Beacon

Readers' ratings:
    food: 3.5     scene: 3.25     service: 3.5

Helmblew Wytaki Westchester, CA

You haven't eaten until you've tried Beacon's sundae. The entire menu is excellent, but the sundae is the best that has ever been.

Lily Santa Monica, CA

I love this restaurant. I had a kumquat sake and it was refreshing and light. I also had the curry vegetable bowl with pickled vegetables for dinner. It was wonderful. The appetizers are great as well as the deserts. I would recommend this restaurant. In fact, I plan on going there this evening.

luke snata monica, ca

Once past the ubiquitous octagenerians, we found our table. Our waiter, an absolute pro, convinced us skeptics to allow him to order for the table. Wise move. Four modestly sized courses left me in awe. The oysters and the avacodo salad, the mushroom salad and beacon roll (crab, avocado, smoked salmon, cucumber with ponzu gelee), all sublime. Black cod possibly better than Nobu's. Is this the best steak in town? Four bottles of wine and as much as we could eat, at Nobu, $700? At Beacon $350!

TBK MDR, CA

While Beacon is a welcome addition to the Helms Bakery/Culver City area it did not live up to the fanfare and hoopla. The atmosphere is pleasant, as is the staff. Unfortunately, much of the food was overseasoned. Where a sauce should be delicate it was heavily sweet. Where light frying would suffice, my oysters were thick and oily. Unfortunate...

Emily Pacific Palisades, CA

The food and service is excellent. The crab and portobello mushroom appetizer special is too die for. I adore the lychee sorbet with fresh basil, raspberries and candied lemon peel-just a brilliant combination. Everything is excellent. I always like trying the daily specials as I have already tasted everything on the regular menu. I especially love the kaki fry, Beacon sushi roll, mushroom salad, black cod and ahi tuna pizza.