Lodge Bread Company — Restaurant in Culver City

This review is long overdue. I've been here many many times. I've visited their farmers market booths in Torrance and Beverly Hills as well. I really want to give this place a five, but if I'm honest with myself I think it's an overall four. I love their bread philosophy, and the way they approach making their breads and pastries. Great integrity. I'm such a big fan of whole grains and naturally leavened bakes. Many of their baked goods are naturally leavened with sourdough! This is very unusual to come by.

Things I’ve tried… Breads: Baguette, Country, Whole Wheat (100%), Seeded, Olive with Herbs and Citrus, Whole Wheat Cranberry Walnut (special loaf of the day), Pomodoro Focaccia Pastries: Almond Croissant, Pain Au Chocolat, Seasonal Fruit Danish (pear, berries), Cinnamon Roll, Citrus Poppy Scone Food menu items: Almond butter toast, Seasonal Jam Toast, Margherita Pizza (on two different occasions; they changed their pizzas recently)

BREAD The first time I tried their bread I was so impressed. Having tried so many excellent bakes in the SF Bay Area, my standards are set quite high. I was so excited to find a place that would satisfy my desire for excellent bread.

I'd like to give a special mention of their 100% Whole Wheat. They seriously do this so well. It's very difficult to come across a truly great 100% whole wheat. I love the high hydration, open and custardy crumb, complex but light flavor. Highly recommend especially if you love your whole grains. Tartine does a lovely whole wheat, but it's not 100% whole wheat (again hard to come by). You probably won't find a better one in the vicinity.

Two slightly less impressionable bread items were the Olive (with herbs and citrus) and Pomodoro Focaccia.

Olive loaf - Unfortunately, I ended up having to throw out portions of the bread because the exterior was just too hard (the loaf I had was also a tad flat). The coarse, very hard polenta meal coating the exterior honestly made it difficult to teeth the bread. Felt hesitant to continue eating it out of concern for the teeth - a suboptimal eating experience.

I absolutely love focaccias. I will never forget the ones I've had in Europe (still the best). And I've really enjoyed Liguria Bakery up in SF. I especially like tomato or tomato sauce based varieties. Here the focaccias are made with sourdough which is not typical but something I'm all for. They rotate flavors, and of course I waited to try their Pomodoro Focaccia (with kalamata olives and arugula) with great anticipation. The focaccia base itself was pretty good but the pomodoro sauce was not my favorite; it was too salt-forward and lacking the tomato-y sweetness of a great pomodoro sauce that I've tried at other places. The olives really amplified the saltiness.

PASTRIES Overall good but not amazing. I absolutely love how generous they are with their ingredients, which is reflected in the sheer sizes of their pastries and the chock full of ingredients they incorporate into their bakery items. Second to bread is my love for viennoiseries. The fact that the ones here were naturally leavened caught my appeal. Also, the croissant varieties are made with whole grain which is amazing. The almond croissant was huge and beautiful, but the inside was definitely doughy and dense; please see photo. Felt like eating a doughy pie crust. I still enjoyed it though.. In contrast, the chocolate croissant was a lot better. In general both did have flaky layers but tended to be thicker which I wasn't used to. But considering they used whole grain still impressive nonetheless.

I still love this place, but more times than not, I actually found myself being just slightly disappointed with most of their items. Maybe I am too picky. I will definitely continue to come because I still need to try their Jerusalem bagel, challah, rye bread, pita sandwich, and more. I think my top picks here so far is definitely the whole wheat, baguette, and country loaves; maybe the chocolate croissant or fruit Danish (one time it was excellent, one time it...

Lodge Bread Stuck In Suck-Cess with No Customer Service As Good as Their Bread

Some companies just cant learn. Yet some companies are just people and they are not willing to learn from an experience. This is the case with Forward Medical, which hasnt updated their loust app to enable an “add to calendar “ like 95% of other places that make digital appointments. Like if u are an internet company and not a health care provider, maybe you can at least get your app right. Some people and companies just dont learn.

Case if point, I have been hearing about Lodge Bread for years and had to give it a try. I came to learn that it wasnt just a bread place yet a deli. So i ordered a Lox and toast, like nice jewish boys do, ordered a few loaves of bread from the 2 of 5 that were offered and overall had a lousy online experience, yet if i am gonig to go off my gluten free diet, it was with the try.

What I got an hour and 20 minutes later, after the app said 40 minutes, was a box or tousled extremely low grade lox, grizzly, almost white, not even pink- some unwrapped wilted pickles with pickle juice just having creeped into my bread, which was soaked with butter soup, which was not mentioned in the menu item, ( i am dairy free) , this of course was coupled with a trout salad, also infested with dairy/eff yogurt, also not declared on the menu. Tossed in a cheap cardboard box. What I expected for the similar price was something wondrous like what I get from Gjusta, which can do no wrong in my book. The unsliced bread ( it wasnt offered sliced, yet the owner contends this is always an option), was gorgeous and a delicious decision.

Anyway, disappointed in my first experience, I wrote to the owner on their website and on their instagram, which was responded to 24 hours later. They further don't answer their phone. Either too many complaints, too much business or just dont care. I finally got a text from the owner, a pleasant chap where I shared my story as a former retailer as I know he will only get 1 out of 100 complaints will ever get to him. I offered some suggestions on presentation, pricing, packaging, supply chain review, random checks on customers to see if they were happy. He seemed very pleased I went out on a limb to reach him, promised me a refine, which I did not request and also told me he wanted to make it right on my next order, like with a gift certificate or whatever, I told him it wasn't necessary, yet wanted to make sure his business did a better job in the future. That was September 6th and I have heard nothing from him since.

Disappointed, yet one day I will get some more bread. Anyway thats it. Any my complaint will stand forever and hopefully point the way towards a better future for...

Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles, Lodge Bread Company is a culinary gem that promises a delightful journey through the world of artisanal bread and delicious offerings. As a food enthusiast with an appreciation for wholesome cuisine, I was eager to explore their menu, and my visit to this charming bakery left me utterly impressed.

Upon entering Lodge Bread Company, I was greeted with an inviting aroma of freshly baked bread that set the stage for a memorable dining experience. While their menu boasted a tempting array of options, I couldn't resist trying their renowned "Avocado Toast."

After much anticipation, I decided to savor their "Heirloom Avocado Toast" – a masterpiece of simplicity and flavor. The thick slices of their rustic, freshly baked bread were topped with creamy avocado, heirloom tomatoes, and a sprinkle of microgreens. A drizzle of fragrant olive oil and a pinch of sea salt completed this wholesome toast, creating a symphony of flavors that left my taste buds dancing with delight.

But it wasn't just the delectable avocado toast that made my experience at Lodge Bread Company memorable; it was the impeccable service provided by a waitress named Lily that truly stood out. With her warm and friendly demeanor, Lily made me feel like a cherished guest throughout my meal. Her attentiveness and genuine enthusiasm for the bakery's offerings added an extra layer of enjoyment to my dining experience.

Lodge Bread Company is a testament to the art of crafting artisanal bread and wholesome dishes with a focus on quality and taste. Each item on their menu, especially the avocado toast, is prepared with care and a commitment to delivering a true taste of artisanal goodness.

In conclusion, if you're seeking a wholesome and flavorful delight in Los Angeles, Lodge Bread Company is an absolute must-visit. Their avocado toast offers a delightful journey through the world of freshly baked goodness. And if you're fortunate enough to be served by Lily, you'll experience a level of hospitality that will make your dining experience at Lodge Bread Company truly...