Matsusaka and Fan strike again

  While the Smashbox folks dine on miso-marinated black cod at Beacon, the harried parents navigating the carpool lines at Culver City's nearby Willows School can now pick up a dinner of chef Kazuto Matsusaka's meatloaf and mashed potatoes.  Yup, meatloaf and mashed potatoes.  Or macaroni and cheese.  The Beacon chef -- a veteran of Ma Maison, Spago and Chinois -- and his partner and wife, Vicki Fan, opened their second restaurant today; there they're serving some decidedly homey fare.  The Point, located in the Hayden Tract area south of Venice Boulevard, is offering a mix of made-to-order dishes and prepared to-go meals, including breakfast, salads, panini, soups and "Mexican lasagna."  It's a great idea, and could well be a terrific addition to an increasingly foodie neighborhood. 

The Point, 8522 National Blvd; (310) 836-8400.  Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

-- Amy Scattergood

Photos by Myung J. Chun (Kazuto Matsusaka, left) and Stephen Osman (Vicki Fan, right)