Firehouse

In Short – A crowd of many sizes gathers in the tree-shaded courtyard for quiet conversation away from the busy kitchen's clatter. A menu of lean proteins, calorie-conscious carbs and fresh vegetables starts with breakfast's egg-white combos, including the popular ground buffalo and mushroom scramble with fresh herbs. Full-fat, cheddar-packed huevos rancheros are also available. Otherwise diligent diners are seduced by carb-heavy favorites like fruit-topped golden Belgian waffles and multigrain pancakes, dense with blueberries and a hint of cinnamon.

Editor's Tips

When to Go:: Happy hour discounts on drinks and appetizers are available Monday through Friday, 5pm-7pm.
Parking:: There's usually two-hour metered street parking nearby. If not, the cafe will validate for the lot across the street.

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User Reviews (32)

ambiance	75.0% positive	“Enjoyable atmosphere, Terrible Service, So-So Food.” “1) The decor of the place, exterior and interior, is extremely misleading.” “Service can be dicey and parking is a pain, but finding a clean restaurant on or near the Venice boardwalk is next to impossible.” “The location is great and the building is cool.”
drinks	58.33000183105469% positive	“You think burgers and chicken wings, not uninspired sushi dishes and warm beer.” “There's also a full bar, which sometimes takes on a life of its own.” “The beer is good and cold, my pizza is getting old.” “(wine was $9 a glass for mediocre wine).” “The food is pretty decent and the bar is well stocked.” “favorite breakfast hang, they recently opened up a huge bar/dining area on Rose Ave. WHO KNEW the sushi was so good?”
food quality	61.36000156402588% positive	“The beer is good and cold, my pizza is getting old.” “Really bad service and overpriced mediocre food” “The food is pretty decent and the bar is well stocked.” “Terrible food, bad service and a lingering stomach ache that will just not quit.” “After about 11am, though, it all goes downhill with overpriced bad food and abysmal service.” “favorite breakfast hang, they recently opened up a huge bar/dining area on Rose Ave. WHO KNEW the sushi was so good?” “Management should fix this place because it really used to be a great place to hangout and get a good meal.” “The Firehouse has amazing egg white omelettes and eating breakfast on a Saturday morning on the patio is the best way to start a weekend!” “However, the regular menu is actually quite good and healthy, so take a pass on the raw fish and order something cooked - I love the chicken stirfry.” “As a sporting patron of Abbott Kinney / Main Street neighborhood eateries, I gave the Firehouse a second chance after a mediocre debut meal.” “I've been here a number of times to meet up with friends from Digital Domain and the food just isn't good.” “The food here is horrible, it tastes old, and smells very strange.” “mediocre food” “The eggs are as good as ever, the sushi ROCKS, and not only that, did I mention they have Stone IPA on tap?” “The food (and portions) are geared towards bodybuilders, so the value is very good.” “You think burgers and chicken wings, not uninspired sushi dishes and warm beer.” “love the sushi chef.” “love the food.” “I've been going there since moving to Venice in 2002 and have always found it welcoming and warm, and the food delicious.” “This explanation does lead to further questions regarding how fresh the shakes are?” “Thanks for the great, healthy meal (see you in chemo).” “Awful food, now we're sick.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“However, the regular menu is actually quite good and healthy, so take a pass on the raw fish and order something cooked - I love the chicken stirfry.”
overall	100.0% positive	“Management should fix this place because it really used to be a great place to hangout and get a good meal.”
service	40.0% positive	“Terrible food, bad service and a lingering stomach ache that will just not quit.” “Seems like the less croweded they are, the more likely your server will botch your order and make mistakes on your check (usually not in your favor).” “Beside that, the $9+ omlette I got was oily and the service was very slow although friendly.” “and the waitress was in a big hurry, rushing us to order because the kitchen was closing.” “After about 11am, though, it all goes downhill with overpriced bad food and abysmal service.” “Service was attentive if not overly competent (I asked for water when we sat down; he brought me a glass of water, but not a glass for my date); then the waiter seemed confused about the difference between freshwater eel and sea eel.” “They think they can behave like a herd and still get good service(alwys the same excuse: I'm hungry!” “7) After complaining to the manager about the wrong orders and slow service, the bill took as long to arrive as its taking Chuck Norris to realize he's become a camp figure.” “Really bad service and overpriced mediocre food” “Yes, the Firehouse might have a terrible service, but the customers are worse, specially the bodybuilders and the owner's friends.”
value	66.66999816894531% positive	“Really bad service and overpriced mediocre food” “The food (and portions) are geared towards bodybuilders, so the value is very good.” “The doors in the front are still huge because they literally used to accomodate actual firetrucks.” “After about 11am, though, it all goes downhill with overpriced bad food and abysmal service.” “favorite breakfast hang, they recently opened up a huge bar/dining area on Rose Ave. WHO KNEW the sushi was so good?” “all together it came to like 14 bucks for a damn hamburger.”
wait time	0.0% positive	“7) After complaining to the manager about the wrong orders and slow service, the bill took as long to arrive as its taking Chuck Norris to realize he's become a camp figure.” “Beside that, the $9+ omlette I got was oily and the service was very slow although friendly.”

