The menu is simple and the produce is of a very high quality at Tender Greens. They offer “Simple Salads” all for around $6 in the small version, while the “big” version goes for around $11. If you like meat or fish, you can have a hot plate or add meat to your salad, including flank steak, herb brushed local albacore or salt and pepper chicken, which all are available in a “Hot Plate” version (Yukon gold mashed potatoes included for $10.50) or on a ciabatta roll, making a delicious sandwich (also $10.50)

Organic, Locally Grown Produce Equals Healthy Eating at Tender Greens

I had a glass of Poppy Pinot Noir, one of my favorites, which complemented my flank steak quite nicely. For another $5, I was able to add a red and green butter lettuce salad with tarragon dressing to my hot plate, and with the mashed potatoes, it was just enough food. The meat is grilled right in front of you, and while the cafeteria style ordering process isn’t the most elegant, it is efficient and unless you’re quite sensitive, doesn’t end up being that big of a deal.

Not too much indoor seating, so be prepared. In the winter, it can be a bit cold outside, as it was the other night, but there is ample seating outdoors and Tender Greens is well-equipped with heating lamps. Their menus are also printed on recycled paper, which is a nice touch. Wait staff is super helpful, both behind the counter and out in the dining area.

Restaurant Name: Tender Greens
Restaurant Location: 9523 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
Link to Restaurant Site: Tender Greens
Restaurant Phone: 310.842.8300
Deliver, Sit-down, Takeout: Sit-down and Take Out

Description of Menu: Salads, chicken, steak and albacore; sandwich options; homemade soups

Description of Restaurant: Cafeteria Style line for ordering; limited indoor seating, moody lighting but not overly romantic; ample outdoor seating with heat lamps; Nice casual dress

Description of Service: Very nice people in the dining room. Young and friendly behind the counter.

Meal Ordered: Flank Steak Hot Plate, Red & Green Butter Lettuce salad on the side. Chinese Chicken Salad.

General Cost of Meal:$$$ – $$$1/2 / $$$$$

Hours of Operation: Sun-Thurs 11:30am-9pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-10pm
Restaurant Mission Statement: “We believe there should be a conscious connection between the one who eats the food and the source of that sustenance. These days, people eat on the run. If we can’t slow you down, at least we can tell you a little bit about what you are eating. The majority of our produce comes from Scarborough Farms in Oxnard… When we have to buy things that Scarborough doesn’t plant, we choose from a handful of small, local farms… We use organic ingredients whenever we can.”
Restaurant Owner(s): David Dressler and…
Restaurant Chef(s): Chef-owners Matt Lyman and Erik Oberholtzer

House Specialty: Great salads — super fresh local ingredients, good-sized portions
Link to Online Menu: (site is in flash, so click on Menu Tab from Tender Greens website)

Read Another Review of Tender Greens Here:
Whole Life Times review of Tender Greens

Though the line was a bit slow, it ended up being only because the staff at the counter was very attentive to the customers, and made polite conversation with all. They apologized and thanked us for being so patient. The food that people were taking back to their tables looked excellent, which is often not the case at very healthy eating establishments.

Organic, Vegan, Macrobiotic Cuisine at Seed Kitchen

There are salads, a couple of soups, sandwiches and burgers at Seed Kitchen, and the chef appears to take himself and his work very seriously. I had a hard time cutting my BBQ Tempeh Burger in half, and made a bit of a mess with the sauce. When I asked the manager if he could have someone in the kitchen cut it in half for me, it came back freshly re-plated, cut in half and like new. The kitchen also appears to have treats, with cookies priced at $3 and really nice looking cupcakes.

Restaurant Name: Seed
Restaurant Location: 1604 Pacific Avenue, Venice, CA 90291
Link to Restaurant Site: Seed Kitchen
Restaurant Phone: 310.396.1604
Delivery, Sit-down, Takeout: Sit-down, Takeout

Description of Menu: Cafe style, organic and macrobiotic.

Description of Restaurant: Small, clean, cafe style. 2-3 outdoor tables, 2-3 indoor tables, walk up to place order and pick up food once prepared. One larger family-style table. Take out available.

Description of Service: Excellent, Very Attentive

Meal Ordered: BBQ Tempeh Burger ($10.50); House Greens Salad ($8.95); Barley Iced Tea ($2.75)

General Cost of Meal: $$ / $$$$$

Hours of Operation: 10am to 9pm Daily
Restaurant Mission Statement: “At seed we believe that food is an essential source of our energy, health and happiness. We prepare vegan, macrobiotic cuisine with no animal products, dairy, eggs, or refined sugars. We use locally grown organic produce whenever possible. In the same way that a seed provides the beginnings for a vibrant plant, the food we eat provides the beginnings for a vibrant, flourishing life.”
Restaurant Owner(s): Eric Leehasseur
Restaurant Chef(s): Eric Leehasseur

House Specialty: the Southwest Burger ($9.95) looked dynamite, and so did the Sweet Potato Fries ($4.50)
Link to Online Menu: Seed Online Menu

Post Copyright 2009 Matty Byloos