Where’s the damn horseradish on that prime rib? Or am I missing it?
I had to ask for a side, those hipsters tried to bamboozle me. I took the pic while I waited impatiently.
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Fucking hipsters
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It’s funny I would never think to order a burger there, but it looks really good. And miso-date cookie? Why didn’t I think of that ?! sounds great
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Read somewhere that their burger blend has bone marrow in it. Then, standing at the counter, saw five burgers go out. Sold!
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Update 7:
Sometimes you have a craving for something and then get lured away by other things on a spectacular menu… I was craving the Turkey or Prime Rib Butcher, but then Gjusta’s awesome salad case with rotating fresh Farmer’s Market Salads caught my eye and then I got distracted by other stuff…
Summer Squash Salad + Roasted Broccolini Salad:
One of the coolest and nicest things about Gjusta is their willingness to let the customer customize. FYI: You can order any size for their deli case salads and they’ll let you go “half and half” if you want and choose 2 different Salads to sample at once (sweet!). 
Their Summer Squash Salad is fabulous! Fresh, meaty, tender Summer Squash, great quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Their Roasted Broccolini Salad is even more fantastic, tender, lightly spicy from the Chili Flakes, but with a wonderful smokiness.
Multi-Grain Porridge Waffle (Butter & Syrup):
So it turns out Gjusta takes some of their freshly made Multi-Grain Porridge, whips in some Egg Whites and then drops it into their Waffle Iron to make their Multi-Grain Porridge Waffles. And?
Stop it. Please someone tell Gjusta’s chefs to stop their outrageous cooking! These Multi-Grain Porridge Waffles might sound weird, but then you bite into these piping hot, toasted, fragrant, crispy, fluffy Waffles of Happiness and you forget everything else!
WOW, these are SO GOOD! 
These Waffles are Multi-Grain and so there’s a nuttiness and heartiness to them as well. It doesn’t feel like “empty carbs” that you’re eating, but instead a fantastic Waffle that has a real bite to it (from the Multi-Grain Porridge base). A bit of the delicious Butter and Maple Syrup and these are some of the best Waffles I’ve had in a long time (different from the ones at Howlin’ Rays, which were lighter and thinner). Just awesome!
Hazelnut Roll:
Instead of the usual heavy, overly sugary “Cinnamon Roll” that most of America might be used to, Gjusta elevates the idea into a “Hazelnut Roll,” which is light on the overloaded sweetness and is more like a flaky, light, nutty Pastry: Their Hazelnut Roll has a light, thin glaze, is only lightly sweet (thankfully) and has actual Hazelnuts inside the inner rings of the pastry! It’s a lighter, tasty way to start the day. 
Cheese Burger (Seeded Pain de Mie Bun, Gruyere, Smoked Tomato, Arugula, Pickles, Aioli):
I’ve heard some recs for the Cheese Burger, even though I’d never think to order this at Gjusta, but here we go: First off, a new server (one we’ve never seen before in any of our previous visits) insisted that we order the Burger “Medium. Definitely.” Incredulous, but trusting them, we acquiesced and went with medium for the doneness.
I should’ve gotten it medium-rare, as the Beef tasted just too cooked for my tastes. Besides that, they use a blend of Short Rib, Chuck and Bone Marrow, which sounds fantastic, but the medium level of doneness and their overly sour pickles (their other pickles in other sandwiches and fish plates are fine, these were different) took away from our enjoyment of the Burger. And with places like Golden State delivering top notch Burgers, I’d rather save my calories for their Lamb or Wet-Aged Beef Burger.
Beet Salad, Parmigiano-Reggiano:
Another fantastic Salad! Fresh Beets, roasted and tossed with excellent Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Rotisserie Chicken (Herb Rub) (with Tzatziki, Harissa & Chimichurri):
I’ve known for a while that Gjusta’s Roasted Chicken meat is fresh and delicious from their Sandwiches, but we decided to try the source: Ordering their Herb Rotisserie Chicken (Half) (you can also order a Whole Chicken if you prefer).
Once again, defying logic, Gjusta, the Pastry Shop, Sandwich Shop, Smoked Fish / Seafood Shop happens to also make Awesome Rotisserie Chicken! 
Their Rotisserie Chicken is so fresh, tender, juicy, moist, succulent! The Herb Rub is well-infused into the Chicken itself, so there’s no bite of the Rotisserie Chicken that was bland. Instead just wonderful!
And, they bring a Trio of Sauces: Their Housemade Tzatziki Sauce really transforms the dish into something that you might find in a Greek restaurant. Their Harissa Ketchup is really interesting as well, making each bite of Chicken taste exotic, and their Chimichurri Sauce (my favorite) gives it a nice decadence with each bite.
Sparkling Ginger Lemonade:
Normally when you think of drinks with “Lemonade” in it, you might think it’s something generic, bought wholesale and they add in some seltzer to make it sparkling. Instead at Gjusta, they decided to fresh-grind pure Ginger Root into real tart Lemon Juice, and make something so lively and spicy it’s like the most Awesome Ginger Lemonade you’ve ever tasted!
