Michael Hepworth
BONDI HARVEST IS CAUSING A STIR IN CULVER CITY AUSSIE VIBES SPICE UP THE RESTAURANT SCENE
Culver City (Perfect Meal Today) 11/27/19/–Bondi Harvest Australian style restaurant is trying to bring a touch of Melbourne to Culver City in the first month in business since opening their doors about five weeks ago. The 95 seat restaurant has inside and outside seating and is located in a new outside mall in the industrial part of Culver City on Washington Blvd. Surrounded by trendy London style boutiques, lighting stores and ice cream parlors, I liked this place and tried a few things that were decidedly different from the norm, one example being the Miso and Butter Soaked Cabbage ($18) w/tahini yogurt dressing and sesame. I have never been a huge fan of cabbage but this version is more than enough for two people and a great idea to jazz up this particular rather basic vegetable.
A word of praise here for the manager Hector Elorza who has worked his way up from being a dishwasher in the distant past to his current position which he does with grace and style. The décor by the way can loosely be described as Urban/Polynesian and with high ceilings the acoustics are very good with only a few people dining and you can easily hear the other person sitting opposite you, although it might be a tad different with a crowded house. Other items on the menu worth considering are the Poached Shrimp Sandwich ($10) with a Chilli lime aioli, shaved fennel and a mint & citrus salad. I also liked the Meatless Mushy Meatballs ($16), a plate that can be easily shared. The Bondi Chicken Sandwich ($13) was everything I like in a sandwich, crispy, light and spicy no doubt helped by the fact that they use brioche bun and the chicken is Peri Peri.
The barbecue is at full swing here, and the Butterflied Prawns ($28) served with salsa verde butter is the way to go. Four giant sized prawns make up the plate and this will impress your companion, especially a first time date, since this seems like a good spot for that particular activity.
At press time the restaurant only serves beer and wine on the menu, but the small selection is well balanced with an obvious leaning to Australian wine. If this place is any kind of reflection on what is on offer in Melbourne or Sydney then I am long overdue to check it out.
Bondi Harvest-8820 Washington Blvd, Unit 101, Culver City, CA 90232
424-551-3930
Open daily from 7.30 am to 10.30 pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Closed Sunday and Monday night
Parking Lot on side street.
