Margot

The Essence of Comfortable, Hip and Crafted Elegance in Culver City

Review by Adam Schomer

“Margot offers not only 360-degree views but also exemplary dishes inspired by coastal Mediterranean cuisine.”

Margot-Culver City

Four floors up on a rooftop with towering glass windows, an airy dining room, outdoor seating and a view out over Culver City to Los Angeles’ far-off ring of mountains, Margot restaurant features soft wood tones, blue fabric decor and amazing sweeps of light. It’s so chic, so hip, you walk in the door and immediately shift into an expansive mood that encourages you to say, ‘Sure, I’ll have a craft cocktail,’ when your server asks what you’d like to drink.

I chose the Sticky Gin Tonic (even the name is kicky), with its crisply herbaceous twist on a gin and tonic thanks to a jungle-like garnish of fresh sage leaves. I felt at home here — or at least, I wish my home felt like this. The restaurant, which pulses with an upbeat yet also peaceful vibe, is thronged with young, great-looking professionals.

Not only does it feel great, the food tastes great too. We started with eggplant caponata, an unusual preparation in which the eggplant was both mashed and diced. It was served with toasted homemade focaccia. This classic, olive oil-enriched Italian flatbread made a delightful bed for the eggplant, which exploded with flavor thanks to the addition of olives, onions, fresh herbs and nuggets of feta cheese.

Next, we tried an arugula salad, which delighted us with its chunks of citrus, baby beets, hazelnut vinaigrette and the unexpected punch of shaved, aged Manchego cheese from Spain. Firm, supply and pale yellow in color, the cheese’s sweet, nutty tang was the perfect balance to this robust salad.

Our main course was a truffle capellini pasta with Parmesan, which was just perfect. The truffle conserva (almost like a savory truffle jam) melted in our mouths with every bite; shavings of black truffle added a touch of class. Like every other dish we tried, the pasta felt warming yet elegant, was super tasty, and invited me to take my time and linger over this beautifully prepared dinner.

Overall, Margot’s ambiance is spectacular. It offers not only 360-degree views but also exemplary dishes inspired by coastal Mediterranean cuisine. As a documentary filmmaker, it worked for me on all levels. From decor to menu, it tells the story of good times. I felt like I was part of something special from the moment I walked in the door. And as I said, the food is excellent. I look forward to returning, when I’ll sit outside under the heat lamps, watch the sun go down over the distant hills, or enjoy happy hour and rub shoulders with other filmmakers in the area. Margot is perfect for a date night, or for a couple of buddies just needing to go out and have a fun evening in a restaurant. Try it. It’s a treat.

Location: 8820 Washington Blvd #301, Culver City, CA 90232   map
Phone:  310.643.5853 
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