Ford's Filling Station

Being a chef, very cool sighting at my favorite neighborhood spot..... Alice Waters!!! It looked like she asked for a table for 4 even though she had 6 people. The Chef was bringing food to the table and enjoying a glass of wine with her in between courses. One of my friends had no idea who she was and the two were in awe of the relevant chef in the US if not the world.

Pros: cool sightings

Cons: none here

A few days ago I went to Ford's for happy hour, which turned into a long dinner when some colleagues walked in. We were sitting in the middle of the main room minding our business about to sign the check after the most delicious meal when one of the servers brought out a dessert to the table next to us. Since I had opted for no dessert, I was curious to see what they ordered. It was a jewelry box!!!!! His girlfriend was so surprised when he proposed. I looked around and every women around had tears in their eyes. It was such a beautiful moment. Life is beautiful.

Pros: sweet vibe, food and music

A few days ago I went to Ford's for happy hour, which turned into a long dinner when some colleagues walked in. We were sitting in the middle of the main room minding our business about to sign the check after the most delicious meal when one of the servers brought out a dessert to the table next to us. Since I had opted for no dessert, I was curious to see what they ordered. It was a jewelry box!!!!! His girlfriend was so surprised when he proposed. I looked around and every women around had tears in their eyes. It was such a beautiful moment. Life is beautiful.

Pros: sweet vibe, food and music

I went to Ford's Filling Station on Saturday afternoon with 2 friends for lunch. The menu has a good selection but the food was only ok (nothing so delicious that I would go back). The servcie was slow and they were not busy at 1pm on Saturday, so we really didn't understand why it took so long for her to take our order or deliver our food. They also messed up one order when the hamburger is supposed to come with carmelized onions and the burger was delivered without what the menu said it came with. It was an ok lunch but with only one alcholic drink, the bill was $72, so I don't really have a need to try this place again.

Pros: Located in a cute area in Culver City

Cons: Slow service, waitress got our order wrong

i really liked the BAR.

Our party of four arrived for dinner and was completely ignored at the door by several staff members. The hostess and waitress (Marie) were so rude and unprofessional that we almost left in disgust before finishing our meal. The food was decent, especially the meat and cheese platters and the flatbreads, but there are too many other really great restaurants in the area to put up with such bad service!

Pros: Bar

Cons: Service, staff

I'm a local thats been a regular at this place and they never dissapoint me. Their meat and cheese platters and their flat breads are so good! Whenever a friends comes into town i always bring them here and they love the place. once in a while you get to see ben ford.. the owner of the place!

Pros: everything

Cons: none

So the last time I was there...
Yikes. Bad Service. Eh food. and even the drinks were (apperently I'm not allowed to say cr*p [*=a] on city search). So Last Sat. my friend really wanted to go, event after I told her all about what had happened. So we went. Um...180 anyone? Greeted immediately. Sat in less than 10 minutes. Our server was great. He was really helpful and steered us in the right way as far as food choice. I had a flatbread with burata (sp?) cheese on it. Amazing. So, I gotta say, it wasn't nearly as bad as I remembered. Dare I say...good? Ah screw it. I'll be back.

I really liked this place. It was a lot more casual than I expected and that was kind of refreshing. I loved the menu and thought the platter of assorted meats and cheeses was awesome. I'm still not brave enough to try the head cheese but I have every intention of going back and taking the plunge. Try it.

Last night was awesome at the filling station. We had a great time sitting at the bar. It was my friend's first time, and he said it felt like we were sitting in his living room. The music selection was stellar. We played a couple games of backgammon while sipping on some delicious wine. After an hour of after watching everyone's plates be devoured around us, we decided to go with the rabbit and octopus specials. THey were both to die for.

Pros: great games and menu

Cons: lot of people on friday nights

I'm definitely a foodie, and I enjoy going to all of the local food and wine events in the LA area. I have been lucky enough to have quite a few chats with some big named chefs in this area. So, that is the reason why I finally made it to this restaurant, which is a bit of a drive from where I live in Brentwood. Ben seems to be a very warm, down to earth person the few times I have seen and chatted with him.

