We visited the newly reopened Duke's Malibu on a regular Saturday with no reservation — the honest truth on the wait, the newly remodeled dining room, what to order (and what to skip), and what it actually costs for a family of four.
Culinary Passages
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Carbon Beach Club at the Malibu Beach Inn has become our family's go-to for a special-occasion dinner. Here's why: the oceanfront terrace, the whipped ricotta, the deep-dish chocolate chip cookie, and honest notes on cost, parking, and bringing kids.
A return visit, ten years in the making, to Black Market Liquor Bar in Studio City — the inventive cocktails, the must-order deep-fried flufferutter, honest notes on the service, and why it is the perfect westside-to-valley meeting point.
Our dinner at Shoreside Santa Monica had great food and friendly staff, but also a wind problem the restaurant hasn't quite solved yet. Here's what worked, what didn't, and how the inKind rewards made up for the higher-than-listed prices.
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Our second visit to Chelsea in Santa Monica, the moody London-inspired spot that's become one of our family's regular dinner spots — what to order, what to skip, and why the Banana Flambé is worth it.
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Our honest take on Sushi Roku Santa Monica: the dishes worth ordering, the ones to skip, and what to know before you go.
Is Gladstones Malibu still worth a visit after the Palisades Fire? Our honest family take after many dinners: the view, what we order, why the burger is the pick, and tips for going with kids.
Our honest take on Sendero at the Ritz-Carlton DTLA: the food, the kid-friendliness, the bar, and whether the 24th-floor room matches the price.
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Our honest guide to Terranea Resort dining after years of visits: Catalina Kitchen, Nelson's, Sea Beans, and The Grill, with what to order and what it costs.
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A family Sunday at Neighborly Kitchen in Brentwood: what to order from What's Gaby Cooking, Mini Kabob, and Mix Tape for an easy, everyone-wins meal.
