About a year ago I had a not so great dinner at Akasha–service was very slow, food was cold, and under seasoned. I passed the restaurant over and over throughout the year on my way to other, more delicious eateries, and not once was I tempted to give it another chance.

But last Friday I realized–hey, a lot of people like Akasha and it isn’t like they pulled a Kassava on you. They, unlike Kassava, deserve a second chance.

We were late for our reservation and they were nice about it. Akasha: 1. Judgmental Lauren: 0.

Great vegan options on the menu and lovely wine and cocktail list. Akasha: 11. Judgmental Lauren 8.

If you’re not following my point system I just gave Akasha an extra 10 points cause I like quinoa and Prosecco and gave myself 8 points for being funny.

Now it’s almost a tie, isn’t it?

We split a bottle of a nice Spanish Cava.

Then started with a very tangy, Spanishy Spinach salad with dates, kumquats, smoked almonds, and red wine vinaigrette. Ok fine, at this point, Akasha, I take everything back I’ve ever said practically. This salad was amazing and I want it everyday for 4 months until I get sick of it and just order another amazing salad off your menu.

For the love of God look at this shit!

Then, Lillian and I both ordered the quinoa with market vegetables and tamari grilled tofu (can also be ordered with orange-soy glazed chicken).

Joanna had the Beluga Lentils and Greens with black lentils, butternut squash, roast mushrooms, braised greens, and jalapeño pesto.

Eating vegan there is certainly cheaper–both entrees were $14 compared to some of the steak and fish choices ranging in the $20s.

Highlight of the meal was undoubtedly dessert. I am SO sick of restaurants that only have sorbet as a vegan dessert option. Take your lemon, mango and raspberry selection and stick it where you don’t wanna get poked.

Akasha actually had vegan gelato on the menu. Hallelujah. Seriously.

We had some sort of banana, peanut butter chocolate rainforest, chocolate combination that was so. mother. fucking. good.

This time I revise my opinion of Akasha. I’d like to put it in medium to heavy rotation so I guess Tender Greens and M Cafe aren’t the only sheriffs in Culver City anymore. At least not for me. One complaint still remains–kinda under seasoned. Akasha, meet salt. Salt, make yourself useful.

Afterward we headed to Mandrake to watch me take my shoes off and get down to the business of dj’ing with Andrew.

Here’s me with Joanna, Lillian and Kim after dinner. Kim wasn’t at dinner with us, but she was at the bar, and is one of my favorite people, which qualifies her to be in this post.

If you’re about to ask me if I dj, I don’t. I’m terrible at it, I play reggaeton even though nobody speaks Spanish, and this is my version of turntables:

Old and good friends came out, though, and they didn’t shame me for playing this shit:

The moral of the story is that some restaurants deserve a second chance. (NO, Kassava, not you. Ever).

Akasha: 20. Lauren: Humbled. I’ll be back.