The Library Alehouse

The Library Alehouse
2911 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-314-4855

I went to the The Library Alehouse about two years ago.  If I recall correctly I had the fish and chips and thought they were pretty good.  I was in snotty Santa Monica and dropped in.  The Library Alehouse is a galley style bar with the bar on the left and tables running down the length of the building.  They do have a nice patio area in the back.  Their sign says they have been opened since 1995!

Veggie Burger, $10.95 on Burger Monday, $13.95 regular price.  The menu says the veggie burger is made with chick peas, but in addition I saw black beans and carrots in the patty.  Sprouts, avocado, aioli with a green salad.  This was an outstanding veggie burger!! One of the best I've ever had!  Full of flavor, very good texture, and cooked perfectly!  A steal at the Burger Monday price of $10.95.  They could have added a bit more aioli, but otherwise a great veggie burger!  I was hooked on the first bite!

Service was overall good.  The bartender, I sat at a table, was serving the entire room, a few people at the bar and a couple tables were taken.  So, it wasn't busy.  She was nice, friendly, and I didn't really lack for anything.  But, she never told me that it was Burger Monday.  I saw the sign in the patio when I went to the restroom.  Then I saw it on the back of the menu.  When I was walking out the door, she didn't say thanks for coming.  Little things make a big difference!

I loved the veggie burger and if I'm back in snotty Santa Monica, I will go back.  I may try their vegan enchiladas!!

Warszawa-Closed

Warszawa
1414 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica
310-393-8831

Yes, there are two reviews in one week on The New Diner!  Hope you enjoy!

I always wanted to compare the two Polish restaurants, Polka Polish Restaurant, and Warszawa in Santa Monica, in the LA area.  I finally made it Warszawa about three weeks ago, without a camera.  I wasn't that impressed with the food, but a friend invited me back for dinner, so I went to take pictures.

Located at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Lincoln Ave, Warszawa has been in business for 35 years!  Warszawa is a little more upscale and bigger than Polka.  It's really an old house converted into a restaurant.  I believe there is a bar at the very back, but I've only been in the dining area.

Campari tomatoes, grilled mushrooms, goat cheese salad, $8.  A good, refreshing salad with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, goat cheese, and romaine lettuce.  But, it was mostly lettuce and small amounts of mushrooms and goat cheese.  A bit overpriced, but this is Santa Monica.

Steamed wild mushroom and shredded cabbage pierogi, $5, as an appetizer.  You get two pierogies per order and a choice between steamed and fried.  A dinner portion is $17 with six pierogies and veggies and potatoes.  The pierogies are much smaller than Polka.  They were very bland and lacked flavor.

Service by the server was very good.  She was nice, helpful, and cared about providing good service.  But, a few minutes after getting our food, the hostess brought the check to our table.  When the server came by, she apologized for the error.  It wasn't a big deal- even though the hostess didn't say anything (Thank you?) when dropping off the check.

Warszawa is very average,  I really doubt I would go back!  I much prefer Polka, and think they are the best Polish restaurant in LA. 

Izzy's Deli

Izzy's Deli
1433 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica
310-394-1131

Izzy's Deli was the second stop of my two stop Santa Monica deli tour.  I went to Fromin's Restaurant first and wasn't impressed. So, I was really hoping Izzy's Deli would be much better. 

A large deli with counter seating, I liked the vibe of Izzy's much better. 

Corned beef, pastrami, muenster cheese, on rye with macaroni salad, $15.50.  The rye bread was very good, nice texture and flavor.  The pastrami was pretty good, well cured, though it may have been a bit too salty.  The corned was very good, well balanced, flavorful, and well cured.

Service was good.  The server wasn't some kid, but an older lady who cared about her job and her customers.  The hostess was also very friendly and nice.

Izzy's Deli is so much better than Formin's, it's not even funny.  If you're in Santa Monica, don't waste your time and money at Formin's, just go a few blocks west to Izzy's Deli!

Fromin's Restaurant

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!

Kaido-Closed

Kaido 2834 Santa Monica Blvd Santa Monica 310-828-7582 I know what am I doing on the snotty west side of LA? I hate the pretentious jerk people on the west side, who are so full of themselves. But, a friend suggested we have dinner at Kaido and I figured why not since it's rare that I have sushi on the snotty west side! Shrimp tempura roll-$8, spicy tuna roll-$7.50, and veggie roll-$6. While the shrimp tempura roll was the best of the three rolls, it was only average compared to other sushi places I've tried. The shrimp wasn't that crunchy, I'm betting it was frozen, and the other ingredients were only ok. The spicy tuna roll just tasted a bit off. Not spoiled but just off. It had the texture of tuna, but I didn't care for it. I've never had a veggie roll, and this roll was 10% veggies surrounded by 90% rice. It was ok but nothing outstanding about it. Service was good. I realize this is the west side and rent is pricey, but I didn't think Kaido was a good value. I wasn't impressed with Kaido and I wouldn't go back!

Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery

Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
1517 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-8279

After I reached my storage limit on The New Diner, I decided to start The New Diner 2. Any fellow bloggers please change your link to direct readers to The New Diner 2.

It figures, the first review of The New Diner 2 had to be on a westside restaurant. Yes, the hate for the pretentious jerk people of the westside will continue from The New Diner to The New Diner 2.

Bay Cities has been on my list of places to try. But, with high gas prices, thanks worthless Obama, and just my general contempt for the westside, I haven't made any real effort to go.

But, a beautiful Sunday in March and I'm in Santa Monica and finally make it to Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery.



I got the famous Godmother,large size with mortadella, cappacola, genoa salami, ham, prosciutto, provolone, $8.35. WOW, wow, this was an awesome sandwich. The meats, they use Boar's Head meats, was such good quality and freshness. There were layers and layers of good quality meats. But, I think what makes this such a great sandwich is the freshly baked Italian rolls. That toasted crust, just adds so much to the sandwich. A great great sandwich.

Service is good. But, expect a long wait!! First, make sure you take a number. Then be patient. I must have waited 30 minutes in line before my number was called. A lady was telling me the amount of people there would be considered a slow period. WOW, but I'm not surprised.

What I was surprised was their pricing for condiments. A large costs $8.15. A large with the works-mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, dressing, is $8.80. But, if you wanted a "custom" made sandwich with condiments you choose, it's 10 cents per condiment, with mayo and mustard free. So my lettuce and tomatoes added 20 cents to bill. Come on, are delis and sandwich shops going to nickel and dime people that much?? Ok, I saved money not buying the works, but to add a dime here and there, stupid.

Overall, I enjoyed my sandwich and experience at Bay Cities. While I don't like their nickel and dime condiment pricing policy, the sandwich is great, and I'll be back. Though it maybe awhile, since I my level of tolerance for pretentious, jerk people has been reached!!