So you can understand that when my husband and I went there for our first time, I was assuming the staff would be up to par with his persona...NOT THE CASE! The waiter ( Aaron) made my husband and I feel uncomfortable from the time he stepped up to our table. He's one of those guys that is disappointed that you aren't going to be bringing a doggie bag home along with us. He's attitude was " You're only going to order the 18.00 cheese plate and the a 13.00 dollar Salad...., and your only having two ten dollar cocktails, and a bottle of Pellegrino" Mind you it was 11:30 in the morning on a saturday. He's attitude was lousy, and my husband and I were greatly disappointed. I asked to speak with the manager ( Teresa). She was just as condescending...she made excuses for him, more than she tried to resolve the manner professionally. Then she thought if she offered us something free, it would turn the whole situation around. I kindly told her, we didn't ask you to come here to offer us something free...We wanted to let you know personally that your staff is behaving with a salty attitude towards customers who are generous tippers, no matter how much our bill comes out to be. I had also advised her that I have seen and spoken to Ben at several events, and I would definitely tell him my feed back when I see him again. She comes back to the table afterwards and tries to quiz me to see what events I have seen him at! SERVICE WAS UNBEARABLE!! The food was good, but not enough for us to go back to the restaurant. Definitely don't recommend it!

Pros: Food

Cons: Bad service, and Management

You know how you find a place and want to back again and again because there's always something new - and it's always good? Well, I found my place in LA...and here are my thoughts. I was in LA for 10 days - 5 of us ate at fords the second night. Came back for lunch 3 times - yes - I made the drive all the way from Hollywood - it was my comfort spot in this beautiful little neighborhood. Jamon Serrano, Hot Sopressata, and Mortadella - little olives - ate the plate clean - delicious! Also tried this new dish they recommended called Sturgeon Confit with smoked tomatoes and olive and leek compote on a crostini - yikes it was incredible!! I was skeptical but it was major delicious. 4 Cheese Pizza on flatbread - light and savory! Kusshi Oysters - small and succulent - (usually I get tough big ones in other restaurants) great! Roasted Beet Salad - my mother used to force to eat beets - so this is the first time since a kid to eat them on a dare at the table - I loved them!!! (in shock) Buttermilk Fried Chicken - I am from the south so I wondered about this one but decided to try because our server recommended it - but it was crispy and boneless - on top of great potatoes and succotash .... I have died and gone to heaven! Polenta Cake - wow - I had no idea polenta could be so delicious. Fish and Chips - Every bite was perfect! We also tried the Shrimp Curry - as a curry aficionado I have to admit this is really good - the bacon on top and the toppings on the side make it perfect. And something that brought me back for lunch 3 more times ( I am now addicted) - the Pulled Pork Panini! Unbelievable! I hated to see the last bite go. For dessert we had dark chocolate Tobblerone ice cream. Silky and rich!!! Also had the banana split - we all devoured it too...with three scoops of all the Toblerone flavors in it. Yummy and big! And one more thing - they make fresh lemonade there - couldn't resist! I am so crazy about this restaurant. It feels so good and comfortable.

Pros: It feels so comfortable and alive. Consistency is key.

Cons: Ford's is in LA and I am in Texas.

My fiance and I went here last night for the first time. I can't say enough good things about it. I had the flat iron steak. It was cooked to perfection. Fiance had the special, sturgeon, which was amazing. It was presented on mashed potatoes that had been whipped up with sturgeon. The food was impeccable. Everything was so intentional and well-matched. The service was good. Laid-back and not too pushy. I was very impressed and the place was worth every penny.

Pros: Food, location, free Culver City parking, drinks

Cons: pricey (worth it though)

Usually on everyone's list to try, Father's Office has become a nuisance to go to. The microbrews and the much ballyhooed burger is worthy of accolades, the wait and the seating is just about unbearable. A friend and I decided to try out Ford's Filling Station. Although they don't have any microbrews to speak of, they do have decent beers on tap. We ordered the burger...pretty darn good and much heartier than FO. The place was fairly packed on Saturday night, but we were able to get a seat at the bar within minutes and a table in less than 30 minutes. Overall, pretty decent. However, take note that a new FO is suppose to open in Culver City in 08.

