Sambar
9531 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA, 90232
Sambar Menu
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Address :
9531 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA, 90232 - Phone (310) 558-8800
- Website https://www.sambarcc.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Garage, Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Yackisoba Y.
It takes a lot of things for me to bring a review down to two stars. The things I consider are: Service Food quality Ambiance Cost/value First, the service. The host was surprisingly indifferent for someone hosting at a brand-new restaurant. We asked how long the wait was and he didn't respond. He didn't even look at us. He just looked at his screen. Thinking he didn't hear me, I said, "excuse me, how long is the wait?" and he said "10 minutes" without looking up at us, then turned to another guest. I felt very ignored and discounted. It just didn't feel welcoming. When we were seated, the waiter came and asked for our drink order, which was speedy, but then we didn't see him for another 10 minutes. Two other couples sat down near us before our waiter came back. We put in our order and waited. And waited. We watched as the two couples that came in after us were served their food. When ours came out, they second couple had finished. Granted, the restaurant is new, so they're probably still working out the kinks. The food. The food is--I'm so sad to say because I love Indian food--extremely underwhelming. We ordered the chaat appetizer, which was described as a "seven layer dip on a chickpea chip," the goat curry, the whole-wheat naan, the regular naan, and the tandoori vegetables with yogurt. The chaat appetizer was tasty, but there was nothing interesting about it, or Indian for that matter. It tasted like guacamole on a chip. No unique flavors to merit it as special. The whole-wheat naan was so unnecessarily greasy. Buttered naan is expected but this was gross. I had to wipe off my hands after every tear. The tandoori vegetables were supposed to have cauliflower in it, which was why I ordered it. I don't know if it was because we ate at 9pm and they ran out of it, but that dish came out as all onions and carrots. It also was over cooked; the carrots were rubbery and chewy. It was hard to eat. The saving grace of the meal (the non-docked star) was for the goat curry. It was delicious and they gave us a complementary extra serving. As for ambience, it was probably unfortunate placement and others may have had a better experience but we were seated right in front of the door, and some people standing near the bar were right next to our table and it was awkward. Lastly the cost. We often go to Akasha and definitely feel the food is worth the price. Here I felt the food was overpriced for what it was. It just didn't taste worth it. Overall, a big disappointment for a couple of huge Akasha fans.
(2)Nasim M.
Sambar is a genuinely refreshing experience. The food is unlike anything in its class; the dishes are unique, tasty and thoughtful. The ambiance is beautiful with an ecclect and stylish setting. The drinks are some of the most adventurous in town. The service is impeccable. The general manager, Tim, is a dream. He stopped by at the beginning of our meal to ensure we were comfortable, familiarized with the menu and well taken care of. All of his recommendations were spot-on and we ended up with one of the best meals we have had in a while. Tim -- and an awesome menu -- made our dining experience perfect. I can't wait to go back as soon as possible!
(5)Frederick S.
Indian food to a new level. Indian dishes that I never knew existed. Food and service were exquisite. Another win for Chef Akasha Richmond. Just ate there again for some quick finger foods on the way to the airport. Once again, super yum. Great food bar in front of kitchen to watch them prepare the food.
(5)Alicia V.
I hate to post a negative review but the food here was completely flavorless, which I think is hard to do with Indian food. We had the tandoori chicken and the greens with paneer. Only two pieces of paneer, it was watery and had no flavor. The tandoori chicken did not seem to have been made in a tandoori oven and again had no flavor. The raita was good, the naan was pretty terrible and greasy. Sad for how much money it all costs. I will not be going back there.
(1)Kevin S.
Totally unwelcoming for an opening of a new restaurant. Get a new host and get your act together.
(2)Bob L.
We loved the food, It more than exceeded our expectations. The menu was creative and unique. Everything we ate was extremely flavorful. The service was friendly and attentive. The experience was extremely satisfying, we can't wait to go back.
(5)Larry K.
This place was GREAT!!, the food was wow amazing, our waiter was great and very helpful, totally will come back again and again, fabulous, fabulous.
(5)Farrah M.
This is an amazing find. I ordered the lamb chop and it was so good I finished it and ordered another round. I can't wait to go back! The ambience was great and the service is even better. The owner even stopped by to check on our table.
(5)Matthew W.
I used to go by the notion that I didn't like Indian food. I do now! Lamb and Goat are awesome and the cocktails really complement the food well. I'll be back soon.
(5)Marc S.
Really enjoyed ourselves. Sevice was very good. Don't come expecting authentic Indian food...this is Indian food by Akasha! And...I love Akasha's cooking. It's fusion and the tastes are all just delicious. She's not doing regular Indian food...but taking inspiration and making it her own. Place was packed and it's just the first week. We really enjoyed ourselves. Give it a shot....
(4)Teri H.
Food that feeds the soul! Amazing flavors! So happy that this is in Culver City! Thanks Akasha and crew for creating another beautiful delicious place --- love love love it!
(5)Scott M.
I've always loved the Indian dishes Akasha has had on the menu at her first restaurant, so I was very excited to try Sambar. It is absolutely killer! I grew up enjoying the great Indian food you can find in New York and have never found a spot in LA that evinced the same combination of strong, subtle and distinct flavoring I missed so much - until now! Of course Sambar also incorporates the chef's unique clean, fresh take on everything. Looking forward to going back soon:-)
(5)Susan H.
My husband and I were excited to hear that Sambar had finally opened, so we made reservations for Friday night. When I gave our name to the male host he stared at his computer screen for what felt like forever and didn't say a word. i had no idea whether he could or couldn't find our reservation or what was going on. Finally a female host came over and he told her what table to seat us at. Not a great first impression. No warmth or welcoming attitude for someone who is in charge of giving you your first impression of a brand new restaurant. After we got seated it took only a few minutes to realize that either there are too many tables crammed into the front "patio" or the chairs are too big. Every single server, busboy or patron that walked by me hit the back of my chair. It didn't matter how far I pulled into the table I got hit. By the end of the night it had happened so often I was uncomfortable and angry. As for the food the word I keep coming back to is "fine." We ordered the pakora, the samosa, the shrimp stir fry, the mother's greens (basically saag paneer,) the dal and the basmati rice. Everything was fine to okay, but that's about it. LA is full of hundreds of Indian restaurants snuggled into local strip malls and on street corners. I felt Sambar did nothing better than most of them, and worse than others, and did it for double the price (or more) and half the portion size. Really underwhelming.
(3)Kedar D.
I'm Indian. And let's face it: Indian restaurant food sucks. It's repetitive, caters to the undemanding desires of Americana (e.g., garlic naan and chicken tikka), is made with cut-rate ingredients and served in crappy buffets while a tv somewhere blares Bollywood films. Sambar, however, doesn't fall into that trap. It's an elegant spot that serves food which is both innovative and risky. We got the zucchini kofta curry ($10), a beets dish (made vegan by request, $7), the gunpowder potatoes ($5) and an order of paratha ($4). The zucchini curry was a savory marvel with kofta balls made of a variety of vegetables in a creamy cashew curry. The beets were flavorful and beautifully presented with what I think were lavender petals. The gunpowder potatoes somehow managed to turn fried potatoes into a sophisticated dish, with great notes of sesame. We also had two signature cocktails, the Road to Rishikesh and Darjeeling Express ($12 each). These were artistic, delicious cocktails full of ingredients you need to look up (orgeat? aloe liquer? kummel combier?). Definitely try one. For dessert we had their homemade vegan coconut ice cream ($3) with a coconut cookie tossed in for free. The cookie was crunchy and nice while the coconut ice cream was arguably one of the best I've had in Los Angeles (better even than Scoops). We also had a cup of their home-brew chai, which they make with cashew milk and palm sugar ($4). It wasn't too sweet and had wonderful spices. Indians often say the term "chai tea" is redundant (because the word "chai" means tea in Hindi), but I disagree: chai is a concoction of water, tea leaves, milk, sugar and spices. Tea is just tea leaves and water. But I digress. Sambar makes a fine chai concoction. I look forward to returning to to Sambar and seeing what novelties they create. I'd love to see their vegan items labeled, some vegan burgers (how about a new take on the Indian street dish, vada pav?) and dishes incorporating tofu and seitan. Regardless, Sambar is a winner.
