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S & W Country Diner

3.5 star rating
based on 186 reviews

Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners

Neighborhood: Culver City
9748 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 204-5136
Hours:

Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Attire:
Casual
Accepts Credit Cards:
No
Parking:
Street
Price Range:
$
Good for Groups:
No
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Breakfast
Alcohol:
None

186 reviews for S & W Country Diner

Review Highlights   

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"I had the homemade corned beef hash and I really liked it." (in 14 reviews)
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"have to have perfect coffee to go with perfect pancakes." (in 40 reviews)
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"Great breakfast spot but be sure to bring cash only." (in 37 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Jasmine W.

Elite '10

119

331

Jasmine W.

West Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
2/7/2010

portions aren't large - the grandmas, who typically take half their meals home - polished off their lunch items (a bacon burger - fries extra - and the half sandwich/half soup) without difficulties. i ordered the two eggs with turkey sausage with the fried tomatoes (they tasted more baked to me) and it was exactly what i craved for. again, not big portions and definitely nothing fancy here, but it was tasty and i really enjoyed the sweet uniqueness of the fried tomatoes. also sampled the breakfast burrito and loved the bacon goodness in every bite and the full french toast (had 4 slices) and was decent but, like our whole experience, was not terribly memorable or mind-blowing.

cute decor, a little bit of a wait to get a table at noon on a sunday; of note they're cash only and this is NOT a good place to bring a large party (most people come here in 1-2's, a few tables that can seat 4, maybe 6).

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Photo of Myra R.

 

54

98

Myra R.

Culver City, CA

4 star rating
2/1/2010

My fiance and I live in the area and wanted some diner food on a lazy Saturday afternoon.  The decor is all 50s memorabilia.  The service was a little on the slow side but we weren't in a hurry.  We ordered up a couple of omelets with a side of hash browns.  I did see some folks order up pancakes and french toast.  Those are on my list for my return visit.  I am glad my fiance encouraged us to try this little gem in our neighborhood.

Sidenote: This diner is cash only.

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Photo of Cathy K.

Elite '10

310

387

Cathy K.

Orange County, CA

4 star rating
1/3/2010

Weekends are made for sleeping in...

And after a long, restful slumber... after leisurely stretching in bed... after rolling around and debating whether to actually get up or sleep some more... after stretching some more... after rolling around some more... the first real thought that actually pops into my head is... "Hmmm... Hungry....."

I know I'm not alone in this!

Well, it was too late for breakfast, but brunch is fine with me, too.  I'd never heard of S&W, but whatever.  The pictures on Yelp looked good.

S and I made our way down the street and found some street parking across the street, sort of by Starbucks.  After feeding a gabillion coins into the meter, we made our way across the STRANGEST crosswalk I'd ever seen and...

Seems a whole lotta other people had the same brunch craving that I did.  There was quite a line, lemme tell you.

The bar area was fairly empty, but it looked like a few tables were about to leave, so we decided to be patient and wait outside.  Our guess proved right on the mark, because we were seated sooner rather than later.  The place is TINY, mind you, divvied up into two sections.  We were seated in a crappy booth surrounded by crappy tables, crappy chairs, and crappy wall hangings.

I LOVED IT!  Who wants to have brunch in some fancy schmantzy joint when you can go to some streetfront diner that reeks 50's charm?  Well, I, at least, prefer the latter.  Feels much more cozy... and the food's prolly a lot greasier (i.e. a lot tastier).

I pored over the menu for a REALLY long time.  I hate extensive menus because I can't ever decide what to get.  There were "Build-A-Breakfast" sorta things, Mexican, Sandwiches, Burgers, Salads, Pancakes, Waffles, whatever.  Tons and tons and tons of stuff for me to debate over.

I finally narrowed down my choices to the open faced turkey sandwich and the grilled cheese with bacon.  I decided to let the waitress choose for me (which I'm known to do), and she immediately chose the bacon grilled cheese.  Just FYI, she said the turkey wasn't that great.  S got the breakfast burrito with a side of biscuits and gravy.

Come to think of it, we should've ordered some chili cheese fries.  Other people were eating them, and I meant to order it.  I guess I just forgot.  Oh well.

Our food came out fairly quickly, and...

S loved his breakfast burrito.  I loved my bacon grilled cheese.

