LaRocco's Pizzeria-Culver City

LaRocco's Pizzeria
3819 Main St
Culver City
310-837-8345

If you're going to post a comment like that jerk Shan, at least have the courage to provide a return email addy or blog. Posting a comment ripping me is gutless. Understand Shan you gutless loser?

As with any NY style pizza, I compare everything to Village Pizzeria. When I heard a few people tell me that La Rocco's Pizzeria comes pretty close to Village Pizzeria, I had to give it a try. As far as I can tell, this La Rocco's Pizzeria is not affiliated with the La Rocco's Pizzeria in Huntington Beach.

They have a two slices and a soda special for $6. So I got a slice of pepperoni and a slice of the Bronx Special, meatball, sausage, and pepperoni. I tried the pepperoni first and WOW was it good. It gives Village Pizzeria a run for their money. Nice crispy crust, gooey cheese, a light, sweet flavorful sauce, and lots of pepperoni.

The Bronx special was very good though a bit salty for my tastes. The sausage and meatball were flavorful but just a bit salty for me. I don't think I would order this again.

Service was pretty good. The lady taking my order was nice but after I paid for the two slices and soda, she started getting the slices ready. But I was missing a cup for the soda. I asked her, 'I get a soda, right?" She said the cups were next to the soda machine. This isn't that big of a deal but she should have told me that, after giving me my change, instead of having me stand there and asking about the soda. That is part of good service. But often times things like this, can be overlooked or forgiven if the person is nice.

This is damn good pizza and I'm glad to know I can find a good New York style pizza on the Westside. I will be coming back here soon.

Buffalo Wings n Things-Closed

Buffalo Wings n Things 11499 Jefferson Blvd. Culver City 310-391-7801 Buffalo Wings n Things, I must be on a wings and BBQ kick this weekend. I went to Wings Shack and was very impressed. So I found Buffalo Wings n Things in Culver City and wanted to see how they compare. I got a sampler order of hot wings, $4.75. About five minutes later, I got six piping hot wings, that were covered in sauce. The first thing I noticed was that the wings were a bit small. When I took a bit, they were crispy as other wings I've had. There was some meat on those small wings. The sauce was fairly spicy not the most spicy I've had but just enough to let you know they used some hot sauce. I did like they gave a small cup of ranch dressing and carrots and celery. At Wing Shack you have to pay for those. I like the smaller portion, not too many wings and a good price. Service is OK. The guy working was too busy watching USC lose to Michigan St in the NCAA tourney to give much notice. I also called twice after they opened and nobody answered. They are open at noon on Sunday and they didn't answer until about 12:35. They used to be on Jefferson and some sites still list their address on Jefferson, but the address I wrote is their new and current location. I wouldn't rush back to Wings and Things but I wouldn't mind going there if I'm in the area.

Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken-Culver City

Honey's Kettle
9537 Culver Boulevard
Culver City
310-202-5453

After dinner at Santa Maria BBQ Co. I noticed that Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken was across the street!!! So I decided to go over and see how this compares to Honey's Kettle in Compton.

I got the breast piece, $3.41. The chicken was very light and crunchy on the outside. But a bit dry on the inside. The chicken was tender and tasty but I could have been more moist.

Service is good. The cashier was nice and friendly and helpful when I asked about parking. This location is very busy, much more busy than the Compton location.

If I'm in the area, I would go back here but I think the Compton location is better.

Santa Maria BBQ Company-Closed

Santa Maria BBQ Company
9552 Washington Blvd
Culver City
310-842-8169

Yes, I have been to a Santa Maria BBQ Company in Culver City before. But they moved to a bigger location a few blocks north of their old location. So I decided to try it. BTW the old location is now Meltdown, a restaurant known for their grilled cheese sandwiches.

Santa Maria BBQ means tri tip, cooked over oak wood. So I ordered the half pound of tri tip, $8.00. I wasn't in the mood for bread or sides, so I went the protein diet. Just as before I loved the tri tip. Very tender, full of flavor and juicy, cooked about medium rare. Not fatty at all and a nice smokey flavor.

Service was good and bad. I had a group of 17 people and we only lack quick refills on drinks. But when I called early to tell them we were having a big group they were very tough to deal with. They almost gave me the impression they didn't want that many people. Then when I got there, they had to think realy hard about where to sit us. Hey that big space in the center of the room would be a good place. But other than that, we were treated well.

Parking is tough in the area but most parking structure gave you two hours free without validation.

I would go back to Santa Maria BBQ again. I didn't get the ribs this time but I like the ribs I got on my last trip.

JR's BBQ

JR’s BBQ
3055 So. La Cienega Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310-837-6838

What do you do when the food at a restaurant is average but the people are so nice and friendly? That's my issue with JR's BBQ. The people are so nice but the BBQ spare ribs are average at best. I want to go back but the good just isn't worth it. JR's is Memphis style BBQ. Memphis means ribs but the ribs at JR's are below average.

