But the sushi isn’t the spot’s only draw. Canal Club also features an
eclectic menu from Mexico to Japan. Marrying cultures together with appetizers
including Brie and grape quesadillas ($7), machaca taquitos with salsa verde ($6)
and popcorn shrimp with Thai sweet and spicy dip ($9) reflects the many faces
of the surrounding Venice neighborhood. Even the decor, a bright, tropical theme,
keeps the mood light and relaxed with art by local artists, including Billy Al
Bengston and Canal Club co-owner Daniel Samakow.
The sunken sushi bar is situated behind illuminated marble walls and seating arrangements
are on ivory stools. Hovering over the sushi bar is a tiki-inspired room, the
Palapa Room. This small hut houses up to 20 people and gives 360-degree views
of the entire restaurant. The Lagoon Lounge, a liquor bar next door to the sushi
bar, is wrought with decorative metal seats.
Canal Club specializes in a variety of mixed drinks like pineapple mojitos, made from fresh pineapple, an impressive Saki list and the Venice Volcano. The Volcano arrives in a large bowl with a flaming center of Bacardi 151 and two large straws. Indeed, as the straws indicate, this is a drink that insists on being shared.
If an entrée seems more appealing, Canal Club offers plenty of noteworthy selections. The famous carne asada ($20) is mesquite grilled and served with guacamole, black beans, pico de gallo and corn tortillas. Grilled wild king salmon ($19) is made according to your tastes, in my case medium rare. Served with wasabi mashed potatoes, garlic green beans and a tart shittake mushroom, it is best paired with a crisp white wine. The servers are very knowledgeable about wine pairings, especially since Samakow is a Wine Spectator award winner.
In keeping with its eclectic theme, Canal Club also has a Cuban sandwich ($9), made with chicken in lieu of pork and pressed with Monterey Jack cheese alongside shoestring potatoes. The half-pound burger ($12) is topped with cheese and accented with sauteed green chiles.
Canal Club is located at 2025 Pacific Ave., in Venice. Hours: Dinner is served 6-10 p.m. Sun-Tue and 6-11 p.m. Wed-Sat; sushi happy hour is nightly from 5-8 p.m. For more information, call (310) 823-3878.