This was our first visit to Chef Josiah Citrin's Charcoal Venice, and it was a memorable dining experience. The open fire design was comfortable with a nice energy. Frank, the Host was warm and welcoming. Jamie was an attentive and informative server. The wine and cocktail selections were very good. We were looking forward to trying the lamb ribs, and being old school, the splendid and delicious Choron sauce that accompanied the perfectly prepared Prime Filet ~ seared so nicely while being an excellent medium rare. The cabbage was a creative flavor bomb with the sumac yogurt. Your arugula, radicchio salad with fresh nectarines, pumpkin seeds and feta was scrumptious. The heirloom tomato salad with fresh figs which was refreshing and so good. For dessert, the chocolate peanut butter crunch cake was a treat. We look forward to returning for another great meal, and introducing our friends to Charcoal Venice. read more

Great restaurant but not everything on menu is great. You gotta know what to order and if you order right, it will be an exceptional dinner. Summer of 69 mocktail: 5/5 Smoked lamb ribs: 5/5 Collard greens salad: 3.5/5 Prime skirt steak: 5/5 Scampi-style grilled white prawns: 1/5 21-day aged half liberty duck: 5/5 read more

Attended for my husbands birthday, and man BOMB.COM I knew this would be the perfect place and it was, everything is definitely shareable 16oz steak we couldn't even finish it and I felt bad because it was truly delicious! The calamari it was different than anywhere I've ever had calamari at! The baked charcoal potato amazing and the mushrooms! Totally recommend the vinegar on table to dip your steak with. Sam! Waiters, and front of house thank you for the amazing hospitality. We'll be back! read more

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Good and attentive service was the only standout of our meal. The food was lackluster at best. Cabbage was too soft in texture and there was no taste. Nothing special with the wings, seemed like something ordinary I can make at home. The house made sauces didn't do much to elevate the taste. The steak and salmon were nice and tender but albeit small in portion. The berry crumble for dessert was not fully cooked, just tasted like loose oats swimming in berry compote. The whole time I was thinking what is it that drew the crowds because I certainly didn't get it. Tip: Be careful of the mad rush of patrons rushing in for happy hour at 5:30 PM. We weren't there for the happy hour as we had dinner reservation so we just stood to the side until the stampede was over. It's loud inside the restaurant, while the patio is quieter but just need to watch out for the pesky flies. read more

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I've been coming here on and off for years and while not my favorite steak restaurant it is unique and worth visiting. Tonight I came with a group of 6 for DineLA and it did not disappoint. My go to drink here is the midnight margarita and I love the sourdough bread, which we didn't get tonight but honorable mention to the family of restaurants that serve it. The last time I was here was for happy hour several years ago, which was excellent. Today's smorgasbord of food for DineLA was well worth the splurge and truly a great deal for the amount of food served. read more

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Food was okay. It all had the same taste flavors. The cabbage toast didn't have a clean cut. Bar was overly packed. Ambiance is nice but it's really loud. Some of the bartenders didn't have the best attitude. read more

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I came here for Dine LA and probably not the best idea for a pescatarian. But looking around at other people's food and their reactions... think it's safe to say this is more of a cocktail and dessert spot. Everyone looks like they loved the cobbler. I liked the Midnight Margarita too. The food is somewhat overpriced for the lack of quality for entrees in my opinion. Maybe I just need to try different items than I did. Or why didn't I get the sauce? Is that only for the steak? ‍ read more

Charcoal has amazing food and a nice happy hour as well. I was there years ago and , and was there again recently and I think it's very very good. read more

This is a very cute restaurant. The hostess was so welcoming. I enjoyed how quiet the patio was, but the smell walking through the dishwashing station to the patio had me concerned. The bread was toasty but yummy with the vinegar oil mixture that comes on the table. Had a salad that was not very good. The manager noticed we weren't eating it and came over and asked. When we told him that it wasn't that tasty he thanked us for the feedback and took it off the bill. The ribeye was cooked to perfection and the carrots with ricotta were delicious. The entrees are à la cart so it was easy to share. Service was wonderful and that's the real reason for the 5 stars. Had the chocolate peanut butter cake for dessert and it was AMAZING! read more

