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FINDING OHIO

Four Days in LA: A Whirlwind Tour of Southern California

Published May 4, 2023

Perhaps our favorite food during our visit was at The Anchor in Venice. It was perfect for us, not pretentious, just very casual and comfortable. Amanda had the lobster bisque and I had the lobster roll. We split and order of fries. Everything was delicious. (And yes, I know we were eating East Coast food on the West Coast.) The Anchor wasn’t recommended, it wasn’t famous, but it was perfect for us. We loved everything about this meal.

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EATER

4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles

Published Feb 3, 2023

Your handy guide on where to eat from the editors at Eater LA.

The Anchor is a staple Venice restaurant, though it often gets less attention than some of the bigger names nearby. That’s okay; owner Kristin Ciccolella, an East Coaster with a can-do attitude and a hearty laugh, knows that it’s her regulars that have kept her in business all these years, and thanks to a large patio and quality seafood menu, she isn’t planning on going anywhere any time soon.

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The Infatuation

The LA Bottomless Brunch Directory

October 15, 2021

The best part of bottomless brunch is that there’s a place for everyone. Whether you’re nursing that blistering hangover and just need peace, quiet, and a bellini, or looking to trust-fall off a table to the Frozen soundtrack in West Hollywood, the bottomless brunch does not judge. And neither do we.

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EATER

18 Splendid Seafood Restaurants to Try Around Los Angeles

Published Oct 5, 2021

The beauty of Los Angeles’s seafood scene lies in its abundance and diversity. Every corner of the city boasts pristine seafood prepared in a plethora of delightful ways. From fancy raw bars that cost a pretty penny to longstanding neighborhood you-buy-we-fry stands, here now are 18 splendid seafood restaurants to try in Los Angeles.

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EATER

20 Best dineLA Restaurant Week Dinners to Try, Fall 2021 Edition

Published Oct 1, 2021

From casual Santa Monica modern Mexican dishes to fancy Downtown Italian feasts, where to eat dinner for dineLA this October

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EATER

17 Splendid Seafood Restaurants to Try Around LA

Published February 19, 2021

The beauty of Los Angeles’s seafood scene lies in its abundance and diversity. Every corner of the city boasts pristine seafood prepared a plethora of delightful ways. From whole trays of lobster and shrimp to longstanding you-buy-we-fry stands, here now are 17 splendid seafood restaurants to try this summer in Los Angeles.

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LINCOLN & ROSE

Join Your Mates For Oysters & Wine At The Anchor Venice

Published September 05, 2014

Brilliantly timed with the end of summer comes The Anchor, a petite small-plates-and-wine bar on Main Street with the majority of its seating on a lengthy front patio under the soft glow of string globes. So as autumn rolls in, you can arrogantly slurp oysters and sip craft beer seaside in 70 degree-plus temps as Mother Nature turns a cold shoulder everywhere else…

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EATER

The 24 Hottest Brunch Spots in Los Angeles, February 2015

Published February 20, 2014

THE ANCHOR
This dog-friendly spot on the border between Santa Monica and Venice has some comforting dishes that would really cure a hangover; that is, until you start drinking again on that lovely patio. Start a weekend meal with a bread pudding or biscuits and gravy. Then move onto the excellent lobster roll or a pulled pork cuban sandwich. Wash it down with a soju bloody mary (don’t worry, it won’t be as strong as one made with vodka)…

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THRILLIST

THE 9 BEST SPOTS FOR EAST COAST EATS IN LOS ANGELES

Published March 3, 2015

What you’re getting: Lobster roll
The only dish listed under The Anchor’s “A Must” menu section, this lobster roll is… um… a must. The thing is, it’s both a classic lobster roll (perfectly buttered roll and rich, pleasantly juicy lobster) and not (ultra-thin truffle shavings), but the whole thing is far larger (and ultimately more satisfying) than its closest competitors (we’re looking at you, Son of a Gun)…

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DOMAINE

6 Design Ideas to Steal From an Edgy Nautical Kitchen

Published February 10, 2015 -

Nautically inspired interior design tends to be traditional, so when we set our eyes on the modern and edgy maritime aesthetic of hot new L.A. restaurant The Anchor Venice, it had the wheels in our heads turning in a whole new direction. There wasn’t a blue-and-white stripe or a coral motif to be found. Instead? A custom rope light fixture, a one-of-a-kind wall mural by an acclaimed street artist, and subtle, thoughtfully placed anchor details.

We reached out to the restaurant’s interior designer Sally Breer, an uber-talented, young, and rising design star, to steal some ideas for how to get the look at home…


URBANDADDY

Anchor Management | A Tiny Seaside Oyster-and-Beer Bar

Published September 02, 2014 - urbandaddy.com

There’s only one way to cure this post-holiday-weekend malaise.