Neither of us really liked the biscuits and gravy (which is strange, because we're both huge fans, and you really can't go wrong)... The gravy was just too... watery.  And the biscuit was just too... not flaky.  I dunno.  S makes better.  For shizzle.

Prices?  I think everything was around the $7-10 range.  Pretty nifty, especially considering that I was pretty darn full after eating half of my sandwich and bites of S's burrito.

I want to go back and try their chili cheese fries.  Everyone was eating them.  BOOOOOO.

S is Steve, btw.  I have his permission to reveal his identity. LOL.

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Photo of Kristin P.

 

2

24

Kristin P.

El Sobrante, CA

2 star rating
2/8/2010

The homemade corned beef hash was pretty good, but the sour dough toast was gross, and the grits had no flavor.  My friend doctored them up with coffee creamer, salt, pepper, etc and then they were awesome, but without his help I would have left them uneaten.  

The service wasn't bad, but it wasn't great.  Our bills were so hard to read, we actually had to ask the waitress to translate to us what they said.  You shouldn't have to ask for help to read a bill!  And cash only!?  Who does that anymore?

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Photo of Carnley P.

 

22

154

Carnley P.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
1/15/2010

Down home cooking with a kitschy-country interior. I felt like I was dining in a vintage junk shop (or my grandparents kitchen in Atmore, Alabama). Very homey. Loved it.
Friendly waitstaff.
Great place to come for a country breakfast! Not great for dieters or the health conscious.

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Photo of friscoco c.

 

16

46

friscoco c.

Culver City, CA

4 star rating
12/29/2009

S&W has been one of several stand-by breakfast joints of my friends and mine for a number of years, dependable for food quality and service.

In fact, most of the wait staff has probably been there for as long as the place has been open, and you've got to admire such consistency.  That extends to the kitchen, which offers a wide selection of items, some of which I would never touch.  Funny thing about me at breakfast:  I typically order entrees that are conventional, old school grub that can't be mangled beyond recognition.

Therefore I don't order turkey sausage, which I have sampled and agree with its detractors--it bites.  But there's not much turkey sausage I've ever tasted that I actually liked.  Same for pancakes.  All they do is fill you up with empty calories and weigh you down for the better part of a day.

So, for crying out loud, if a diner is known for its homemade corned beef hash, and you like hash, well, order it!  What I like about S&W is that the menu also features canned hash for a dollar less, and although I haven't tried it, I'd speculate that panhandling outside the diner for that extra buck would be worth your while.

Last time there I departed from my hash jag and ordered pork chops and eggs--the chops are dredged through seasoned flour and pan fried to perfect doneness.

We were sitting in the booth right next to the kitchen entrance, and were able to observe how the servers deliver plates as soon as the cook puts them up, regardless of whose customer ordered it.

This means the food doesn't spend time languishing under a heat lamp which, as we all know, is only useful for illuminating  food as it gets cold.

If you insist on a flour-and-oil (pancake) breakfast, maybe they'll allow you to pull a Kramer from "Seinfeld" and bring your own container of maple syrup to the restaurant.

You might want to inquire about a corkage fee.

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Photo of stephanie k.

 

24

21

stephanie k.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
11/27/2009

Seriously?... Really?

If you can't make a decent simple pancake breakfast you need to shoot your damn self for opening up a diner.

I got  Pancakes, Turkey Sausage, and Hash Browns. The pancakes were just OK, problem was they didn't give me any syrup. Huge problem...hello?! I love the crunchy outside of well cooked hash browns but these were severely overcooked. LMAO @ the Turkey sausage... delete from menu please.Thanks.

She got the lemon chicken eggs benedict ... why? I have no idea. Don't know why she thought that would taste good nor do I understand why that bullshit is even on their menu. That being said,  I did not have any desire to taste it as it looked gross and her negative comments did little to persuade me. Her hash browns were also overcooked. I guess that's their specialty. Moving right along...

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Photo of Hans D.

 

0

1

Hans D.

Thousand Oaks, CA

2 star rating
1/28/2010

I worked in the the food service business for many years and I have a lot of patience for poor service because I have been there and understand. That being said, my recent visit to S & W Country Diner was awful. From the service to the food, I am sad to say it was just all bad. I was dining with my girlfriend who has eaten there many times and she was embarrassed saying the service is never great but this was really bad. Her food came out 10 minutes after mine did with an explanation of "Sometime the food doesn't come out at the same time". Both of our meals were disappointing. Maybe it was just a bad day but with no attempt at politeness or even customer service, I will not be going back any time soon.

