Helms Design District — Attraction in Culver City

Helms has not given a good first impression.

Crowds were expected. But once we entered the doors it took 1 hour and 15 minutes just to get items from the bakery. That's absurd. Why? Because they only have one person taking orders while 2-3 others just stand around or stay on the cash register.

We were disappointed that no fresh sandwiches were made. They get made, wrapped or packed, and stuck in the cooler/heated display. We took a chance with a hot sandwich and it was a fail.

Most of the items are over priced, while some are just stupidly priced. $12 for a slice of cherry pie when it's not even cherry season? And a half size baguette for $8. Ridiculous.

The hot food deli looked sad too, not like a "oh their still new and have room to improve" -sad, like the food itself just looked bland and boring.

For the main food we went with the egg salad, pastrami, and caprese.

The pastrami was outright bad. The bread was so soggy. The meat was in big chunks instead of sliced so it was chewy and rubbery.

The egg salad - not sure if they're trying to replicate a Japanese konibini - was nothing close to $12 worth. Basic white bread and plain egg salad.

The caprese however was shockingly good. Why? Because it was simple. Lots of creamy cheese, fresh basil, and the baguette was on point.

The saving grace for the food itself were definitely the pastries, these two being reasonably priced at $6 each - a slice of pistachio olive oil cake and the pumpkin cheesecake.

The pumpkin cheesecake was light, creamy, with a sharp aromatic crust. The olive oil cake was spongey, moist, and had a touch of sweetness and nuttiness from the pistachio cream.

Another downside was the $0.10 bag charge. Not because of the $0.10 but because we were asked if we wanted a bag and at no point told it...

The Helms Bakery District used to be a real bakery called Helms Bakery. It is a city or two blocks long and it was always huge. They made all sorts of baked products, mostly bread. They had trucks that would go through the City the sell their products. Those days are long gone and for years, Helms just sat there empty and falling apart.

About 20 years ago they started to work on it. It is not owned by Helms. It is now an upper class shopping area with about 5 or 6 eateries, some great, some not.

The place is super nice to walk and just go through the furniture stores and look for a restaurant you might want to try. We love the Father's Office. They have great sandwiches and burgers. They really are like a beer bar with lots of craft beers on tap.

They have a lighting store which is wonderful, but expensive as are all the furniture stores. But you can get things here you will not find elsewhere.

It is pet friendly. The service at at all the places we have been to is great. Everyone is friendly and knows their business and what they have in stock.

Parkin is in their lot and is...

It's a combination of high-end furniture shops mainly two restaurants the pasta sisters which on the weekends has a very long line I haven't eaten there yet and the other place called My Father's place which I also haven't eaten at is a burger I think place it smells Burger and I'm going to eat there before I move out of the neighborhood it's very pleasant part of the city I walk there through there every day to go to co-op so yeah if you know yapified expensive food is your thing but man my father's it's called My Father's office I'm sorry and then there are various you know I guess studio photographers and other businesses that are still expanding it so if you're in the mood for a pleasant shopping experience or burgers or pasta and the pasta sisters I got to say always is crowded and when I see crowds like that I think this place must be good...