Ask a local: Mar Vista eateries

I’ve lived in Mar Vista on and off for 13 years, and I knew we’d hit the mainstream when a character in I love LA goes off to stay with her girlfriend for the weekend.

“You didn’t tell me it was in Mar Vista!” someone moans, implying that it’s just too far from their East side bubble.

Yes, it was dissed, but the fact that it was even mentioned in a hip sitcom tells you about its current incarnation. Once a quiet family neighborhood adjacent to Venice, over the years it’s individuated and become a destination in its own right, with plenty of restaurants, a lively farmers market and great views from its hilly contours. (There’s one spot where you can see both the ocean and the Hollywood sign if you turn your head from side to side… I mean, c'mon L.A., it doesn’t get better than that!)

As for those restaurants, there’s a whole range of options to choose from. Here’s three of my favorites.

Breakfast: Alana’s Coffee Roasters

Alana's Coffee Roasters with neighboring colorful murals.

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Suzanne Levy

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LAist

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Alana’s takes coffee seriously, roasting coffee beans from around the globe on the premises, (with labels designed by local artists), while also allowing for a little fun (orange creamsicle cloud latte anyone?)

Some of Alana's plentiful coffee beans, roasted on the premises.

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Suzanne Levy

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LAist

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But it also takes community seriously, seeing itself as a local gathering place, with a wall of flapping flyers, and polaroids of customers’ pooches. Sometimes there’s an impatient line for coffee in the mornings, sometimes it’s chill, but either way, you get to admire a gamut of croissant and croissant-adjacent pastries (we see you chorizo hand pie) as you wait.

Alana's community spirit extends to polaroids of pooches.

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Suzanne Levy

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LAist

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Out front there’s benches on the wide sidewalk for a catch up with a friend, and a delightful back area with a charming old airstream-like trailer (also painted by a local artist), which doubles as a stage for its popular open mic nights. I’ve found that breakfast can easily morph into an all-morning stay, so be warned.

Choose your morning baked good while waiting in line for your coffee.

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Suzanne Levy

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LAist

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Lunch: Bluey's

Bluey’s opened just a few years ago and it’s been full ever since. The space itself is delightfully airy, with white walls and off-beat art, a spacious back patio and sidewalk tables and umbrellas in the front. The food is excellent, a tight menu of sandwiches, tartines and bowls, and some great tea and coffee. I recently became addicted to their Valentine’s day Strawberry Matcha with a yummy foam, only to be told at the beginning of March that it was no longer being served. I howled.

One of my favorites is the Whirley Bowl, "chimichurri dressed cauliflower rice, market fish, avocado, arugula, fermented cabbage, yogurt tartar, and hand chopped pineapple salsa", according to the menu, but you don't have to make it that complex — there's also the Basic Bitch Brekkie, two eggs, bacon and country toast, sold all day.

(That gives a sense of the owner's background — the place is named after Blueys Beach in Australia, where Dave Harper surfed as a kid.)

There’s no WiFi, which only adds to the charm… people are actually talking to each other. It's all part of the relaxed vibe, with families, friends and colleagues happily hanging out.

Dinner: Electric Bleu

Electric Bleu's very chic International Klein Blue "fin."

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Art Streiber

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Courtesy Electric Bleu

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I remember driving last year up Centinela Avenue and noticing an eye-catching exterior painted a very specific, kinda groovy, blue. Turns out it was a famous shade, "International Klein Blue“, created by French artist Yves Klein in the 50’s, which was a nice calling card for the about-to-be opened restaurant, Electric Bleu. (French spelling noted).

The name also comes from the 80's Icehouse song "Electric Blue," a favorite of co-owners veteran chef Craig Hopson (a down to earth Australian who’s cooked at top places like L.A.’s Shirley Brasserie and N.Y.’s Le Cirque), and his wife, creative director Mai Sakai, (an Emmy nominated art director).

From left, Benjamin Phan, General Manager, and Chef Craig Hopson.

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Nicole Murphy

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Courtesy Electric Bleu

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Wanting to hang out their own shingle, they’ve used their top-notch skills to create a relaxed eaterie that just happens to serve excellent food. (Note: my daughter works at the restaurant, which is why I initially hesitated to recommend this place, but the food is genuinely so good I didn’t want to withhold the chance at dining at this gem).

It’s a French restaurant, but not in the way you might imagine — less white tablecloth snooty and more casual neighborhood bistro. The stand out and main stay is the roast chicken. Despite having had roast chicken in many many places, this is honestly some of the best I’ve had. What alchemy is this, Chef Craig? The hidden bonus is the potatoes snuggled underneath the chicken… full of schmaltzy flavor, I’d say come for the chicken, stay for the potatoes. Don’t let the price give you sticker shock — you get so much you’ll happily have the leftovers for lunch for days.

(And make sure to order the Electric Fries, topped with "chicken salt" an Australian seasoning which is seriously addictive.)

The star of the show: roast chicken.

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Courtesy Electric Bleu

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There are lovely touches, like a warm baguette, placed directly on your table in a paper bag with a small dish of French butter. The menu changes regularly, depending on which vegetables are in season at the farmers' market, with duck, steak and fresh seafood often making an appearance. The desserts are delicious, with the chocolate mousse particularly to die for.

In less than a year, the place has already been included in various "Best of L.A." lists. General Manager Benjamin Phan will effusively welcome you, speaking English a mile a minute with his extravagant French accent, making you feel you really are in Paris, rather than a humble spot on a residential road with local Mar Vistans savoring simple, really good food.