The Butcher's Daughter — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I don’t frequent vegetarian restaurants, but The Butcher’s Daughter has managed to get my attention for all the right reasons and has lassoed me twice. Above all, it has seriously good food prepared and served by a staff that is friendly and welcoming. In addition, its Venice location and ambiance are quintessentially L.A. which makes the experience all the more enjoyable, especially for us Angelinos who live here by choice and not necessity.

My most recent visit was on Friday, March 12, 2021, which by coincidence was a cold, drizzling day that was freezing by Southern California standards. Due to the coronavirus, only outdoor seating was available, but fortunately the establishment provided propane patio heaters which made the overall experience pleasant until it was time to leave and face the elements once again. Speaking of the coronavirus and its role in our lives as the “new normal,” it was obvious that The Butcher’s Daughter takes the issue seriously by putting house rules in place to ensure the safety of its guests and staff. Many of its rules aren’t rules as much as they are courteous measures like offering single use menus and touchless payments to ease the worries of its patrons. What was most impressive was that the staff was able to convey smiles hidden behind their masks through warm gestures of kindness and friendly small talk. I felt that the staff genuinely cared about the quality of their products and guest satisfaction.

On the last visit, my lunch date and I started by sharing the White Bean Hummus which would please even the most picky of hummus connoisseurs. Served with grilled flatbread, the hummus is enhanced with grilled artichoke along with kalamata and castelvetrano olives making it impossible to eat slowly. I hope I didn’t blow my chance for a second date by devouring more than my fair share of it. For the main course, I had the Mixed Mushroom Pizza with a Golden Ale and my date had the Coconut Curry Bowl and a Spicy Mezcalita to drink. Of course I only have good things to say about my pizza which was a thin crusted pie with a variety of mushrooms, hence the name, on mozzarella with garlic confit and white truffle oil. Those ingredients by themselves are tasty, but when topped with arugula, the flavors bursted to life with a favorable impression. The Golden Ale, made by Athletic Brewing Company, is by far one of the best non alcoholic beers on the market (I was the designated driver) and really added the final touch to my meal. However, my date’s lunch, the Coconut Curry Bowl, was nothing less than sensational. He let me have a few spoonfuls of his curry although I’m sure he was probably taking precautions to make sure I didn’t eat it all like I practically did with the hummus. It was a rich combination of chickpeas, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, and French curry known as vadouvan. Served with grilled flatbread, that curry was out of this world! Like I said, I enjoyed my pizza, but was definitely jealous of my date’s choice. I didn’t try his Mezcalita, but he seemed to like it a great deal and I'm sure any mezcal lover would enjoy it as well.

The Butcher’s Daughter is so much more than a trendy, plant based restaurant. It is a genuinely sweet and charming little eatery that could satisfy and please even the most aggressive of carnivorous appetites like mine. Definitely a place you would visit more than once and a perfect spot to take out of town guests. ...

The Butcher’s Daughter weaves itself seamlessly into the artisanally curated aesthetic that has become the predominant commercial style along Abbot Kinney Boulevard over the past 20 years. The restaurant’s vibe is distinctly upscale, but the rustic bohemian craftsmanship creates an open, inviting atmosphere that encourages clientele to hang out and enjoy the social experience of food, drinks and friends for which they came.

AESTHETIC - Rustic, Light & Vibrant

The 3,200 square foot space radiates with sunshine throughout the day. The entire area is bathed in natural light by 12-foot windows at either end of the restaurant, and - the key ingredient - the 20-foot ceiling that incorporates three pitched skylights among the exposed wooden bow truss beams.

Reminiscent of a well-worn white cotton towel blanketing a cream-colored sandy beach, the color palette chosen for the restaurant is a vital design element that combines with sunlight to create a comfortable, inviting mood. Primary features include a mix of exposed brick (painted white), white ash wood paneling, and tiles set in various shades of neutral. A myriad of secondary design elements - both structural and decorative - frame and give life to the baseline cream-colored palette. These include industrial aluminum light fixtures, visible brass piping, wooden three-blade Aviation ceiling fans, exposed structural steel columns, a variety of dangling green plants, a wooden bar and table tops, a steel hanging rack above the espresso bar adorned with plants and ropes, and artfully constructed, mirror-lined shelves installed behind the cocktail bar.

The open doors and windows at either end of the restaurant facilitate a fresh ocean breeze that flows through the space. This constant, gentle infusion of oxygen enlivens the atmosphere and promotes vibrancy.

PROGRAMMING - Creative & Versatile

That natural, bright space is programmed with six discrete settings: sidewalk patio along Abbot Kinney pastry display with to-go beverages and wine bottles for sale at the entrance u-shaped espresso bar traditional cocktail bar indoor restaurant seating at a combination of booths, 2-tops, 4-tops and family-style share tables outdoor back patio with a family style farm table

The spatial set-up provides customers an array of options to engage the space depending on the experience they seek. Sidewalk patio seating evokes a casual European cafe lifestyle. The entryway to the main dining room - with a to-go coffee bar, selection of pastries, and fully stocked refrigerator for any mood (fresh juice, beer, and wine) - provides patrons a quick in-and-out experience. There are two different bars that cater to distinct beverage inclinations: a traditional high-top bar features beer, wine and creative cocktails, while an intimate espresso bar inspires caffeine-infused consumption in closely-set wooden swivelling stools. Indoor seating throughout the restaurant accommodates any size party in search of a vibrant vibe. The picturesque backyard setting features a prominent wooden farm table and a tiled fireplace in the same motif as the interior. This space bursts with life, enveloping patrons in a variety of verdant hanging succulents, jade, fern, and bamboo, among...

First started in New York City in 2010, and then opened in LA in 2015, I have known about the Butcher’s Daughter for a number of years as a casual and tasty vegetarian breakfast and dinner option, and tonight I found out that was true for myself. There are two locations in Los Angeles, this one in Venice, and the other in West Hollywood, but I chose the Venice location because it’s been around longer and it’s closer to the water. Parking was extremely easy tonight for a 6:30 PM Sunday dinner. I was able to park literally right across the street in non-metered parking. That would not be possible in West Hollywood.

As mentioned, it’s very casual, but well done on the inside. Our server was very polite and there are a lot of great options on the menu. I started off with the Water Flower cold pressed juice and really enjoyed it. Tastes like watermelon with a hint of lavender and was very refreshing tonight. I then started off with the Avocado and Pomegranate Salad, and although I wish there was more avocado and more dressing, it was still very good as expected. For my entrée, I chose the Impossible Burger, and it was my favorite part of the meal. The brioche bun really made it and overall it was delicious.

They were only two downsides to the meal tonight. They brought my salad and burger at the same time so that made eating the appetizer first impossible. I don’t like to eat two dishes at the same time, especially when one is hot and the other is cold. The other negative was that when it came time to pay the bill our server brought over the electronic check, took the credit card and then you had to select the tip and sign right in front of him. In my experience usually they leave the machine at the table and then come back for it after it’s done. That is my preference and what they usually do on the East Coast as well.

Overall a really nice vegetarian restaurant with fair pricing and a lot of options. In the future, I will try the West Hollywood location to see if it is any different, but this would definitely be somewhere that I would repeat...