01/13/12

Healthy & Delicious!

by Earthloverman

If you're into eating very lean and healthy foods then this is the place to eat while in the Venice area. You can swing by here for a chicken breast, egg whites, yams, or a variety of other healthy dishes. Good atmosphere and pleasant service. Btw, they also serve awesome sushi.

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03/25/11

yum!

by missemski

AWESOME FOOD!!! I come here often for their delicious breakfasts. quick and pleasant service, nice atmosphere

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03/15/10

Packing Styrofoam Found in Our Protein Shakes

by CarlLaFong

We ordered a protein shake after a workout. My wife said it tasted funny after taking two big gulps. She then had berries stuck in her throat. I tasted it and began chewing one of the seeds that had a sponge like consistency... it was styrofoam. My wife now had the packing balls in her throat. When we showed the waiter he did not know what to make of it, as he struggled speaking English. He returned with a new shake... but it too had styrofoam. We asked to see a manager, and it took 20 minutes for Sean to arrive. Nice enough, but way too casual about the event. He investigated the kitchen and confirmed that they had a box filled with styrofoam stashed above where the shakes were made (points for honesty), and swore he had never seen that placed where it was before. This explanation does lead to further questions regarding how fresh the shakes are? Do they clean out their blender after each use if we were poisoned on two different orders? Ingesting styrofoam can cause all kinds of health issues, including overactive thyroid and cancer. Thanks for the great, healthy meal (see you in chemo). The manager comped our appetizer, but we paid for the rest of our $35 bill. We have eaten here for years, usually breakfast and lunch after working out, but no more. More than disappointing, frightening, and we plan on contacting the owners and the city so no one else experiences this type of reckless and dangerous service.

Pros: Quaint turn of century Firestation
Cons: Being served Styrofoam in our food

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04/24/09

omg i love this place

by fillaramalama

WOW I love the firehouse. Now they have Stone IPA on tap. The eggs are as good as ever, the sushi ROCKS, and not only that, did I mention they have Stone IPA on tap????

Some of the waiters are kinda baked though.

Pros: sushi, beer, eggs
Cons: service

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03/27/09

Stone IPA!

by jjgregg

The Firehouse is the local hangout for the JibJab crew, primarily because they have Stone IPA on tap and the JibJab crew really, really likes Stone IPA.

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What People Are Saying About Firehouse

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Editor's Tips

01/13/12

Healthy & Delicious!

by Earthloverman

03/25/11

yum!

by missemski

03/15/10

Packing Styrofoam Found in Our Protein Shakes

by CarlLaFong

04/24/09

omg i love this place

by fillaramalama

03/27/09

Stone IPA!

by jjgregg

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