Superba Snack Bar slipped so easily into its community, and so quickly seemed inherent to its Rose Avenue neighborhood, that it felt as if it had been there all along. The small, square building, cut open at the front so that the majority of the dining room is actually a patio, sits nestled among the bungalows of Venice like the street's festive front deck. Here's a restaurant where the servers are more than helpful — they're genuinely excited and knowledgeable about the food and drink. Here's a wine list that's quirky without being completely fad-driven, where food-friendliness comes first. And in Jason Neroni, here's a chef who understands what's appropriate for casual California dining, and Venice dining in particular. His small plates of veggies, charcuterie, meat dishes and handmade pastas are brimming with flavor, and ingredients are combined in ways that are unexpected without being gimmicky. Your spaghettini might come with uni, Dungeness crab, miso butter and pickled jalapeños; your heirloom pumpkin might come with a Sichuan pepper crust, pomegranate, brown butter and ricotta salata. 533 Rose Ave., Venice; (310) 399-6400, superbasnackbar.com. Mon.-Thurs., 6-10:30 p.m.; Fri., 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. & 5-11:30 p.m.; Sat., 5:30-11:30 p.m.; Sun., 5:30-10 p.m. Brunch, Sat.-Sun., 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Entrees $14-$20; pasta tasting menu $45; snack tasting menu $65. Beer and wine.

 

Besha Rodell's Introduction

Anne Fishbein's Photography

The Google Map

 

The 99 Essential Restaurants List:

A-Frame
Alma
Angelini Osteria
Animal
Attari Sandwich Shop
Bäco Mercat
Bar Amá
The Bazaar
Bestia
BierBeisl
Bludso's
Cacao Mexicatessen
Canelé
La Casita Mexicana
Cemitas Poblanas Elviritas
Chichen Itza
Chung King
Cole's
Coni'Seafood
Cube Cafe & Marketplace
Din Tai Fung
Eva
Father's Office
Fred 62
Gjelina
Golden Deli
Go's Mart
Il Grano
Guelaguetza
Guisados
Hatfield's
Ha Tien Quan
Hawkins House of Burgers
Hayat's Kitchen
El Huarache Azteca
Huckleberry
The Hungry Cat
ink.
Jar
Jitlada
JTYH Heavy Noodle II
Kang Ho Dong Baekjong
Kiriko
Kiyokawa
Kogi Truck
Krua Siri
L&E Oyster Bar
Langer's
Little Dom's
Lucques
Ludo Truck
Lukshon
Mariscos Jalisco
Matsuhisa
Meals by Genet
Mélisse
Milo and Olive
Mo-Chica
Musso & Frank
Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa
Nickel Diner
Night + Market
Oinkster
Osteria Mozza
Pann's
Pa-Ord Noodle
El Parian
Park's BBQ
Philippe the Original
Picca
Pink's
Pizzeria Mozza
Playa
Pollo a la Brasa
Providence
R&R Soul Food
Ración
Red Medicine
Ricky's Fish Tacos
Rivera
Rocio's Moles de los Dioses
Salt's Cure
Sapp Coffee Shop
Savoy Kitchen
Sea Harbour
Shanghai No. 1 Village Seafood
Soban
Son of a Gun
Sotto
Spago
The Spice Table
Superba Snack Bar
Tacos Leo
The Tasting Kitchen
Tavern
Tsujita LA
Vincenti Ristorante
Wurstküche
Zam Zam Market

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