First Look: The Corner Door in Los Angeles

On a quickly changing stretch of Washington Boulevard, between downtown Culver City and Venice Beach, stands Corner Door. The restaurant, which just opened this month, features chef Luke Reyes (formerly of Tasting Kitchen) and cocktail-crafter Beau du Bois (of MB Post).


Chef Luke Reyes and Co-Owner Todd Jerry

The menu is small but focused, showing off Reyes's passion for local, seasonal produce and experimentation, from housemade charcuterie and pickled vegetables to harissa made of smoked Mexican chilies and folded into crème fraiche and aioli. You'll find local lettuces, asparagus, and fiddlehead ferns alongside roasted chicken, mussels, and steak.

Inside, it's a far cry from the office that formerly occupied this space—matte black and greys along with exposed brick and upholstered banquette seating. In addition to the tables, there's an expansive bar and a communal island, lit by large windows by day and oversized glass globes by night.


Featured Cocktail of the Day: The Improved Whiskey Cocktail

Classic cocktails and modern retakes are the focus of the bar. Take this Featured Cocktail of the day: the Improved Whiskey Cocktail ($12), a twist on a cocktail invented in the 1800s by Jerry Thomas, the father of bartenders. It's a balanced mix of Old Overholt rye, angostura bitters, maraschino liqueur, and simple syrup.

Diners can look forward to housemade charcuterie from the restaurant's weekly whole pig program and a rotating menu focused on what's in season. There's also a sandwich offering each night after 10 p.m. for the latenight crowd.

Ask co-owners Todd Jerry and Anthony Falati how they decided on the location and Jerry describes the long years they both spent living in the area, wanting to participate in the food scene that's been slowly but steadily growing in this pocket of Los Angeles. With Waterloo & City nextdoor and A-Frame down the street, the vision is already off to a solid start.

Take a peek at the food >>

The Corner Door

12477 W. Washington Boulevard (map) Culver City, CA 90066 310-313-5810