9411 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 839-6800
fraicherestaurantla.com

It’s Fraîche – pronounced fresh. And that window of time between 5:30 and 7 p.m. isn’t a happy hour; it’s Gourmet Hour.

Fancy French words and kitschy phrases aside, Fraîche is a decadently upscale restaurant that’s notorious for its $25 entrées. Fortunately for us little guys, prices drop shockingly low during the Gourmet Hour. French fries are $2 and while it may be challenging to cure the after-work munchies with only three shrimp in the $5 shrimp cocktail, the $5 cheese fondue is large enough to share with two to three friends.

The cozy back patio is the best place to sit as you order rounds of Gourmet Hour dishes. Lounging on the silky chocolate brown couches while sipping a $4 mojito (and then a $3 draft beer, and then a $4 wine), there’s no better place to watch the hustle and bustle of Culver City’s vibrant downtown area.