Fromin's Restaurant
1832 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica
310-829-5443
I decided to do a two stop deli tour in Santa Monica. Figures, the day I pick to be in Santa Monica it's one of the warmer days in summer. No, wait, it should be fall!! I went to Formin's first, then I went to Izzy's Deli. Both are four blocks from each other on Wilshire Blvd.
Formin's is a big deli but they do not have counter seating. There is a small bakery and deli counter in the front and a big dining area on the left side of the room.
Half corned beef sandwich; $8.95, with cole slaw. The corned beef was dry as a desert. A very bad example of corned beef. I really liked the rye bread, with lots of caraway seeds, a soft texture and a firm but not hard crust.
Service by the host and cashier was very good. I was greeted when I walked in and was taken to a table right away. The cashier was friendly while I paid my bill. But, the server and busboy was terrible!! After being seated, I waited a few minutes before she even came to my table. During that time the busboy asked if I wanted coffee, I said No thank you, just ice water please. He comes with water and a few cubes of ice. I then asked him for some ice, and he cops an attitude! I mean WTF? If he had put more ice into the cup before I wouldn't have asked.
Once the server came to my table, no Hi! or Would I like something else to drink. Just "Have you decided or do I need a few minutes." Now, I knew what I wanted, but I felt as though she was rushing me out of the restaurant. It was like I interrupted her Sunday, and she couldn't be bothered. She only came to my table to give me the check. No, how is everything or if I wanted something else. I can appreciate she did have other tables, but it wasn't busy when I was there.
I wouldn't come back to Formin's again. A terrible example of corned beef and terrible service by the server, means they lost a customer!