Pros: In the heart of downtown Culver City - great meal before movie or walking around afterwards

Cons: A little on the pricier end

Last week, my husband & I went to Ford?s for a special lecture/dinner entitled, ?What the hell is a Gastropub?? The evening featured true gastropub dishes (too many to list here!) & special guest, Peter Bouckaert, brewmaster of New Belgium Brewery. Each of our chosen courses was paired w/ a New Belgium brew. Once we ordered, Ford began his lecture, which was informative, thought provoking, informal & fun. The food was impeccable (as it has been every time we have eaten at Ford?s). We started w/ Chilled Marinated Leeks & Smoked Trout Brandade. Both were beyond delicious. My leeks were marinated in a vinaigrette made from New Belgium?s La Folie beer; the taste was epic. My husband swore he wanted to eat the Smoked Trout Brandade everyday for the rest of his life. For entrees, we ordered Shoreman?s Pie w/ crab, clams, leeks, sweet peas & truffle potato + vegetarian polenta w/ frisee & herb mascarpone (this wasn?t on the menu but was kindly prepared for me). Our entrees were stellar. The mascarpone was to die for & my husband thoroughly enjoyed the Shoreman?s Pie, an unconventional take on a classic dish. For dessert, we ordered Ricotta w/ Chestnut Honey. Totally amazing. All of the paired beers definitely complimented the food. We thought the idea & actualization was adventurous & perfectly appropriate. Overall, the evening was immensely enjoyable + a good deal on all of the food & beer we were served. Ford?s enthusiasm & commitment to his beliefs were palpable, both in his speech, as well as in the food. Yes, the proof is in the pudding. Nowhere else can you find a chef so dedicated to creating a restaurant with a welcoming vibe, community spirit & unpretentious atmosphere that serves innovative comfort food using the freshest seasonal ingredients & truly pushes boundaries. We?ll definitely be back for the upcoming lectures/dinners, as well as whenever we want our mouths & minds challenged, enlightened & satisfied by one of the best restaurants/chefs in town.

Pros: incomparable food

We went for lunch and arrived wet (it was raining) and bedraggled. The hostess took one look at my droopy 10 year old and led us to the totally empty patio. I got the message and protested. She told me the main room was only for reservations, but when I told her that unless we occupied one of the empty tables in the warmer area we were leaving, she gave us a table (but not after banging the menus onto our table after seating us). My daughter wanted to leave, but I knew the food was great and our waitress was charming, so we stayed and enjoyed the fried clams (which is a huge platter for an appetizer, with a terrific tartar sauce). My kid had the baguette french toast with bacon and strawberries, which was delicious. I finished with one of the biggest cappucinos I've had recently and on our way out spotted the grumpy hostess eating lunch at one of the "reserved" tables. It did put a damper on a rainy but tasty lunch.

Pros: Food and presentation

Cons: Grumpy hostess, table games

i wanted this place to be cool. but the beer is lame, the bar staff is lame. the food is good -- on occasion. we need good bars in cc, so come on fords, get it together.

My boyfriend and I had never been so we checked it out on Friday night. The restaurant was packed and the wait was too long for a table so we decided to eat dinner at the bar. The two female bartenders were really knowledgable and very gracious. The food and the dessert was really good too. We'll definitely be back.

Pros: Bar, Food

Cons: Need reservations for a table

Ate her based on reviews alone, ordered apps at the bar, good service, loud room, good casual decor. the shrimp pizza was terrible, and the salad was boring and bland. I would return for drinks but not the food.

Having read lots about Ford's Filling Station on a walk around Culver City we thought we would try it. I ordered the fish and chips and my friend ordered a burger. The fish was greasy and pretty boring especially for the price of $22. My friend's burger was better than the fish but still for the prices you would expect the service to be better. The servers seemed more interested in talking with each other than being attentive to the customers. We sat outside and they rarely came out to the tables. We probably won't go back and have told our local friends it's not worth the money. Too bad as we were hoping for great food!

