Shrimp and grits with dinosaur kale (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
The front entrance of The Muddy Leek on Washington Blvd. in Culver City. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Mixed spring lettuce salad with kumquat vinaigrette. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
A group of colleagues from Fox Digital Media in Play Vista toast each other while seated on the patio. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Bartender Ethan Tucker writes down the special dishes for the lunchtime crowd. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Green garlic flan with maitake mushrooms and grilled celeriac on the menu at Muddy Leek. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Contempory art is located above the bar. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Strawberry shortcake with bavarian cream is on the desert menu. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Waiter Ben Freidus, left, and bartender Ethan Tucker serve customers, seated in the patio. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
