Restaurant: The Lighthouse Buffet
Location: Santa Monica
Phone: 310-451-2076
Hours: Everyday, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, then 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm Rating:
 

A good sushi place ain’t all that hard to find in Los Angeles. But finding extensive Japanese cuisine at an affordable price can be tricky, and finding it served buffet-style like at Ponderosa is virtually impossible.

That’s what makes the Lighthouse such an exciting and odd find. Located on Arizona and Second streets in Santa Monica, the Lighthouse is one of the more unique restaurants in the area. On the outside, it appears to be nothing more than the typical ocean-side seafood restaurant. Step inside, however, and this gem reveals a truly unusual combination: an all-you-can-eat deal that’s perfect for the college student’s budget, an extensive menu of Japanese delicacies, and a buffet-style setup reminiscent of the salad bar at Shoney’s.

The first thing diners will notice is the impressive sushi selection. From sashimi strips of salmon, squid and shrimp to California rolls and crab rolls, all the sushi is made fresh right on site. Incredibly, diners aren’t charged by the piece of sushi, as is the case with most sushi bars. Patrons simply bring their plate up to the front and grab whatever sushi they want.

For those who don’t particularly enjoy raw fish, there is a plethora of other seafood options. Customers will find crab legs, shrimp and calamari prepared in various ways, a number of types of fish and even eel. There is also an extensive fruit bar and two types of soup daily.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the Lighthouse, though, is the price. Customers are welcome to as much as they want of whatever they want in the restaurant, all for $19.50. That means as many trips up to the buffet as one can muster. However, drinks are extra, and there’s a $1 charge for any piece of sushi with the rice or fish left uneaten, an effort to keep customers from wasting the energy of the chefs or the food.

As far as ambiance is concerned, the Lighthouse isn’t much to write home about. The inside of the restaurant is fairly plain, and busy evenings can result in a cramped, uncomfortable feeling both at the buffets and around the tables. The Lighthouse’s staff is very friendly, however, and it’s never hard to get their attention (though patrons will rarely need their services).

Be warned: the Lighthouse is not for the faint of heart or stomach. True seafood lovers will find the selection and quantity of food impressive, and sushi connoisseurs will be excited about getting as much sushi as they want for one price. But the smell of the restaurant itself is a bit intimidating, since at least 30 types of seafood are being prepared and displayed simultaneously. Perusing the buffets will be tantalizing for some, but for others the wide variety of fried, baked, broiled and raw foods might be a tad too much to see and smell at once.

Thanks to that fact, as well as the ho-hum atmosphere and completely unromantic buffet, the Lighthouse may not be the ideal restaurant for a first date. But for those who love seafood in all its forms, your search for a well-priced place is over. At under 20 bucks a pop, you and a friend can indulge in as much “fruit of the sea” as you can handle.  The Lighthouse may be a bit harder to get to than the Caf, but the selection itself is worth the trip. And, fortunately, there’s still “no charge fo’ the H20.”

Directions:
1. Take PCH south to the California Incline
2. Turn left on California Inlcine
3. Turn right on Ocean Ave.
4. Turn left on Arizona Ave.
5. ARRIVE: 201 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica

October 24, 2002