Neighborhood favorites in West LA

Blueberry Mint Lemonade, Lemonade

-- Lemonade -- With four locations, including two on the westside in Beverly Hills and Venice, Lemonade's modern appeal and unique fresh fruit lemonades are refreshing in vision as well as in taste. Modeled to update the traditional cafeteria, Lemonade offers a variety of fresh salads, sandwiches and a daily soup for a quick lunch or dinner. Lemonade's freshly baked sweets - including bars, cookies, small cakes and tarts - are my favorite paired with a glass of lemonade, of course. And what really makes Lemonade stand out is their fresh lemonades, which not only change often but offer unique combinations one might not expect. Far from the lemonade I make at home on a summer day, their offerings included Blueberry Mint and Watermelon Rosemary lemonade on a recent visit, both of which I'd highly recommend for their fully developed flavor.

http://lemonadela.com

-- Finn McCool's Irish Pub -- Finn McCool's in Santa Monica on Main Street, is a bright and energetic pub that presents a large menu of Irish fare and live Irish music weekly. Offering traditional favorites, such as Bangers and Champ, Boxtys, Irish Stew, Shepard's Pie, Corned Beef and Cabbage and a Traditional Irish breakfast, alongside burgers, sandwiches and pub dogs there is sure to be something for even the less adventurous gourmand. And a pub wouldn't be complete without the bar, so Finn McCool's has an extensive menu including a variety of liquors, both imported and domestic beers, and Bailey's to finish off the meal.

http://www.finnmccoolsirishpub.com

-- Wildflour Pizza -- Located on Main Street in Santa Monica, Wildflour is quaint, with its benches and sawdust covered floors, but it packs a punch in terms of flavor. Their thin crust pizza on wheat or white dough, is prepared just right with a crunch when you bite into the crust, but not overdone. And their toppings range from the traditional standbys to pesto, sundried tomato, artichoke heart and feta cheese. Wildflour's medium pizza was enough to serve three to four people, at a great price.