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I have been reluctant to review Charcoal. Why? Because it is one of my favorite places in my neighborhood. It is my go-to happy hour spot. And it is already too crowded. The wife and I usually go to their "Glass Off" happy hour at least once a month. It starts at opening, 5:30, but people start lining up around 5. It's an expensive restaurant, but happy hour gives you a less expensive taste of what the chef is all about. This last time, we shared the Charcoal Burger and an order of Roasted Wild Mushrooms. White wine for the lady, a hazy IPA for me. Delicious as usual. Everything has a deep flavor profile, with umami notes, a bit of smokiness, unique, interesting seasonings. If you get any meat-based dish, like the burger or skewers, you are treated to a trio of house-made sauces that are incredible, too. I beg of you....don't go. read more

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I dined at Charcoal Venice this past Monday with a fellow Yelper and IRL friend, Tony T., for Dine LA and this was my first time visiting the restaurant. Quite frankly, I wasn't even aware of Charcoal Venice before Dine LA, despite passing through this area countless times. I'm extra grateful for Restaurant Week for putting it on my radar! One thing I really appreciated about the Dine LA experience here was that we were able to try all of the starters and mains rather than choosing just one which made the meal feel super generous. In hindsight, nearly all of the dishes were served in one, and we were told it was two portions. Considering how full I was when I left, I believe it. From the starters, I am still surprised how much I enjoyed the cabbage "baked in the embers." It was smoky, soft, and better than I thought it would be! The hamachi tartare was also tasty but it felt more like a very, very small sample and I don't think I fully got to enjoy it. The Smoky Grilled Chicken Wings served with oregano, chile, and vinegar were good but I'm from Buffalo and have an extremely high standard for wings. While this was the one thing on the Dine LA menu that seems to be on the regular and happy hour menus, I would order something different, despite them being pretty decent! For the courses where a selection was required, I chose the endive salad and the hasselback potato. The endive salad was balanced and flavorful while the hasselback potato was rich and satisfying. Since I love, love, love carbs, I was pleased with my choice. As for the mains, I was a BIG fan of the coffee-rubbed prime flat iron steak. I thought it was cooked to perfection and paired well with many of the house made condiments. The steak was my favorite for the evening. Speaking of the house made condiments, I loved that they're just on the table when you arrive. There's also a house made pickled sauce that was extremely good and went with just about everything. The salmon was very moist though for me it leaned a bit undercooked. Dessert was also pretty good!! The apple crumble had beautifully cooked apples and excellent ice cream though I found the oats or whatever else the topping was a little overpowering. Even so, it was a very solid way to end a very, very filling meal. Service was friendly and attentive throughout most of the evening. Our server, Nicholas C., was great, though toward the end we did have to seek out our check from the host but it was no big deal. The restaurant itself has great vibes. It's warm and pretty modern. It felt like it would be a fantastic date spot or a fun dinner with friends. They also have a popular happy hour in the bar area only from 5:30-7:00pm I think every night. Our server mentioned people line up as early as 5:00-5:15pm which says something! One thing I found interesting is that much of the Dine LA menu doesn't appear to overlap with the regular menu (aside from the wings) which makes me curious to come back and explore more. Overall, I had a lovely experience, left extremely full for the price point, and would absolutely return to try the regular menu. Thank you, Charcoal Venice and thank you Dine LA! read more

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Beet & Mushroom carpaccio is amazing! Lamb chops appetizer also great. 2 appetizers were good for 1 person's dinner. Though priced high. read more

Charcoal Venice - Beet & mushroom carpaccio - wow! Delicious. - New American Near Me - Venice, California

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Finally got to check out Charcoal! My friend and I were admittedly bummed out though. Maybe Happy Hour just isn't where it's at. We tried their happy hour on a Friday night. Waited in a very long line. We were fairly far back so got the last seating for HH (thank goodness - felt like a competitive sport lol). I had their Petite Steak and Frites with a glass of the House Red Wine. Their house wines are cheap bottles - my friend asked the server what they use and he wasn't very knowledgeable about wines in general so he just brought her the bottle to show her. The steak didn't necessarily disappoint, but it wasn't that great either. Mind you this is all happy hour where the cost is a lot cheaper from their regular menu. But based on my HH experience alone, sadly I'm not sure I would return to order off their regular menu. Still happy I finally got to try it though! read more

