Zaytinya

$60 per person puts Zaytinya in a clear planning range for Culver City dinner. The clearest reason to choose it is its Eastern Mediterranean mezze focus, with Turkish, Greek, Lebanese references that make the meal varied and shareable.

Smart casual is the dress code, so guests can plan for a polished but not highly formal dinner. The better use case is an evening meal where plates can move around the table and the group can build a spread from the listed signatures.

Mezze is the reason to book, especially for groups

The food is built around Eastern Mediterranean mezze with Turkish, Greek, Lebanese references, so the strongest order is a spread of shareable dishes. First-timers should treat the menu as a shared-table build rather than a simple starter-main-dessert sequence. Hommus ma Lahm, Baba Ghannouge, Smoked Beet Salata, Crispy Brussels Afelia, Grilled Lamb Chops, whole grilled Mediterranean sea bass or branzino, Kebab Platter, Soujouk Pide, Turkish Coffee Chocolate Cake, Olive Oil Cake, Lamb Shoulder are all listed signatures.

That format makes Zaytinya most useful when the table wants variety. A mezze-heavy order can include dips, salads, vegetables, pide, grilled items, seafood, lamb, dessert, giving the meal a broad shape without relying on one single main course.

For broader planning around the city, start with Our full Culver City restaurants guide. Other Culver City dining rooms may work for different budgets, cuisines, or moods, but Zaytinya’s specific appeal is Eastern Mediterranean mezze at about $60 per person.

The wine recognition adds occasion value

The main trust signal is the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2026. That recognition adds occasion value for a dinner built around mezze, where guests may want the meal to feel more considered than an everyday shared-plates stop.

The reason to book is direct: Zaytinya offers Eastern Mediterranean mezze in Culver City, a smart-casual dress code, a $60 per person price point, a menu with enough listed signatures to build a varied dinner for the table.

Book for dinner

Dinner is the clear fit because the schedule is evening-only: Monday through Thursday from 5–9 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5–10 PM, Sunday from 5–9 PM. For a special occasion, choose a dinner reservation that gives the table time to share a broad mezze spread.