Picnic LA: Fast Casual with a Fine Dining Flair (Culver City, CA)

Culver City residents and workers have a great new lunch spot. Picnic LA is a fast casual, produce-driven spot that's perfect for a quick lunch, takeaway orders, and now even deliveries. Opened by trio Brad Zions, Noah Ellis (who formerly worked in the Red Medicine kitchen), and Eliot Silver, Picnic LA is slinging healthy, vegetable-heavy menu that features produce and proteins from local farms and ranches.

Walking in, you'll see today's selections of entrees, salads, and more displayed on the counter

Each item can be purchased individually, or you can get a combo. A combination of any entree with any 2 salads will be $14.50, $17.50 for entree and 3 salads, or get 3 salads with no entree for $12.

The bread they use come from Lodge Bread Co, a new darling in the LA bread world, which is also made in the Culver City area.

As I mentioned, the items here are produce-driven so there are a lot of vegetable items featuring local farm products like in this Citrus and fennel salad

The space is large and airy, meant to evoke that "picnic" vibe.

Picnic LA carries a selection of great local beverages, including Bar Nine cold brew coffee, California Juice Co's juices, and Kombucha 2000.

Here's what a plate with an entree and 3 salads look like: Here, I got the Olive oil-poached salmon with creamy maille dijon, Rancho Gordo royal corona beans with lemon, olive oil, white anchovy, and the citrus fennel salad that was shown earlier.

The poached salmon was cooked nicely and had a great texture, the beans with anchovies were surprisingly good - it was also such a great way to use this more sustainable fish. Anchovies are a bit of a hard sell since many people don't like the strong taste, but it's more approachable combined with the beans.

Aspen Ridge Angus beef tamale (braised beef brisket, roasted Anaheim chile salsa), Piquillo pepper toast with Lodge Bread seeded country bread

There are some entree options that are mainstays, like the salmon, and some seasonal items like this beef tamale. The toast combines three great items, from the country bread from Lodge Bread to the cheese and pepper used.

Don't miss the desserts here as well. I tried the Pineapple clafoutis, fresh thyme ($2.95 per slice)

The dessert that was outstanding was actually the one they had recommended to me: Key lime pie bar, graham cracker crust, sour cream ($3.95)

This was one of the top key lime pie in my opinion, and in the form of a thin bar, it wasn't too decadent - just the right amount of sweetness to finish your meal! Plus, being a fan of graham cracker crust, I like the pie:crust ratio of the bar.

If you live or work in Culver City, you certainly need to check out Picnic LA for your lunch in the near future.

Picnic LA
9900 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA
http://picnic.la/