I was drinking real Ginger Pulp with the Ginger Juice and the Lemonade. And it was wonderful! Spicy, dynamic and the best Wake Up Morning Drink I’ve had, LOL. 
Spinach, Mozzarella Flatbread:
In all the times I’ve been here, I’ve never ordered their Flatbreads before. So we decided to try one this time. And? Served nice and warm, toasted bottom and crust, with soft, delicate Spinach and Fresh Mozzarella, which makes it just an awesome slice of “pizza,” through the healthier lens of Farmers Market ingredients. Delicious.
Smoked Fish Plate (S):
For today, some new items in their Smoked Fish case caught our eyes.
Smoked Oysters & Mussels:
Besides the awesomeness of customizing your Fish Plate, choosing whatever Fish / Seafood you want, their Smoked Oysters and Mussels were spot on! They were fresh and bright, taking on a light smokiness, but still retaining the inherent suppleness that’s found with Oysters and Mussels.
Smoked Clams:
These were just as good! I loved their Smoked Clams even more than their Smoked Oysters.
Cold-Smoked Lox:
What more can be said? As wonderful as the previous times. They are consistent, and deliver my favorite Cold-Smoked Lox in town.
Pastrami Sandwich (Pumpernickel, Pastrami, Mustard):
Gjusta’s version of Pastrami is more like the Southern California thinner cut style, smoky, savory, tender, but not as good as Langer’s or Brent’s. Probably my least favorite sandwich on the menu. Their Pumpernickel Bread was delicious and a great match.
Grain Bowl (Brown Rice, Kimchi, Avocado, Salted Cucumber & Radish, Herb Sprouts, Soft-Boiled Egg):
And for something healthier and lighter, their Grain Bowl is pretty nice! It tasted like a very light, delicate, healthy lunch option (not a bad thing), and I really liked the balance of the Brown Rice, Homemade Kimchi, with the creaminess of the Avocado, the spring-like notes from the Radish and Herb Sprouts, and their Soft-Boiled Egg was perfect! Really luscious in this light bowl and it balanced each bite.
On another visit (for the back-to-back after we went to Wexler’s (documented in another thread)), we tried:
Smoked Fish Plate (S):
Lox:
Their Cold-Smoked Lox is delicious. It’s moist, tender and supple.
Pastrami Gravlax:
I found the flavors to be just as good as the last 3 or 4 times I’ve had this. Good blend of spices that infused into the Salmon, and it’s moist and bright.
Smoked Trout:
There’s a wonderful smokiness that really infuses throughout the meat. Gjusta’s Smoked Trout is tender, intensely smoky and we didn’t have to suffer with fish bones (unlike at Wexler’s). Delicious!
Smoked Black Cod:
This is just ridiculous. Whoever Gjusta’s Smoked Fish Meister is deserves an award. Today, Gjusta had a surprise: Smoked Black Cod! 
Black Cod is inherently a wonderful fish to enjoy already, and Gjusta makes a Smoked version that is what you might expect: Luscious, buttery, smoky bites of AWESOME!
Their Black Cod isn’t as fatty as, say, Salmon Belly, and so you get a different type of creaminess but it is wonderful! So good!
So besides the fish, everyone noted how awesome their fresh-baked Bread is. They randomly slice off different types of their Homemade Bread to enjoy with their Fish Plate. Today is their Sourdough:
Which is just wonderful! It’s fluffy, airy, moist, with a nice outer crust. Gjusta makes some of the best Bread in the city, and it shows. When you pair their amazing Smoked Fish with their Housemade Breads, there’s no comparison.
On another visit, another beautiful Salad caught my eye.
Fennel & Kohlrabi Salad:
With the weather starting to get warmer, this was so refreshing! I loved the light, slightly licoricey flavors from the Fennel Root and the Kohlrabi added a nice, warmer, familiar vegetable facet with each bite.
Falafel Sandwich (Sesame Ficelle, Tahini, Fermnted Chili, Pickled Onion, Radish, Salted Cucumbers, Sprouts):
After taking a bite of this Sandwich, I could only think of one thing:
" @bulavinaka @CiaoBob @wienermobile @Helper_Monkey… why didn’t you tell me about this Sandwich sooner!!!" 
Wow, you were right! This is like a great hidden Sandwich at Gjusta. It’s got this wonderful CRUNCH from the perfectly fried Falafel and the amazing Sesame Ficelle Bread. Seriously, it’s toasty hot, has this crunch, and has a pillowy soft interior!
And then the Fermented Chili, Pickled Onions, Radish, Salted Cucumbers gives it this combination of a spicy kick, the crunch and snap of awesome vegetables and a lightness. Fantastic!
Oh and it’s VEGAN! 
So good!
Smoked Fish Plate (S):
Some more wonderful Smoked Fish caught my eye today so we had to order another Fish Plate.
Kippered Salmon:
This is their Hot-Smoked Salmon, which was flaky, tender and moist (not as luscious as their Cold-Smoked Lox or Gravlax, but a really nice, intensely smoky alternate way to enjoy Salmon). Wonderful with their fluffy Wheat Bread today.
