Plan to arrive hungry at Waterloo & City in Culver City

Our restaurant critic, S. Irene Virbila, says there's nothing else quite like Waterloo & City in Culver City, in part because of their charcuterie: "OK, a lot of places make their own charcuterie. But the terrines, pates and cured meats here are the real thing — gutsy and irresistible. Check out the pigs' trotters and sweetbreads with salsa verde or the luxurious chicken liver and foie gras mousse, both, like everything here, served up in generous portions. Order the charcuterie individually or in platters from commoner to king. The king's selection at $26 will feed four to six."

Photo: The bar area at new gastropub Waterloo & City is packed with customers enjoying happy hour. The Culver City spot on Washington Boulevard is not a particularly beautiful space, but it is fun and full of life. Credit: Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times