(4)Jessica S.
Came back to Sambar, not so sure what happened! The thing that stayed incredibly good was the chaat. I could come back here and just order a ton of these! As far as everything else, service was incredibly slow. The salad that was one of the best salads I'd ever had, was nothing special. The chai tea wasn't good, I didn't finish it. The uttapam, the fritters, and the lemon rice weren't very good. The zucchini kofta's were okay- but it was like one bite for $10! The restaurant is really pretty and the chaat is amazing- I wish everything was up to that level! There are some nice looking cocktails that I haven't tried... maybe this place is better suited for a drink and chaat?
(2)O. P.
My husband took me here last night and introduced me to Alan ... Nice guy! Oh em gee! This place is beautiful I loved the energy! I had two mango trees so delicious! I use to live downtown LA and would get a similar spicy tequila drink at las perlas....missed that place... But not anymore! The salmon curry was divine and the lamb kabob was tasty!!! I have issues with eating lamb but I had to taste a tiny bite.....I feel so guilty that I loved it! My favorite was the cauliflower!!!!! So gooood! We also had this gluten free bread I can't remember what it was called... The kuchumber salad was refreshing but I won't be ordering that again because I didn't really eat it. And you know what the best part of the night was?!?! The gluten free dairy free sundae!!!!! Oh my goodness I have never in my life been able to order anything other than sorbet at a restaurant!!! Thank God Akasha is doing this for us and I'm so lucky she is doing it in our neighborhood ! I love Culver City even more now!!!!! :) so now we go to cafe Laurent for breakfast and Sambar for dinner &/or cocktails! It should also be noted that I have celiac disease and I am allergic to milk and I did not get sick here!!!!! :) :) but I did tell the waitress and she was very very helpful!
(5)Andi B.
Mouth watering flavors that will blow your mind. I highly recommend this place. Service was excellent Food is absolutely delicious. The plates are a bit like tapas. Great for sharing and trying a few different things.
(5)Matthew K.
I so wanted to like this place. I walked through the door totally expecting to give it five stars. I ordered five different dishes and none of the flavors really weren't for my palate. biggest disappointment was the chicken, which had way too much lemon citrus. The vegetable much that we ordered had way too much chard and spinach flavor. Really can't think of anything or any reason to come back. Was also pretty frustrated that two people that both look like managers must of walked by the table 10 times and never asked how everything was... I would've been more than happy to share my thoughts with them instead of venting on yelp. Service was super nice but he made to pretty major errors (1) bringing the rice at the end of the meal and (2) he forgot to put in the Teaka masala wings, so they never came. Pretty disappointed, maybe they'll get their act together in the future so stay tuned.
(2)Lauren T.
A couple of girlfriends and I dined at Sambar last night and I found our experience quite delightful. I am always a little skeptical on fusion restaurants but Sambar surpassed my expectation and we all thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We shared the pork shoulder vindaloo (which by the way is not your traditional vindaloo), it's a pork dish (dry) with little dipping sauces on the side and roti on top. The skin was yummy and the meat was cooked to perfection. We also got the goat curry (nice flavors), lemon rice (beautiful presentation), gunpowder potatoes, and the chicken wings. My only disappointment was that it was a tad bit overpriced. The food was great, as I have stated above, but the prices are definitely on the high side. I am a little miffed that rice doesn't come with the dishes and the naan/roti are also another extra charge. It's like going to a fancy burger joint and playing additional for fries...how does one eat Indian food without rice? Get out of here! This should already come with it when you're paying $17-18 for a dish. Will I come back...maybe, but the prices do turn me off a bit.
(3)Bing H.
Ambiance: *Located in the heart of downtown Culver, right where all the fun is! *Ample garage parking, just around the corner with first 2hrs free. *Amazing lighting and décor. The chairs are just fantastic. *It just opened for lunch and is already getting a huge lunch crowd at around 1pm. It's pretty busy during dinner to, so make sure to get there around 6pm. *Great spot for happy hour with coworkers, lunch with friends, or cool date night. Food: *Pork shoulder vindaloo kati ($15) is such a good piece of pork. Big portion too. *Mississippi masala chicken wings ($11) is the BEST fried chicken I've ever had! The batter is perfection! *Turmeric naan ($3) is delicious and a really interesting, amazing take on naan! *All in all, this place is a MUST-TRY!
(5)Ahzahdeh N.
My boyfriend and I went out to celebrate his new raise last night, and we love this little stretch of Culver City by our place. We decided to valet our car and just walk along Culver until we found something that seemed appealing, and after seeing the vibe/decor of Sambar, we checked it out. We were immediately seated by the gracious hostess and shown our table which was nicely located by the outdoor patio (it was a bit humid inside, so we were grateful for the breezy air blowing through) and much to my chagrin and my boyfriend's happiness, SportsCenter was broadcast on the two flatscreen TV's above the bar. We had no idea what type of food this restaurant serves until we were shown our menu, and immediately distinguished we had wandered into an Indian/New Fusion eatery. To start off the night, we had drinks. I tried the Mango/Tequila, which greatly resembled a margarita, and it was great enough that I ended up having two for the night. We tried out the Turmeric Naan (at first just stuck with one, but it was so good we had to order another one!), Pistachio Lamb Kabobs (spicy, but not too spicy!), and the Lamb Curry. The curry didn't come with rice, so we ordered a side of Basmati Rice as well. The servings come in cute dishes that are easy to share, so we ended up eating each other's food and just sharing all of the dishes. That's my fav type of joint, something that easy and you just try all the foods on the table, instead of just sticking to the one dish you ordered. The waiter was great, always coming to our table when she could see our drinks were low, plates were cleared once we finished off a dish so we had more room, etc. We'll definitely be checking out this place again!!
(5)Jason Y.
I love Indian food, and this place mixes it up with both American and Indian food flavors and dishes. Now, if there was only a way to have these dishes lined up for me at my own house free of charge, that be great. --WHAT SHOULD I ORDER-- 1) Try the Farmer. It is a Chicken Curry dish with rice and bread. 2) Try the Naan as that is a must have because it's literally baked at that moment. 3) Get the Pork Shoulder and taste the rainbow. (not sexually, you pervs). --HOW IS THE SERVICE-- On a busy lunch, it can get pretty slow, but that is Downtown Culver City. --WHAT IS THE PRICE-- Expect each person to pay about $15-$20 at the end of the bill. Source: Wanted Indian food but also didn't want to be sweating from the spices.
(4)Sharon L.
I have been here twice. First time had drinks and an appetizer (cauliflower and onions) and was very happy with everything. I was excited to try this place for dinner and it is overpriced and inconsistent. This time the same appetizer was 3 pieces and sauce (half of the amount as the first visit) and $10 for 2 spoonfuls of kofta curry it is pushing it. When I asked the waiter he said that is the portion and left. Sadly I really wanted to like this place but unless you eat meat you will leave hungry better go next door...
(2)Filisha K.
Loved my first experience at Sambar! It's elevated homestyle Indian food that uses fusion ingredients while staying true to traditional Indian flavors. Notable dishes include: Head on Prawns, Zucchini Kofta, Masala Hot Wings as well as the Last Train to Goa cocktail. The owner/chef Akasha Richmond came by our table and chatted for quite sometime and it's clear that she's truly passionate about the food. Definitely would return to Sambar!
(4)Aashish S.
The food was not good at all. It is white washed. Not true Indian food at all. Service was ok but the food was so dull. No flavor.
(1)monica A.
