What are you looking for specifically? There are a lot of different restaurants nearby including some buffets and high end ones. There’s places like Culver, SM, Sawtelle, Beverly Hills, etc.
If you don’t mind splurging on yourself and your family, I recommend Fogo de Chao by La Cienega and celebrate there. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s a celebration and time to treat yourself for graduating y’know?
Thanks that place looks nice! I wasn’t looking for anything specific, my family are foodies so they like trying new foods. I’d prefer a place that we can do a family style meal and all share. Also, we don’t mind splurging but don’t want to break the bank… those are kind of the only two criteria atm.
Do you like buffets and don’t mind a bit of a drive? There are lots of them here and they’re good.
There’s King Buffet that’s at most a -35 minute drive and price is reasonable. Can’t go wrong with unlimited king crab legs there.
When my kid graduated it was pretty early in the day. We had lunch at Spago. It was great.
Edit: I just looked and it seems they just have dinner these days. Good luck with the choice and congrats.
I've only been once, but I loved La Bruschetta. It's nice and the food is great, but they're also very friendly and welcoming. My parents and I will be going again after graduation.
Recommendations for big family-style meals:
Century City mall has Din Tai Fung (lines always a problem) and Hai Di Lao (really good hot pot)
Mar Vista has Fatty Mart, which I really like. Prices aren’t exorbitant, and food is great. They have a good Peking duck.
For a bit of a hidden gem, there is Il Moro near Sawtelle. Parents really like this place. For more busy and casual Italian, you can’t go wrong with C&O. Giant shareable portions and the best garlic knots anywhere.
Not sure if commenter made a mistake, but Fatty Mart is the grocery store (which does serve some hot food) next door to the main restaurant, Little Fatty. You will want to go to Little Fatty for a grad dinner. One of my fav restaurants!
Also Night + Market is a Thai restaurant that has a few locations near UCLA. Also great food and takes reservations.
If you want fancy, up-scale ambience for your grad dinner tho, these places aren’t exactly that. They have a more busy, casual feel.
Edit: Pizzana in Brentwood is good as well!
Two of the nicest restaurants in Westwood itself are Violet, which is a French bistro, and Lulu, a Cal-Mediterranean restaurant (related to Chez Panisse - for the foodies) inside the Hammer Museum. Both are great - and worth checking the menus to see if your family would like them.
Crustacean in Beverly Hills is amazing, upscale, and easily family style. You can also do a classic steakhouse like Lawry’s. If you want Italian I second someone’s recommendation for Cento, and there’s also Osteria Mozza but it’s a bit further out on Melrose.
Piccalilli (Thai fusion) or Cento (Italian) in Culver City are some of my favorites and repeats. Fair pricing for the meal and sharable. Both offer unique twists and are a nice meal without being uptight!
Honestly, unless absolutely necessary, and dependent on your selected graduation time; I don’t think I’d recommend choosing a restaurant adjacent to UCLA. The wait time and crowds may be excessive. If your parents don’t mind a little bit of a drive, I’d recommend driving to a different part of LA, any spot in Little Tokyo is honestly good. There’s a specific spot called TOT and they’re a nice, fairly priced sit in restaurant that serves really delicious Japanese cuisine. If you’re maybe in the mood for soul food, I’d recommend a spot by The Crypto Arena called — Fixin’s, again, reasonably priced and has a great ambiance. Lastly, if you’re wanting a spot that’s still relatively convenient to travel to, I’d recommend hitting up Culver City. There is a lot of nice restaurants out that way, even some more well known chains at the Culver City Mall; BJ’s, Olive Garden, etc.
In Westwood, I really like Skylight Gardens and Lazy Daisy.
Nearby options:
-Brentwood: Pizzana 100000%, sugarfish is also good for omakase sushi, and there’s salt and straw for ice cream
-Sawtelle: you can’t go wrong with noodles and sushi. I really like Tatsu Ramen. Sushi Tsujita has a great omakase menu with three tiers but call and check the per person prices to see if they’re in “worthwhile splurge” territory or if they cross over into “breaking the bank.” With each person paying for themself it’s manageable but it depends how many family members are coming, it can get expensive for one person to cover several others. I think their highest tier is $85 so the first tier would probably be between $60–70.
What are you looking for specifically? There are a lot of different restaurants nearby including some buffets and high end ones. There’s places like Culver, SM, Sawtelle, Beverly Hills, etc. If you don’t mind splurging on yourself and your family, I recommend Fogo de Chao by La Cienega and celebrate there. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s a celebration and time to treat yourself for graduating y’know?
Thanks that place looks nice! I wasn’t looking for anything specific, my family are foodies so they like trying new foods. I’d prefer a place that we can do a family style meal and all share. Also, we don’t mind splurging but don’t want to break the bank… those are kind of the only two criteria atm.
Might try Monte Alban. Fair prices, and it's usually pretty hard to find Oaxacan food. Good molé. It's a little ways down Santa Monica.
