Two words: Chorizo Fondue Try it. Okay, that was more like 4, but trust. It is that good. read more

Update. During summer, the place is warmer than a sumo's jockstrap and is stuffed more than a tranny's bra. The food is good, especially the fries cooked in pork fat and served with sea salt and black pepper. The place is way too crowded though, and is certainly no place for kids (that last line is for the deadbeat dad who brought is 9 yr old in to a packed bar at 8.30 pm at night, no doubt trying to score with the ladies as a 'cool dad', well no mate, you looked like a douche and a twat.) read more

3.5 stars Met up with a handful of people on a weeknight to just hang out, have a few drinks, some food, and sort of catch the Laker game. The place itself is low lit, but not so dark that you have to squint to see the person sitting next to you. The overall décor was very nice and I appreciated the overall ambience. The music was quite loud and it was hard to hear what anybody was saying unless they were speaking in a raised voice and your ear was 6-8 inches away. No... that's club loud. Wait, club loud is 3 inches or under. They had the menu written on a large chalkboard hanging on one corner of the space. The bar counter was unusually wide, seemingly putting you at quite a distance from the bartender, not a really good move when you've got music playing as loud as it was. Either shrink that bar a little or turn down the music. I vote for turning down the music. The food offerings were bistro like, with burgers and sandwiches, a couple of salads, and a couple of other various items. They also had a decent selection of wines and beers on tap. I got the grilled cheese, which at this point I can't remember exactly what was in it. Maybe George can help me on that one. See... this is why I always try to review a place no more than 3 or so days after a visit, however, lately I've just been a little hard-pressed to keep up with that. The grilled cheese was interesting. But not in a bad way. It was terrible but I've had better grilled cheeses. The pork fat fries I liked, even though they were a little overdone according to Shauna. I totally had a brainfart on the pork belly skewers and should've gotten those. C'est la vie.... At least the drinks are made with a HEAVY pour. Seriously, my rum and coke was probably 90% alcohol. Literally just a splash of coke. I could tell by just looking at it. So, I do have to say, what is up with the busboys? They were "trigger" happy and tried to take our plates while we were still eating off of them! I swear, he tried to take George's UNEATEN grilled cheese sandwich that was sitting right in front of him! And he wanted to take my plate of food that was sitting on my chair because at that time there was no room at the table but luckily Shauna was quick to act and said not to take it. I mean seriously, what is up with that? At least it was advantageous in the fact that he was quick to take empty cups and whatnot, but seriously.... And it wasn't like it happened once, he was like that the whole night. So overall, I'd definitely would come back for the fries and to try the pork belly skewers. Oh... trying to find street parking even on a weeknight is going to be a bitch, so just do yourself a favor and valet. read more

Very cool bar to meet friends for drinks and some good food. They do not have servers, you order at the bar and you are given a number to take back to your table. On weekends it does get very busy and finding a seat may be hard. Since you seat yourself. I'm usually here on weeknights or Sunday nights so I've always had an easier time finding a table. Street parking may be difficult to find but they do offer valet. read more