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Photo of Jesse A.

 

4

16

Jesse A.

West Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
12/14/2009

Great little place to have breakfast! The homemade hash is pretty great, and the portions are generous. Friendly waitresses and good atmosphere... what else do you want?

Just make sure you've got some cash, because they do not take cards.

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Photo of Pam A.

 

2

6

Pam A.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
1/4/2010

Well, I've been to this place twice and while the service is ok, the food is really just average.  Also, the place is not clean.  Their were scraps of food caked on my coffee cup.   I've seen much better examples of diners with affordable prices, this is more like an overpriced greasy spoon.

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Photo of Jenn T.

Elite '10

24

94

Jenn T.

New York, NY

2 star rating
10/5/2009

I came here for brunch with friends and it was packed (which is always a good sign). We waited outside on the bench and I appreciated the fact that the hostess let me buy some coffee to drink while we waited.

Once seated it took a while to figure out who was our waitress, as everyone was running all over the place and there was someone different pouring waters, setting our places, etc. I ordered the eggs benedict with a side of cheesy grits. The eggs were done pretty well, but I have to admit that the grits were less than desired. And I love me some grits. They were a little too grainy and when the cheese melted, it almost got a little dilluted? I was disappointed, I have to say. They did constantly fill our coffee cups, and I think that's why I didn't get to finish my meal since I was so full of coffee.

The place was semi-cheap and the food came out pretty fast, so I guess if I lived in the area I'd come around more often and I'm sure I'd have better experiences. This one was just kinda 'eh'. Or as yelp's rating puts it: Meh.

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Photo of army c.

 

0

23

army c.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
10/8/2009

The worst diner I have ever been to and one of the most uncomfortable dining experiences I've ever had.

My Caucasian rocker friend w/longish hair and I (Asian) went on a weekend for brunch.  At first we thought our waitress was just one of those cranky people who were rude and inattentive to everyone, but she was very nice to the two other groups who came in at the same time as we did.  She gave us child-sized water cups while everyone else in the restaurant had regular sized water cups.  She also kept staring at us and giving us weird, dirty looks.  I also noticed that other people (esp this one family sitting right next to us) kept staring at us and at another mixed ethnicity couple sitting nearby.  I've never experienced this kind of treatment before.  I don't want to use the P word because it's a very loaded word, but my friend and I definitely experienced it here.  THIS with the fact that this place has REALLY BAD, BLAND FOOD, I WILL NEVER BE GOING BACK HERE.

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Photo of Matt C.

 

8

39

Matt C.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
1/23/2010

I do like this little breakfast diner a lot.  The only problem is the line, but if you just pull up to the counter you should be ok.  There's plenty to choose from, and they're pretty good about making exactly what you want.  I like the omlettes and the other classic breakfasts.  They also have good handmade hamburgers.  The homefries are really good.  Not sure about the biscuit on its own, but it's really great with the country fried steak and eggs.  It was cash only, so I had to run across the street to the bank; come to think of it, there are a lot of banks across the street.

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Photo of Laurie M.

 

0

7

Laurie M.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
11/2/2009

They may keep weird hours but this place is quite the little diner.  I've eaten both breakfast and lunch here and have always had a good experience.  They have great french toast.  

Warning: they only take cash.

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Photo of Frederick G.

Elite '10

73

196

Frederick G.

Venice, CA

2 star rating
7/27/2009

My boring meals week continues:

Stopped by here the other day because once again, the hordes are always here and it was recommended to me by another Yelper.

I should know better by now, right?

I came in past the waiting groups outside, figuring a seat at the half empty counter would be quick for 1 person. A vacuous lad at the cash register ignored me, as did the several waitresses there. I finally asked the lad if I could sit at the counter and he mumbled something incoherent and looked away. After trying to flag down a few waitresses, one did respond and say it was ok.

She asked me what I wanted to drink, coffee, and disappeared. Sometime later a coffee materialized. Meanwhile, I was ready to order almost immediately, but no waitress. Finally when one came, I ordered my diner comparison item of choice this week, French Toast, a 1/2 order, with scrambled eggs. When it arrived, I saw two thinnish slices of barely egged bread, and the eggs. Ok.

