Lustig (Culver City) — Restaurant in Culver City

New Restaurant Alert! Lustig Restsurant, an Austrian concep by Chef Bernhard Maringer next door to Father’s Office in Culver City. They have been in soft opening since 12/30. Just going to say it, the WeinerSchnitzel is much better than Spago’s. It is more tender, a little thicker, and the breading is crunchy and juicy. The lingonberries on the side were also a nice complement. Another hit was the chicken liver profiteroles with their rich and velvety filling that worked w the dark chocolate and the verjus gelee. The surprise of the night was the beef cheek souerbraten that was tender as thick lengua. The spatzle was perfectly executed and not overcooked like so many. I also recommend the roasted beet salad w vanilla goat cheese and crispy Brussels sprouts. The breads and spreads were served warm and we ate every last crumb. The wine list has plenty of gruner veltliner and Blaufrankish. Unfortunately, they are not going to budge on the two bottle max for corkage. #thefoodietraveler

2nd visit: Overtly dumbed down. Upon checking in the hostess aggressively argued w me over the seating arrangements we made on open table and I had to pull out my chats to “prove it.” Later, we were disappointed by food not executed nearly as well as we prior visit, such as soggy profiteroles, missing beets in beet salad, not crispy wienerschnitzel, spatzle replaced with potatoes on the sourbraten. And the most infuriating and insulting was we had requested ketchup not curry sauce w the fries which they did not bring until no more fries. So then we ordered another order of fries . They should have comped us for the second order but instead they charged us $2 for ketchup. We know where we are not welcome and we will not...

My excitement to explore a new culinary spot with my wife and fellow food enthusiast friends was utterly dashed by the dismal experience at Lustig. Our visit coincided with worsening weather, yet despite my reasonable request, we were seated at the far edge of the patio, fully exposed to the elements. Despite voicing concerns for my pregnant wife's comfort and well-being, our pleas for a more suitable seating arrangement were met with dismissive responses from both the server and hostess.

Repeated attempts to secure a more suitable table were met with apathy and indifference, culminating in a frustrating ordeal that highlighted the abysmal communication and lack of empathy from the staff. It's appalling that instead of acknowledging their oversight, the blame was shifted onto us, the patrons, for not communicating effectively with them.

Setting aside the appalling service, the food at Lustig failed to salvage the experience. While not outright terrible, none of the dishes truly impressed. Moreover, the portion sizes were inadequate, necessitating multiple orders of appetizers just to suffice for a small group. As someone who appreciates and is willing to invest in quality dining experiences, Lustig fell disappointingly short of expectations.

In conclusion, while Lustig may tout itself as a culinary destination, the dismal service and underwhelming food leave much to be desired. I seldom resort to writing reviews, but the egregious treatment we endured compels me to caution others against patronizing this establishment. Consider this a warning before considering Lustig for...

We dined at Lustig a few weeks ago just before their official grand-re-opening and we couldn’t be more pleased to live so close to this delightful restaurant.

The staff were all so friendly. We had a chance to chat with the hostess and bartenders while we waited for our friends stuck in traffic, and it was clear that they all great pride in both their menu and the comfort of their guests.

The food is a total delight. Our sever described the chef’s approach as playful and with a lean towards Austrian fare; the chef was certainly successful. Each dish has an element of surprise and delight that makes the menu an easy one to pick from. Our favorite dish was the Chicken Liver Profiteroles- so memorable and unique! The schnitzel was delicious too, as was the hamachi jalapeño, croque monsieur pizza, and the cucumber salad.

The bar menu was excellent. We loved the Sachertorte Old Fashioned (such a great flavor combo!) and the Christoph’s Waltz. Lots of fun options. The Dirty Apple Martini is truly special- while we wouldn’t order it every time, we are so glad we tried it. Their wine list paired well with the menu- nice to have a list that has so many by-the-glass options.

And to top it all off, the space itself is beautifully designed, but in a way that is not fussy or overly manicured. It felt warm, bright and inviting.

We’re looking forward to coming back (tonight!) to enjoy more of...