So after a stimulating meeting of the Yelp Book Club at Aroma, Laura L. Shelly W. and I decided to go get a drink. Starlight was a good option as it is so close to Aroma, but alas, Laura and I had no cash and weren't willing to pay ATM fees. Then, in a complete flash of genius, Laura suggested Laurel Tavern. Parking wasn't hard to find on Monday night. I know from experience by eating many a time at Vegan Plate that parking can be a pain on the weekends. Nevertheless, walking from the corner of Carpenter to this new gastro-pub took less than a minute. The doorman was extremely nice. He was actually welcoming when checking our IDs. The exterior is very chic, as is the interior. The entire vibe of the place is mellow but luxe. Very reminiscent of a bar in the the Village in NY. Since it's so new, the wood tables are unmarred, the leather on the booth side of the tables are supple, and the entire place still smells of a new outdoor deck. The selection of beers is spot-on. No $2 PBR here. I had a Telegraph Hill California Ale for $6. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted when I got there and was pleasantly surprised when the bartender offered me a sample of the IPA I inquired about. Way too hoppy for my taste (aka weak for a Portland brew) Keith/Eric (I can't quite remember which one was his name) suggested the CA Ale. It was exactly what I was craving. Shelly ended up getting the same thing. We arrived at around 9:45 and easily found a seat. By the time we left an hour later the place was packed. I was definitely the youngest person in the bar by five years. I would say the average age of the patrons was about 35. It was filled with the Carpenter Parent crowd -- you now, the suburban-urban parents of overly hip seven-year-olds. Everyone kept to their own groups. The noise level was vibrant without being deafening. The solid classic rock -- CCR, Van Morrison, and the like -- soundtrack played throughout. Next time I go I'll definitely come with an empty stomach. This truly is a gastro-pub. Basic bar food has gone gourmet. Fancy burgers, fondue, artichoke, and grilled cheese. I don't know how I feel about the soaked marrow bone -- seeing people eat meat never effects me, but I think that might make my vegetarian stomach turn a little too much. Like any good Yelperette, I scoped out the bathroom before I left. Just like the rest of the bar, it was obvious a lot of time and good design sense went into it. The sink is actually a porcelain trough with two really interesting faucets. This is a great new addition to an already vibrant Studio City. Watch out Fox and Hound, you have some serious, serious competition. read more

Great bar great food open all day and clean bathrooms yes!!! Order bacon burger with chicken and garlic fries! Tasty food and angry orchard on tap goes perfect! Windows open to street great breeze lovely atmosphere read more

Laurel Tavern - Lots of beers and good food - New American Near Me - Studio City, California

Dear Laurel Tavern... Who do you think you are? And who do you think helped make you? The people who were denied entry this evening for wearing a tank top. In July. In southern CA. To a bar with an outside patio... You have started going downhill since last year. But with your new house rules and dress code, you sealed your fate and lost not 1, not 2, but 9 customers. Congratulations to Studio City's newest A- hole bar. read more

The bane of my existence is trying to find parking on Ventura Boulevard. You just can't find ANYTHING! Now, I generally do not go out to eat on the weekend. I hate the crowds and I hate the shitty service you get while the place is filled with those who generally only ever go out on the weekend. To me, a place is in its prime during the weekdays as the Chef has had time to chill from the weekend rush and is willing to try something new. At least have the time to put towards your meal. Add in that I have had this place recommended to me by countless people. I mean, they're surprised I haven't actually gone here prior to this as it's just my sort of style of establishment. Microbrewed beers, really interesting choice of foods and all in a sort of dim sort of steam punk lite setting. Have to say, it wasn't all that and a bag of chips, It was decent. I would try coming back again but it wouldn't be my first choice. So why does this fall into the Okay setting? I already expect parking to be bad in general, I had hoped that it being a weeknight would have eased it a little bit. Nope, sure enough Valet that mofo. Which is pretty much what you have to do at most any place on Ventura Blvd. And $4 isn't TOO bad, I guess. Still not my bag of tea. Upon getting to the door you face the rejects of a night club bar carding everyone. Like others have pointed out, they really are the prime example of someone who has no power anywhere else in life and is compensating it by being the gate keeper of a bar. I've heard horror tales of how this place is tough to get a table. While it was just a weeknight, I can see how on the weekend this place would make me pound four or five beers just thinking of the crowds. We found a booth over at the corner and I have to say, for a weeknight it was at about 80-90% filled. Assuring that I will never come during a weekend. They also feel the need to tell you that you need to order at the bar. That's not a big deal, if the two bartenders were enough to service the folks. Took me a few moments to get any of their attention. Order in, time to relax and enjoy their beer. They have a healthy selection of about four or five different beer labels on tap and about three of each of their respected beers on tap. Which is really pretty good. You don't see any major labels and if you're a non-alcohol drinker, stay at home or stick with water. Diet Coke is $4. Ouch! For those who like microbrewed beers, you'll enjoy the selection but it wont be anything you haven't seen anywhere else. They have the standards in Microbrewed beers. Telegraph and Craftsmen are the two that stood out. The seadog blueberry has been one of those underDOG favorites that I have enjoyed. So nice seeing it on the menu for those who like to drink their beer with a pinky up. The food.. Nothing special. The burgers really were just.. okay. Nothing spectacular and I'm not even going to get on the kick of them being small. Order more food or try to live in proper portion sizes if you want more. I just didn't think the taste was anything special. The hickory ketchup was.. wow, what the hell was that? All I know is that it wasn't really good. Pork fat glazed fries were nothing special and you really couldn't taste much of a Pork fat. What did stand out was the Pork Belly skewers. The gal described them as Chinese ribs without the bones. I love Pork Belly, consider it thicker bacon. It is. It's delicious. Also had some Bone Marrow, which, while I loved, I thought could use another bone in there. Three is not enough, especially when you pick two runts and a long one to roast. I think the main put off was the crowds. This place, on a weeknight, was super packed. Much more than I'm used to. If you can come during lunch or avoid the weekends, then it would be a bit more worth it. But otherwise, there's places that do this sort of thing much better. The York and Blue Palms come to mind. read more