I buttered and maple-syruped them and they were as they appeared, tough and unloved little bastard slices, hoping to pass unnoticed into the great void, to be redistributed down the line with better karma than they arrived with. I tried to help them in the process but did not want to finish them - empty calories add up and these pups were still birthed.

So I paid and left.

No, wait, vacuous lad was still at the cash register, and he did his best to not take my check for 5 minutes, even though I started waving it in his sightline. Finally a waitress asked me if I wanted to pay - it was obvious - and I did, pay and leave.

At least the price is right here, I'll give them that. But not cheap enough for me to return.

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Photo of J B.

 

0

1

J B.

Signal Hill, CA

1 star rating
1/23/2010

I would hope that no one gets as cold and bad food that my friend got this morning.  The service was good.  The hot chocolate was 99% water, the eggs were cold, the grits would not melt butter- if what we got was butter.  The toast was so cold it would not melt the yellow substance that they called butter.  I would not walk across the street to eat here again- much less drive 20 plus miles and pay for parking.  You live and learn.

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Photo of Roddy S.

 

3

5

Roddy S.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
1/20/2010

walk there for breakfast every few weeks. always great service and pretty reasonable prices. lots of omelettes and choices for breakfast and lunch. tuna melt is pretty good.

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Photo of Chad H.

Elite '10

9

206

Chad H.

San Francisco, CA

1 star rating
9/6/2009

Pretty disappointing.  As far as brunch places, I've had a lot better.  I ordered a bacon, cheddar, and avocado scramble, with hash browns.  The hash browns needed a LOT of salt - not very good at all.  The scramble tasted pretty good, but they put enough ingredients in for a 3 egg scramble but then only made it with 2 eggs.  In other words, there was way too much avocado.  My girlfriend got the homemade corn beef hash and thought it was decent.

I'd give them 2 stars, but minus 1 star for cash only.  Get into the 21st century!

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Photo of H L.

 

8

35

H L.

Irvine, CA

4 star rating
9/20/2009

I've been here about 4 times, as it's walking distance from my friend's place, and I've had a consistent experience so far.  Of course, I've only been there for breakfast, so this isn't a completely fair review.

Yes, the place is cash only, but that's how they keep their prices so low.  The deals are quite good if you get the simple or well-known dishes.  I usually get waffles and pancakes, while my friend gets eggs, meat, and potatoes.  Both of us have always liked what we've gotten, and the servers constantly refill your coffee.  

It's a simple diner that I recommend for locals wanting a weekend breakfast for cheap.

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Photo of Bobby K.

 

2

64

Bobby K.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
11/1/2009

So I read quite a bit about this lil diner in downtown Culver City, and absolutely had to try it.  Took my friend here for breakfast after hearing the good things about this place, and my experience was pretty good.

Very friendly staff, no wait, waitress took our order, and within 15 minutes, our food came out just the way we ordered.  The coffee here is really good, for whatever reason that may be.  My friend and I both ordered the "build-your-own" omelet,   with a few sides.  I have to admit, the food here is delicious, but the portions are huge.

The one downside I had to say was the so-called "biscuit."  It literally looked like a cornbread and tasted nothing like a biscuit...very dry :(

Other than that, parking was fine...lucky to find it right outside on the street.

So, would I go back again?  Sure, why not...it was my first time.  Perhaps, I'll order something else next time.

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Photo of sarah g.

 

17

72

sarah g.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
10/18/2009

Nice place to get lunch or breakfast.  This place was packed but we were able to get seated right away.  The food was good, typical diner food.  Fairly priced, considering the location.  I would probably come here again.

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Photo of Hazel F.

Elite '10

113

196

Hazel F.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
11/3/2009

I never come in when there is a wait. I always come in a weekday, so I guess this makes my experience more pleasant. I always keep it simple and usually order hot links or corned beef. Both are good. Cash only.

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Photo of Ryan F.

 

2

6

Ryan F.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
9/1/2009

I went to school in the south, so I know a good southern cookin place when i see one!  just wish the staff was from the south...  complete with accents.  haha  

Food and atmosphere are both really solid....  it has good replay value.

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Photo of Jena S.