A++ Working in downtown Culver City i've tried pretty much all of the latest and greatest there is there- this place is by far the best i've had so far. Cocktails are so cleverly crafted and unique! Must try the mango infused tequila! All of the apps were delicious- each came out with it's own special dipping sauce that complimented each bite so well. The chicken wings were the best! Entrees were very tasty, salmon curry, lamb kabob, and pork shoulder were my favorites. Chicken was slightly dry, but still delicious! Vanilla and coconut sundae for desert #yum Definitely recommend!
(5)Haroon S.
It's about time some sort of restaurant with southeast Asian flare popped up in DT Culver City. Let's start with something that should be obvious but I was astounded by how heedless some of the clientele were the night(s) I've gone--even more flabbergasted by the two married couples that that it appropriate to ask me if this was what it was like back in India...what the hell is wrong people. But I digress. Anyway, THIS IS NOT LEGIT INDIAN CUISINE. I believe the chef herself has even made that clear. She uses many ingredients but it is a fusion-type digs--and it is quite good in that sense. If you're looking for Indian food ,you gotta hit the legit joints or head to Artesia. Now that said, there are some great variations and interpretations served here. Quinoa pancake, Zucchini Kofta, Yogart roasted vegetables --all of them are like, holy-shit yum. I've tried about 3/4 of the of the vegetarian dishes and would say they are all fair to good, there wasn't anything that tasted like garbage. Service is a tad hit or miss I've noticed (and as others have two based on other reviews) I think the issues I saw were more due to understaffing and still getting their sea legs beneath them, but I sorta feel like in the LA market--and especially given that they own the restaurant right next door--they should be slightly more primed to handle any snafus that might occur in the first few months. Haven't had a chance to delve into the cocktail menu but word from friends that have joined me is that they are quite delicious--rose of jaipur and the sacred cows were two my friends raved about. Wine menu is good but not great. Decor is cool, it's bright as shit so be prepared for that if you're used to the darker notes of Akasha--definitely not that. It can be a tad loud, though I personally didn't find this to be an issue. They also have two patios that you can be seated on. Parking is a breeze if you know the area and actually pay attention to the signs all over the place. Will report back after a few more trips, but bottom line--it's for sure worth a visit, repeatedly if you enjoyed it as much as I did.
(4)Su L.
I'm very happy that an Indian fusion place is opened in Culver downtown. We need diversity here. This is opened up by the owner of Akasha, my favorite restaurant in Culver downtown area. Among all the dishes we ordered, my favorite was the all veggie dish (forgot the exact name but it's covered by yogurt). It was delicious. All the meat dishes were on the salty side - tasty but too salty. Beautiful interior and in light of the location, you shouldn't be surprised that it's a lot more expensive than other authentic Indian places in Culver City. You can get better Indian food by driving two blocks down but if you want to eat at a nice beautiful restaurant and also have great drinks options, this is the place to be.
(3)Doreen M.
Wow! This place was damn good. It's my new fave Indian place and fave sit down Indian place. I got the cucumber salad and I could've eaten like 5 orders of that. The dressing was so good I saved it to pour on my rice. We came for DINELA and got a bunch of dishes to share and they were all good. We got the chicken, the veggie curry, rice, lentils, yogurt sauce, and I can't remember the names of the other things, but it was all good. Dessert was some coffee ice cream cake and mango/lime sorbet and coconut ice cream with a little cookie. Everything was good! The decor was cute and had a great vibe inside the restaurant. Our waiter was awesome too. Can't wait to come back here and try more stuff. I like this place better than Akasha now too. (same owner) The menu is so varied and unique and they serve lunch! For casual Indian food I go to Samosa House East or West. And sometimes I will go to India's Sweet & Spices too. For sit down Indian food, I have no comparison/suggestions.
(5)Maritza S.
I was surprised to read the negative reviews for this place. Maybe it helped that I didn't know anything about it when I walked in. I was pleasantly surprised. Flavors were great, atmosphere was chill, and the drinks nicely balanced. Sure, it was a little overprice but I felt that it was with it.
(5)Mariecar M.
I've been very excited to try this new spot in the neighborhood, so I took friends from out of town to check it out... and we were pretty disappointed. First off, service seemed very off from the start, but I'll get to that in a bit. Our first round of food was delicious! We had an order of samosas, saag paneer and goat cheese naan and the masala chicken wings. All were great and flavorful but the Mississippi masala chicken wings were amazing! It came with a pomegranate mint chutney, too, that stepped it up. I dare say that this fried chicken is even better than Honey's Kettle next door (gasp). But then the second round of food came and it was just ok. The tandoori British raj chicken kati was very dry and would have been good with the raita, but that tasty sauce came toward the end of the meal. The pork shoulder vindaloo was also pretty dry... Until the waiter finally told us how to eat it with the accoutrements, of course. Everything else we got -- dal, pakoras, truck stop goat curry -- was on the "meh" side. I think I'd go again, but it would have to be at the kitchen counter where I hope I'll get better service and someone who will care enough to explain the dishes and how to eat them (without judgment). I really wish I could tell you the waiter who left this bad taste in my mouth for this place, but he never told us his name. In conclusion, worth a try if you're in the mood to explore semi-blindly. The staff isn't that helpful.
(3)Tanya S.
Service: 1 star Food: 2.5 stars My husband and I arrived at the empty restaurant and the Asian host asked us in a pretentious way, "Well, do you have a reservation?". We said no and she said "We might be able to squeeze you in?". We were both astonished because the place was practically empty. She then told us that she could only put us on the patio. We assumed the place would quickly fill up with all the reservations they had, but in the entire hour that we were there, the place remained empty. The only friendly person there was the man who was busing tables. We ordered drinks, the apricot salad, lemon rice and chicken curry dish. The salad was ok but small and a little wilty for $12, the chicken was dry and bland and the rice was decent. My suggestion is go to the many better Indian restaurants in the area or tender greens next door. For the restaurant, get friendlier staff like that the gentleman busing tables and add more taste to your food.
(2)Thomas M.
Recently I embarked on magical culinary journey with my friends for #friendshipdinner and DoAJ aka Danielle chose Sambar out of proximity to Jobber and also because we've heard great and interesting things about Sambar, much like people hear great and interesting things about Ask Jack. LoAJ aka Lauren and I were put in charge of the ordering because Jobber and DoAJ aka Danielle were discussing the merits of story telling instead of concentrating on the task at hand. We ordered several dishes including the Kachumba which was recommended by the waiter, one order of naan even though I wanted to order all the bread, and the ora king salmon curry. The waiter suggested this last dish to us, LoAJ aka Lauren and I, not Jobber and DoAJ aka Danielle, they weren't listening and instead had moved on to Eggplant conversation (was OK), and admitted that although it sounded weird, the dish was actually very interesting and quite tasty. I would agree, it was my favorite dish of the night and I found it very interesting and quite tasty. You should order it. While we waited for our pistachio lamb sirloin kabob, which was good, but I would pass on this for other tasty treats and all the bread, DoAJ aka Danielle, Jobber and LoAJ aka Lauren gave me a jaunty retelling of the night Ask Jack recorded their new project 'Sing a Song/Prayer O'Grams' which much like Sambar, I found to be both warm and enjoyable. The story essentially had three parts. Jobber not sleeping, Jobber getting called with the offer of an AJ lullabye, and Ask Jack serenading in the form of a two part series: a song and a prayer. They chose enter sandman since it contained both, but forgot most of the words which is ironic because at this point I think I forgot to listen because I had something really spicy in the lamb kabob and was very concerned with getting another glass of water before I started crying and the group judged me harshly and was also trying to think of a way to drop Enter Sambarman into the convo. Anyway, I didn't, and our waiter noticed my panic, brought me a water refill, and the coconut hot fudge sundae which saved the day. All in all I would say, if you're looking for a fun night out for #firendshipdinner with good food and epic story telling, then Smabar may be your jam. If that's not your jam, try Ask Jack. The end.
