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Lazy Dog Café Gears Up for the Super Bowl
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
We’ve been deep in the end zone lately with all the football games on television. So, it’s no surprise that many restaurants are gearing up for the Super Bowl so that fans can nosh and nod to pay homage to their favorite teams.
One place we discovered recently is the Lazy Dog Café, which will be featuring Happy Hour all day on February 5th. How cool is that?
And is this place fun! Founder Chris Simms has a real winner with this place, providing a laid-back atmosphere, great food, nicely punctuated flat-screened televisions that don’t overwhelm the diner, and of course a well-stocked bar.
How did the Lazy Dog Café come about? Like many restaurateurs, Chris was born into the restaurant business. Although he grew up in Southern California, each summer his family would vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he got a taste for the outdoors and also waited tables and learned how to cook. This paved the way for working in a multitude of other restaurants. But it’s his love of that small-town hospitality and attention to the needs of his customers that resonated with him.
In fact, the name of the restaurant comes from Chris spotting a happy dog lying by the fireplace at the lodge where he had been skiing. In his mind, Chris thought everyone should enjoy life as much as that lazy dog, hence the name of Lazy Dog Café.
Inside, you’ll see a bit of dog everywhere, from the snapshots of man’s best friend on the walls near the restrooms, to giant paw print sculptures on the ceiling near the ventilation units. Another clever touch is the doggie bone mints that follow every meal.
Unlike many restaurants these days, business has actually increased since last year, according to Assistant Manager Rich Rivera and General Manager, Nick Munaweera. “Our goal is to ‘make regs’ out of all our customers.” And having regular customers is what a successful business is all about.
Ok, let’s get to the menu! Libations include a fun Housemade Sangria Sampler, (black currant, white peach, and pomegranate-$4) all served in compact mason jars. Otherwise, go for their delightful Pomegranate Martini ($6) or the Lazy Dog House Beer Sampler ($5), which easily pairs with many of their bar menu items. There’s a full bar as well in case you have other options in mind.
Aside from their impressive regular menu, their Happy Hour offerings are ample, and priced at 3, 4, 5 and 6 dollars, available Mon-Fri from 3-6 p.m. and Sun.-Thurs. 9 p.m. until closing at the bar and patio only.
Our favorites included the Hawaiian Ahi Poke, ($4) generous mounds of sashimi tossed with sesame peanut vinaigrette and green onions over crispy wontons and avocado. I love tuna, and this was divine. We both gobbled it down with little restraint.
Another hit was their Togarashi Edamame Beans, wok-cooked with a variety of Japanese spices. Even kids like them!
The Brick Oven Pretzel goes well with their beer sampler (6 shots of beer, how cool!) and comes with a thick cheese dip. It’s perfect for sharing.
We both loved their Chicken Lettuce Cups ($4) that included water chestnuts, peanuts, carrots, and green onions, along with a sweet sesame soy sauce. Pile it high over the leaves and chow down!
On the hotter side are the Chicken Wings, ($4) with the High Altitude Hot Sauce, which I had to avoid, although my minute sample was definitely tasty. The Chicken Tenders ($5) were also on fire, the large orbs tamed with a buttermilk ranch dressing and laced with a chipotle honey BBQ dipping sauce. My stomach can’t handle hot stuff, but those so inclined will love both of these.
This is a fun place, with many locations throughout Southern California. But since there are now some restaurant vacancies in the Culver City area, maybe they’ll curb their dog up our way, and locals can revel in the charm that has made The Lazy Dog Café a real winner.
Lazy Dog Café
Del Amo Fashion Center
3525 West Cason Street
Torrance, CA. 90503
(310) 921-6080
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