Larry's in Venice, CA! Beach bar & restaurant just off the boardwalk.
Larry's has been open for a whole month and we haven't been able to visit until last night as we have been traveling up a storm. Here's what we knew and why we wanted to check it out--
1. Larry's is in a prime spot in Venice just off the boardwalk
2. Larry's is owned by the guys who own the Hotel Erwin next door
3. Larry's is operated by the team behind the delish Waterloo & City
What we didn't know is that Larry's is named for famed artist Larry Bell. His artwork is everywhere and is magnificent. We were extra excited as we have spent time with Larry a few years back-- our mother is an artist and they are friends through her boyfriend George so we had a studio visit and a couple of dinners with Mr. Bell himself. He is as charming and a character-- definitely deserving of having a restaurant and bar named for him! Terribly convenient for him too as his studio is only a block away!
Larry's has over 26 beers on tap, an extensive wine list and a varied menu with no item costing more than $15. They also serve food until 1:30AM which makes them the only place we can think of to do so with the exception of hotels. The wild mushroom, burrata and arugula pizza was heavenly as was the lobster and shrimp pasta in a tomato based sauce. Although both choices were decadent, the portions are not overwhelming so we wound up pleasantly full and not self loathingly stuffed.
Larry's is all open air and will be a huge hit on sunny, warm evenings as even on overcast, chilly last night it got to be pretty hopping. The crowd is definitely mixed - not as hip and attractive as an Abbot Kinney crowd, but....
We'll definitely be back for post-beach drinks and nibbles!