Charcoal Venice - Happy Hour items: Petite Steak and Frites; Burger; Fries - New American Near Me - Venice, California

My husband and I love to try Happy hour menus. This is a must try EVERYTHING! Your palate will ask you for more, only because it's delightfully happy. The prices are a bit much and it does get a bit crowded. Wish there was more bar seating. Having said that. The chef knows what to do with calamari. It is a special happy hour place. I've found all the waiters are sweet and friendly. read more

Came here for Valentine's Day dinner and it did not disappoint! Super romantic atmosphere and great service. I got the "Hers" Valentine's Day cocktail which tasted like strawberry coconut, but didn't seem to have much alcohol in it! Still yummy tho! The oysters were solid, but I wasn't a big fan of their signature vinaigrette on the side. My favorite dish was the beef tartare! It was a unique twist with the mushrooms and smoked egg emulsion. The flavors just bursted in my mouth. The sirloin steak with chimichurri was also really good. I expected it to be tougher due to the cut but they did a great job of making it juicy and flavorful. read more

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Charcoal might be the most poppin happy hour in Venice because it was SO crowded trying to get a seat, that's just how good these deals are! We just got back from Europe and were craving steak frites so it felt like the perfect time to try it out. Only $16 for about 3oz of steak and a surprisingly large amount of fries, it was a great way to kick off a weekend. We also got the charred vegetables which were fine, certainly not as good as the vegetables they have on their standard menu. My only issue is that they use homemade ketchup which just isn't the same as my love for standard Heinz ketchup but I can overlook this for a good deal and good food overall. Charcoal also has an INCREDIBLE DineLA menu every time it comes around which lets you sample so many items, it's a favorite for us! read more

Charcoal Venice - Petite steak frites (happy hour menu) - New American Near Me - Venice, California

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Went with my little family and a tired one-year-old in tow after a 5-hour flight. The super-kind hosts/greeters offered us the quiet patio area, which was perfect. We had the Dine LA menu, which was also totally worth it and absolutely delicious. Great food and service! read more

Definitely make reservations if you want to eat here! There was a line outside before the restaurant opened. Everything here was so good! 16oz bison ribeye and regular ribeye were both cooked to medium rare and very flavorful and tender. Bread was fresh. Nice and soft and their butter was really good. Salmon, sides, and appetizers (calamari) were all delicious! They really know how to flavor their food. The desserts were also pretty good. The peanut butter chocolate crunch is a bit on the dense side for me and a few bites was more than enough. Our server was really nice and took good care of us the whole meal! Would definitely go back here again! read more

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Arrived before doors opened 5:30 on a Tuesday evening. Probably 15 or so folks waiting to get in as well. This is a promising start when folks are lined up. We had reservations so had no doubt we'll get seated. We started with our drink orders of wine and margaritas. Appetizers came next with bread and butter (not complementary), oysters on a half shell, and grilled wings (yum). For our mains we had Bison, Duck, and Ribeye. Sides ordered were baked potatoes, fries, broccoli, and mushroom. Everything was excellent. The dining room filled up quickly and got quite busy as the evening progressed. The place had a nice vibe. We ordered a lot of food and of course we had the food packed to go. They label your boxer items and place it up front to take on your way out. The food is delicious and equally pricey. I don't think I'll be able to return, unless I'm treated out again. Definitely a splurge. read more

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Awesome meal at happy hour- it wasn't too hard to get seats at the bar at 5:30p and we loved everything we tried: *Charcoal Burger ($12 HH): white american, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onion, pickles, secret sauce *Collard Greens salad ($21, non-HH) yam, pickled onions, aged cheddar cheese, lemon-caper vinaigrette, breadcrumbs (one of my favorite salads in town!) *Coal-Roasted Cabbage Toast ($7.50 HH) with yogurt, sumac, pickled fresno chilies *happy hour cocktails were great!! read more

