Since its re-launch this summer with an all-new menu, renovations and craft cocktail program, the Venice Whaler has been serving the finest food and drinks you can get within sight of the Pacific.
Guests can now take that food with them onto the beach, the Venice Pier or to enjoy in the comfort of their own home with the debut of the Venice Whaler Take Away, a new beachside window delivering all of your Venice Whaler favorites and more.
The actual window in question has been a part of the space ever since it opened as the Crab Shell Bar in 1944.
The original incarnation served swirls of ice cream to sweltering customers, while more recently offering up pizza by the slice.
“I did with Venice Whaler Take Away exactly what I did in the Venice Whaler kitchen: I made it a little more upscale and special, but kept the dive bar feeling,” says chef Nick Liberato.
For those who need a little added dose of something special to get them going in the morning, the Venice Whaler Take Away opens daily at 7 am for locals heading to work and surfers looking to refuel after an early start on the waves. The less ambitious can still get breakfast until 11 am.
The Organic Coffees & Teas boast an array of caffeinated perfection for those who refuse to eat before their morning cup of java. Here you will find organically sourced beans from local roaster Groundworks that are used to create several coffee drinks such as the Chai, Vanilla and Mocha Lattes, Macchiato, Cappuccino and Americano. Of course, hot Coffee and Espresso are available as well.
The more health-conscience can delight in exploring the long list of Fresh-Squeezed Juices – 10 to be exact.
Named for hit songs by Pink Floyd, the Beach Boys and the Beatles (who were all known to hang out at the Venice Whaler back in the ‘60s and ‘70s), the freshly squeezed combinations go way beyond plain orange or apple.
For chilly winter mornings, Liberato loves the Kashmir, a warming mix of fresh apple and coconut juices with toasty cinnamon spice.
When the weather starts to warm up again, switch gears and try the invigorating Start Me Up which blends lime, fennel, fresh mint, ginger and refreshing cucumber.
For year-round, ever-nourishing goodness, the Good Vibrations blends lemon, apple, cucumber, celery, spinach, carrot and beets into a raw, ruby red concoction that will make you forget you are sipping on veggies.
Get happy – because fresh-squeezed juices are available every day until 6 pm to satisfy early risers and couch potatoes alike.
We all love brunch on the weekends, but don’t you find yourself wishing that you could enjoy some of those brunch time staples in the middle of the week?
The Venice Whaler Take Away is making that dream a reality by offering four options from the Venice Whaler’s popular weekend brunch menu, seven days a week from 7 am to 11 am.
Good Morning Food choices include everyone’s favorite Breakfast Sandwich built with eggs, thick-cut bacon, creamy avocado, peppery arugula and a smear of mayo between fresh baked bread.
The Surfer’s Burrito stuffs a large tortilla with grilled corn, spicy chorizo, eggs, potatoes and pico de gallo for a hearty, handheld feast you can eat on the go. Lighter options are also offered like the healthy Açaí Bowl with fresh sliced banana, local strawberries, house-made granola and a drizzle of honey.
After breakfast ends, the Venice Whaler Take Away switches to Day and Night Food, an assortment of portable lunch, dinner and snack-attack favorites that will keep you fueled until 2 am.
One example is the incredible Spicy Street Dog that you have enjoyed on the upper deck of the Venice Whaler, bacon-wrapped and topped with chilies and jalapeños.
Oh yeah, you definitely want to grab that to-go! If you go for the Buffalo or Honey Glazed Wings (do it!), just be sure to snag a few wet-naps when picking up your order.
Sashimi-grade ahi tuna mixed with macadamia nuts and micro-greens comes through the window in the form of a Poke Bowl, while the iconic seaside classic Fish & Chips features thick pieces of Belgium beer-battered cod, homemade tartar sauce, fresh avocado, fries and malt vinegar.
There are also eight different artisan Pizzas to choose from including the new Grape & Gorgonzola with blistered grapes and fresh thyme, along with the Chef Nick Liberato’s stand-by, The “Calidephia,” a spicy pie topped with chopped clams, Serrano chile, tomato, mozzarella, and fresh oregano.
The Chorizo & Egg pizza with Castelvetrano olives, mozzarella, arugula and a farm-fresh egg makes for the ultimate 1:30 am Venice Beach stoner snack.
Even the Venice Whaler’s Clam & Corn Chowder is available. “Nothing’s better right now than getting a nice bowl of hot clam chowder studded with bacon and taking a walk to the pier to watch the waves,” Liberato says.
Honoring the original intent for the window, the Venice Whaler Take Away Window will once again be offering boardwalk-style ice cream for adults and children of all ages to enjoy. When those warmer days come, you will definitely want a swirl of house-made Farmers Market Soft Serve Ice Cream.
Inspired by the freshest, locally sourced ingredients found at the neighborhood farmers market, seasonal ingredients will be carefully swirled into a rich, silky vanilla base, offering a rotating list of carefully curated flavors that will keep you coming back each week.
In fact, Liberato plans to take advantage of seasonal produce even further with a creative list of daily specials – stay tuned.
“There will be a constant rotation based on what is available at the market and what I want to play around with each day,” he says. Among his first specials will be a Meatball Sandwich and a plate of locally sourced Raw Oysters on the half shell.
Liberato is also thinking about offering Pizza by the Slice later in the evening.
“With the Venice Whaler Take Away being open nineteen hours a day, the vibe really changes as you go from breakfast to lunch to dinner, and then to late-night,” he says. “We wanted to be sure that there is always something to enjoy for everyone who comes up to the window at any given time.”
Venice Whaler Take Away is located at 10 West Washington Blvd., Venice. For more information, call 310.821.8737 or visit www.venicewhaler.com.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Venice Whaler Take Away