Pickled Herring:
Glad to see their Pickled Herring back in today! It’s meaty, briny, perhaps the firmest (but still soft) fish in their fish case. There’s a lovely, intensity that I’ve come to appreciate more each time we order it.
Smoked King Mackerel:
Wow, intensely smoky, but with a tenderness from a bit more fat content in this fish. It doesn’t topple their Salmon Belly, but this was enjoyable, especially with their fresh, Homemade Seeded Rye Bread (which is nutty, hearty, and awesome!):
Veggie Sandwich (Whole Wheat, Roasted Peppers, Tomato, Fennel, Radish, Picked Turnips, Avocado, Sprouts, Tahini):
Really, nothing ceases to amaze me anymore with Gjusta. In what sounds like the most boring “throwaway” Sandwich on the menu, this little innocuous menu item that seems to be a nod towards Vegetarians happens to be AWESOME!
Imagine my surprise when I took a bite of their Veggie Sandwich and got hit by this perfect balance of soft, tender, luscious, crunchy, savory, vegetal, and PURE DELICIOUSNESS! 
I don’t even understand how Gjusta does it. I look at the ingredients, then I take a bite. I look at the menu again. Take another bite. Nope. I don’t understand it, but at the same time I do, LOL.
It’s seriously one of the Best Sandwiches on Gjusta’s menu! WOW! This is so good! (and like their Falafel, it’s Vegan. But it tastes so satisfying, hearty and savory and balanced… nothing like the stereotypical “vegan food” you might have bad memories of). This is something @MaladyNelson might like.
Pumpernickel Fudge Brownie:
Initially this Brownie looks potentially dry. I didn’t think much of it, until our server said it was her favorite thing from the pastry case. High praise. So we ordered one.
I’m so glad we did:
Are you kidding me Gjusta?! This Pumpernickel Fudge Brownie is extremely moist, decadent, rich Chocolate Goodness, we couldn’t stop eating this!
I ended up ordering some for my co-workers and when they ate it back at the office, they couldn’t stop thanking me. I’d say this was on-par for shock and surprise and awesomeness as their Carrot Cake, but I like Carrot Cake more, so I’d give that the edge.
Gjusta and Chef Travis Lett continue to defy logic and make a lot things very well. Beyond very well. More like Awesome.
Gjusta
320 Sunset Ave.
Venice, CA 90291
Tel: (310) 314-0320
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Holy shit. Do they have anything left?? Grade A reporting.
We tried the porridge waffles with blueberries this weekend, and you are spot on: they’re fantastic. I’ve never had others like 'em. There’s a savoryness that I really liked. If you get a chance to try 'em with the berries.
Post - and Poster - of the Gods!
Amen.
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I had that summer squash salad the other day – it’s great! Had to decide between that and the beets, which looked great, too.
I’m also with you re the pumpernickel brownie (unexpectedly delightful) and the pastrami (sliced thin and a little underwhelming).
I really need to try that roast chicken. Some of my peeps raved about it when Gjusta first opened, but I never got around to it.
Gjusta-level posting, Sir Legg of the Hollow! Kohl’s has stretchy pants on sale in their maternity dept - just sayin’… 
Thanks @President_Mochi.
I’ll be ordering their waffles again for sure. 
I’ll have to add their fruit next time. Thanks.
Thanks so much for tagging me in your post, @Chowseeker1999! You are a treasure trove of information! Oh that veggie sandwich is in my wheelhouse for sure! It’s always a relief to find a vegetarian sandwich on a menu. But more often than not, it’s nothing more than a glorified cheese sandwich - or worse, it’s just a burger without the patty. From your gorgeous pics, you can tell that Gjusta makes their veggie sandwich with the utmost care. And damn, that summer squash and roasted broccolini salad, sparkling ginger lemonade, falafel sandwich, and pumpernickel fudge brownie are all calling my name. My tombstone is now going to say, “Heeded the siren call of Gjusta’s vegetarian options.”
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Thanks @bulavinaka. Besides their Nori Loaf, any other whole loaves of Bread you’d recommend for home consumption? And thank you for the great Falafel rec!
Hi @MaladyNelson,
I think you’d really enjoy it. I am thinking about their Veggie Sandwich right now, so plainly named, yet so amazing in taste!
I forgot, but do you also eat fish / seafood? If so, don’t miss out on their Smoked Fish selection.
(Oh and their Carrot Cake is so good!
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Has anyone tried their chili hummus? Shit is like crack.
I don’t know if you’ve looked in the refrigerated case opposite the counter and registers - there’s a lot of sauces and condiments in there - something for everybody.
Many of these items are either used in their dishes, or can be found in the counter’s cases roughly between the baked goods and the charcuterie and cheeses.
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What @bulavinaka said. That chili hummus is located in the refrigeration unit near the ticket dispenser thingy. It is quite good with just some carrot or celery sticks. Brought to a work party and did the ole switcheroo with the containers. 
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Lots of great stuff in the refrigerated case. I love all the interesting pickled and fermented vegetables. There are also some really nice non-refrigerated items on the shelves that make nice host/ess gifts (or gifts to one’s self) - granola, rosemary marcona almonds, candied walnuts.
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