Pros: easy to access and parking in the neighborhood

Cons: terrible service and overpriced

My husband and I went here on a date and luckily we made reservations bc the place was hopping. Though we were seated quickly due to our reservations our server didn't approach us for our drink or food order for over 15 minutes. We order the fish and chips and the burger and both were less than mediocore. The fish and chips were $22 and basically just a greasy, bland mess. The burger was better, but just OK - if you're going to pay over $15 it should really good. And like I said before, the service was pretty terrible. Our server checked on us once the whole night after bringing our food and we had to hunt her down to get our check. And believe me, we weren't in a hurry it's just that we didn't want to spend over 3 hours waiting around.

Decent selection of beers.

Pros: Ambience/Decor, Beer Selection

Cons: Service, Price, Food

I was visiting girlfriends in LA and my friend lived just a few blocks from here so when I got into town we went here first. The food was good and the service too, but it seemed a bit overpriced. It wasn't like a really nice, posh restaurant and the food wasn't much posh either but the prices were. Was busy though and my gal says it's fair new so they must be doing much right, right?

Pros: live, for sure.

Cons: not relaly best value for price

My friends and I are hard to please! Found that the food was very, very fresh, perfectly prepared, neither over seasoned nor under seasoned and servers were accommodating and agreeable. Nice mix of children and adults were present at the 6:30 p.m. seating on the side patio.

With summer still in full swing, there is nothing more enjoyable than stopping by Ford's. Capitalizing on his use of fresh ingredients in keeping with the season, Chef Ford & his talented kitchen staff never cease to amaze me with their innovative flavor sensations, the newest of which I had last week - New England Crab Cakes with strawberry relish. Simply delectable. The crab is fresh & tasty laced with just the right hint of peppers and onion. The flavors simply pop in your mouth & the strawberry relish is a simply incredible taste sensation. It glides over the palate with a slight sweetness & a hint of fragrance of a summer breeze wafting over a strawberry patch. Divine. I could make a meal of just the relish. One of my faves is still the Caesar salad with fresh white anchovies but with chicken added. Light, tasty and the crusted boneless chicken breast on top - simply succulent. One of the talented bartenders introduced me to a great afternoon summer drink of vodka-pomegranate juice and sprite. Light and delicious. A lunch "must have" is the steak sandwich with a horseradish creme dressing (but get extra dressing) & 3 potato wedges that had just the right amount of crispness on the outside with a flavorful potato taste inside. The perfect size and perfect amount of food for an afternoon. Not a dessert person, I was compelled to try the Almond brown butter cake with bing cherries. Forget the cherries. The cake is great and reminds me of a butter cake my grandmother used to make. Yummy. I still say Ford's has the friendliest most competent and attentive servers and bartenders around, not to mention chefs whose talents are amazing. I can't say it enough to potential Ford's diners, for food, drink, friendly atmosphere and attentive staff and management, FORD'S FILLING STATION is THE best place in Culver City and them some. Make a reservation, plan to have a litle bit of a wait on weekend nights, but your taste buds will be well rewarded.

Pros: Animal, vegetable and tasty libations all rolled into one

Cons: Midnight closing

Who knew Culver City would become so cool? Ford?s Filling Station definitely has the location thing locked down. Not so much the food. There?s more hype than substance here. And although the menu items sound interesting, I can?t say the same for the execution. Aside from the slightly fancier ingredients, the food is average at best. If you are looking for an amazing culinary experience, you might be disappointed. Upside, it?s in a cool part of town and the restaurant, at least for now, is a hip place to be.

Pros: Ambience, Location

Cons: Average food

Due to numerous recommendations and Ben Ford's impressive culinary resume, I expected much more from FFS. Pros first: the decor is warm, and the hostesses were friendly. This was, however, by far the worst dining experience I've had at this high price point, and I actually think the food made me sick that night and the following day.

We ordered the white shrimp flatbread to start, which was completely flavorless. For entrees, we had the pub burger and the night's special, a shrimp scampi over arugula risotto. The burger's blue cheese overwhelmed the flavor, and the greens in the burger seemed limp and soggy. As a passionate burger afficionado, I knew right away that it was not worth $16. The onion rings were fine, though, with a unique crispy batter.

