Akasha Breakfast / Casual / Cocktails / Dessert / Dinner / Expensive / Good for Groups / Groups / Lunch / Moderate / New American Food / Outdoor Area / Parking Lot / Sandwiches / Seafood / Street Parking / Take Out / Trendy Casual / Trendy Vibe / TVs / Vegetarian Food / Wings / New American Restaurant / Café

Not unlike most restaurants in this area of Culver City, Akasha offers a lively atmosphere, tasty cocktails, and good, if not fantastic, food. You can sit at the unpretentious bar to have a burger and a beer or opt for a more stylish meal in the spacious, urban dining room. It's not uncommon to find both stylish business associates and boisterous Lakers fans mingling together at Akasha. As soon as you enter the dimly lit restaurant, you'll notice that Akasha pairs its sophisticated surroundings with well selected indie music. Modest Mouse and Ratatat are a refreshing surprise given that most restaurants like Akasha would have settled for mediocre house music. These unpretentious touches makes the restaurant a popular hangout for hip, young professionals. The chef focuses on a modern farm to table philosophy, making for dishes that are seasonal, fresh, and unpredictable. The House Made Onion Rings and Skillet Macaroni and Cheese are favorites but more adventurous eaters can opt for the Tuscan Kale Caesar salad, the Star Anaise Braised Short Ribs, or the Punjabi Mung Beans. The best approach is to mix and match, combining the delicious flat breads with the varied sides and appetizers. If you are looking to drink, Akasha offers a well-priced wine list and a host of interesting cocktails. The drinks are as reliant on the locally-sourced produce as they are on the liquor. The Citrus and Jalapeno Margarita uses fresh cut peppers to pack some serious spice, while the Emerald City's basil elixir results in a savory, pesto flavor. It's a great place to grab a drink before moving on to a rowdier venue. With its chalkboard menu and exposed brick Akasha might seem overly-typical, but its inviting atmosphere and inventive food and drink make it a Culver City standout.

My Take Akasha is a rare, winning blend of Culver City's standard culinary trends. The restaurant of chef Akasha Richmond offers seasonal food and drink that is local, organic, and sustainable, while being both vegetarian and meat-lover friendly. The thoughtful menu includes foodie favorites, inspired cocktails, and a dubious wine list. There is also a happy hour at their non-pretentious bar. There's also comfortable patio seating and a cafe (with Intelligentsia coffee), for when you just want the nourishment without the dining experience. I get a big kick out of their indie music; it's always nice to hear your favorite song while eating great food. While their crispy onion rings have been called out on Food Network's Best Thing I Ever Ate, the iron-skillet mini-mac and cheese is much more scrumptious. The service isn't phenomenal, but the bartender's are knowledgeable and friendly. Cocktails and Cuisine The menu is seasonal, for both food and drink, but there are some standards like the aforementioned apps, a spiked turkey burger, quinoa with tofu, and phenomenal flatbread pizzas-- the braised mushroom is a perfectly salty, gooey, warm dream. The fresh vegetables on the side are a treat fit for a Barefoot Contessa, paired with flavor-bursting organic ingredients like Meyer lemon. And while you may not have room in your dining out budget for a big meal at Akasha every night of the week, at half price happy hour time, there is no good reason not to be sipping one of their top shelf, organic liquor cocktails. Sadly, the Lavender Lemon Drop is only on the summer list, their name-sake, The Akasha, is a delightful year-round beverage boasting organic cucumber vodka balanced by pineapple and cucumber juice. Bonus: It's my experience, the natural ingredients and flavors leave you hangover-free. Prices Sides and desserts are under $10 and most main dishes are around $14-$28. The portions are not humongous, but still filling. The preparation, flavor, and high-quality of the food make it seem like a bargain. Cocktails are about $13 each. They also offer daily happy hours (times on site) which include small plates at special prices. The happy hour is bar seating only. What to Wear Definitely okay to dress down, but it is a nice-looking, well-to-do crowd of young professionals, peppered with some parents and families. Play it safe in jeans and a nice sh*t or an easy dress. While things are a little more polished on date nights, you'd feel overdressed in cocktail attire and I've yet to spot a single necktie in the place. Insider Info/When to Go There doesn't seem to be much a of a pick-up vibe at the bar; more of a place to attend with solid friends, a date, or possibly colleagues. Also they make mini-cupcakes that are perfectly moist and sweet, with refreshing fruit infusions and delicate decorations. As it's down the street from Sony studio, a few television stars grab late dinners and wine with FRIENDS there on occasion. The food, drink, and ambiance of Akasha is worthy of an A-lister without any of the annoying pretenses.