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My kids and I had dinner for the first time at this restaurant and we were overall happy with the food, the service and the ambiance. They were very accommodating even after changing my reservation twice. The food was delicious and very tasty. We ordered the grilled calamari to start and that was good. Then we shared the 16 oz Brandt Prime Ribeye, the J1-Marinated Snake River Farms American Wagyu sirloin, Yukon potato "baked in the coals" and their roasted wild mushrooms. We finished our meal and so full so we didn't get to eat dessert. We will definitely go back. read more

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This is the first time I've visited charcoal Venice apparently they have a pretty good happy hour, but you have to sit inside at the high top table to get that happy hour deal. We came here specifically for DineLA. So some of the items that we ate and got are not on the menu all in all I had no reservations or critiques about the food. The steak was delicious. Salmon wasn't as flaky as I hoped it to be, but it was still good. The smoked cabbage that we got was a star for me. Highly recommend coming here, especially if you can snag a spot for the happy hour special. Ambience was great. It would make for a good date spot if that's what you're looking for. read more

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Came here for their happy hour. When we arrived at 5:45 (HH starts at 5:30 until 7PM), the bar was already packed. We wait for about 50 minutes until we got seated. The burgers and skewers were good. I'd skip the carrots. Their midnight margarita is good but somehow, the marg at Citrin is a lot better. Friend staff. read more

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Lovely place. There was a line of folks right at 5:30 on a Friday, waiting to enjoy the Glass Off happy hour at the bar. The tasting menu featured a nice variety of small plates, from Ahi Tuna Tartare to Smoked chicken wings. I don't think we ordered anything that we did not like. The bartender was very attentive, even with a packed happy hour bar. I can't wait to return. read more

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I'm going to give this a 4 star for one kinda dumb mistake. We showed up for the 530 open 20 minutes early. Quite the Line up for the happy hour. Over all the food was very good. Not pictured was the beef skewer. While I would say it was excellent. The price of a single one is $5 for happy hour and I don't feel like that was worth it. The $6 oysters and the $7 toast. 100% worth it. The chimmy churi sauce is a must try as well. The dinner companion ordered the steak frits and while that was said to be delicious. They forgot to put the order in and I had finished all of my plates and beer before his was served. Over all great for a happy hour. read more

Charcoal Venice - Coal roasted Cabbage toast - New American Near Me - Venice, California

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Food was so insanely good. Shoutout to Yazmin, Sam, and the rest of the staff for such warm, awesome service! The restaurant itself had a cool atmosphere too. Definitely will be returning! read more

Even though I live very close by, I stopped in for my first time last night for dinner and had a great experience. It's a really delicious, casual, and unique steakhouse in Northern Venice. Parking in the area is fairly easy, we were able to find a metered spot directly in front of the restaurant otherwise other street parking is not that hard to find. Inside is quite large complete with a full bar and TV that was playing college football during our visit and a medium sized dining area with mostly half booths and tables. Our server was very polite and everything that we ordered arrived very fast. I'd like to point out how delicious their house vinegar is that sits on the table. It's inside the Maker's Mark bottle and they use many different spices to create their own vinegar. It honestly goes great with the meat and veggies. We started off with the Beef Tartare and really loved it. It was well balanced and had a bit of spice to it and overall it was a real hit at the table. We also ordered a seasonal salad, which was the Heirloom Tomato Salad, and thought it was absolutely fantastic. The heirloom tomatoes were fresh, and it came with a lot of onions soaked in vinaigrette, which is an amazing combo for me. For our entrées, we chose the 10 ounce Prime Skirt Steak based on our waiter's recommendation and the seasonal Tagliatelle. The steak was cooked perfectly and was juicy for every single bite. It was also a good size portion with no fat on it, which means the meat is high quality. The pasta was pretty large in size and great in flavor. It was really well balanced with the ingredients and it made some great leftovers. We wanted to try a dessert but after our meal, we were pretty full, but I plan to be back again in the near future to try more items. I would highly recommend to anyone searching for a great steakhouse or for a great Venice dinner. read more