Elite '10

160

222

Jena S.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
6/20/2009

This place is a Sunday morning afterthought for visitors and crashers of the night before.  It's close.  It's cozy.  It has that whole down to earth feel that you just don't seem to get most places in CA.  At least, in the mornings it does.

I've never been there when it isn't a weekend morning, so I can't really vouche for them for beyond that.  But when I do go, the place is a hustle bustle small diner that really doesn't do me wrong.

It may take a little while to get seated.  There's always a line.  There's benches outside and Culver is not a bad little place though.  What's the rush anyway?  Usually when I go its a Sunday to unwind... people are always in such a rush to get everything done here in LA.

I come from the heart of the midwest... well Chicagoland suburbs.  It wasn't country where I lived but it was a lot slower of a pace than it is here in LA.  This is a welcome retreat to those days...

The decor reminds me of my grandparents place.  All vintage "throwaways" back from yester year.  Old metal signs.  Old tables.  Vinyl seats.

The portioning is huge.  It's one of the only places that I know of around LA that I can get real grits and freshly cut strawberries.  You will not run out of food, and it will be worth the bill- which is teensy.

DONT FORGET TO BRING CASH!  I've been embarrassed before in front of company having forgotten that.  However there's a Wamu/Chase right across the street.  This is the only reason I wouldn't 5 star this place :(

There are booths as well as tables.  It's a personable diner.  Sometimes you will be seated next to people you don't know on the pull away table tops.  No one I've sat nearby has been rude.

The cups of hot cocoa are worth the trip alone.  They are HUGE.
The waitresses are friendly and always attentive to your cups of water, joe, or anything else.  They are patient and sincere... unless you forget to cash.

There's a sign there that says "In God We Trust All Others Pay Cash."  It's a Jean Shepard (writer of the Christmas Story) book reference.  

Satirists and down old country bumpkins... rockabillies and post modernist intellectuals. and those just wanting a little break from the city lights and want a genuine breakfast experience should take a trek down to good ole S & W.

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Photo of Jaelynn D.

 

18

117

Jaelynn D.

North Hills, CA

4 star rating
7/3/2009 3 photos

My friends and I went here on a random pick from his iPhone. Parking kinda sucks; metered parking on the street.

The inside is decorated all old fashioned style--Like if my grandparents were hinkies or something. We went on a weekday so we didn't really have to wait. The waitresses aren't the most warm, but I figure that they're just working with the sense of urgency.

I ordered the country fried steak and eggs which came with hasbrowns and toast. The food came out fast and was a good size portion. Not like Claim Jumpers but still pretty big. The country fried steak was an actual steak, not like cubes steak like in Denny's. It was good, not the best. Their hashbrowns however were the best I've ever had. Most of the time I disregard hasbrowns but there was just something so tasty and perfect about them.

Another thing that's important is NO CASH OR CELLPHONE USE when ordering. There are a set of rules in the front window upon going in the restaurant.

Regardless of this, I will totally be back!

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Photo of Shelly V.

 

3

6

Shelly V.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
11/11/2009

Being new the Culver City area, my boyfriend and I were looking for a great diner for breakfast. We came across S & W and read reviews stating how busy it gets, so we thought we hit it up early. Shortly after we got there at 9:15, there was a decent wait outside. We, fortunately, were seated immediately. Love, love the decor and the wait staff were friendly and helpful. Food was awesome and coffee didn't disappoint. I thought it was a little on the pricey side for basic breakfast food, so that with the potential for long wait times lost them a star. I will definitely be a frequent customer though!!

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22

74

Sim City Slicker S.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
7/13/2009

A small breakfast place.
A good spot to grab a big breakfast that tastes home-cooked.
Blows away IHOP anyday.

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Photo of Aadip D.

 

3

22

Aadip D.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
6/22/2009

Food is ok. I ordered the pancakes (my test for breakfast places) with a side of scrambled eggs.  Neither taste that good.  Had to douse 'em in butter and slather on the syrup (which wasn't that tasty), which didn't make a difference.

I'm gonna give them another chance, but the not-so-friendly staff (cute girls who know it) and average food make this a skippable joint.

CASH ONLY.

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Photo of Ed K.

 

16

70

Ed K.

West Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
5/26/2009

This little diner in the heart of Culver City won't replace Snug Harbor in SM as my favorite breakfast place, but I found it ok.  My parents were visiting in town and in the mood for a tradition omelet and pancakes place that was close to LAX so i came across this thanks to fellow yelpers.

This is defitinely an old diner with a bit of history, but my biggest complaint about the place was how LOUD it was.  The walls and open construction leave it prone to a lot of echo and it was so loud so we couldn't hear our waitresses, or ourselves.  At first we thought everyone was chattering but then realized it all came from the same three tables and everyone else was eating in silence, yet it sounded like full din.

Moving onto the food, I can only comment on the breakfast menu and everything is standard fare and well done, but very few original or fancy creations to appeal to the foodie looking for something unique (one thing i love about Snug Harbor with its custom omelettes and skillet dishes) but the food is well made and simple and would be worth going back to in a pinch.

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1284

242

Veronica R.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
1/6/2009

Butter.

Buttery melty salty luscious butter.

That's what popped into my head as I made my way home, sweaty and proud, from spin class today.

Figures.

The next thought in tow, tied to the butter thought, was of S&W Diner. And omelettes. And how the BEST omelette I've ever had in the entire world was due to S&W's dedication to sauteing those puppies in mounds of the stuff. Butter, that is.

(Please excuse me while I continue to mentally break my diet)

Do I remember what was INSIDE the omelette? Not so much, but I'm guessing some cheese (duh) and some meat and definitely a vegetable like spinach or mushrooms. But really, who cares when you have eggs and butter? Well, okay, the hashbrowns were amazing, too.

Not to mention the entire shebang costs under $10 - and here's betting you MIGHT be able to stomach one more meal that day. You might have to pay with that hour of your life you waste waiting to get in, but hey, at least you break even.

I must dock one star due to 1) mild claustraphobia and 2) my severe impatience, which has thus kept me from partaking in this establishment every weekend morning for the rest of my life, but I'm taking that as a good thing. Because as the gods say, (wo)man cannot live on eggs and butter alone. *sigh*

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Photo of Paul H.

 

4

37

Paul H.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
5/31/2009

First off, I had a bad first impression. We signed in with my name, "Paul" party of 2.  I started getting worried when I had been waiting almost 40 minutes and people that got there after us were already sitting.  Long story short, the hostess read my name as "Dan L." and that's why we hadn't got seated.  Kind of insulting considering my penmanship is very neat compared to most men.  That sort of put me in a bad state of mind, considering I was tired and somewhat hung over after a night of drinking in downtown.  

The food. I guess I would give it a 3 1/2 stars.  Don't get me wrong, it's good breakfast for sure, but it's just not amazing. The place is really cool though, fun atmosphere.

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6

3

Alli J.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
6/29/2009

Perhaps this place masquerades as a non-LAish watering hole, but I don't mind. The 50s decor and cozy tables can't disguise the fact that it's pretty LA: long weekend waits, waitresses that probably hope to star in a Lifetime made-for-TV biopic of a struggling waitress/actress, industry folks with iphones, etc.
However, the food justifies the wait and satisfies the longings of those who have actually been to small-town diners. I'm a big fan of the pancakes (not overwhelmingly huge, and accompanied by well-scrambled eggs) and the coffee. Family members avow that the burgers are some of the best they've ever had.
Yes, they only take cash, but every diner gets a separate check, which helps large groups avoid awkward "who's good at math?" moments.

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21

Isriya G.

Culver City, CA

3 star rating
10/15/2009

This is a pretty good, chill local diner that I can always count on good food, coffee, i.e. cheap breakfast  in a relaxing, unpretentious dining environment after surf and stuff. Good, fast and friendly service...I'm a fan! It's a cute place which feels more like someone's living room with a bit of a diner's feel..so it's hard to find a place like this around here. The line could get lengthy and it would take a while if you show up after 10am on Sat & Sun though ;)

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cc i.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
10/23/2009

Oddly, the food tastes better than it looks, but i always have an uh-oh moment when the plate arrives.  It never looks appetizing.

S&W is a mixed bag, but after three tries, the negatives (street parking at meters, cash only, indifferent service, no AC, noisy) outweigh the positives (decent food, decent price, cute decor).

If you live close enough to walk, carry cash, don't mind the heat and the wait and the noise... then the bargain might be worth it.

