It is rare that a restaurant offers something for every palate and every pocketbook. More often than not restaurants fall into the all-too-familiar categories: too pricey, too noisy, too heavy and/or too crowded. Fortunately for those of us on a shoestring budget with a taste for all things good, Sublime Food Lounge is bridging the gap. Combining the urban chic of downtown Culver City with the casual air of your favorite sports bar and a menu featuring dishes under $20, Chef Randall Rosa and partners are literally offering something for everyone.

For those looking for a light dinner or late-night snack, a glass of pinot with a plate of Chef Rosa’s house-made charcuterie on the sidewalk patio is hard to beat. Thinly sliced Lomo and fennel salami share the plate with Fenugreek-cured bresaola, mortadella, house-made quince chutney and three slabs of artisanal cheeses. The wine list, featuring glasses under $10 from small producers, is like the charcuterie plate – always changing.

If it’s a flat screen and a cold one you desire, two televisions hovering above the bar and a rotating cast of beers will keep most any sports fan entertained. The bar always boasts two beers on tap, one craft and one Belgian. On a recent visit, I chose the Green Flash IPA, a perfect way to wash down Chef Rosa’s crispy Veal Riblettes. A modern take on chicken wings, these two-bite short ribs are slow cooked in duck fat, flash fried and served with a frighteningly addictive Five Spice Salt.

A back patio equipped with two fireplaces flanked by dark wood booths and benches is no doubt a party spot. Come early to co-opt a booth and a burger. Locals say that Chef Rosa’s Sublime Burger – seared in a combination of veal and duck fat and piled high with blue and fontina cheeses, avocado and caramelized onions – is fierce competition for the nearby Father’s Office burger.

When date night arrives, whether it’s a first or 10th date, Sublime won’t disappoint. The restaurant boasts a dimly lit sleek interior. Walls decorated with modern art are juxtaposed with grainy art house film projections, perhaps an homage to Chef Rosa’s former career in the film industry.

The juxtaposition of old and new is a theme that extends to the menu as well with eye-catching dishes like Lobster Bacon Mac N Cheese and Foie Gras French Toast.

Want to order to impress? Cocktails are a must. Hot Mae’s Spicy Maggie, a jalapeno-infused margarita, goes down easy, as does the Aperol Fizz made with Aperol, fresh-squeezed orange juice and champagne … a sunset in a glass.  

The menu encourages sharing. Start with a salad, either the Roasted Beet or Watermelon Caprese and one of the signature flatbreads, either Squash Blossom with truffle goat cheese or warm Wild Mushrooms with burrata and tarragon. Then move on to the Crispy Pork Belly. Glazed in root beer, the crisp exterior reveals melt-in-your-mouth pork on a bed of cabbage fennel slaw topped with thinly sliced pears, strawberries and jalapeños – a delight to all the senses.

Whether or not you eat your veggies, do not miss out on a side of brussels sprouts with lardons. Flash fried and pan roasted, the sprouts arrive perfectly charred and crispy with enough lardons to balance out any healthful effects one might receive from eating a bowl full of brussels sprouts.

For dessert, three words: Canelé Bread Pudding. Doused in a vodka-spiked salted caramel sauce and served alongside a crème de Casis-infused whipped cream, it is downright sinful … not to mention delicious.

With so much to choose from, Sublime is a restaurant to frequent, not just visit once. I know I’ll be back.



For more information, call (310) 287-2093 or visit sublimefoodlounge.com.