Bacari Culver City — Restaurant in Culver City

EDIT: we have since returned twice for dinner service and were disappointed each time. The food is still mostly great but service deteriorated. We weren’t attended to with the same grace and care. The second dinner we came with family and tried pretty much everything on the menu. The beet pasta and the hand cut noodles were both flavorless. And we had to constantly look around to find someone to order drinks and courses. We are bummed. We thought we found our new spot. Original review: We had a 1:30p reservation and arrived a few mins early. The host stand had several people around but the very handsome host was all smiles and super welcoming. He did not let the crush affect his mood or service. We couldn’t be seated on the busy patio so we were sat inside under a beautiful sky light. Every staff member was all smiles and so gracious. Our server, Christina (great name) was also gorgeous and super sweet and efficient. She didn’t rush us and made some great suggestions. We started with an Aperol spritz and an excellent espresso martini. Plus the little gem salad, a crudo, and the wings. We followed that with two more Aperol Spritzes, the crab cake Benedict, and the shakshuka. We finished with the pistachio dessert and espresso. EVERYTHING was so tasty! The shakshuka was a little acidic for us, so we’d probably not order that again but everything else was a perfect 5/7! Hahaha But the real stars of the day were the staff! Going out to eat is not inexpensive, especially nicer spots but all too often the FOH is poorly trained and rushing around miserably. You can tell that a lot of training went into the well informed, organized, affable staff. Each person we encountered was so happy that we were there—from the first greeting by the host, to the amazing Christina, to the various food/drink runners, and busboys. Imagine: a restaurant where service is taken very seriously. Spoiler alert: it’s Bacari! But it wasn’t stuffy service. It was friendly and warm. Everyone seemed sincerely interested in making sure we enjoyed ourselves. We did not feel rushed even though the place was packed. And our table was touched constantly to ensure our satisfaction but not obtrusively so. I loved that servers waited until we were finished to ASK if they could remove a plate, instead of just grabbing haphazardly without a word or acknowledgement. Every step of service was impeccable and we left feeling so happy we went there. And we talked about what a great experience it was all day after. And, get this, one of the owners emailed us the day after to effusively thank us for coming in and to let us know we could reach out to him directly for any future needs like reservations, etc. We are completely charmed by Bacari, their staff, the food, the management and owners! This restaurant is now at the top of our go-to...

Hot new-ish restaurant in Downtown Culver City (they just opened in April 2025). It was poppin’ on a Wednesday with every table booked. I was thankful we made a reservation on OpenTable a week in advance for a 6:30pm seating.

Ambiance: Although it’s a chain restaurant, each location has its own vibe. The DT Culver Bacari has a lively, trendy, and upscale yet unpretentious ambiance, with both indoor and outdoor spaces that create a vibrant and social atmosphere. It was a bit loud inside, but we could still hear the people at our table. I honestly love the arched tile hallway decor on your way to the restrooms in the far back. They have a combination of stained glass and electric chandeliers, and it’s a bright-moody.

Service: The food service style is Tapas small plates, and our dishes definitely were very staggered in the arrival to the table. Our server was really nice and knowledgable, and double checked on everything related to allergies and dietary restrictions.

Parking: There are two different parking lots I recommend, Cardiff Parking Garage (3846 Cardiff Ave) or the slightly further Culver Parking Garage (3844 Watseka Ave) which usually has more spaces available.

Drinks: While I personally didn’t get a cocktail, the two that seemed most popular were the Bacarita ($18) with tequila, watermelon, jalapeño, basil, lime (garnished with a watermelon slice) and the Love Letter ($18) with honeyed whiskey, passionfruit, toasted marshmallow, lemon (yellow in color, garnished with a literal toasted marshmallow).

Food: Everything I tried was delicious and very sharable, I just would order more than 2 small dishes if you’re hungry and not sharing everything with your table. From the Gluten Friendly section of their menu, I personally enjoyed:

Crudo barramundi, herbed cucumber relish, za'atar, sumac, thinly sliced lemon triangles, frantoia olive oil, sesame, maldon salt ($14.50, GF). If you enjoy seasonings and sashimi, this is the dish for you. The lemon was very mild and sliced thinly, so it was still delicious to eat whole with the raw fish.

Shrimp ceviche with citrus fennel vinaigrette, heirloom cherry tomato, cucumber, za'atar, sesame, sumac, Time chili chips ($14.50, GF). I personally dislike the taste of fennel, so I ended up removing most of the fennel after the first few bites. Next time, I’d ask to see if they can remove the fennel, or I’ll just opt for...

Bacari in Culver City is one of those places that just nails it on every level—food, drinks, and vibe. It’s lively and buzzing, but still cozy enough that you can settle in and enjoy a long evening of plates, cocktails, and conversation.

I started with the baby gem lettuce, ordered without the bacon, and it was exactly what I wanted. Crisp wedges, perfectly dressed, refreshing and balanced—it’s the kind of salad you actually look forward to eating. From there, the roasted cauliflower came out with that beautiful char and tenderness, full of flavor in every bite. The seabass was delicate, light, and seasoned just right, while the mushroom pizza was rich, earthy, and impossible to stop picking at even when I was full.

The Last Word was a highlight—made with their house-made gin, it had that extra depth and smoothness that set it apart from the usual. Easily one of the best I’ve had. And for dessert, I couldn’t resist the cake. I ordered it without the bacon but added extra ice cream, which turned out to be the perfect move. Warm cake with cold, creamy scoops—it was decadent and satisfying without being overdone.

Service really elevated the night. Alexis at the bar was outstanding—so warm, attentive, and fun, exactly the kind of bartender who makes you want to stay a little longer. And a big shoutout to Alberto as well, whose attentiveness throughout the evening made everything feel seamless and easy.

Between the food, the drinks, and the people (especially Alexis), Bacari has it all. I’d come...