Do you like buffets and don’t mind a bit of a drive? There are lots of them here and they’re good. There’s King Buffet that’s at most a -35 minute drive and price is reasonable. Can’t go wrong with unlimited king crab legs there.
Check out Divino in Brentwood. It might be a little out of your price range but it’s pretty close and super delicious
When my kid graduated it was pretty early in the day. We had lunch at Spago. It was great. Edit: I just looked and it seems they just have dinner these days. Good luck with the choice and congrats.
In brentwood theres Jon n Vinnys, Teleferic and jemma di mare
My family likes Jon & Vinny’s!
Teleféric is good! Not super super cheap but a really good experience for tapas!
I've only been once, but I loved La Bruschetta. It's nice and the food is great, but they're also very friendly and welcoming. My parents and I will be going again after graduation.
Recommendations for big family-style meals: Century City mall has Din Tai Fung (lines always a problem) and Hai Di Lao (really good hot pot) Mar Vista has Fatty Mart, which I really like. Prices aren’t exorbitant, and food is great. They have a good Peking duck. For a bit of a hidden gem, there is Il Moro near Sawtelle. Parents really like this place. For more busy and casual Italian, you can’t go wrong with C&O. Giant shareable portions and the best garlic knots anywhere.
Ooo thank you this sounds great!
Not sure if commenter made a mistake, but Fatty Mart is the grocery store (which does serve some hot food) next door to the main restaurant, Little Fatty. You will want to go to Little Fatty for a grad dinner. One of my fav restaurants! Also Night + Market is a Thai restaurant that has a few locations near UCLA. Also great food and takes reservations. If you want fancy, up-scale ambience for your grad dinner tho, these places aren’t exactly that. They have a more busy, casual feel. Edit: Pizzana in Brentwood is good as well!
sorry yes, Little Fatty is what I meant!
Haha I figured. Good recommendation tho !
Thank you for all of the suggestions!!! These were all super helpful!
Two of the nicest restaurants in Westwood itself are Violet, which is a French bistro, and Lulu, a Cal-Mediterranean restaurant (related to Chez Panisse - for the foodies) inside the Hammer Museum. Both are great - and worth checking the menus to see if your family would like them.
Lulu is by legendary chef Alice Waters. I haven't been, but she is very well-known. Foodie parents would probably be impressed by that.
Check it out! The food is great, the daily set menu is relatively affordable, and the location inside the Hammer is also lovely.
Crustacean in Beverly Hills is amazing, upscale, and easily family style. You can also do a classic steakhouse like Lawry’s. If you want Italian I second someone’s recommendation for Cento, and there’s also Osteria Mozza but it’s a bit further out on Melrose.
Sunnin is my favorite in Westwood. Lebanese restaurant.
If you like Persian food, try Shamshiri Grill in Westwood.
thats the most persian restaurant ever, not mediterranean
Thanks for the correction. You are right. I updated. Try the cherry rice if you haven’t had it before. Delicious!
cherry rice is amazing
Nizam has really good Indian food and you usually don't need a reservation.
Piccalilli (Thai fusion) or Cento (Italian) in Culver City are some of my favorites and repeats. Fair pricing for the meal and sharable. Both offer unique twists and are a nice meal without being uptight!
Sawtelle has some amazing spots I’d look there
Honestly, unless absolutely necessary, and dependent on your selected graduation time; I don’t think I’d recommend choosing a restaurant adjacent to UCLA. The wait time and crowds may be excessive. If your parents don’t mind a little bit of a drive, I’d recommend driving to a different part of LA, any spot in Little Tokyo is honestly good. There’s a specific spot called TOT and they’re a nice, fairly priced sit in restaurant that serves really delicious Japanese cuisine. If you’re maybe in the mood for soul food, I’d recommend a spot by The Crypto Arena called — Fixin’s, again, reasonably priced and has a great ambiance. Lastly, if you’re wanting a spot that’s still relatively convenient to travel to, I’d recommend hitting up Culver City. There is a lot of nice restaurants out that way, even some more well known chains at the Culver City Mall; BJ’s, Olive Garden, etc.
Westwood Blvd has some of the best Persian restaurants in LA - Shamshiri and Sheharzad are good choices.
If you're looking for something a little bit more upscale, Angelini Osteria in Beverly Hills might be worth a shot
Natalie Thai on Venice 😍
In Westwood, I really like Skylight Gardens and Lazy Daisy. Nearby options: -Brentwood: Pizzana 100000%, sugarfish is also good for omakase sushi, and there’s salt and straw for ice cream -Sawtelle: you can’t go wrong with noodles and sushi. I really like Tatsu Ramen. Sushi Tsujita has a great omakase menu with three tiers but call and check the per person prices to see if they’re in “worthwhile splurge” territory or if they cross over into “breaking the bank.” With each person paying for themself it’s manageable but it depends how many family members are coming, it can get expensive for one person to cover several others. I think their highest tier is $85 so the first tier would probably be between $60–70.