Community Corner
The Craving: Fries in Culver City
Looking for tasty fries? This week's craving solves your problem.
Potatoes are always a beautiful thing--crunchy, golden fries even better. Thus, I hunted around town to find the best salty nibbles for those in the mood for a French fry:
1) Backstage Bar & Grill
Karaoke and garlic fries--the two might sound like the least compatible duo, but at Backstage, they go together well. I went there to sing and ended up eating the crispy, almost steaming hot garlic fries offered to me by a group of friendly, semi-sober strangers celebrating a birthday.
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I asked the waiter if the fries had been frozen; they tasted fresh, and I wanted to know the secret.
"They are hand-cut and freshly made," he said. That settled it, and I took another bite.
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A basket of garlic fries is $4. Add chicken or buffalo fingers, or Buffalo wings and the fries/meat duo is $8.
Backstage Bar & Grill, 10400 Culver Blvd.; (310) 839-3892.
2) Sublime Food Lounge
Nestled in with wonderful wine and a steak cooked to perfection, the fries that came along with my steak made the dinner a notable feast. The skinny, crispy truffle fries should have been their own dish. Alas, they are only a side in a menu that consists of many unexpected combinations. Foie gras French toast and lobster macaroni and cheese were other non-fry notables.
But back to the fries--they were warm and perfectly portioned. My last bite seemed just right. The skinny truffle fries do come with a hefty price tag--thanks to the steak, however.
The steak and fries dish is $17.
Sublime Food Lounge, 8631 Washington Blvd.; (310) 622-9170.
3) Smitty's Famous Fish & Chicken
Once in a while I simply want some good, plain fries on the cheap. No ambiance, no outlandish menu names, no modern decor. These were fried to a perfection along with my two pieces of chicken and fish, and I couldn't get enough of them--or the ranch dressing and ketchup that I paired with them.
The lunch special (you can choose fish or chicken) is always served with fries and is priced at $5.99.
Smitty's Famous Fish & Chicken, 9032 Venice Blvd.; (310) 815-1029.
4) Johnnie's Pastrami Restaurant
The crinkle-cut fries couldn't have been a more welcome pairing to the pastrami that has made the place famous. To me, the fries stole the show, with just the right amount of salt. I had flashbacks to my college days when I would walk from class down to a local diner and order some crinkle-cut fries and a Pepsi.
It was the kind of experience that merited only one word: "Mmmm."
Fries are $3.50 as a side.
Johnnie's Pastrami Restaurant, 4017 Sepulveda Blvd.; (310) 397-6654
5) Metro Cafe
With contrasting colors, art sprinkled around the room and an eclectic vibe, the cafe is as sweet as the sweet potato fries. I got them as a side, and they were perfectly crunchy, with enough of a sweet and chewy texture to satisfy my fries craving.
With sweet potato fries like that, I am not surprised by the popularity of the place.
An order of sweet potato fries is $3.95.
Metro Cafe, 11188 Washington Pl.; (310) 559-6821