The shrimp scampi was a complete waste of $25, and the first time I considered sending a dish back. After navigating through the ginormous shells, there was actually very little edible meat. Both the shrimp and the risotto had no real discernable flavors besides saltiness and fishiness.

We thought perhaps they would redeem themselves with dessert, and we chose the creme brulee, a dish that isn't too hard to get right. It had the consistency and taste of chocolate pudding with a top that had no crackle. It was accompanied by a chocolate caramel thing on some wax paper that was presented in such a way that made it look like...well imagine what a log of chocolate on a piece of paper looks like. Very unattractive.

A table of 4 not-so-picky foodies, we were all disappointed in our meal, especially since much of it was based on our waiter's recommendations. The evening ended on an appropriate note when the waiter forgot about us and had us wait for about 15 minutes to pick up our check. All of this could have been chalked up to a run of bad ordering luck, but getting sick the next day after eating at an expensive restaurant is unacceptable in my book. Disappointed on all fronts.

Pros: Warm atmosphere, friendly hosts

Cons: Disappointed in everything we ordered

They had a great tuna confit dish served in a jar with crusty bread and rock salt. It was amazing!! We tried the Kobe sliders and duck taquitos - both were outstanding. This is now officially my new Friday hangout...transition into the weekend :-)

Pros: Great happy hour concept, nice afternoon vibe

Disappointing---

I had to laugh when ,in your sign-up instructions you ask me if this is my first "massage." No, but it is my first "mEssage."

Being a foody, I have been to many fine restaurants. I have a taste for good tasting meals. I always remember what I ordered if I like a place. Sometimes, if it is not very good, I also remember. In this case, I remember this restaurant as being very disappointing. I ordered the chicken plate. Very mediocre chicken, gooey, runny mashed potatoes, and some corn kernels. I may have been eating at a diner with this very boring dish. The other two people at my table had equally forgettable items at outrageous prices. The ambience is like that of a beer joint. The side patio is very plain, but is the best place to sit, as the front patio has tremendous noise due to the traffic. This place is highly overrated. The best thing I can say is that no one got sick. I would not want to go back to this restaurant again.

Pros: No one got sick.

Cons: Food was mediocre, overly high prices, below average service

I went into Fords for lunch today. The place was soooo packed but the hostess told us we could eat at the bar if we wanted to. My friend and I ended up having what is considered to be one of LA?s best burgers. The greatest part of our lunch was when our bartender started playing dice with us! It was nice to visit Fords at lunch rather than dinner for once, different menu / different energy. Both of which I enjoy a great deal. I am usually take meetings there at dinner but it seems like lunch is the real meeting spot.

Pros: great for lunch meetings

A group of friends and I have been determined to find some great places in town. Well this is one of them. I really had a good time at this bar. The bartenders were awesome and the place had a really cool vibe. Thanks for a great night.

Pros: easy parking

I just clicked into the site and it looks like today the new site went up for Ford's! It is awesome - gives you the feel and texture of the restaurant itself.....makes me hungry.....for a great porcetta sandwich.

Pros: It feels so comfortable there, and the food is so good. They took us as a walkin on a busy night -

I can not say enough good things about this place. I absolutely love it!!! Great food, service and drinks! If you sit outside, they'll even offer you a blanket to keep you warm. I'd go there everyday if I could. Definitely try the Mojito, so tasty!

Pros: Everything!!!!!!

Cons: Nothing

I went here for dinner last night and had the special sturgeon and a flatbread as app, which was too thin, like a cracker, but the dessert was fabu, a peach tartlet of some sort with peach ice cream. You can tell it was homemade and though out well.

