"Downtown Culver has been waiting for a place like Laurel Grill since the The Wizard of Oz cast was hanging out at The Culver Hotel. With its warm glow and polished wood decor, this splashy “neighborhood grill” from the Laurel Hardware people looks like a high-end spa, though we can’t name many spas with a grand piano in the dining room. The crowd-pleasing food draws from the Houston’s playbook, and that’s no slight, especially for studio execs who demand a good caesar. Start with the gooey mozzarella cheese bread, refreshing mango ceviche, and grilled ribeye, then order a nightcap on the fire pit patio." - brant cox, sylvio martins, garrett snyder, cathy park