(4)Emily B.
Disappointing . . . I really wanted to like this place but the food just wasn't great. The atmosphere was ok, but the service was kind of annoying and the menu was overwhelming. Most of the food was fine/passable: yogurt veggies were good (but bland), avocado cracker things were tasty, but the fritters were too crunchy and the zucchini kofta was inedible. Again, really went into this experience expecting to like it ...
(2)Brian C.
Where to start? We came in 30 minutes prior to the restaurant closing. We stood at the host desk looking like idiots waiting for the host to assist us. The manager (I think he's a manger - wearing the suit) was in the back with two employees - I'm 99.9% sure that they saw us - but didn't come up to welcome us and sit us. We walked to the bar asked the bartender if we would sit outside to have a drink - she said yes (she was nice). We sat outside.. The "Manager" in the suit came up to us and said .. Dinner or drinks (no hello how are you..) we said drinks - and he said, "you don't want to sit at the bar" we said no - he "gently" tossed the menu on the table.. Server came out and took our drink order.. He said under his breath, "we have to set up for tomorrow" -- drinks were great.. Service not so much.
(1)Leah H.
Loved it ! Innovative and delicious . Amazing cocktails cleverly named paired with a sophisticated and modern take on classic Indian dishes . Go for turmeric naan !
(5)Renee R.
I love this place. I am so happy they are in Culver City!!!!!! It is a fusion Indian restaurant, so it is not your typical indian restaurant and if you are indian, and you are looking for your mother's recipe, then you might not like this place.....But if you are a girl from Oklahoma with celiac disease and a milk allergy and a craving for something new and exciting, then this might be the place for you!
(5)Sarah B.
My friend and I were feeling a little adventurous so we decided to venture out and try a new spot in Culver City so we made a reservation on a Saturday night at 7:30. There's free 2 hour parking in the structure across the street so that wasn't a problem at all. We got there and were seated right away in a packed house! The ambiance is very inviting and great for chatting. Drinks: I ordered the Indian Sangria $10- this wasn't on the menu but they introduced it as a special-- not my favorite but it was pretty good. I think my friend ordered the Malabar Coast $10 which came in a cute tin cup with a tin straw and it tasted a lot better, definitely recommend this one. Food: -Goan Chicken Xacuti $12: This is a chicken curry with cinnamon, coconut, and ginger. It sounds like it would be really sweet but it wasn't on the sweet side at all. It comes in a tin bowl and is perfect for sharing. It's a curry so make sure you order some naan or rice with it! We ended up getting both. -Turmeric Naan $3: I've tried some really good naan before but this one wasn't too special. Good to order to dip into the curry sauce though. -Lemon Rice $6: The curry doesn't come with rice so make sure to order some on the side! We got lemon rice rather than basmati just cus Indian food is all about exquisite flavors and spices and we thought we would add in a little more flavor British Raj Chicken $17: I loved this dish! It comes with two big pieces of chicken (great for sharing if you're in a party of two). My favorite part was the pomegranate mint chutney that comes on the side! Make sure to add some to each bite of the chicken, I loved the tangy flavor that it added. The pickled onions were really good as well. *We ordered this amongst two girls and we were stuffed afterwards and took a little bit of food to-go -- so if you're thinking about ordering the same dishes, I would probably suggest skipping out on the naan. Service: Our waiter was really friendly and gave us some great suggestions. Great great service overall- the server came by to switch up our plates too when he noticed that it was getting a little messy as we were sharing. Great new spot- good food, great ambiance :-)
(4)Ronin P.
Not a dog friendly restaurant. Will not allow you to tie to outside railing on walk way which is I surmise it's about keeping a Beverly Hills image. It sounds a bit on the illegal side. Nevertheless, their image and appearance is important in competitive restaurant businesses. I wish them the best of luck. It's hard to believe but that's too snobbish for me. I choose the animals over snobbish restaurants. I'll never eat at Sambar nor the mother restaurant Akasha ever again. But that's just one person making a choice.
(2)Sevana T.
Because I can't do 2.5 stars.. Expected a lot more from this restaurant because I love Indian food, but it fell short. Not your typical Indian restaurant, with a "California twist" as they called it. Nice ambiance but that's about it. Wasn't a fan of the lamb kabob (undercooked) and the chicken masala wings (tasted burnt). Too Americanized in my opinion.
(3)roxy k.
I was really looking forward to trying this place out hoping to give it five stars but was disappointed I made RSVP in advance for party of 3 we were celebrating my bday for 8:30 RSVP my friend even got there at 8:10 and table wasn't ready for another 15 min after reserved time on Sat nite guess 8:30 doesn't mean you will be seated at that time ordered lamb burger was disappointed again it just had lettuce on it but I was told the ingredient were mixed into the burger itself it tasted good asked server for extra sauce but it never came
(3)Ayana H.
This is an Indian/California fusion restaurant. My friend and I were supposed to go to another restaurant, but came here instead. We were enticed by the large selection of food! The chickpea salad was pretty good! Also, I really enjoyed the house brewed chai tea! They use cashew milk, which I haven't tried before.
(4)Madison F.
from start to finish, this restaurant was an awesome experience! before even greeting the host we were welcomed with complimentary shandy which was so good! We decided to go here to try out the restaurant week menu and try something new. For appetizers, we ordered the papadums and kachumber salad. The papadums were a little salty for me (I'm used to eating very bland food though) but the sauces it came with were very flavorful! The kachumber salad was light, healthy, and fresh, which are things I don't usually associate with Indian food so it was a nice change of pace. We both ordered the dineLA exclusive lamb curry as our entree, and the meat was very tender, and the dal was a delicious compliment. There was plenty of food... I went home with some leftover meat which says a lot! For dessert my friend had the coffee ice cream cake which we determined must be heaven-sent. For coffee-lovers, this is a MUST TRY. I ordered the sorbet because I am dairy free, and the flavors were so tasty and sweet! The ambience was nice, and the restaurant is located in an awesome part of Culver City. Glad we decided to try something new!
(4)Michael B.
Just tried this place out for lunch, and surprised to see a few negative reviews! Got a table right away, in front. Menu was diverse and imaginative. Service was friendly and prompt. Best of all, food was deliciously spiced and filling. Maybe others had unusually high expectations, but I don't tend to be overly critical of my food, or the service.
(4)Andrew O.
The food was incredible, notably the samosas and the chicken wings seasoned with Indian spices. The thought of those wings is making my mouth water. Yum! I realize that the restaurant is new, but the service was lacking. Everyone was really friendly and sweet, but they were so slow. Maybe I went on a night when it was understaffed, but it took forever for us to get seated, even though the patio was only half full. We then sat at the table for a good 10 minutes before being approached by our server. Fortunately, I was in good company, otherwise, I would have been pissed.
(4)Nihal S.
Being Indian and eating traditional South and North Indian home cooked meals, I knew going to Sambar would be something quite different. If you are expecting a typical family owned Indian restaurant like Annapurna in Culver City or the ones in Cerritos (Little India) where the price is cheap, Sambar is not one of them. It's a more high-end Indian restaurant that caters towards folks who are into a fusion of flavors and want to try something new and different without trying to compare dishes and prices :-). Ambiance - Clean and contemporary look with great music and crowd vibe Drinks - Love the variety of cocktails and the inclusion of Indian flavors/spices in them Service - We found the receptionist to be friendly and sat us quickly. The wait staff was great in explaining our dishes and the owner and management stopped by a few times and chatted with us. Food - Overall, I liked their take on the Indian dishes and the fusion of flavors really stood out. My only complaint was that the lamb curry (DineL.A. Special) and Chola dish were too watery. The most ironic thing about Sambar is that they don't actually serve sambar (or at least it wasn't on our menu nor online) which is a very common stew/broth based dish in South India which is served with steamed rice patties, rice crepes, or rice ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa… . I'll come back in a few months and see what changes they have made to the menu as I understand that some items will come and go based on seasons etc. The owner mentioned that they plan on having a buffet style meal for brunch in the future and are working on the logistics etc.