Pros: Dessert was yum, very unique

Cons: Flatbread too flat!

the food is very simple , not that creative but it is a good place to meet and hang out with people .Charcuterie is good , the cheese platter need work .the staff is friendly and the place is cute

Had a wonderful time here recently (after a very bad experience at Bottlerock) - the food, service and atmosphere of this place totally cheered me up. Tom (the bartender) made us great vodka martinis and was very attentive and patient with us (since we were there for like 6 hours)! We had wonderful cheese and charcuterie plates (the petite basque and machengo were really good) and fish & chips (upscale version of this classic pub food, with fresh cod, fried asparagus, etc.). We also had a yummy brownie sundae followed by lots and lots of delicious wine. I can't wait to go back! (Tip - for dinner, you do need advance reservations as the place gets packed!)

Pros: Great Food, Service & Drinks - what else could you ask for

We had the most amazing 3 course meal here last Thursday. We shared the burrata/prosciutto salad - it was very good and a HUGE portion. I had the appetizer special of the day - steamed clams, which was more than large enough for an entree portion. My husband had the delicious fish & chips. He gave it 5 stars, and he should know, he's a Brit. The dessert was amazing as well - rhubarb crumble. Not the cheapest place but an all-around non-rushed, excellent meal & great wait staff.

I just had the best experience at this restaurant. I came in for a beer and a late lunch and I ended up pulling one of their books off of their book shelf and stayed there for the afternoon reading and enjoying myself in what was a casual afternoon. I completely lost track of time and was soon surrounded by dnner diners. So I said, "what the heck, lunch was so good why not have dinner." I just had a great time.

Pros: relaxing in the day, fun at night

Cons: needs more Jim Harrison on the book shelf

I like to go in to Ford's a couple times a week and sit at the bar. Most of the time I eat and it is quite good. I had thought about writing them a review in the past but felt compelled after my meal last night. My friend had the most unbelievable Halibut and I had my new favorite dish, the polenta cake. Im not a vegetarian and I don't usually order vegetarian dishes but the bartender suggested I try it. It was really satisfying for someone who is used to steak and potatoes.

Pros: Friendly staff, delicious food, fun on weekends

Cons: crowded on weekends

Seriously, I don't get all the good reviews about this place. I guess if you like overpaying for average food, bad service, long wait and pretentious menu then this is the place for you. Other than that, Culver City Rocks!!!

Pros: Culver city

Went to FFS for the first time last Saturday. My friend had raved about the steamed clam special, which we ordered one each of, plus a duck salad to share, and drinks. The clams would have been OK if not for the inclusion of pretty-shelled, but gross-to-eat longneck (I think that's what they're called) clams. The duck salad was overdressed, weighing down the delicate baby lettuces, and the duck iteslf (which I normally adore) was gamey and poorly-seasoned. My glass of wine was good (cote de rhone) and my friend seemed to like his fiery martini made with jalepeno, but I didn't care for it. Just not my taste. Other than the food, the service was slow and not particularly inviting. And sitting outside, our dining neighbor had a rodent perching on his lap, which he flung into the restaurant window, then scurried away, causing a customer or two to scream. The servers had no clue any of this happened, and when the man told them, they did not apologize or offer us anything to make up for the unappetizing experience. Not that it was their fault, but it reflects on them nonetheless. I would not go to FFS again, and I would not recommend it.

Pros: Location

Cons: Food, Service

My wife and I love this place. Can get busy on the weekends, we actually prefer going during the week. Such a great atmosphere, teriffic food, and a solid staff. I totally recommend checking this place out oh and also make sure to take a look at the wine list - great menu.

rustic minimal vibe, friendly staff, good cocktails (one of the rare places that have both fresh caipirhinia AND mojitos)! Only had Shrimp flatbread app at the bar and not a full dinner so can't say much on that but menu seemed solid. Shrimp scampi esque topping was delicious w/ the slices of lemon and the charcuterie menu was great for the bar. I'd definitely go back for real dinner.

For the price we paid, the food was okay. It's a hip "In" place. Waitress was excellent and friendly. Kobe Beef was okay -- but for $32, it was too mushy to actually taste what made Kobe Beef so famous. Wine list was small and very expensive for their value. Food was not creative, but the atmosphere is hip but relaxed. Food didn't stand out from the rest of higher end hip restaurants in town. Good place to go after movies.

Pros: Easy parking. Good Ambience.

Cons: Price.