Axe

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1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291

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(310) 664-9787
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Axe - Venice, CA
Axe - Venice, CA
Axe - Venice, CA
Axe - Venice, CA
Axe - Venice, CA
Axe - Venice, CA
Reviews
( 15 )
( 16 )
( 8 )
( 5 )
( 15 )

Best

I hadn't been to Axe in a few years due to their rude bad-mood service and expensive food. However, I revisited Axe last week and was pleasantly surprised. The server was extrem...

Worst

Went here in a group of 4 last week to celebrate a birthday. We ordered several courses, and the appetizers did not disappoint - the flatbread and pork belly were both delicious....

Couldn't have been more satisfied 8/21/2006

I had a great night at Axe. You'd think an evening of overly-precious plates would spew from this hipster kitchen, but, honestly...the food was GREAT. The service was great. And the wine, though ordered from a bizarrely minimalist and faintly condescending list(that names the wines ""character"") was a home run as well. Kudos to this spot. Really. I'm a seasoned food snob and I was ready to be disappointed. I was roundly thwarted. I expected little and I was delivered the world. Pros: great food, great service, progressive atmosphere Cons: descriptions on the wine list are unnecessary; insulting at best. But GO! Good times, yo. more
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Organic - if you dig that thing 7/14/2006

Axe has a built a reputation on fresh, organic ingredients and the ability to craft healthy brunches. These things are certainly true, and I'll admit I did enjoy the nine-grain pancake. However, despite the ecclectic fare, I couldn't help but miss some of the old breakfast standards. Hip-factor shouldn't apply to brunch - that's the good, comforting, hangover-killing meal that is about culinary satisfaction prior to collapsing on the couch to watch football or read scripts (or both). So while Axe is certainly food-forward, I would genuinely ask ""To what end?"" Bottom line: Venice locals, shower and take your date-gone-well here the morning after if you want to impress him or her, knowing full well that next weekend you'll end up at the new IHOP on Lincoln wearing sweatpants. Designer sweatpants, of course. Pros: Healthy, ecclectic food Cons: A little hip for brunch more
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One of our family's favorites! 7/13/2006

Service can be a little spotty but the food makes up for it. It's about simple and clean cooking using the best ingredients from local farmers. What could be better? Pros: food Cons: service can be spotty, noisy more
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Perfect Friday Night! 7/3/2006

Great service, great food, great atmosphere! We loved this place. The hostess was very accomodating and got us seated at a table in 15 minutes (from a cancellation) even though we walked in without reservations. She even took drink orders and kept checking on us to make sure our glasses were kept full. The puree corn soup and flat bread w/ spreads were excellent and the chicken entree was flavorful. The waiter and waitstaff was absolutely wonderful. I have to say the kindness of the staff combined with the absolutely amazing food makes this the place to go to impress a date, entertain friends, or just enjoy a nice dinner with nice company- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED more
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I love this place! 5/28/2006

I eat here all the time, and adore the food. The flatbread with spreads and the antipasto plate are both fabulous, as are the specials. The food is reasonably priced, and really delicious. Yes, the service is slow, but they're always friendly and the food is worth it. more
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Excellent brunch -- dinner seems over-priced 2/19/2006

My wife and I come here often for the 9-grain pancake which is delicious. Service is generally good and the ambience is funky and relaxed. We tried it out once for dinner and could not find anything we liked for a decent price and wound up looking elsewhere. Pros: great breakfast, interesting vibe Cons: dinner too pricey more
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A Very Happy Accident 10/14/2005

My girlfriend and I had reservations at Joes on Abbott Kinney that didnt work out (a tale for a different review). Thinking we had parked on the wrong street we literally lucked into finding Axe (pronounced osh-ay). We were greeted by the hostess, a friendly, long haired blonde who informed us that a table for two would be awhile. We must have looked disappointed because she offered to sit us in the back, by the fire, until our table opened up. She was very attentive and generous with the wine. We ended up sitting in the back and had a romantic dinner- I highly recommend the flatbread and the side of green beans. We got about five starters + desert and skipped the entrees. It was a great find and a restaurant we will return to often. Pros: Service, Ambiance, Food Cons: Fire smoke more
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Fresh and Eclectic 10/13/2005

We sat in the outdoor garden area. The atmosphere was relaxing and cozy. The food was great - you could tell the ingredients were fresh, especially when the chef came out to pick some items right off the tree! While the service was a bit slow, the staff was friendly and very helpful in making recommendations. They also offer a nice selections of wine to pair with your meal. Pros: Food, Outdoor garden area more
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Poor Service 8/29/2005

When we first walked into Axe the hostess looked at us like what are you doing here. We could not figure out why we were greeted that way. She is the one that looked like she had just rolled out of bed. Her kinky hair should have been pulled back. Not only were we greeted poorly we also had to wait twenty minutes for a glass of wine and thrity minutes for the check. It was a nightmare!!! Pros: Good Food Cons: Rude Hostess, Poor Service more
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Eh... 8/24/2005

The food here is expensive, but it's tasty. The seating is spacious, but the restaurant decor is a little bland with nothing on the walls and cement floors with no carpeting or anything. There is a cute patio in the back for a beautiful romantic night, but watch out for the old dog...he might come and ask for a treat! The waitstaff is decent, but the kitchenstaff are a little shaky. I had the luck of sitting at the bar that faces the kitchen, and I could see the tension going on back there, and was afraid that it was effecting the outcome of how quickly I might get my food. Parking wasn't easy to find due to there onmly being street parking, and well, if you aren't early enough, then you are out of luck and might end up walking a few blocks! Pros: Good Food, Good Music Cons: Parking, Wait, Decor more
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Lame. 8/20/2005