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Food is amazing! A must visit restaurant in Cali! You will love it The atmosphere,service,and flavor are unique,bold and memorable... read more

What a great first visit to Charcoal Venice! Came here for dinner with a friend. I've always passed this restaurant but never had the chance to actually go in. First, the restaurant is very aesthetically pleasing. I love the lighting, how the bar looks and how the seats are situated for an intimate vibe. When we walked in, we were greeted by the kind host. Our server was amazing and super friendly. We had first sat down at the general tables but then moved to the communal area since items from the happy hour cannot be ordered at the general seating areas. The food on the happy hour menu was delicious and our drinks were fantastic. My friend had been here before and raved about the duck. We ended ordering it and baby....the flavoring of the duck is to die for. It has a tang of sweetness which is offset by the meat. Each slice was delicious. While it's kinda expensive, it's definitely worth it. This restaurant is great for a date night or even a good happy hour if you can get a seat at the bar. I highly recommend. read more

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It's a hustle-bustle world at the Charcoal happy hour. Good prices for excellent food, but get there early to get in line or you will miss out. Available nightly from 5:30-7 pm, we got in line at 5:20 on a Friday night, and got the last table for two in the bar area. (Lining up at 5 pm is recommended by Charcoal staff to grab a table). Seated at a very small table facing Washington Blvd, I felt like a toddler in a high chair, pushed all the way up so wait staff could move around behind me. We proceeded to order two rounds of Smoke and Fire and Citrine drinks ($12 each); the Hamachi ($14, a new appetizer); 8 of the beef, chicken and salmon skewers ($5 each); the Cabbage in Embers toast ($7.50); and the outstanding chicken wings ($7.50); all accompanied by the restaurant's amazing house-made chimichurri and flavored vinegar. This restaurant is a Venice staple, and we have been here many times for dinner and Happy Hour. One of the best restaurants in Venice. read more

As someone who has lived in Venice for 75 years and grew up on Elm Street, I have mixed feelings about Charcoal Venice. The food certainly looks delicious, and I'm sure the chef is talented. Unfortunately, the prices are simply beyond the reach of many longtime residents like me who live on a fixed retirement income. The restaurant describes itself as a neighborhood backyard barbecue, but these prices don't reflect the kind of backyard barbecue most of us grew up with. For many seniors and working families in Venice, dining here just isn't financially possible. I understand that having a Michelin-trained chef and using high-quality ingredients comes at a cost, but a neighborhood restaurant should also feel accessible to the neighborhood. It saddens me that after living here my entire life, I can't afford to experience a restaurant in my own community. I sincerely wish Charcoal Venice success, but I also hope they'll consider offering more affordable options so longtime Venice residents--not just those with higher incomes--can enjoy what they have to offer. Venice has always been a diverse community, and it would be wonderful if more of us could feel welcome at the table. read more

Happy hour is lit! Make sure to get there early because it's poppin! The fish tacos are so fresh! Oysters are also a hit. Great fat fries, the wings, vegetable medley, mushrooms! Has 2 tvs at the bar for game watching. It's vibey inside, dim lighting great for a date or dinner with family and friends. read more

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We started with the chopped salad and the ahi tuna tartar. The salad had about a 1:1 ratio of tasty toppings to actual leaves, which was excellent. The tuna tartar tasted very fresh, and was crowned with an extremely smooth avocado paste. As an avocado lover this paste capitvated me, and I ate it with great haste. We then got the half Jidori Chicken and the Loup de Mer. The chicken was juicy, with a fine crust, and topped with a fresh salsa verde. The loup de mer was nicely cooked as well. We rounded things out with the cauliflower, which was good but a little soggy. read more

Charcoal Venice - Grilled Loup de Mer - New American Near Me - Venice, California

At the bar for bites and liquid. A few cocktails - French 75, Mezcal Negroni and The Last Word. All executed well and tasty. A few small plates - Chicken wings with multiple sauce on the side options were very good and hot! The lamb riblets were full off meat and flavorful. Yuzu lemon curds with sponge cake like cake, strawberries and vanilla bean ice cream was very good. Price was decent. I think this is a happy hour spot because we sat just as happy was over and once happy hour was over the bar cleared out quickly. Cheapos lol Service was welcoming from the host who told us where some bar seats were available to the bartenders, bar back and runners. Good bar spot! read more

