Wabi Sabi, Venice
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 14:45i’m sure i’ve seen wabi sabi many times on my up and down drives of abbot kinney looking for parking to go somewhere else. it’s a narrow storefront that is very wabi sabi (adj.), modest and humble, except, well, for that horrible red and green neon sign that screams “wabi sabi!” the dining room stretches all the way back, one side a brick wall lined with small tables, and the other side a sushi bar. there appears to be a small sitting lounge in the front, but i didn’t get a chance to take a peek back there behind the hostess.
we sat in the atrium, a small area at the back end of the dining room with six or so tables that is open to the outside air. wabi sabi stretched even further beyond the atrium, with a back space that looks like a living room. that’s what wabi sabi feels like – someone’s townhouse or apartment filled with dining tables.
the menu is not unique. in fact, it’s very much like all the other l.a. hipster japanese places. there’s sushi and sashimi, salads and soups, and other asian-inspired entrees. we started with edamame which i normally don’t do because it hurts me to pay almost $5 for a small bowl of something i can get at the market for $2.99. however, we wanted to try these, not served in the traditional steamed and salted style, but sauteed with a garlic and black bean sauce. though they tasted good, it was a bit of a nuisance getting the sauce all over our fingers getting the seeds out of the pods. i’ll stick to plain soybeans, if at all.
i’m not quite back into my sushi swing, but wanting seafood, i ordered the seafood bouillabaise, which i had spied on someone else’s table as we walked back to our table. it’s not quite a bouillabaise, and reminds me much more of less spicy jjahm-bbong (korean chinese spicy seafood noodle soup) or saeng-sun mae-un-tahng (korean spicy fish stew). there’s a rice cake anchored at the bottom, which was, amazingly, still crispy even after sitting in the broth. i really liked this dish and drank down every last drop.
unfortunately, i can’t comment on the sushi, other than it looked good. the wabi sabi roll, wrapped in soy paper, was pretty, and the fish on the nigiri sushis were plump and shiny. it’s not cheap, for it is sushi, after all, but seemed rather expensive for venice.
wabi-sabi restaurant
1637 abbot kinney blvd (just north of venice blvd)
venice, ca 90291
310.314.2229
By sarah (see more of her posts). You can find more of sarah's writing at her own website The Delicious Life
Phillio Midress says:
November 11th, 2005 at 3:08 pm
I love Wabis Sabi but the service can be bad. The waiters / waitresses really need to get their act together. I have waited to order for 30 + minutes before.
Otherwise the food is great and I love feeling.
Nik Meller says:
December 30th, 2005 at 1:18 pm
I have heard so much about Wabi-Sabi, even have a friend who worked there for ions (not in service). So last night a couple friends and I decided to try it out. Went in, was told that a table for (3) would be ready in 10mins. Were moved off to the waiting Lounge Area where we were immediately asked if we wanted drinks, (1)Asahi and (2)Sake. A beautiful Japanese lady brought our drinks within 5 mins. and even poured them for us. 30 mins. passed with no word on the table (have a feeling they say 10 mins., shuffle you to the lounge where they get you to buy drinks, then once your drinks are done and you don’t want another round…your table is suddenly available). Table was available after we declined a 2nd round of drinks. A the table we ordered (2)Hot Sake, (1)Asahi, (2)Miso Soups, (1)Salad, (1)Toro Sushi, (1)California Roll, (1)Spicy Yellowtail Roll, (1)Shrimp Dumpling Appetizer/Small Plate, (1) Eggplant & Tofu Appetizer/Small Plate, (1)Ahi Tartar Appetizer/Small Plate & (1)Unagi Sushi to end the meal. Bottom line, the food was very good and I would eat there again.
The service? (Mind you, it was not full by the time we sat down) So you decide: First came the Salad, then the California Roll & Toro, then (1)Asahi & (1)Sake showed up…with the explanation that they can only prepare (1)Sake at a time, the 2nd Sake showed up 10 mins. after we finished eating the California Roll & Toro which was 30mins after we ordered drinks. This was followed by the Unagi (which was supposed to come last) and then our Miso Soup showed up (which was supposed to be first) then the (3)Appetizer/Small Plates came with no problems that I remember and then our American waitress asked us if anything was missing! Us: “Ah…lets see…how about that Spicy Yellowtail Roll?� Waitress: “Oh yeah…I forgot that one…do you still want it?� Us: (3) guys seriously restraining themselves from not exploding into a fiery pre-New Years Eve fireworks show.
For the prices they ask, the service was totally unacceptable to the point of unbelievable. I was just told by my office mates that they have had the same experience and that you have to eat at the bar. A real pity because the food is very good and I am trying hard to emphasize that, because so many people will just tell their friends that the service sucks.
Next time we will sit at the bar and let the Sushi Chef handle it.