I was so looking forward to the Bubbly Hour at French 75 when I first heard about it. Champagne cocktails for half the price? Sweet! But French 75 had a number of strikes against it, first and foremost it’s located in a mall. But I had to check out that happy hour nevertheless. So I…
Category Archives: Cocktails
Sake to Me: Sake Tasting at Air Conditioned
So maybe the wine bar thing is all played out, or almost there anyway. But Air Conditioned on Pico is taking it to another level with its sake tasting. For $10 sample the wine of the East at this hip, loungy wine/soju/beer bar. Here, explore sake beyond its role in the sake bomb and resist…
Cocktail Review: Chocolat d'Orange at Katsuya
Last night Dre and I visited one of my fave bartenders, Kylee, at Katsuya. I’ve been meaning to drop by for awhile, especially since I found out that Kylee was such an adventurous mixologist. (I gotta hook her up with Steve. They’d make beautiful cocktails together.) One of my beefs against Katsuya’s exotic specialty cocktail…
Royale on Wilshire: Not on the QT for Long
I know I’m going to be sorry later for sharing this apparently secret place with you but it’s too good to keep to myself. My new favorite bar is the Royale. I went there last night with my friend John for the first time after reading about it online since its opening last month. I’ve…
Rustic Canyon Wine Bar: A Little Whine With Your Wine?
I kept hearing about Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen which recently opened up in Santa Monica (yes, another wine bar) so naturally I had to check it out with my own palate. Reviews say this wine bar/restaurant was created to evoke lazy evenings spent with friends shooting the shit and drinking wine, or…
Fancy a Shag? How Thick Is Your Wallet?
After my careful research of possible venues for Dre’s birthday, we ended up going with something completely different. My friend Hawaiian Ryan hooked us up with a patio at Shag, a nightclub in Hollywood. The catch was that we’d have to do bottle service with four bottles, which were about $300 a piece and good…
Tokyo Table: Stumbling Out the Gate
The other night we had a birthday dinner for Dre at Tokyo Table, a new “casual dining” Japanese restaurant and bar that just opened up last month on Restaurant Row in the old Tony Roma’s space on La Cienega. At first I was intimidated that it would be priced beyond my comfort level since I…
Ultimate Hair of the Dog: All Night Happy Hour
After the biggest celebration of the year, no doubt you’ll be suffering from the biggest hangover of the year. Fortunately, Downtown LA’s Golden Gopher has the cure for what ails you: an all night happy hour on January 1st! So thoughtful! From 5pm to 2am, the Gopher will serve up $4 well cocktails, $3 PBRs…
Countdown Seating for Two: New Year's Eve Dinners
Flickr Shot by JToddM New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and you and your honey are getting pressed for time on what to do to celebrate. ‘Cept you two don’t want anything too crazy like having to count down in the middle of a mob at Giant Maximus or Gridlock. Perhaps a six-course…
Bigfoot Lodge's Merry Oke for Christmas Orphans
Stranded in L.A. during Christmas because your immediate family is an unaffordable plane ticket away? Consider yourself the lucky one because 1) you don’t have to deal with the horror that is holiday travel and 2) you can spend the 25th nursing a luscious Toasted Marshmallow while singing your favorite Xmas songs with other orphaned…