This place is complete crap. It exemplifies the lowering of standards in the restaurant industry, that the hipsters are driving the market and do not know quality on any level. I get the whole tavern deal; in Europe the setup is common, a place where locals congregate and its basic service. But this place takes it to another level. A buddy and I met in the SFV, the old stomping ground for both of us. We found this place driving by and walked in. It was crowded; we ordered our meals and drinks. I tried one of their special drinks since they had nothing I really liked. The drink was one of those mixology concoctions, the bartender looked up the recipe on the screen, and I watched her! It had no depth to it; it tasted of the base components with no real complimenting of flavors, no complexity. His was different but said the same; we both agreed no point in trying the others. Then the food was a disaster. Wrong order and at some point the food never arrived so we asked for a refund and left. I suppose ignorance is bliss. So if you have not experienced quality, you will be OK at this place. read more

Laurel Tavern has got it goin on... They have a wide selection of craft beers on tap, sophisticated gastropub fare and a super chill vibe. The exposed brick walls, wooden tabletops and industrial stools/chairs make it a very east-coasty and casual bar. The crowd is mostly mid 20's to mid 30's and somewhat douchey. But hey, not everyone can be a winner like Charlie Sheen right? And to all you single ladies: This place is a sausage fest. Laurel Tavern gets packed, even on weeknights. And it's on Ventura Blvd so yes, parking blows. My tips: Come early to snag a table, valet your car, be sure to order food before 11pm (kitchen closes) and if you own an Ed Hardy shirt, please burn it. read more

Their pork belly appetizer and Brussels sprouts are to die for!!! And they really know how to make a good whiskey ginger

I know I will never be disappointed with drinks here and at Forman's Whiskey Tavern. Their cocktails are to die for! Had their New Fashioned and OMG! It is my fav here. I had been here before and had their grilled cheese and it was an awesome surprise, as it had preserves/jam. I was excited to have it again, but was completely disappointed when I took my bite, as they no longer add the preserves/jam, instead they serve it on some cranberry/raisin bread :(. read more

Hellooooo Pork Belly Skewers! These things are like hunks of sweet, crunchy outside, fatty juicy inside, pig candy. Addictive, both texture and taste-wise when you eat them HOT. That's all I had here, but it was damn good & enough to make me come back for more. read more

Fantastic selection. I've been here 3 times now. It's always PACKED. It's a good thing though - goes to show how much people like this place. It's a bit difficult to order a drink, but your turn will come. And it will be worth it. My only gripe is that my friend and I ordered with the bartendress and she served him my beer and placed his in front of me. Uhm. Get it right, please. Other than the simple mistake of giving us the wrong drinks - she's lucky I could decipher the difference between the pale ale and the winter ale (darker), she probably thought I couldn't. - this place is pretty sick. read more

A Father's Office type place, in the valley. I like it, although I really miss the swank Sapphire. This place is complete with chalkboard menus, amazing obscure beers, and a nice spare industrial feel. Bare brick walls, exposed ductwork and beams, and no table service. read more

