like an avocado except it stuck to my teeth. So bizarre! Yet I, being the trooper I am, did indeed swallow it. And survived.
Course 6: Homemade white chocolate ice cream with candied bacon. Thought for sure this was the one that was going to send me over the edge, but I actually liked it. Nice balance of sweet and savory.
All in all, this was a great experience. Fun food. Good friends and family. Something I will not soon forget.
I went for brunch without reading any reviews, and I'm surprised by the harsh ones I'm reading here.
Maybe the dinner menu has smaller portions, but I can safely say that none of the brunch entrees ordered had us suffering the same fate. We started with the burrata flatbread, which was an A+ outstanding appetizer, and the squash blossoms, which were good but not amazing - comparable to tempura, actually.
I also was impressed by the brunch drink options, and opted for "Ford's Pink Lemonade" - not bad, didn't even realize I was drinking alcohol which was a nice touch but still felt that characteristic friendly glow by the time I was done drinking. Nice drink mixing there.
So we did have high hopes at this point for the entrees, which did not disappoint. We ordered the hash, a Blue Maxx, Fish and Chips, and Polenta cake. I liked my dish, the Blue Maxx, quite a lot. My only gripe was that, though I knew the dish had potatoes, I felt that the potatoes got to be a bit overwhelming. Sometimes restaurants fill out a dish with a filling starch like potatoes as an easy way to pad the size of the dish, and I suspect a bit of that may have been going on here. Problem solved though - I just didn't eat all of the potatoes and opted to focus my attention on the tastier eggs, spinach, and bacon components. So overall, not a huge issue.
We all liked the nice ambiance of the place, and the patio dining was a great option as we went on a beautiful morning.
I don't think that the prices - for brunch at least - were that unwarranted. Sure, I've had other similar quality brunch experiences for less. However, Ford's Filling Station does have a unique menu that explores flavors and ingredients outside of standard brunch dishes that I've come to expect from other cafes in LA. I would definitely recommend this place to brunch diners that are looking for a slightly more upscale, less typical Hollywood hipster morning/early afternoon destination.
Overrated and icky.
There was dirt in my fish & chips and the manager tried to convince me it was rock salt.
C'mon, that's just silly.
Overrated, icky and silly.
I wanna LOVE this place - support the way he uses local ingredients & overall way of doing business. However, so far I have only gotten 2 things I would ever consider getting again:
1) Clam Chowder on the Sunday Brunch menu - YUMMY! = 1 star
2) Kobe Beef Cheeks - hubby had them last night & was my favorite = 1 star
3rd star for restaurant's intent...
The service tends to be slow at all times (only been here 3x so maybe I have not gotten lucky) and the prices seem a bit high for what you get.
Disappointed Watermelon Marguerita drink - they infuse their own vodka, but I could barely taste the watermelon making it no different than any other marguerita.
Mom's fish was OK - not great.
My Porchetta was not great - especially considering it was a "special"
Willing to try the $18/person Texas BBQ on Sundays 4pm - 10pm... who wants to go?
You guys are a bunch of haters who are all upset over the fact that this place isn't inexpensive.
I can't think of another place in Culver city that offers a similar experience and similar quality grill food and options for anywhere near the price. As anyone in Culver City knows, there are a surprisingly low amounts of higher end eating options in the area. Ford's filling Station has a fun ambience that is moderate energy, cool decor, and all that... and great service usually.
This is a pretty unique dining experience -- the cheeses and meats are really fun, as are the flatbreads. Some are better than others, but none are bad.
The grill menu is great. Offers a lot of clean options that all are done very well. I am partial to the trout that is served on a flavorful rice bed and shaved almonds. They manage to pack a lot of flavor into not a ton of calories.
The drink menu is also good. they have some great beers on tap, good micro-brews, I approve as a beer snob.
This is my preferred restaurant to take clients and interview candidates to. You just get to try a lot of unusual presentations, in a cool ambience.
Update -- I LOVE their wine list. Had a wine from Paige 23 that was cheap and incredible. They sure can pick them.
Recently ate here for lunch. After sitting down I was a little disappointed with the menu. Usually I can find something to get excited about, it doesn't take much for me. In this case I was underwhelmed. I ended up ordering one of their flat breads and a salad. The meal was average at best. The salad was small and harmless. The flat bread was basically a rustic thin crust pizza. The burger looked good (friend ordered it), but again nothing too exciting. The onion rings were big, I guess that's something...
The interior of Filling Station is okay, but all the restaurants around looked more interesting. All in all just an average experience. I would not recommend it based on what I had to eat. It will do, but you can do better and very close by.
Cheers!
Neighborhood: Culver City
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Culver City
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Culver City
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Culver City
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Culver City
Category: Italian
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