Restaurants in Lomita

Creole seasoning belongs in trusted hands, which is why most Cajun restaurants keep the spice cannon securely under glass. Today's Groupon gives you those trusted hands plus $25 worth of authentic Cajun vittles at Uncle Darrow's in Marina del Rey for $10. The Zagat-rated restaurant will be celebrating its tenth anniversary on December 26th, which in Cajun culture is as valid a reason to throw a raucous, food-stuffed party as "survived last night's raucous, food-stuffed party" and "saved money on car insurance."

As with 8-bit Nintendo games, cannonball dives, and frenetic cartoons, breakfast cereal is one of those childhood delights you never truly outgrow. Today's deal feeds your inner child and outer adult in equal measures: for $7, you get $15 worth of breakfast, lunch, and drinks at Flake. Located at 513 Rose Ave, Flake is a part beach shack, half bacon hut, and two-thirds cool-atmosphere-coffee-house-that-is-obsessed-with-cereal-but-also-has-lots-of-sandwiches type of establishment.

When The Melting Pot originally opened in 1975 just outside Orlando, diners had just three options: swiss-cheese fondue, beef fondue, or chocolate fondue. The restaurant first expanded four years later, when an enterprising waiter at the initial location opened up a new outpost in Tallahassee. Today, the company—now owned by that original waiter, Mark Johnston, and his brothers Mike and Bob—reigns as the premier fondue, wine, and drink restaurant, stretching across North America with more than 140 restaurants linked by underground tunnels. The restaurant's menu has also expanded, and patrons can now expect six varieties of hot dipping cheese paired with salads, meats, and molten chocolate.

On a given night, groups of viscous-dip-loving foodies gather around tables to nosh on cheese-fondue appetizers and various salads while cooking steaks and seafood in a choice of healthy broth or oil. Birthday revelers and romance seekers cap decadent evenings sharing the chocolate desserts that have defined The Melting Pot for decades.

Mosto Enoteca blends elegant cuisine and warm, inviting décor, with the upscale minimalism extending to the private dining room and outdoor patio overlooking Marina del Rey. When dinner rolls around, taste buds can journey to a baby-artichoke-salad jungle, with parmesan and lemon ($11), or an antipasti island of scallops sautéed with shallots, frisée, and bell peppers. Pumpkin ravioli with butter and sage ($16) opens the door to a flourless chocolate tort that will tuck you in with red-wine sauce and a hazelnut-gelato teddy bear ($9).

After adding a second location, the Mexican food mainstay has kept its commitment to freshness; the drive-in eatery shuns the usage of heat lamps, fiery imp breath, or microwaves in its food preparation. All dishes are prepared fresh daily using local ingredients, even the beans which are made fresh and refried with vegetarian, trans-fat free oil. Chano's offers a wide variety of burritos, from a chorizo-stuffed food pod ($4.61) to a veggie cheese and bean ($2.83). You'll also find tacos ($1.59 to $1.75) and taco salads ($4.79), along with combination platters and a la carte entrees, such as quesadillas (from $2.87) and taquitos ($2.56). The breakfast menu is served every day, so you can get your Machaca burrito ($4.45) fix anytime before 11 a.m. and swig it with a large horchata ($2.24).

While you relax on the oceanfront patio and await lunch—starting with appetizers such as skewered rosemary ahi tuna with olive tapenade ($11.95) or Navajo corncakes with black-bean chili, feta, avocado, and sour cream ($10.95)—you can marvel at the human zoo rushing by. Play "guess that person's age and social-security number," or belt out a friendly hello to a Matthew McConaughey lookalike as he jogs by unsurprisingly shirtless. Before long, the amiable, chilled-out staff will come bearing a heavy turkey bacon burger with arugula, red onion, and tomato ($13.55); or the veggie dagwood pile precariously high with zucchini, eggplant, roasted peppers, portobello mushrooms, mozzarella, and pesto on focaccia ($11.75).