Douche tolerant. Which is what you need to be if you're going to visit Laurel Tavern. I mean, sightings of irrelevant Ed Hardy shirts are common and conversations that cover the musings of the airheaded can always be eavesdropped on. And while I've only been there on weeknights, I can only imagine what weekend nights are all about when the likes of Johnny Drama and crew come out to mingle and be seen. No doubt there is a faux Hollywood scene on weekend nights as a waiting line to get into the place can be seen when driving by. Fortunately for Laurel Tavern, it's bartenders, it's service, it's food and, ultimately, it's craft beer selection will keep this guy going, even with all the aforementioned doucheness...albeit only on weekday nights. I've been to the Tavern a few times in the last couple of months. Each time the bartenders have been extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. They know they're beer. That's a good thing when the selection of beers is 15+ and you want to have something closest to what you usually like. And don't be shy to ask for a sample...for they're all about the taste test! The last two times I visited Laurel Tavern I ordered something to eat. The selections I've had have been damn good and just the right portion. I've had the steak fries on one outing - in retrospect, steak fries are only good in theory...kind of like pancakes - and ordered a burger the other time. Both times the food was delivered in these cool little aluminum "camping-like" bowls. Nice change. The fries were pretty good. Not too greasy and just the right temperature. No fanning of the mouth after taking that first bite. The other time I visited, I ordered the Laurel burger. In the spirit of burgers served at both Golden State and Umami, which are both located in the city, Laurel Tavern's burger was portion perfect and served to order. I got mine medium-rare, which is how you want to eat meat. It was pretty savory. Definitely recommend it. Leavin the best 'til the end, Laurel Tavern's beer selection is more than adequate. And since they carry one of my favorite beers, Craftsman's Heavenly Heff, out of Pasadena, I couldn't be happier. They have something for everyone and at either 5 or 6 bucks a pint, they're prices are competitive. Laurel Tavern can be forgiven for it's usual clientele on their beer selection alone but with their food, service and suds knowledge, they more than put themselves over the top. read more

As far as vibe goes I think this place has really nailed it. It's a little loud but overall very groovy. I can dig on that. Also, it looks like there is a fair variety of beers to choose from. I'm not positive on this because I had a salty dog. (it was delicious). Order at the bar and get a number. Staff brings it to you. Pretty basic. The menu has a lot of interesting options including chorizo fondue and marrow. This particular evening I wasn't feeling like any meaty things so I wanted either fish or veggie. They were out of salmon (frownface) so I had the beet and burrata plate. It was pretty good. Healthy serving of beets, tons of burrata, balsamic drizzle (which helped to mask how white burrata is) and a handful of tangerines. I ate a lot of this and it was very yummy. Turns out... I'm allergic to beets. Lesson learned. read more

With so many places to dine in LA, it's hard to decide where to go. Sometimes it's the ambience that you prefer. Sometimes it's location. But for me, it's all about the food! Laurel tavern had a dish that is one of my favs and looks just divine! It was their pork belly! And oh my heavenly stars on the walk of fame! Was it delicious!! First off, the restaurant itself is very casual. A very relaxed atmosphere. So if you're into the ambience, check! Ordering food was different though. A waiter doesn't come to your table, you must place your order at the bar. I'm not used to that, but no big deal. It's again the relaxed atmosphere. I of course ordered the pork belly skewer. When you take that first bite of the pork belly it just starts to melt in your mouth. It has a crisp outside bite but oh so tender on the inside. The fat on the pork belly has rendered so perfectly that it's like butter dissolving away in your mouth. With a squeeze of lime and hints of cilantro with a maple glaze coating made for what could only be described as a true slice of heaven. The burgers are also fantastic. A truly great spot to have a drink with excellent food. A true Gastropub experience. read more

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Yummy food! And amazing drinks. Such good vibe. Highly recommend for people looking for a chill local hangout spot! read more