(4)Nicholas R.
Akasha is a go-to favorite for my girlfriend and I so we were excited to try their new spot, just a few feet away. I made reservations for 8pm and showed up 2 minutes before 8. There were a few groups waiting for their tables as I went to checkin with the host. Another reviewer mentioned his aloofness I will echo that. The host said it would be a few minutes as a few others were waiting to be seated but he barely looked. Warmth is not a characteristic this man has developed. He was more nightclub door guy than nice restaurant host. So my girlfriend and I waited as we looked at three open tables for two in front of us. And waited. And waited. Nearly 15 minutes later we were finally seated. In those 15 minutes, only two other groups were seated. We got the distinct feeling we were being Hollywood night clubbed IE create demand by appearing to have a long line. Don't do that, Sambar. We pushed that aside as began to order. And order we did. We tried a handful of the inventive cocktails, the chicken wings, goat curry, lamb kabob, naan and rice. The food is outstanding. My only gripe was the lamb kabob was one kabob. It looked hilarious on the plate. Actually, it looked like they forgot a skewer. Raise the price if you need to, but that's a disappointing portion size. There was a mix up with a few things (comes with the territory of a new spot) but our waiter went above and beyond. He fixed everything, and then some, and was incredibly helpful. A+ service. The food and the wait staff bring the experience of Sambar up to 4 stars. I just hope they don't keep up with this artificial demand conceit. It was a bad way to start what ended up being an outstanding evening. By the way, be sure to get the snack mix. It really should be their version of free bread, but it's worth paying $2 for. It's unique and delicious.
(4)Janette G.
Everyone was very nice and polite. Service was a defiant 5 stars, and the food was as great/delicious. Decently worth the drive all the way from Torrance. We were the first lunch guest that they ever had!! Defiantly coming back. A++++ also they have vegetarian options
(5)Leticia B.
The service was good the food not that good. Our lemon rice was uncooked and the "roti" was just a corn tortilla. My dish was little salty but desert was really good. They were out of basmati rice and the koftas. The music and the ambience is great.
(2)Camille R.
This place is great! Loved the salmon curry and the naan was so fluffy. We also loved the tomatoes in every dish. So fresh and flavorful. They also have a pretty good selection of liquor. Classic cocktails were done perfectly. Definitely coming back to this place. I also enjoyed the modern, clean decor.
(4)Gregg T.
WOW!! Sambar is the reason I'm writing my first Yelp review. We had the lamb and the goat by recommendation of the Bartender and it was. FANTASTIC. Happy hour is awesome too with $6 cocktails. Definitely recommend this place if you like new age Indian food!
(5)Paras D.
Is this Indian food? As a fusion place, it's neither here nor there...
(2)Billy B.
I had been looking forward to this restaurant opening since I love Indian food, it's 2 blocks away from my house, and knowing it was the chef from Akasha I anticipated a creative menu. I happened to be walking by to grab dinner somewhere downtown Culver City and saw this was the first day Sambar opened to the public. I went in by myself and sat near the tv to watch the warriors game. The space has a really nice bar and outdoor patio; it's one of the edgier Indian restaurants you'll ever see. You are given two pieces of paper when you are seated, one with menu items/prices/ingredients and another with definitions of Indian dishes. I was asked by 3 different servers if I "eat Indian food". Im in an Indian restaurant, so yeah. I thought it was a little unnecessary and cheesy. I'd recommend they do away with the definitions except when serving children. I ordered the following: Chai black tea: $4 for coffee mug size. Was pretty good, but overpriced. The waitress asked if I wanted a refill, and I said yes but thankfully asked if it was free, which it wasn't. 3/5 Paratha: $4 I went for the paratha when the waiter told me the naan was a "manageable size" and signaled a small circle with his hands. The paratha was described by him to be "good for dipping in the sauces". I liked the flavor/texture, and it was good size for the price. Unfortunately my entree came with such little curry sauce that I didn't have anything to dip it in and only able to eat half bc my mouth was getting too dry. They should offer to add raita to it for $1. 4/5 Bhutanese rice: $5, red rice boiled in coconut milk. It sounded really good. The texture was hard, yet mushy. There was no discernible coconut flavor. I wouldn't order this again. For the amount of rice in a restaurant like this, it was priced appropriately. 2/5 Goat curry: $15 - the curry was tomato based, and it was really tasty. Unfortunately, it shared many of Akasha's entrees' worst traits. First, there was very little goat meat or sauce. It was roughly half the size of a normal Indian entree, but at a higher pricepoint. Second, the goat meat quality was not the best, there was a lot ligament and fat. Finally, there was a big piece of bone in it. When I complained about the bone, the server told me it was supposed to have bone in it. I don't believe that, and if true I should've been warned bc I bit down really hard and could have hurt my teeth. 2/5 Gunpowder potatoes: $5 - the potatoes were really good, super crispy, but again their taste was offset by the fact they only provide a super tiny amount of dipping sauce with them. I used it sparingly and still ran out halfway thru. 4/5 Conclusion: I feel like this is run with more of a business-first rather than customer first mantra, much like the impression I got in my few visits to Akasha. The prices are on the higher end, but the protein quality, portion sizes, and necessary complements to the dishes don't measure up (or are missing altogether). I spent $42 after tax/tip and feel the experience was leagues below Badmaash, another high end Indian restaurant downtown. For what I got, $25 is about right. Double the entree portion size (and leave out the bones), offer more dipping complements to the grains/carbs, and don't be so stingy with the chai when a serving likely costs the restaurant 50 cents, and this would be a 5 star review, and I could see myself going every single week. As is, I'm not sure I'll ever go back, I won't be recommending it to others, and I will probably stick to Samosa House as my local Indian spot.
(2)Kachiri I.
This place is the best Indian cuisine in the greater Los Angeles area. Culver city is a new up and coming spot where new and chic restaurants want to open. Sambar brings Indian food to a higher experience. The service,drinks,and food are amazing!!
(4)Veronica S.
I went for happy hour and the drinks are amazing!!!!!!! We ended up eating dinner and I loved everything we ordered . We sat at the bar and the bartender was the coolest guy, I forgot his name but the entire staff seemed super friendly.... I will be coming back!!!!
(5)Daniel W.
3 visits now - time for a review. First trip was just a few days/weeks after they opened and it was clear they were still getting things together. Food was good, but pricing seemed high for what we got. Our most recent visit included the happy hour drink menu. Drinks are very creative and well prepared and I'm pretty sure I've never had a bent metal straw before. Do not miss the Mississippi Masala Chicken Wings! Wow. Oh yeah, and this place gets super busy.. so come early.
(3)Phil L.
Amazing food. Wonderful service. Surprisingly laid back and comfortable even eating outside. All-around great experience! Definitely do it family-style, because there is a lot to taste.
(5)Ana M.
Just came back from dinner at Sambar, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Don't come here expecting authenticity, because that's not what Chef Akasha is about- this place is meant to be original, cutting edge, and modern. But the Indian inspiration certainly shines. I started with their spiced version of pimms, which was formidable. I love a good pimms cup, and this one with added ginger, cardamom, and other Indian spices made for an exotic, satisfying thirst quencher. I'd easily go through 2 or 3 if I wasn't being careful. I ordered the goat curry ($15) per the recommendation of the server. It was indeed very good but nothing spectacular. It was certainly flavorful, and did have some heat, but the portion size was petite and the complexity of flavor wasn't quite there. We ordered the lemon rice to share, and that was indeed a good serving. There was one spice at the top that when bitten into led to an unwelcoming bitter flavor but otherwise the rice was quite tasty. The naan was delicious ($3 each), but could use more salt and less of whatever bitter that one bitter spice was. I wish it had been ground and better incorporated into the dishes. I did not taste my sig o's pork shoulder ($15) but that was a much larger portion and already included a whole naan. In addition, the space is beautiful and ambience bubbling with energy. The bar scene is inviting and I think this place will be a winner in Culver city. I will be returning.