Pictured is the half slab of pork spare ribs, $13. The ribs are nice and big. Always a good thing. But they lack a real smoke flavor. If there is any rub on the ribs they must have stayed on the BBQ. The ribs were chewy and also really lacked flavor.

Service is great. The people are so welcoming and friendly. I felt as though I was in the South, not LA. They got my order quickly. They take the time to talk to and get to know their customers.

I would not go back to JR's for the ribs. I could be talked into trying the brisket or pork shoulder. But I would not go back for the ribs

Johnnie’s Pastrami

Johnnie's
4017 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Culver City,
310-397-6654

Thanks to the Soul Fusion Kitchen blog, I found out about Johnnie's Pastrami in Culver City. They have been opened since 1952 and so close to Tito's Tacos you can smell the blended salsa. There is very limited parking behind Johnnies though a security guard is on duty directing traffic. I told a friend I would bring her some tacos from Tito's so I parked in Tito's lot.

Johnnie has a small dining room. About 10 tables and two sets of counter seating. But they have plenty of patio seating. When I entered there was a long take out line. I found a seat at the counter. Within two minutes a waitress came and took my order, a hot pastrami sandwich for $8.75 and an order of onion rings for $4.10. Within five minutes the waitress came with the sandwich and onion rings.

On a french roll the pastrami was piled high and had a wonderful aroma. I put a little regular yellow mustard and I started to dig in. After the first bite I knew this was a very good sandwich. I think it's way better than that overrated Langers. I finished the sandwich, enjoying each and every bite.

The onion rings were greasy and lacked any real crunch. Not worth the high price. I wouldn't order the onion rings again.

I notice a lot of people ordered burgers and I was very tempted to order a burger was I was too full. The burgers are about the size of a hubcab!! Maybe next time.

I would gladly go back to Johnnies if I was in the area. I think The Hat is a much better value and while The Hat's pastrami doesn't quite meaure up to Johnnie's, the Hat Pastrami sandwiches are cheaper while being about the same size.

Santa Maria BBQ-Moved

Santa Maria BBQ
9739 Culver Blvd
Culver City
310-842-8169

New Location of Santa Maria BBQ.

I have found the BEST Santa Maria style BBQ place in LA. Santa Maria BBQ in Culver is just plain AWESOME. I ordered the two meat combo with babyback ribs and tri tip with cole slaw and a salad as my two sides. Well worth the very inexpensive $9.25 price as the portions are huge.

I always eat one rib without putting any sauce. After my first bite of the baby back ribs, I knew I wouldn't need any BBQ sauce. The ribs were very tender and the flavor was awesome. Just the right amount of spice and smoke flavor. Next time I go it will order a full rack of baby backs. The tri tip was lean and had a nice smoke flavor. There is no need for any kind of BBQ sauce or salsa with any of the meats.

The coleslaw was ok. Nothing special. The salad was very fresh and the honey mustard dressing was so creamy. Not sure if the dressing is a home made or bottled dressing but it's great.

I will certainly go back soon. The service was very good and the people were nice. I went around 1pm and there were some very good looking women eating there. I love that kind of scenery. They will be moving to new location, a couple blocks north, of their current location, on Culver.

I can't wait to go back to Santa Maria BBQ!!!! They are closed on Sundays. Parking can be a bit of a problem.

Smitty's Famous Fish and Chicken-Closed

Smitty's Famous Fish and Chicken 9032 Venice Blvd. Culver City, CA 310-815-1053 While going to the Santa Maria BBQ I noticed Smitty's Famous Fish and Chicken. So I decide to go there and try the chicken and fish. I order a chicken breast and a piece of sole fish for $4.52. The sole fish was very good. Nice and crunchy on the outside and flakey and hot on the inside. The tartar sauce added a very nice and tangy twist to the fish. Very nice way to start a new place. But the chicken breast was terrible. They cooked it way too long. It was done dry, I almost choked on it. It also seemed as though they cut off the top portion of the breast to make chicken strips. It didn't look like a regular chicken breast. Wierd and not good at all. I would not order any chicken from them again. The service is OK. After I paid her and got change back, I asked her what was the total again because I thought she gave me back too much change. She all of a sudden got a big attitude, so I said "I'm trying to make sure you didn't give me back too much change. So next time cut the attitude." She didn't say anything after that. The food is cooked to order so you will wait awhile. I would go back for the fish and fish only. I have no desire to eat bone dry fried chicken.

Tito's Taco

Tito's Tacos
11222 Washington Place
Culver City, CA
310-391-5780

Tito's has been serving good tacos for as long as I can remember. The food at tacos are comfort food. It's not real Mexican food but it's damn good. I ordered two tacos with cheese and a large strawberry soda for $4.85. Cheese is 40 cents extra on tacos.

The tacos are shredded beef and deep fried. I love the crunch of the taco shell. The beef topped with lettuce and cheese, which are always fresh.

Tito's is the place for good food at cheap prices. Keep in mind that lines can be very long. Waiting 20 minutes for food is normal.