Laurel Tavern - Garlic fries. - New American Near Me - Studio City, California

Can you imagine Pork Belly Skewers? Pork Belly Skewers with maple syrup, cilantro, and lime...what? Yes my friends! Laurel Tavern has deliciously crispy, sweet, fatty, Pork Belly. I was hungry, but didn't have the budget to order everything that sounded awesome. So got the skewers and shared a burger with the hubs. What is a way to describe how my mouth was feeling. I think I had an "oh my" moment, also a deeply quiet, "do I have to share" thought and facial expression. After a couple bites, I offered. Thanking the heavens, they said no. YES!! Then my expression returned to sweet bliss. This definitely was a dude place. The bar was loaded with LA transplants in plaid shirts and pale skin. There were probably 5 or 6 women out of 20 plus men. Kinda strange I thought. Does this place not appeal to the ladies? Are the bartenders not flattery enough? I do not know. I sat at a table and did not approach the bar once. I really liked the food and the beer selection. Pretty darn good place considering the location. read more

I tried this place for the first time last night when I came here for a Birthday party. When I arrived, there was nearly no street parking available in the nearby area, so I was forced to valet park my car at the bar. Running total for my evening: $4 + tip... So I walked up to the bar and instantly I could see that this was not my kind of place. Lots of girls dressed up for a night on the town...in the valley that is. So, I walk up to the entrance and the guy at the door asks me for my ID. I hand it over, he takes a second and politely let me into the establishment. The bar itself is not that large, and while I like the simple and somewhat down to Earth decor, I couldn't help but notice that this place kinda reminded me of Rush Street in Culver. So, I found my friends quite quickly and we grabbed a drink and a table. I don't drink, so I got a Dr. Pepper.. oh shiz, its $4! But it comes in a cute little bottle and actually tastes like good old soda and not the watered down crap they use at the bar from the guns. Running total: $8 + $3 tips... So then I noticed they had a menu... and it looked GOOD. So I decided since I had not eaten yet I would grab a bite to eat. After looking at the menu (they have very few vegetarian options) I decided to get the Heirloom Tomato and Burrata cheese salad. I love a good caprese. So once I had decided what I wanted... I realized, there are NO SERVERS! You have to get up and order everything from the bar. They give you a little number and they will bring your food to you. This sounds okay in theory, but on a busy Saturday night, this sucks. But I ordered anyway and got another Dr. Pepper, so running total: $22 plus $6 in tips. The food came out fast, and that was great, but when I got my plate I was a bit disappointed. There was no way these were heirloom tomatoes. Maybe delicious vine ripened tomatoes, and I am not saying they were bad, they just WERE NOT heirloom tomatoes. So, I ate the salad, and here was my final verdict: The tomatoes, while not heirloom, were tasty and flavorful and the cheese was fantastic, but the overall flavor was greatly lacking two ingredients, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A small drizzle of balsamic was on the plate, but not nearly enough to bring the flavors of balsamic to this dish. One more soda though out the night later and I had had three sodas, a salad and someone else parked my car for me... Grand total: $33, which wasn't too bad. I did see that they have a good number of bottled beers and beers on tap, which would be great for anyone who likes a lot of options... but then again, you will have to wait in that line at the bar for it... read more

Actually, I'm leaning on 2 stars for this place. I came here with a big group on Wednesday and between the loud noise and the fighting to claim the seats, I don't think it's worth the hype. Plus, the burger was obscenely small for $9. Was the burger good though? Well, sure, the two bites I had of it. It was a little larger than a slider. Some have compared this place to Father's Office, well, I still love Father's Office more. At least they serve you a real-sized burger and not something meant for Barbie. Hickory Burger- Of the four burgers they offer, this one is closest to FO's burger. However, as previously mentioned, it's tiny. T-I-N-Y. Grilled Cheese- it's good but not really worth the price either. And for $3 more, you can add fries. Regular fries were crap. Fries cooked in pork fat- I was really excited to try this one until we got them and I realized they were steak fries. Oh no, too potato-y. Chorizo fondue- good but I think I would have preferred chips over the bread slices (which were the airy sort with a lot of holes- no bueno to hold fondue!). If I do come back, I'll probably opt to just get the beet salad and mussels. However, I did really enjoy my drinks. Bartenders were heavy on the booze and very speedy in making drinks. Parking- I parked off Radford, by the studios but they do have valet for $4. I don't really recommend parking at Trader Joe's as some did. They weren't playing any music- thank goodness since it was so hard to hear anyone. Maybe it was crowded because the Laker game was on but I doubt it. I've seen people spilling out of here before. Sigh, well, there goes $75! I think I'll stick to Library Bar (same owners as Laurel Tavern) in Downtown LA as I like their food better. read more

