why you need candy striped beets and pluot relish on a sandwich
Looking for information on Downtown LA?
Angelenic is the essential news resource for those living, working and visiting Downtown Los Angeles. Check out our 
Mendocino Farms makes me happy... Ok, so they pay my bills. Yes peeps, I work there, have for a long time, but they don't know that I'm an author for this blog and I'm not trying to "plug" them. I just love my job. Really. Not even being sarcastic. The reason I have mad love for my job is because I have mad love for food, and their food is pretty bomb.
Ok, I know the lines can be ridiculously long, filled to the brim with hungry, grumpy office workers and I know you're slightly intimidated (it's ok to admit it) but it does move.
No really, I swear it does! I know you're thinking that the process seems odd having to give your order to a girl standing with a clipboard and then being pushed and shoved down to the deli case. But dude, at the deli case you can totally get free samples, which is pretty sweet.
After you've been revived by samples they call your name for your sandwich and you're slightly confused as to which person behind the counter is going to actually give it to you. Then you make it to the register and you might be feeling that your sandwich and side soup is a little expensive but then you realize the all the produce is from local farms raised both mindfully and seasonally and it makes you feel better and almost gourmet.
You leave the line and counter feeling as if you survived a small war. The best part comes later though, after you sit down, pull your sandwich out of its paper bag, unwrap the wax paper and take your first bite. I bet you'll enjoy it, no love it! You'll then greedily eat your sandwich ("no you can't have a bite!") and feel that you did your body some good and also feel proud to have eaten at a certified green restaurant.
That's how I hope your first experience would go, but I'll tell you what...
...if you do one day try our sandwiches and hate them (as long as I'm still working there) and you're like "Jorda this sucks, you suck!"
I'll totally be like, “Here, I’ll personally refund your moola- let me just grab it out of my poor student pocket with holes in it.”
That’s confidence, people. In case you’re curious as to which girl I am if you ever go, I’m the sarcastic brunette called Jordan that’s trying to make people laugh, but probably not doing that good a job of it. Keep your eyes peeled!
Mendocino Farms
300 S Grand Avenue (in the Water Court beneath Omni Hotel)
Los Angeles, CA 90071
213-620-1114
Monday-Friday: 11:00am-3:00pm
mendocinofarms.com
Check out these related posts:
15 comments
I just ate there yesterday for the first time, drawn in by tales of the vegan schwarma. Boy, was it ever worth the trip, that thing was so damn good! And my experience was basically just as you described it would be, complete with free samples, though thankfully minus the bulk of the angsty lunchtime crowd. I did think the meal was somewhat expensive (nearly $13 for a sandwich and a drink), but as you said, I felt justified paying it (at least once) knowing that I was eating quality food that had been sustainably grown. A great experience overall… and I’ll be blogging about it soon too!
One thing I noticed was that everyone on the staff seemed super cool… literally everyone behind the counter said hi to me, offered me samples or just made friendly chit-chat as I waited. I noted to myself how remarkable it seemed that all the employees were so nice and seemed genuinely happy to be there (the smiles and small talk didn’t feel faked or forced at all), not something I’m used to at most “fast” food places or retail stores in general. Keep up the great work!
thanks for the mad props foodeater glad you enjoyed yourself! sorry i wasn’t there yesterday to make small talk with you (friday’s my day off) :)
if only you guys had dinner and weekend hours :(
Jorda… I’ll be back :)
Jorda, your Mendocino Farms is a little gem of a place, I really wish downtown had more foodie places like this, and that you stayed open later! The food and sandwiches there are “pretty bomb” as you say. Im glad your place is soo successful, may you continue to be, and may your success inspire some other seasonal, fresh, local places as well. BTW, wasnt MF going to open another location downtown that is open later.?.?
Yeah, I love this place too. In another location it could easily keep later hours.
yeah we are planning on more stores in the future but don’t have any locations set yet as far as i know. the owner, mario, is currently trying to open another restaurant within the water court and i think they’ll probably focus on more stores when that separate venture is complete. i’ll keep you updated though and let him know peeps want later hours! thanks for the suggestions!
I work in the Two Cal Plaza, MF is always a great lunch choice in the Watercourt. Sandwiches are well worth the price!
If you guys have dinner and weekend hours I’m totally there. Will swing by for lunch sometime too. You guys would make a killing at night during Grand Performances!
well audrey all our condiments as well as the ingredients within each sandwich and side is listed on our website above. if you have specific questions let me know and i’ll try to answer them. thanks!
And Jorda tell the owners longer-later hours weekdays and opening on weekends would be desired- si vous plait :)
I just went to Mendocino Farms this afternoon for lunch based on the recommendations of this post and all the commentors, and I’ve got to say that I was really impressed with the food. I’ll be adding this place to my weekly lunch rotation for sure!
We get catered lunches from ya’ll so I am totally spoiled! Love the steak sandwich. The one I miss (and not on the menu anymore) was the pork and pear. Yum!
is e mendocino farms considering another location in the historic core? please consider inmo’s old gallery space on 5th, right next door to bert green fine art, that would be a great location! lots of people have asked the landlord about leasing the space for a gallery, but the landlord is holding out for a restaurant/cafe tenant. come on jorda, make it happen and be the hero of the historic core.
So sad the vegan schwarma is gone with the summer menu
Jorda, I beseech you guys to bring it back!
Leave a Comment