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(310) 392-0322
205 Ocean Front Walk
Venice,
CA
90291
33.9951
-118.4809
Neighborhoods: Venice, West LA
Price:
$
Last updated 1.24.11
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Notable Beer List, Outdoor Dining, Waterfront Dining, People Watching, Happy Hour, Bar Scene
General Info:
Open 7 Days
Cuisine:
Swiss, Traditional American, German
Smoking Permitted:
On the patio
What People Are Saying About On the Waterfont Cafe
Featured Review
Kelly Wardle
Contributor
Thanks to one of the best locations on the Venice Boardwalk, this Swiss-inspired beer bar and restaurant is always packed with revelers on sunny beach days. Grab a seat at one of the outdoor tables, sip a cold beer and take in the entertaining people-watching on the boardwalk. There’s a menu of typical bar fare like burgers, pizza and sandwiches, as well as Swiss specials like bratwurst with onion sauce and Rosti and the tasty, enormous (as in bigger than your head) Bavarian-style soft pretzel with a tangy honey-mustard dipping sauce--but really, you’re here for the brews and the…
Editor's Tips
- What to Drink:
- Stick to beer (the wine choices are slim)--60-ounce pitchers of imports like Erdinger Weizenbier and Bitburger Premium are just $20, and Coors Light is a steal at $14 if you want to drink American.
- The Extras:
- Dogs are allowed if they are tied up on the outside railing next to your table.
- Know Before You Go:
- There's no waiting list to get a table outside, so the best strategy is to hover (politely!) and grab one as people settle up their bills and leave.
| ambiance | 100.0% positive |
|
|---|---|---|
| drinks | 66.66999816894531% positive |
|
| food quality | 50.0% positive |
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| menu variety | 100.0% positive |
|
| overall | 100.0% positive |
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| return potential | 100.0% positive |
|
| service | 64.28999900817871% positive |
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| value | 0.0% positive |
|
01/14/09
RETRACTION:worst treatment ever
by bird3000 at Citysearch
Okay, so I just realized the bar I wanted to review was the venice bistro, sorry Waterfront cafe. Direct your bad press to Venice Bistro.
09/27/08
Best Beer Garden in Town!
by danapea at Citysearch
Hello!I recently moved to California, and this has quickly become my favorite place. The staff is wonderful and the food is delicious. My father looks forward to coming to visit me simply to sit in the beer garden! The only time The On the Waterfront Cafe has disappointed me was when I couldn't find a spot in the beer garden! I've met many nice people there and I cant wait to go back!
05/23/07
One of the worst restaurants (food wise) I've ever been to
by miss_ams at Citysearch
I am more than shocked by the positive reviews for the Waterfront's food! 2 years ago my friends and I began a regular Sunday beach day where we spend about 3 hours on the beach before venturing to the boardwalk for a late lunch. The Waterfront is the closest restaurant to where we go (Ocean Park Beach) and we went there about 4 times in a row. Each time all 4 of us have not liked our food, have said "we have to remember we don't like this place!" but kept going because they have a great beer selection and the location is ideal, and we're not really picky so we wanted to give it another chance.The final straw was when I ordered the fried fish sandwich, bit into it, and there was actually no fish inside. I bit into oil and beyond crispy breading. When I told the blonde haired waitress she looked annoyed and asked quickly if I wanted something else. I never complain at restaurants and if this were my first time, I definitely would have given it another try, but I've never had a good meal there and that was that for the Waterfront. In fact I now live down the street and my friends and I joke, "Hey, wanna go to Waterfront for lunch?" I wish I could buy the place to turn it into a restaurant where the location and drink selection have good food to match. I tried! I see that the owner reads this site: PLEASE HIRE A NEW CHEF!!!!! I really want to like this place, but I want to eat when I go to lunch!
- Pros: Great location, beer selection
- Cons: The food makes me want to gag
10/24/06
Wanna feel like a European? Try lounging outdoors at On The Waterfront...
by freebie_grabber at Citysearch
A friend of mine introduced me to this terrific Venice cafe/bar. It very much maintains the low-key Euro/beach lifestyle... open doors, pool tables, patio furniture and endless beer. Only a fool would order something other than the Erdinger or Bitburger (both on tap, served by the robust and friendly Swiss Miss behind the counter). Expect to see at least one of each of the following: a dog strapped to the railing outside drinking Fiji water out of a bowl, a long-haired and well-tanned shirtless male carrying a gravity board inside, some well-endowed mamacitas in bikinis and platforms lined up for the ladies' room, and a pierced chick in a hoodie shooting some pool. S'all good.
- Pros: Erdinger and Bitburger on tap, with an ocean view... say no more!
- Cons: The prime seating is grabbed up quickly, the homeless panhandle you regularly
07/15/06
Sorry!
by waterfrontcafe at Citysearch
Hi! I am the owner of "On the Waterfront Cafe" and I am very sorry to see the review of chrisben337.
July 3rd was the busiest Monday we ever had in the past 12 years! Also on Monday the Restaurant doesn't open before noon, since it is cleaning day (except holydays). I wonder if chrisben337 got there before noon and out of a courtesy we offered him a seat before we where open. Anyway, I am not looking for excuses, we where understaffed in the beginning of the day, because we had never expected to be so busy. Please feel free to compare our prices with any other Restaurant in the area, we are very competitive! Also do we offer European items you will not find anywhere else. And try to find a 17oz. Happy-Hour European-Draft-Beer for $ 3.00 in town.
If you want to write me back, please feel free to visit our webpage and send me an e-mail or call me 310-392-0322. Sincerely, Stefan Bachofner
The Details on On the Waterfont Cafe
Place Categories:
- great food
- like place
- awful service
- favorite venice lunch
- crispy breading
- never good meal
- really like buffalo wings
- love fried calimari
- worst restaurants
- terrific venice cafebar
- wonderful staff
- awesome beers
- great atmosphere
- nice people
- favorite restaurant anyhwere
- awful waitress
- disappointed only time the
- pretty overpriced food
- order fool
