Bites Nearby: Momed

Short for "Modern Mediterranean," on South Beverly Drive has fresh, flavorful food made from high-quality ingredients that are locally produced, seasonal and organic.

Part restaurant, part marketplace, the cafe-style eatery has a selection of salads and dips that are ready for take out, plus a full menu of made-to-order items. All food is ordered and paid for at the cashier. If staying to dine, you'll be given a food order number to place at your table, where a server quickly pours you a glass of filtered, purified, reverse osmosis water at no charge.

Prices for the marketplace salads and dips range from $4.50 for a small container to $15 for a large. A favorite is the avocado hummus, made from avocados, tahini, garlic and cumin. It's like a smoother—yet thicker—version of guacamole and makes for a tasteful addition to any meat dish. The avocado hummus also works well as a dip for the salty, in-house cooked Momo potatoes chips ($5, served with garlic sauce and Momed ketchup).

All Momed meats are free-range. For a main course, try the yogurt-marinated chicken breast with chickpea aioli. It can be ordered in a hand-rolled wrap ($12) or as a house plate ($15, includes rice pilaf with vermicelli and choice of marketplace item). The chicken is tender, delicately spiced and hot off the skewer. The aioli has the flavor of traditional hummus, but is more saucy. It works well as a divider between the chicken and pita bread. 

Another strong menu choice is the weekly market fish ($17), which comes fire-roasted with seasonal market vegetables. A recent option was a perfectly-seared Barramundi. The veggies featured a colorful selection of steamed yellow and orange carrots, haricot verts, pearl onions and pink beets.

If you're thirsty, there are plenty of coffees, teas, juices and smoothies to choose from. The crimson berry lemonade ($3.50) is organic, refreshing and not too sweet. The restaurant also offers a variety of Mediterranean beers and a list of wines. 

For fresh, leisurely food, Momed stands out among the many dining options on South Beverly Drive.

Momed is located at 233 S. Beverly Drive. Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Phone: 310-270-4444. There is metered street parking available and a city parking structure at 216 S. Beverly Drive.

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