(4)Manuel G.
Wow!!! Could it be possible that Indian food is more then tandoori chicken? Well yes it is at least at Sambar. I had the pleasure of eating the truck stop goat curry and it was amazing. I sat at the bar and the bar staff was great.. They remember your name and shake your hand. Alan and Akasha came out and said hello to every table. The customer service and food could not have been better. If you are in culver city don't waste your time just eat at Sambar.
(5)Leya K.
Was looking forward to something different and yummy! I love the setting and the atmosphere. This is a great restaurant with the good "speak easy" style drink mixes, Buddha beer, and food to share and something to talk about. Good vibe inside and the service was great. Fancy presentation with a good twist of young and vibrant service. You'll smell the flavor a of the Indian influence but it is definitely fusion which I appreciate. All together flavorful and the drinks were strong. I would go back! Can't wait to see it full blown open.
(5)Diane E.
We've now eaten here twice, and love the food! Interesting, creative, yummy take on Indian cuisine. The appetizers are savory and delicious, the drinks are really good! We finished off with the chai tea, which is the best I've ever had! The only negative are the acoustics. Really hard to have conversation because of the noise. I would highly recommend this new eatery, and I would suggest going early before the crowds to be able to talk and be heard!
(4)Leslie E.
Love the food, no talking. This is the new restaurant started by Akasha and Alan, who created Akasha, down the street in downtown culver city. It's Indian food, well and elegantly created. Some dishes are more mild than others, and nothing is what I would consider spicy, though they are still tweaking their recipes, and the heat. The best things I have had, and I've had about half the menu, is the Goat Curry and the Papadum. We do love the food, and the people, but I have kept one star off the rating because of the noise. It is terribly loud. I realize this is a choice, and that patrons spend more money when it's loud, but that is not me. If anything kit will keep me away. For a while. It's great to have some good ethnic cuisine in CC. Loads of great food there, not much range. We welcome this addition with love and enthusiasm as thirty year CC residents. Way to go Alan and Akasha!
(4)David G.
I had the lamb vindaloo wrap and it was excellent. Some sort of IPA rounded out a great meal.
(5)Ben B.
Love this place from food to ambiance. Everthing is good. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because their curry needs work. Too bland for my liking. Everything else though is very good.
(4)Juaquin C.
The Malabar Coast is one of the best drinks in LA. All the problems of Indian restaurants are solved at this place. The plates are the right size. The food is all natural. I've been to this place 3 times in 2 weeks. I love it!! The service is smart and relaxed.
(5)Alice K.
I admit it... I'm a Food Snob and it's more important for me to have quality than quantity. However...the -1 Star is for the Cosmo drink that they put in a glass that is a size of a shot glass for $12.00! And you wonder why I didn't ask for another. If I wanted to get drunk, which I didn't, it would have taken 6 glasses to get even a slight buzz. Enough said. Let's talk about the food. This ain't your strip mall Indian food joint at all. The portions are small, so be careful if you start ordering a lot. Get the Gunpowder Potatoes, they are amazing, crispy and delicious. We went for the lamb curry and the pork Shoulder Vindaloo. Don't worry, if you're VEGAN, you can still eat here. We did get Kahumber, a cucumber, tomatoes and cilantro appetizer. Carb queen got dissapointed with the 2 pieces of flat bread, since there was 3 of us, had to order another basket. To finish off the Strauss vanilla sundae. Ehh... Tasted like the Mc.Donalds sundae for $7.00, so instead skip it and go across the street to ColdStone Creamery. Overall, I enjoyed my meal, there must be some sort of Indian Spice that they stick in the food, since I went ahead and couldn't wait to get home tonight to eat the leftovers, but stopped by Somosa House on Washington Blvd. to get real good garlic naan and an extra side of rice to go with last nights dinner!
(4)Kelly L.
I live in the area and decided to stop by for a couple of drinks. My experience was similar to a few other reviews I saw. Other than a few seats at the bar, the place was empty. The dining room...empty. A party of three came in and wanted to sit at the bar. The way to make that happen was for the hostess to ask me to move to accommodate them. I cancelled my second drink, paid my check, and left. If they have a fourth friend, I hope they called him or her. I would usually be pleasant and go with it, but this bothered me. I consider parties of three time for a table. And the place was empty. Plenty of tables. I would be horrified if a hostess ever asked a person to move for me. And she did it in that great polite/condescending way. They'll never have to worry about my ass in a seat ever again.
(1)Una G.
My fiance and I sat at the bar a couple of weeks ago and had an awesome time. The bartender was really cool, and guided us with our order. We shared a bunch of dishes, and each one had so much flavor. The cocktails pair well with the food too. We are definitely going to be back to the bar. Everything was so good.
(5)Isaac G.
This place was more or less terrible from top to bottom. First off tons of open tables, yet there were still 10-15 people waiting to be seated. We were told it would take 5 mins, 20 mins later we were finally seated. The hostess said the open tables were reserved. Which may have been true. But several of these empty tables remained empty for the entirety of our meal. About an hour and a half. The menu is lame. It's not extensive and is a bastardization of traditional Indian cuisine. The chicken was like saw dust. The chutneys were unimpressive. The shrimp dish was a watered down joke. The drinks were decent, but all super girly. The naan was the only thing enjoyable. The price is absurd given the quality of the fare. I've far better Indian food other place for a fraction of this. It's new so maybe they're still working it out. But I won't be back to find out.
(1)A S.
Came here mid week looking forward to tasty drinks and appetizers. While the drinks are rather tasty, I was disappointed that then drinks came three quarter full and the glass was full of ice. When I asked for minimal ice, they gave me the same drink with 3 cubes of ice which ended up being half a glass. So you are paying $12 for half a cocktail. Not sure I will come back because of this.
(2)William H.
I've been waiting for years for someone to open a proper, high quality new-school Indian cuisine restaurant in Los Angeles, and someone's not only finally done it, but I think it's my favorite new restaurant in LA. I've eaten at places like The Cinnamon Club and Red Fort in london, as well as some of the better restaurants in Mumbai - and even had the luck to be at a home cooked Diwali feast with a four generation indian family. Sambar ranks with the very best I've had anywhere. I've eaten there twice now in the last two weeks, and the food is outstanding. The Goan chicken and pork shoulder vindaloo are amazing - but the little things, like the home-made lemon pickle, the quinoa uttapam pancakes, the turmeric naan - that really nailed it for me. And holy smokes the drinks! Like the food, cocktails are as edgy but honest to the flavors of india as the food - the Malabar coast (old monk rum, jaggery, and homemade bitters, hints of banana and pineapple and somehow not to sweet? I had 3.) is my favorite so far. Really impressed. They got the whole thing right. Go, and bring an appetite.
(5)P G.
So happy this place exists in...LA! It's about time. The menu is super interesting and the food was generally awesome. Will be better once the service improves (have a server sent over quickly to order drinks and then bring those out while we are looking at the menu instead of 20 minutes later!). Also turn the giant flat screen tv off at the bar during Saturday dinner service. Kind of kills the upscale/hip vibe and makes it feel like you are eating dinner in a fancy sports bar. Or at least put a Bollywood movie on!
(4)Erin L.
Amazing! So excited to have found this place! The food is amazing. The portions are small, but they are filling and full of flavor. The ambiance is also lovely and modern. We will be back for sure. It is pricey, but it's quality food and we were happy to pay for that.
(5)Tiffany R.
