I choose this place for dinner from my memory of it when we used to live in the Marina.
4211 Admiralty Way Marina Del Rey, CA
310-448-8900
http://www.organicpanificio.com/
When you drive up it looks like an empty diner with a pretty cool back deck right on the water. They had fire pits heating it up so Myles and I thought that was really cool. We walked up they were quick to tell us to sit wherever we like (the restaurant was at 25% capacity). We sat next to the fire and Dad sat so he could see the basketball game:)
The waiter, Daniel (dad thought he said Enrique but I found him later and asked him and it was actually Daniel... which then made him nervous but we did not realize until later, which I will get to) was not dressed normal. He looked like he was a pirate. There were normal waiters dressed nice so it confused me. Once seated he immediately took our drink order which was also nice. Dad placed it, although I was perfectly capable, soda for us to split, an Arnold Palmer for himself, and crispy (I'm thinking fried) onions. Myles likes onion rings but I do not but Dad said I would.
The drinks came in non-kid friendly glasses but they did have straws (which later we realized was kind of a bad move). They also gave us water and added lemon (which was not a cheap skate move but i don't like them). Myles took my lemon and made a water, lemon, soda dilution like drink. We both just sipped the soda (it was a treat for yesterday being Myles's last baseball game). Dad drank his drink fast and the waiter never asked him about it again so he drank water.
When we ordered entrees the waiter was somewhat helpful but he did not know what the kids entrees came with?. Myles ordered a cheese burger and me a hot dog with fries. Dad asked Mr Suave (at this point we still had his name wrong) for a recommendation and he suggested the pasta, fillet, broccoli dish over the Turkey bolognese.
Note too, at this point we were the only kids in there. Lots of older-older couples and it was 630pm on a Saturday now about 40% full (outside and empty inside). My dad was probably the next closest to us in age.
The crispy onion rings came first, massive mound of skinny rings. Definitely fried. There was cilantro and salt added (good), very crunchy and I give it a 6.5 (any onion rings were a 0 prior). They didn't taste like onions. Myles gave them a 10. Remember all organic. Myles and I snacked on them throughout dinner.
The food came quickly, 20 minutes or so after we ordered. Everything looked great and we all got into it. Then two minutes later, Dad realized the dish was very much like the bolognese, at about the same time Daniel was looking over realizing the kitchen sent us the other table's order (but with the kids dishes). The other table was much more disappointed than we were (especially when we, and they, saw the other dish).
The food was great and we had a good time for a fake kid friendly place. They should have kid cups with tops! Myles spilled his drink 2 times. The waiter was a nice guy after all but the place itself did not support him well. They should have given him a dress code, better knowledge of the menu, kid friendly stuff, and not put his food with the wrong order. Overall I give this place a 7.
If you have specific questions or would like me to recommend another place to you email me @ dtgoodrich@gmail.com. Just let me know what your looking for and I'll let you know.
Next week I will review Manhattan Beach's Fresh N Easy and The Beach Hut.
Other resource and Organic Panificio reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g32684-d1070694-Reviews-The_Organic_Panificio-Marina_del_Rey_California.html
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-organic-panificio-marina-del-rey-3
http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/46362959
http://theguide.latimes.com/marina-del-rey/restaurants/the-organic-panificio-venue
http://www.menuism.com/restaurants/cfOt4uqGyr3Afaaby-t3N_-the-organic-panificio-marina-del-rey-ca
http://www.chow.com/places/30749
