Top 5 Gluten-Free Bars to Experience in Venice, Los Angeles

Meagan McCall

We had a very nice server and there’s a great ambiance at Scopa, perfect for dates and connecting with friends alike. They have a gorgeous bar, large window, candles on the tables, and all of our food came perfectly coursed. We were easily able to make a same-day reservation via the Resy app, and I do recommend making a reservation in advance because it was popping when we arrived. For parking, you can either park in the connected valet lot ($13 on a Monday) or look for free street parking (we found it pretty easily, but then again it was a Monday). There are the top four absolute must-order items you should order to share: 1. Hot Antipasti - Scallops Oreganata ($23) with brown butter, bread crumbs, & lemon. I’m gluten free so I asked for no breadcrumbs, and I also recommend ordering a side of gluten free bread to dip in the brown butter after you finish enjoying the scallops because they have the absolute best gluten free cheesecheese bread! They only came with 2 scallops in an order so consider ordering enough so each person can have at least 1 full scallop. 2. Hot Antipasti - Mortadella Meatballs ($21) with pistachio pesto, arugula, & parmesan cheese. This came with 3 medium-large sized meatballs covered in a delicious green pesto - don’t let looks deceive you, even if this isn’t how you expect meatballs to look they’re delish. 3. Cold Antipasti - Heirloom Tomatoes ($18) with sweet onion, basil, ricotta salata cheese, sherry vinegar, & olive oil. If you enjoy tomatoes of all shapes and sizes, this is the dish for you. My favorite were the little orange tomatoes. 4. Salad - Raw Brussels Sprouts Salad ($22) with generous pecorino romano cheese, parsley, grapes, olive oil, sherry vinegar, & toasted almonds. This was a good portion size and the best raw Brussels sprouts I’ve ever had. While I did really enjoy the flavor of oysters themselves and their sauces, and I do want to put them as item 5 to order, each of the oysters had some shell bits had to spit out, and it only came with 1 spoon and 0 mini forks. The oysters come with lemon slices, cocktail sauce, shredded horseradish, mignonette, and are $4.50 each with a minimum of 6. I would order them again, but enjoy them carefully and hope that they’re shucked better next time. However… Maybe things were off because it was a Monday and they had multiple large last minute parties walk in. Maybe I should have gone for the pastas instead of the below because it is an Italian restaurant. Maybe I’m just a person who enjoys more seasoning on seafood or less sauce on pork chops, but a few of the dishes weren’t exactly as good as I was expecting. Unless you love canned tuna, absolutely avoid the Sicilian Tuna Cold Antipasti ($19) with market green beans, fingerling potato, capers, lemon, & olive oil. It wasn’t until we mentioned to our server our strong disappointment with the dish, as we were expecting either Tuna Crudo or Seared Tuna, that our server told us that he usually steers guests away from it. It also had zero seasoning, and boy did it need it. It also feels like this dish should have automatically been served with crackers. The Amberjack Crudo ($25) with watermelon radish, bulls blood micro greens, & herb oil needed a combo-sauce or a stronger flavored oil, as it was very bland as-is. Luckily not a fishy-fish, but still lackluster for their only fish crudo on the menu. For the Mains, they were already sold out of the 24oz T-bone Steak ($82) when we arrived, and the server recommended the Pork Chop. The generous portion of Pork Chop ($66) came with crispy fingerling potatoes, roasted shallots, olives, capers, garlic, balsamic vinegar, & fresh herbs. The balsamic was more of a thick, sweet, heavy glaze, and it overpowered the meat. Personally, we both felt it was over-sauced.

Carlos L

We loved the restaurant. Friendly, good food and very good price. They also have gluten-free options.

Stuart Lawrence

Great location to sit and take in the beach atmosphere. Have some gluten free options as well. Highly recommended with really nice staff.

Justin Ouellette

Baja Cantina brings the Baja experience to life with vibrant music, flavorful food, and a laid-back atmosphere that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a beachside celebration. Located on the Venice side of Washington and established in 1975, this spot offers more than just a meal—it offers a whole vibe, especially on Saturday nights when live music electrifies the space. From the start, things moved quickly with seating (only a one-minute wait), but the service afterward slowed down. Ordering took about 14 minutes, water didn’t arrive until the 24-minute mark, and food was served after 21 minutes. The staff, while knowledgeable and genuinely kind, seemed a bit overwhelmed. Only one check-in occurred between the delivery of water and food, leaving me wondering whether they were understaffed or simply overlooked a solo diner. Despite the service hiccups, the food and atmosphere delivered. The complimentary handmade nachos were warm, crisp, and lightly seasoned, paired with a fresh salsa that hit all the right notes—lime, cilantro, onion, and just the right kick from Serrano peppers. Though the salsa wasn’t initially brought with the nachos, it was promptly delivered upon request. The fish tacos had a great flavor profile but were a touch dry—perhaps a drizzle of crema or a bit more slaw would balance them out. On the other hand, the nachos I ordered were the real standout: layered perfectly with guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, and onions, they had the ideal mix of flavor and texture without going overboard. The ambiance was a highlight. Baja Cantina’s clean, open layout paired with an eclectic and diverse crowd created an energetic and fun environment—definitely a spot that shines with a bit of company on a lively Saturday night. The prices were fair, the menu options were extensive, and it was great to see gluten-free options available. Suggestions for Improvement: • Improve wait times for basic service like water. • Ensure staff checks in more consistently, even with solo diners. • Consider adding a touch more moisture to the fish tacos to elevate their texture. • Bring salsa automatically with nacho orders. Overall, Baja Cantina is a place worth visiting if you’re in the mood for good food, great music, and a bit of a beachside groove. Just come with a little patience—or better yet, bring some good friends and enjoy the vibe together.

Alona Simon