Worth the Wait

With an outdoor café at least twice the size of the restaurant, and full virtually any time of day, 3 Square Café (1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310/399-6504 or rockenwagner.com) says all you need to know about the Venice lifestyle. The short chalkboard menu strikes the ideal balance of familiarity and intrigue with such offerings as a half-pound burger on the bakery’s famous pretzel roll, huevos rancheros with a small stuffed charred green chile and a side of avocado fries (fried avocado wedges), and seasonally inspired homemade soups.

You might have to wait to get in. You can count on it being too noisy for real conversation. Don’t go (or get) hungry, because they do not serve a speck of food. And no, there is no ocean view. Still, of all the bars on all of Abbot Kinney, The Other Room (1201 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310/396-6230 or theotherroom.com) is the place to wander into. End of story.

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