You'd be hard pressed to find a more amiable and talented pair of owner/operators than Robby and…read moreGabriel, who greet you with smiles, warmth and a complete excitement for sharing their space, food and drinks with you. That space is a fun and breezy open-plan dining room on the corner of La Brea and Santa Monica, at the opposite end of the shopping center from Formosa Cafe. Designed in a refreshing circular style, the room is filled with lush banquettes, tables dressed in blue & orange, and a bar lined with white leather stools. The whole place feels like Miami crossed with Havana crossed with West Hollywood circa 1975 -- and between the ambiance and genial staff you just can't help feeling relaxed and ready for a great time.
The bar features draft and bottled beers, wine, champagne, and a full menu of fun cocktails made with a brand of Soju that comes in various styles, emulating whiskey, vodka, tequila and gin. The result is an array of drinks that look great, taste great, and pack slightly less of a wallop than regular booze -- but that's okay, because this is the kind of place where you'd like to drink for a while, and doing that without getting shnockered is a major plus. My wife ordered the Unicorn Cocktail, sort of a Cosmo with Cotton Candy. It was light and sweet, and very refreshing. Equally refreshing was Gabriel's Margarita: sour, spicy and served tall over ice, I could drink them all day long.
The food menu is an eclectic mix of dishes from all parts of the globe, including grilled fish, hamburgers, a variety of salads, ribs, steaks, seafood dishes, pastas, vegan options, and the two entrees that we ordered: Lamb Chops on Cheesy Grits and Romesco Chicken.
My lamb chops were meaty and mild, roasted to a perfect medium rare and served atop savory cheesy grits with a rich veal demi glace. It's a hearty dish with tons of flavor, and it's the absolute embodiment of comfort food. My wife's Chicken Romesco featured tender, juicy white meat chicken that Robby sautéed with onions, garlic, and red bell peppers, then bathed in a creamy, tangy sauce fortified with cashews, all served over rice. This was another crave-inducing dish with an exciting flavor profile that I would cross town to order again and again.
On top of all this, they've got a kickin' outdoor patio, they love to book big groups for parties, and they host Karaoke every night of the week. And if all that weren't enough, the kitchen stays open until midnight, serving a menu of late night bites for guests committed to drinking, singing and partying the night away.
They're just a month from their 2-year anniversary, so it's a good idea to head in soon for a meal and a couple of tipples, and to say a big congrats to Robby and Gabriel for creating such a fun restaurant with such fantastic food and drink.