Downtown Culver City has become a mecca of restaurants and bars for those who are looking for an alternative to the crowds of Hollywood and Downtown LA. Rush Street is a cool, trendy gastropub that offers an eclectic array of specialty cocktails, wines and beers along with delicious appetizers and main courses. The dark wood and stone interior sets a tone of modern class and the televisions provide the patrons entertainment with the most popular sports playing on that day and the late operating hours allow for a great night time meet up environment.
Photo by Judy Hansen Pullos
In addition to the main floor, the restaurant has a quaint patio area with plenty of seating, and a second floor “roof top” bar area with couches and more televisions. The furnishing is simple and lends the perfect finishing touch to the modern design.
The Experience Magazine was seated at a small table near the window and two lavish cocktails from the specialty list arrived. They were fresh and fruity with beautiful garnishes. General Manager Erin McCarthy greeted us at our table and mentioned she would be choosing some house specialties for us. Our first appetizer was the lobster and shrimp egg roll served with a sweet soy and spicy mustard dipping sauce. The egg rolls were fried to perfection and paired delightfully with the dipping sauces. We also sampled the house-made guacamole and it was absolutely fabulous. The two dishes were wonderful together and the cocktails were just the right compliment.
photo by Judy Hansen Pullos
The main course was Mary’s free-range chicken with sautéed spinach and roasted potatoes in a port wine reduction. Cooked to perfection, the chicken was scrumptious and we even had some spicy mustard dipping sauce left over to dip the chicken into. What a fun and tasty dish! To round out our meal we had two incredible “sidekicks”, balsamic glazed brussels sprouts with feta and truffle asiago fries.
photo by Judy Hansen Pullos
For dessert we dove into a decadent and delectable brown butter sweet potato cake that was so amazing it nearly brought tears to my eyes! The cinnamon and ginger flavor was dreamy and satisfying. A nice cup of house coffee balanced very well with the cake and was the ideal finishing touch to a great dining experience.
For Angelinos looking for a new hot spot outside of the Hollywood cluster, Rush Street is a fabulous alternative with a young, fun vibe.
