Bar Food, West Los Angeles
The sparse menu showed few food items but included Guinness beer! The menu primarily looked like food you’d find at a bar, hence the name – Bar Food. This pub, or gastropub – the new moniker and also in the spirit of Father’s Office, offers a large selection of beers and wines with comfort food items. I was happy to find mac’n cheese, burgers, and anything with the word potato. We also ordered spicy tuna, bangers, shepherd’s pie, and fish & chips.
I was really looking forward to the Mac’N Cheese, since I saw it on their menu – the week before in researching the place. But unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. Though there was bacon, it lacked a necessary savoriness, that you’ll find almost at any other restaurant. Most places that have Mac’N Cheese will have a cool twist, either with bacon, broccoli, ham, truffle, or something different. It was baked, so the cheesy was crusty – that’s a good thing. But again, lack of saltiness hurt its chances…
The burger and bangers were ok. The spicy tuna and shepherd’s pie did stand out. I think everyone liked the spicy tuna. The rice was a little harder than I would have liked. I know I liked the shepherd’s pie with lamb, thought I think others didn’t like it. We had two different types of bangers – thai style and regular. I personally like sausage … almost any type of sausage. I like the green mashed potatoes – I think they were mashed with basil or something. Jason, the owner/manager, came by and told us that that was his creation.
The two things that everyone agreed was great was the potato puffs and the sweet frites. I asked our server what her favorites were, and she strongly suggested potato puffs, which were also the most ordered item as well. I think we went through two orders of each.
Personally, I liked the venue and most of the food items. I think the uncomplicated menu with comfort foods with beer & wine is a great combination. But unfortunately, the location, with my personal bias, doesn’t help. Prices are reasonable – with our group of 10 or so, we each paid about 26 with tax and tip.