And we’re assuming that, for you, it’s buried somewhere inside this little burst of word nonsense: lobster Venice oyster ale grüner patio chicken waffles.

(Hopefully you have that Saved by the Bell movie in your DVR, too.)

Drift into The Anchor, a tiny beachside oyster refuge with a vast patio, now soft-open for dinner on Main Street in Venice…

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YO! VENICE

THE ANCHOR STAYS TRUE TO ITS LOW-KEY VENICE ROOTS

Published October 20, 2014 - by YO VENICE STAFF - YoVenice

Venice’s celebrated Main Street and Rose Avenue hub has a new hot-spot – The Anchor – a sexy, gritty wine bar vibe that stays true to its low-key Venice roots.

Owners Kristin Ciccolella and Sandy Ames have brought their vision of a casual, creative menu of bio-dynamic wines, craft beer, and seasonal, seafood-inspired share plate dishes including oysters, charcuterie, and their signature Lobster Roll – all injected with energy and “no B.S.” attitude…

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LOCALE

VENICE WELCOMES ANCHOR RESTAURANT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Published September 21, 2014 - by Michelle A Slieff - localemagazine.com

Your Friendly Neighborhood Hangout

Venice welcomes this oceanic charm with its industrial air to the neighborhood. This chic wine bar design gives a touch of New York City to this beachy relaxed scene, while still offering menu items that are familiar and approachable with its fresh California casual vibe. The menu is just like the space of the restaurant, intimate. So don’t worry about having to make too many decisions, just know that when you pop into the neighborhood and you’re looking for a flip flop feel while still demanding the quality of Michelin starred restaurants, you’ve met your match here at The Anchor…


TIME OUT

VENICE WELCOMES ANCHOR RESTAURANT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Published November 6, 2014 - BY: ERIN KUSCHNER - TimeOut.com/los-angeles

When The Anchor first opened in early September this year, the phrase that kept popping up was “NY-meets-Venice.” Dreamed up by owners Kristin Ciccolella and Sandy Ames, the restaurant was born out of their need for a little slice of home after moving from Harlem. I can see it, kind of. The space is tiny, and though it’s decked out with nautical accents that remind me more of Maine than Manhattan, it’s also a place where you can sit down at the bar solo, order a glass of wine and a lobster roll, and feel completely at ease—something that is arguably more NY than LA. Our city thrives on group brunches and lunch meetings, not solitary dining. Yet The Anchor is also very, very Venice. Chef Dustin Taylor (Michael’s,Comme Ca) mans the kitchen here, taking full advantage of farmers’ market produce with dishes like a kale and quinoa salad and fresh sea fare. And what is a Venice restaurant without kale?..

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LA TIMES

Gadarene Swine by Phillip Lee open soon, Bacari PDR, the Anchor Venice now open

Published September 05, 2014 - Eat- LA Times

The Gadarene Swine, chef Phillip Lee’s (Scratch Bar) second Los Angeles restaurant will open Tuesday in Studio City. The menu is strictly vegan and includes kale and maitake chips, crispy yucca, roasted mushrooms with burnt sweet potato, shaved vegetable salad and more. You can also…

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EATER

The Anchor, Where Urban Grit Meets Seaside Charm

Published Tuesday, September 2, 2014, by Matthew Kang - la.eater.com

Taking over the former Vardo on Main Street, please welcome The Anchor, an industrial chic wine bar right on that murky line between Venice and Santa Monica. Soft opening September 3, this gritty production by Kristin Ciccolella and Sandy Ames hopes to be a happening community hub once it debuts. Offering everything from fresh oysters, biodynamic wines, waffle-crusted chicken wings, lobster pot pie, and a slate of addictive desserts, Venice has found its ideal week day (and weekend) haunt…

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EATER

The Hottest Brunch Spots in Los Angeles, August 2015

Published August 2015

This Venice eatery has all the makings of an ideal neighborhood restaurant, right down to the weekend brunch. Running 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the menu boasts a black truffle laden lobster roll, a frittata, french toast, and croque monsieur. Wash down the meal with bottomless micheladas or mimosas for $14…

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THRILLIST

THE 21 MOST UNDERRATED RESTAURANTS IN LA

Published July 2015, by Jeff Miller

Venice
What you’re getting: Truffle-topped lobster roll
We’ve told you about this year-old place before, and we’re gonna keep telling you about it, ’cause it’s that good, and apparently no one else will: the lobster roll’s among the best in the city, and The Anchor’s unusual take on chicken & waffles (the chicken is FRIED IN WAFFLE BATTER AND TOPPED WITH MAPLE SYRUP) are just two of the can’t-go-wrong choices on its menu…

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