Very good restaurant. The bison ribeye was the star of the show for me. I enjoyed the cabbage as well but I was hoping for a lil more char. The broccolini was good but had very little char.. maybe that's where they want it. I expected more and think it would've tasted better. I would definitely recommend this place. I think the happy hour is Seems awesome. read more

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Heard great things about Charcoal from family and finally checked it out on Labor Day. The food was definitely the highlight, but the service and atmosphere left a lot to be desired. The restaurant was only about half full, yet they sat us right by the bathroom (??). We asked to move and they did, but still not a great first impression. Service was pretty bad overall--our server was hardly around since he was also covering the front desk. Felt like they were way understaffed with only two waiters for the whole restaurant. We actually saw our busboy more than our server. Now, the food: fantastic. The cabbage was incredible, the chicken wings were amazing (ask for extra crispy), and the NY strip steaks were perfectly cooked and super flavorful. Loved the sauces at the table too. The baked potato cooked over the flame was a standout, and the mushrooms were delicious. Fries were just okay--would skip next time. Everything is a la carte and very pricey, especially sides and salads, but at least the quality is there. Nice to share everything. Atmosphere was strange for a higher-end spot--some people were dressed up, others were in swim trunks and tanks, and kids were running around. Didn't match the vibe I was expecting. Bottom line: amazing food, overpriced sides, disappointing service, and an uneven atmosphere. I'd come back for the food, but I hope they work on the service. read more

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Our server never checked on our table I had to ask 5 people to check on our mushrooms and then flag down our server who took them off the bill. The steak was rare not medium rare. The server told me I couldn't have things because of dairy like the carrots that I have had before and the chef made for me. While the food was good (lamb ribs oysters shishito peppers and mushrooms when they finally came) it was overall not an experience I would come back for. It seems the inconsistency at charcoal is still riding high you never know what you'll get read more

Such a great find! Not sure how we had never stopped in here. It's been open for 9 years! I guess I don't get down to Washington Blvd as much as I used to. We came for the DineLA menu, and it did not disappoint. It actually far exceeded our expectations. We thought we would have to choose either steak or fish, but we got both! The steak was cooked perfectly and had a great seasoning on it. I ate half of it, and then decided to give their condiments at the table a try. The steak was amazing by itself, but was also amazing with their in house chimichurri and steak sauce! The salads were delicious, the dressings definitely a highlight. The vegetables were so flavorful. The potato dish was a standout, but the carrots and broccolini also delicious. The cabbage appetizer was so well seasoned, who knew cabbage could be so yummy! The music was a little loud during happy hour, but then it turned down when happy hour ended and was perfect. Definitely want to go back to try their happy hour burger and a cocktail. The server was super friendly. And all the staff was very attentive, plates were cleared quickly, water was always full, table was nice and clean. Excited to go back and try it again! May even have to do the DineLA again before it ends on Feb 7. read more

Charcoal Venice - DineLA Food (sorry it's so dark!) - New American Near Me - Venice, California

I can't say enough amazing things about this place. We sat at the bar for happy hour last night. You do have to come a little early to wait in line. We basically ordered everything. I was blown away by every single dish. I haven't had red meat in 20 years but I had to taste the steak and hamburger. I even tried the lamb. The cabbage toast is the best thing I have ever tasted! Charcoal margarita! The staff is so lovely and helpful. My parents owned restaurants for 30 years, and I'm still in the industry, so trust me when I say this is the best restaurant in Venice. read more

Went to the Glass Off Happy Hour and left a little disappointed. Started with the wine for $7.00 and it wasn't even a full pour, I know because when you pay regular price you get more. So it's less wine, less price. Food was alright. Started with the steak skewers and lamb rib. Both were pretty good. Then we got the steak frites and two pieces were good and two were too chewy to eat. So all in all I thought it was alright but there are better HR out there. read more