Food Reviews: Samosa House, Gjusta and Sapp Coffee Shop

Samosa HouseNo one really comes to Santa Monica for the food. Often overpriced and usually mediocre, restaurants usually choose to pander to tourists rather than developing a local audience. Fortunately, Main Street provides a haven from the tourist-trap environment (and prices) of Downtown Santa Monica. Samosa House is Main Street’s newest addition, the fourth location of a family-owned chain of vegetarian Indian restaurants and grocery stores. Walking in, you’re greeted by the unmistakeable smell of curry and a front-row view of a steam-table with a dozen dishes that rotate daily. Now, at Samosa House, there are two ways to order. You can choose from the dishes you see in front of you, piled high on a school-lunch tray (3 dishes + rice, bread and soup for $10.05; I’d recommend the jackfruit curry and the saag paneer). Alternatively, you can order off of their small, but mighty menu. My favorite dish is the masala dosa ($6.99), a thin, crispy pancake made from lentil flour wrapped around a filling of curried potatoes, onions, and mung beans and served with dipping sauces and soup. And, of course, don’t forget their massive samosas ($1.60 each)!GjustaHave you ever been scrolling through Instagram when you come across a flawlessly picturesque photo of someone’s brunch? Chances are that brunch came from Gjusta. Gjusta is Venice’s best-kept secret. It serves a dual purpose in the community. On the one hand, it’s a great place for neighborhood residents to grab breakfast on a weekday morning. On the other hand, it’s one of the most trendy places to eat in the L.A. Basin. It’s a pretty comical scene, watching people in t-shirts and sweatpants jockeying for tables against other people in starched shirts and fancy vintage skirts. But they’re all there for the amazing food. Gjusta is a sort of jack of all trades. Their breads and baked goods are among the city’s best. They smoke their own fish and cold cuts in-house. Their sandwiches are wonderfully creative. They even make great pizzas. Some favorites include the bialy egg ($7.50), a sandwich of a perfectly fried organic egg, bacon, collard greens, and harissa ketchup, all atop an onion bialy (similar to a bagel), and the gravlax sandwich with burrata and a slew of heirloom vegetables ($9.50). For vegetarians, they make a fantastic market greens “croque madame,” a mixture of sautéed greens, cheese, and cream sauce inside a thick piece of hollowed-out sourdough bread, topped with a fried egg ($13).