THE DETOUR BISTRO BAR
NEW FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT OPENS IN CULVER CITY

Culver City along Washington Boulevard is a tad more sleepy and small town than busy Culver Boulevard, but it’s picking up. Amidst popular pizza, and cheese shops, the new Detour Bistro Bar is fixing to be a locals’ favorite and wise watering hole for anyone looking to avoid traffic after work.

From LA locals Ranni Kumgisky and Dane Pearson, who met while playing AVP Beach Volleyball on the beaches of Southern California, comes a charming farm-to-table restaurant. The long-time caterers and business partners have come up with an approachable restaurant concept that plans to execute cuisine representative of many European regions, seasonal California inspired dishes, signature house-created small and large plates, while showcasing an impressive wine cellar. Step inside and you’ll find a welcoming, intimate, wood-heavy space that also offers a large, open windows to enjoy beautiful SoCal summer nights.

“When we saw the opportunity to open an original restaurant in Culver City, we could not pass it up,” said Co-Owner Ranni Kumgisky. “We sought to create a neighborhood restaurant and bar that was for locals by locals, and emphasized local produce. And that is what The Detour Bistro Bar is.”

Starting small, the cocktail menu currently features four original cocktails, including the Mini Mai Tai, as well as a Honey Old Fashioned (very nice with Evan Williams Bourbon); the tequila Diablo (small but potent); and the refreshing Summer Splash with vodka, cranberry, pineapple juice, and sweet & sour. The bar serves three reds and three white wines and offers an impressive beer selection. Happy Hour is daily from 3pm to 7pm.

During our recent visit, we sampled several dishes, including the Meatball Flatbread with seasoned meatballs, tomato sauce, and parmesan cheese, as well as the Lamb & Goat Cheese Flatbread with lamb, goat cheese, apricot marmalade, and mint. Both are great as starter items or as entrees. Personally, I wasn’t a big fan of the Yam & Brie Flatbread prepared with yam, brie, and truffle oil. I wouldn’t say it was too healthy, it does have truffle oil for crying out loud, but the taste was just off.

If you want more individual items, the Mini Cubano sandwich with pork, ham, pickles, pepper jack cheese on taller bread was very good, as were the Shrimp tacos with cabbage, cilantro sauce on a corn tortilla.

Other dishes, many of which have been inspired by different European trends and flavors, with small dishes “bites” include Roasted Curry Cauliflower with garlic aioli; Leg of Lamb Pita Pockets with roasted lamb, Mediterranean salad, tahini sauce; Crab Cakes served with house made aioli and Watermelon, Feta & Mint salad. Large dishes “eats” include Seafood Paella with shrimp, scallops, calamari, white fish, chicken, port and veggies; Mushroom Risotto with Shiitake and Crimini mushrooms, peas and truffle oil; Veal Pasta farfalle pasta with mushrooms, onion, and white wine sauce; and Ahi Tuna Salad with sushi grade tuna, cucumber, cherry tomato, radish, ginger and Asian dressing.

It’s great to have another option in Culver City for good eats and drinks without the rush you’ll often find in downtown. Now bellying up to the bar for a good drink or taking in the lovely local scene just got easier. Now that’s a detour I’m willing to take and actually seek out.

The Detour Bistro Bar is located at 12473 W. Washington Blvd in Culver City. Open from 11am Monday - Friday for lunch, happy hour and dinner, and 10am on weekends for brunch.

Photography courtesy of: The Detour Bistro Bar

Story by Jose Martinez