I was walking around Culver City when I saw this restaurant. Thought I would try it since the set up looked interesting. I would call this place an uppity Indian restaurant. The food is mostly fusion like so don't come here expecting real Indian food. What I like about this restaurant is the cocktail selection. It's pricey but creative. It even inspired me to use tumeric in different ways. DH says the soap they get from Trader Joe's smells good.
(3)Jennifer W.
Intrigue brought my boyfriend and I to Sambar on Friday night but, after several disappointing dishes, we both agreed this place deserves no more than 2 stars. Beware: Super SMALL and SUPER expensive dishes! The Lamb Chops (a main dish) totaled no more than 4 small bites - and the cocktails, while interesting on paper, turned out to be completely lackluster. Overall, if I'm going to pay this much for such a small little snack, it better taste amazing and this definitely did not. Next time I'm sticking to the whole-in-the-wall Indian spot down the street!
(2)Robert B.
Although there is not a single Indian working at the restaurant, they have managed to bring forth a number of traditional dishes with their own twist. Samosas always good. Lamb kabobs were satisfying Goat curry exceptional. Burgers were good but the potatoes that accompanied them extraordinary. Great spice and crust. Although their take on nan was tasty, some of my party would have appreciated plain nan. Nice for a change of pace. Nothing fancy. Would have liked a larger selection of Indian beer. Try it when you are tired of Italian food.
(3)K L.
It's was very good and I'm not a big fan of Indian food. Our waiter was very helpful when choosing our dishes. I was a little nervous but every was amazing. The drink menu was fun. Waiter was nice. The place is very loud, it was hard to hear at our table.
(4)Elliott L.
Definitely won't be going back. It gets two stars because the food was decent and the ambiance was nice but it is incredibly overpriced (over 50 bucks for two of us without drinks) for what it is. Service is average. I knew going in that this was not a place to go for authentic Indian food but still, there are a number of other places in the neighborhood where you can get much better Indian food for a fraction of the price.
(2)Peter S.
Went for a quick dinner last night with the wife - Place has a cool vibe and was half packed for a Monday night. Drink menu was interesting but never had a try... Kachumber was really fresh and had great spices, the chicken curry was amazing..the only item that we didn't care for was the Punjabi mama greens - totally bland. Everything was a good price for a decent portion. We will absolutely come back to try more!!
(4)Tammi D.
I almost hate to post this review because this almost hidden gem will become everyone's favorite! Lunching with a colleague and she steered me here. Simple fare, extremely tasty, in a nice, relaxing atmosphere. We were able to talk (many nearby places are so loud you have to yell) and enjoyed our food and cold, crisp ginger drinks (ale & beer). Our server was slammed, but still took good care of us. I will definitely be back!
(5)Allyson D.
This place is great! Only open for one week and doing fabulously. Really fresh southern Indian menu with so many fun options. It's meant to be a shared plate experience but there are some individual plates as well if family style isn't your thing. The cocktail list is very innovative inspired by classic Indian beverages and super tasty! I see this becoming a local favorite :)
(5)Emily S.
We came here for happy hour and had a great experience. There wasn't room at the bar, but the hostess was kind enough to seat is at a table nearby, and gave us the tip to order from the bartender. The bartender was sweet enough to let us taste a couple of different wines (which is what a good bartender SHOULD do, but sadly it is a rarity these days), and even brought it over to us. We got 4 small plates, which was a little scant for a full meal for three people, but it was perfect for a snack with a few drinks. For now, the prices are great, but I can imagine them going up once the place gets a bit more established.
(5)Judy H.
Three of us went there on a Friday night. The food was wonderful and tasty and I would give it 5 stars BUT the noise level inside was so loud, we could barely understand the waiter, let alone have a conversation between us. If the patios are not any quieter, I won't be back
(3)Atma W.
Akasha and Alan have another hit. The food, service and ambiance were stellar. A very unique and sophisticated take on Indian cuisine; don't go thinking you'll find oily sag with hunks of hard paneer, or a never ending array of potatoes and peas. The flavors were subtle yet intricate. Textures and temperatures were nuanced. We ordered so many items, each delicious and inspired! Our waiter was a great navigator of the menu and we left full, satisfied, and amazed.
(5)Jason L.
Don't waste your time or money with this restaurant. Overpriced pretentious food I seriously would not feed to my animals. My wife and I live in Culver City and we're excited to have new high end Indian restaurant near by. I travel to India a couple times a year for the past decade so I am no stranger to the food. There are only a couple of proteins on the menu so I took our servers recommendation of pork shoulder. He suggested this because I told him I was looking for a spicy dish. What came was two pieces of greasy meat chucked into a basket and covered with salt. A $20 item. It resembled something from a hospital burn ward. Against my better judgment I took a bite. There were three little jars with paste in them and this was the spice?? We also had three starters..marginal at best..$6 for three tablespoons of cucumber and tomatoes. My wife had a salmon curry that was just ok. I paid for my one bite of pork scabs but they did not even recommend another food alternative. $100 meal and my wife and I had to walk down the street and have a slice of pizza at la Rocco's. I'm not sure what Sambar means in India but I would guess it means Imposter.
(1)Andrew S.
My wife and I along with two of our friends went to Sambar last night with an open mind and a strong sense we would have good time. After all, this place is owned by Akasha!. I have been there many times both busy and slow and food and service are never lacking... Not so with Sanbar!!! The front of the house is a disaster., the back must be good because the food was very good with nice twists on Indian classics. The problems with the front of the house started almost immediately after we arrived. We went to the host stand and gave them our name for our reservation, she looked it up and told us it would only be a minute. while that was happening I observed a busboy removing a plate from a table and eating leftover food from the plate while walking to the back!!!! Not, I repeat. Not a very good first impression!!! Then there was a problem withe our table. we were lead to the table by the Asian hostess, got 3/4 of the way there only to find a missing chair, a dirty table and a hostess that tried to abandon us at the bar with a non committal statement of "there going to work on your table right now" well, we waited a few minutes with no one working on anything! My wife went to the hostess stand and asked the hostess in the green dress if we could get a chair so we could be seated. As we could see open tables with chairs. The hostess raised her voice and shouted, "there are looking for for a chair!!" My wife came back to where we were uncomfortably standing in the middle of the bar near the entrance to the patio. A few more minutes went by before we got a chair and were seated. The manager, a red coated bearded gentleman, was busy surveying his Kingdom and holding up various walls but he did not intervene to help in any way, shape, or form. And finally for the trifecta of FAIL... The runners of the food. All of the runners were extremely rude auctioning off food or just pushing and shoving it all over the table with not so much as a by your leave!!!!! The food is good but it wasn't great. And, certainly not good enough to tolerate the egregious behavior of the front of the house staff. On a side note our waitress, whom we are told was her first day was wonderful. I thing Akasha should have her train all the Others!
(1)April A.