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Ro S.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
1/17/2009

I'm gonna wave my freak flag here and say that I know country. I lived in Mississippi for years. I've walked barefoot in cut of shorts down a dirt road with a stick in my hand. The closest residence next to my childhood home was a farm. There was a cornfield in my backyard.

With that said, this place is NOT country. I am not a big salt eater, but my very dry cabin potatoes need salt immediately, despite the fact that they came with onions and bell peppers (obviously not cooked together). My french toast was heavy on the egg. The best part was my sliced tomato, but I think that was out of their hands. The fresh lemonade was ok, too.
My hubs had a fried egg sandwich that he described as "ok, with real eggs" and "it tasted like a sandwich". Gotta love him.

I felt that S & W is big on the country "style" (down to the screen door) and weak on country taste. The price was right (our meal was less than $15 for two people, CASH ONLY) but I won't be back. I'm a little bit country, but a little bit too rock n' roll for that  :)

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George O.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
4/6/2009 3 photos

I had the homemade corned beef hash and I really liked it.  My GF had the chicken fried steak and it was not all that.  My buddy had the turkey sausage and it was not good.  His GF had the homemade corned beef hash scramble and it was good.  So 50 50 is my summary for SW...  

I would rate it a 3 stars but the place needs a good dusting off.  The lamp above my head was really dusty and then as I looked around it felt like the whole place could benefit from a good once over.  I don't think I would wait in line to eat here again.

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Elite '10

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137

Sara P.

West Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
12/29/2008

I was excited to check this place out after reading the reviews on Yelp.  I love local breakfast joints, and this fits the bill. It's tiny, so be prepared for a long wait.

Their menu is huge, but I guess that's where the good stuff stops. You have to literally waive down a server to get water, refills on drinks, and have your order taken.  Making eye contact here is not enough - waive 'em down!

I had the breakfast burrito, and hubby had the avocado and cheese omlette. Both were so-so. The food overall was bland. The portions were big, but that's about it. Taste-wise, I could have made this at home (and you probably could have, too).

The kicker is that the meal was served with a "biscuit" which is basically a block of bread that has no flavor. Don't be duped - it's not a biscuit!

Our meal (1 coffee, 1 diet coke, 1 omlette, and 1 breakfast burrito) came to about $25, which is reasonable. In terms of taste, though, you could do better elsewhere.

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erika h.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
12/18/2009

I was HOODWINKED. I am on a mad hunt for a Great breakfast in this town. This place had good reviews, so we tried it. God, where do I start. Apparently quaint decor, means really dirty and run down. We should have left before being seated. but we soldiered on. Asked the waitress what she recommended the Homemade Hash or an Omelet. She said they're known for the hash and everyone seems to like it. "Everyone" must be on Crack, cuz this ISH is VILE. The side order of flavorless grits was Huge. I'm from an old Southern family, and their single serving of grits was enough for 4 or 5 people. If those people had no taste buds and were on a Dr. ordered bland diet. So, I was hoodwinked, bamboozled will never go here again. Could not tell you where the hype is coming from re: this dump. Oh, and the seat in my booth had worn out springs. I sat in a hole that made me 6 inches shorter. Why can't I find a decent breakfast spot South of Pico Blvd.?

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Elite '10

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136

Edmond T.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
4/14/2009

Dear S&W,

If it wasn't for the long lines and tough to find parking you'd be my regular breakfast join. Decent meal at decent prices, its a fun place to bring friends looking for a cozy country diner atmosphere.

Cheers,

Ed

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Elite '10

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421

sabrina l.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
11/25/2008

Another Yelp Try for me...I was intrigued by the homemade corned beef hash. However, after trying S&W's homemade corned beef hash... I decided I prefer the canned stuff until I find a really good homemade one! (S&W's was dry & stringy & had thin strips of potatos that were clearly from their hash brown potatos.)

I enjoyed my egg, fruit, and biscuit but I don't think I loved breakfast here enough to return. My friend enjoyed her spam, bacon, & canned corned beef hash omlette but I don't know if it would make her return either.

Service was fine and the place is like Cafe 50's meets Swingers (Santa Monica). It's clearly a neighborhood favorite as the place was packed and lines were long to get in.

Random note: the chair in the northwesternmost booth closest to the door has a HUGE crater and is rather uncomfortable to sit on. Guess it adds to the old diner feel!

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