Don't get me wrong - the food is amazing. But the entire staff exudes reluctance. Whatever you do, you feel like you're annoying them. The place reeks of social snobbery, and not the good kind. The back patio can be really nice and intimate, but you should be a dog person to sit out there. A sweet old limping golden retriever will hobble to you table in hopes of filet mignon. more
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Great Food and Great Service 2/8/2005

Looks a little scary from the outside, and can be a little hard to spot, but once you find it and are inside, it is such a wonderful place! It's very ""today"" with the bare walls, cushioned seats, and great music. The service is great, and we were greeted with a smile. Te flat bread appetizer with assorted spreads is to die for! It's a meal in itself if you are alone or with one other person. Meals are large, but you HAVE to save room for dessert! Homemade ice creams, bread pudding, and the sinful chocolate brownie pudding are worth saving room for!! Pros: Great Atmosphere, Great Service, Delicious Food Cons: Parking, A Little Pricey more
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Still dreaming 12/13/2004

I guess the mixed reviews suggest that when considering Axe, consider going early on a weeknight. I met two friends and we had perhaps my most memorable dinner in LA. We had a secluded twilight table in the garden, next to a roaring fire, surrounded by the pleasant garden, and accompanied by a lazy dog sleeping next to my chair. We lingered for hours over the fine food and wine. It was like a dinner party at home where no one had to do any work. Okay, so they didn't serve anything that would win Michelin stars, the garden has to be among the most romantic restaurants in town. I'll be back, but only with someone I love. Pros: garden, fire, service more
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The Chef is the Talent 2/10/2004

Worth the drive and a regular spot for me to dine when in the mood. Couldnt however understand why the profile doesnt mention the Chef ""SAMIR"" anywhere on it. this young kid has it all. The flare and the love and passsion for good food creates an atmosphere that persuades you to order more and more just to watch him masterfully create your dish. too bad the only way to watch the chef work is to sit at the counter. Give the boy some credit!!!! more
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Off with their heads! 1/12/2004

I was entertaining guests from NYC. a party of 5 in total...so 4 of us ordered the same dish- two of us had the ribeye and two of us had the pork. Well, after 30 minutes they brought out one of each dish and share plates...the server said the kitchen didn't realize we had each ordered our own entree- huh? The worst part was the solution offered was to cut the ribeye and the pork in half, give it to us cut in half on individual plates and then make two more orders to eat later again CUT IN HALF! I was embarassed to say the least and mortified that I was entertaining important guests at such a restaurant. The most memorable part was still paying $140.00 for this lovely experience. more
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Good but not so good. 7/14/2003

The ambience is appealing. Our waitress, wonderful, and very helpful. The salads and appetizers were tasty and nice portions. The river salmon was delicious. We also ordered the trout, which is to be a favorite of others, but I wasn't too happy with. I really didn't want to have to pick out the bones in my mouth through the night. Since I wasn't happy with my dish, my waitress wanted to accommodate me with something else, which is courteous. The owner/chef was not courteous. Sad to say the owner/chef felt because there was nothing wrong with the trout, as far as she was concerned, that they would still charge me the trout. Before that incident I was having a pleasant time. If you do decide to dine here make sure of what you want or you will pay tremendously. They are quite pricey, so have the credit card for backup. Pros: ambience Cons: expensive, somewhat rude more
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creative food 6/21/2003

we went for dinner a few weeks ago, had horrible service. our waiter, who may no longer work there, ignored us the whole night. the rest of the staff was great. the busboy was working his ass off and the ladies at the front were great. our waiter was more interested in hanging out at the counter and talking to some people. the food was very good, different. the restaurant has great ambiance. more
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Very Eclectic 6/20/2002

Minimalist and eclectic are the first two words that come to mind in describing Axe (pronounced AH-juhay). The decor is very simple, but in a profoundly hip way. Most items on the menu, while trendy are not decadent. It's quite a healthy place to eat. Try it for dinner or for brunch. Pros: beautiful decor Cons: somewhat pricey more
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Delicious Unpretentious Food 6/1/2002

Unlike many of the other high-priced places on Abbot Kinney Ave (or in LA, for that matter) this restaurant is not about how fancy the decor looks, how famous their clientele is or how snooty the waiter behaves. The seats are just hard wooden benches and the walls are zen-white. But what's important here is the food -- it's consistently delicious, well-prepared and fresh, fresh, fresh. This is the place to bring your friends from Paris, New York or San Francisco who you'd like to impress. The mixed salad is amazing, the sea bass delicious and the hot lava-like chocolate brownie dessert to die for. Pros: fresh ingredients, sinfully good dessert, delicious food Cons: hard seats more
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Menu for Axe


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Editorial

  • Pronounced ""ah-shay,"" this vibrant spot may be all natural in substance, but the style is all about industrial themes with its polished concrete floors, steel-accented open kitchen and stark,...

  • 4/18/2008 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Wed-Thu 6pm-10pm Fri-Sat 6pm-10:30pm Sun 9am-3pm; 5:30pm-9:30pm
  • Payments: Diner's Club, Discover, Master Card, American Express, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: West LA, Venice
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