Food = 4 stars, Service = 1 star We know and love Akasha and had high hopes for Sambar. Well the food certainly met our expectations! Everything we tried was delish with that special Akasha touch we know and love. The spicy green sauce, dal, lemon rice, mama's greens, goat curry & samosas were phenomenal!! The cocktails were equally amazing. (Very slow bartending, however. With such an elaborate cocktail list, there should be more bartenders on staff.) Now , for the service. The Asian hostess working Friday night (7/17) was awful. She is the reason we will not return. We had a reservation and she said our table would be ready momentarily as they needed to clean it. No problem. After about 10 mins we were taken to our table on the patio. It was missing a chair (we were a party of 4, taken to a table with 3 chairs) and the ground was filthy. Clearly some inconsiderate parents let heir child throw food everywhere. We were ushered back inside and told to wait at the bar. We waited. And waited. Another 10 mins and our table was clean, but still no chair. I went back to the hostess who was happily chatting with the other host and clearly not thinking about the 7:15 reservation for 4 who was still waiting to be seated. I asked the hostess when she thought we would get a 4th chair and she said they're working on it. Another 5 mins pass and my party of 4 is pretty upset as we wait in the crowded dining/bar area near the servers stand. The hostess walks by, doesn't look at us, and I stop her...asking again when we will get a 4th chair and be seated. She goes on this long diatribe about how outside they have black chairs and inside they have white chairs and they can't find any black chairs. She even raises her voice at me. Clearly I'm stressing her out. Then some lackadaisical guy in a red coat asks her what our problem is... Finally, a white chair is brought outside ( to the black chair area) and .... We are ignored. Yep. The hostess walks away from us. So we seat ourselves...after waiting 20 mins for a chair, we seat ourselves without menus. Thankfully our server was wonderful. She was knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. We found out it was her first day! The food runners/busboys were as bad as the hostess. Rude, aggressive and unprofessional. We're pretty sure the guy in the red coat was a "manager" of sorts. He had a self important look about himself. Too bad he didn't have the training to apologize to us for such bad front of the house service. My husband and I go out to dinner a lot. There are too many restaurants in the area with great food and great service to waste another dollar at Sambar. We can find good Indian food elsewhere and not have to deal with such bad attitudes and poor service.
(1)Bad M.
Here we go again! The space now occupied by Sambar was previously occupied by Ford's Filling Station who I will credit with bringing the "luxury" food movement to Culver City (both a plus and a minus). Those who used to frequent Ford's knew that the food was decent (mostly good but not always up to par) and the service was spotty except for a few loyal stalwarts who were pro's when it came to service (and sorely missed). It looks like Akasha Richmond's new place is going to be similar-----way overpriced food, extremely small portions (both food and drink) and a terrible, aloof, confused and totally "Hollywood" service staff. To give Ms. Richmond credit vs. Ben Ford, at least she can cook and is pretty good at it (I've enjoyed many dishes at her eponymous restaurant as proof). Reading the reviews here, it appears that Ms. Richmond has a strong female following and Sambar's interior seems designed to cater to that with a removal of the dark woods and country character of Ford's into a more white-washed feminine light and airy kind of affair. It is a nice look for the place and the patio area is also much improved. Unfortunately, even 3 or 4 weeks into it's opening confusion still seems to reign amongst the staff. I went for Happy Hour (something that just started recently) and while the HH is really only on alcohol (again, much like at Akasha) they did offer up some appetizers on their menu that were interesting. HH prices are decent, especially if you are ordering the cocktails which don't seem that big (I stuck to the beer). The young lady who was playing the role of bartender that night (I hope she does a better job in her auditions) acknowledged me when I sat down but then proceeded to avoid me for the next 10 minutes (there were only 2 other people at the bar). I was finally able to grab her attention to order a beer. More time was spent waiting until I was finally able to order the Sev Puri appetizer (I asked her recommendations between this and a corn appetizer and she suggested this one----probably a wise choice). The place was starting to get busy but staff still outnumbered customers by a wide margin (common for new places as they figure out staffing). However, even after being open for almost a month, I could still see blank faces on some of the servers and one was so nervous that I was scared he was going to drop the water carafe when asking if he could refill it. As for the appetizer, as small as it was (5 tiny circles) it was very tasty and had all the flavors of Indian food despite having some non-traditional Indian ingredients (e.g. avocados). I actually was impressed enough that I thought I'd break my bank and order another beer and perhaps some more food. Well that was stupid of me. When Ms. Actress of the Year finally came back to me (after a long emptied beer glass and plate were woefully sitting in front of me), she asked if I wanted another beer. I said yes I'll try the "xxxx" beer and waited. She smiled, said oh and then turned her back with me thinking she was going to pour it. How foolish of me. She talked to the other bartender (a guy named Jason I believe) and then went to the cash register, presented me with my bill and then left to go to the kitchen. Hmmmm......I thought servers were supposed to try and pump up the average check not get rid of everyone after one drink. I guess she didn't research her bartender role that well after all (again, I hope she does better in her auditions cause otherwise that's another career shot). Suffice it to say, I just left rather than deal with a new bartender to sort things out. Maybe the male-to-female ratio was too high in there and I had to leave. I don't know. I may never know. One thing I do know is that I probably won't be back.....and if you're a guy, I don't think you should go either (not that they would want you anyway).
(2)Tasha B.
The food was good but not great . Some dishes were spectacular like the quinoa flat bread with sambar, zucchini curry and the chai. The lamb was okay and the rice average.
(3)Tim T.
LA is in desperate need of good mainstream Indian restaurants; we can only dream of the sort of modern takes on classic Indian cuisine that are common in London. Sambar is an attempt to be such a place, and as such it is all right, but no better. I have only been once so far and suppose I will go again, mainly for the appetizers, which were mostly yummy. The Indian style cheese board was rather short on cheese and long on chutneys, though the accompanying turmeric naan is very good. The shrimp, pork, and lamb burger entrees were all so-so, nothing special. If you're over 40, noise will be a factor.
(3)stuart r.
Delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the only Indian restaurant I suggest going to Menu is understandable-different -food is very flavorful and servers are very helpful and do not over sell DRINKS are fantastic-normally I only drink martinis -but their unique drinks compliment their food. Another plus is it's location and ambiance- you feel like you are on vacation- Culver City is not Beverly Hills (and that's a good thing) it has a diversity of people- It also nice to see and meet Alan the owner who oversees the operation- this place is not owned by some large corporation- it is has a very welcoming vibe By the way where can you park for $1
(5)Meg M.
Not great. It was fine but for the price you'd expect more. It was missing the pop and spice of Indian food and though I understand it is a fusion place, it didn't feel like an inventive take on Indian food but rather a watered down version of traditional flavors. The apathetic, untimely, unfriendly service did nothing to make up for the mediocre food. TO GET: -the tumeric naan was FANTASTIC. so doughy and flavorful. Perhaps the best naan I've ever had. -Truckstop goat curry. Tender meat was great but it was on the bland side. Not as gamey as most goat which for me was a bad thing but many people would consider that a good thing -"under the mango tree" and "last train to goa": light on the alcohol but pretty and delicious cocktails TO SKIP: -lemon rice: overcooked and nowhere near as flavorful as it sounds on the menu. -goan chicken: bland. a couple bones and cartilage pieces I had to pick out of my teeth -baby eggplant: bland and tiny. hardly any peanut sauce. needed salt and more lime. -bhutanese red rice: bland (I feel like I broken record) Probably will not be back
(2)Sara L.
I love Akasha. I've made food several times from her cookbook and enjoy many a meal at her original Culver City eatery, so I was excited about their newspaper write-up and decided to go for dinner. Service was friendly. The food, however, was rather lackluster. I was super hungry and would've been pretty happy with anything, so I was really surprised at how underwhelming the food was. I wasn't expecting Indian as much as Indian fusion, so that wasn't the issue. But one of the wonderful things about Indian food is the boldness of flavor, and whether fused with American or not, this was not the bright, bold, flavor-packed food I had hoped for. With the exception of the sevpuri chaat, which was the first thing we ate, and the best. My wife gave it the benefit of the doubt, wondering if perhaps we could have ordered better. I'll break it down for you: We went mostly vegetarian, and along with the chaat, ordered yogurt roasted vegetables, zucchini kofta, the chicken wings because people raved about them on Yelp, and the cauliflower & onion pakoras. Pakoras were good, well-fried. The yogurt roasted vegetables were mostly onion, which was disappointing, and the dish would've benefitted from more sauce. The kofta, which were 5 to an order, came in a sauce that wasn't exciting enough to want to spoon over rice. The wings seemed to have been precooked and then flash fried in a batter. It didn't seem brined or flavored much at all outside of the little bit of spice in batter that slid off at first bite. Sambar was not bad by any means. But it wasn't flavorful or exciting, and it didn't make me want to come back. Hopefully the wife was right, and we just misordered. I'm not sure we'll be back any time soon to find out, though.
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