The main food groups of Laurel Tavern: Starchy fat, meaty fat, meat and beer! We came here earlyish on a Thursday night for some grub and a brew, and the place was bustling but blessedly not Father's-Office-ridiculous. (I'll let that stand as my only FO comparison.) Now, back to those food groups.... Starchy fat: steak fries drizzled with pork fat ($6) - So hot and fresh that I kept burning my fingers/tongue trying to eat them. Meaty fat: pork belly skewers ($6) - six chunks of pork belly with maple glaze. These are good, but you will probably only want to eat two tops so make sure you have folks to share with that are willing to eat pork belly. Meat: hickory burger ($9) served on soft brioche bread with caramelized onions, cheddar and hickory sauce. It was kind of on the smallish side, but it was tasty and I'll definitely be back for it again. Beer: Hollywood Blonde ($5), Apricot Wheat ($5) - the latter was too sweet for my tastes, but that's what I get for ordering a beer with fruit in the name. I love the leather on the brick walls, and the pendant bulbs over the bar. It makes you feel like you're in New York....except without the cold weather/grime/jerky people. (The LA counterparts: Valley summers/smog/Hollywood people....these I can deal with.) Things to try next time - chorizo fondue (cheese would have to be the next food group), butcher's platter (more meat and cheese), the burrata (still more cheese) and tomatoes, and artichoke (for Riverside Cafe comparison). read more

Try to come here before the dinner rush or you may find yourselves waiting a while. Grab a seat wherever you find one and just order at the bar. No need for menus, they have everything written on a giant chalkboard right by the bar. I would say the winners are the pork belly skewers, chorizo sliders, and the chorizo fondue. There's a fair selection of beers. I always get the Allagash White - a Belgian wheat beer that's a little fruity and and spiced with coriander; has a citrus flavor like Blue Moon. The ambiance is casual and loud. So maybe it's not a great place for a date but a cool joint to hang with friends! read more

Fantastic beer Great food Good staff I'm sorry that people give this place a lower rating because they can't get off their ass to order at the bar (there are signs saying no table service ... Order at the bar) or they expect a $10 cheese plate to feed 4 people read more

This is a great little spot with really good beers and the food is delicious. I love the design of this place and that they have a front patio for enjoying your food and drinks. I think they serve some of the best food in LA. SO fresh and all the burgers they serve are good! The fries are crispy too! It's best to get here early because this place fills up fast. And once the seats are taken they will be for awhile. I used to work right down the street and came here frequently after work. The neighborhood is really cute and I love all the restaurants and shops on Ventura blvd, including Laurel Tavern! I've also been here at night for a friend's birthday and it was a blast. We were able to get one of the long tables so everyone had a place to sit. Love this place! read more

Mix feelings about this place!!!! Drinks good... Food ok ... Service is weird... You have to order your food and drinks at bar. That takes for ever! You have to take your drinks to your own table, so if your alone you will probably lose it. You get a number for your food. Once the food arrives that's it no one will ever come to check if your ok. I think this is weird!! I rather go to Lalas or black market! read more

Laurel Tavern is pretty A-ok I would say. Its dark, its loud, its hip and its hot. This place just never pops into mind when I think of places to go to when we're out and about. One of our friends always suggests it and we just end up here from somewhere else. Never really had a problem finding a place to sit and its busy, but never too crowded that its uncomfortable, probably because the door guys do a good job keeping the crowd under control. Good beers on tap, hard liquor, nice door guys, nice bartenders and even the bus boy is super nice. I'm sure ill end up here again some night. Its not a problem if we do and their food is pretty decent too. Just an overall Average local Tavern. read more

This place.. Hahaha.. its a fun place! The food is good. The drinks are good. But its over-priced, and i'm all for good food, but this is ridiculous! My favorite experience here has got to be the first time I came. I ordered a mixed drink off the bar menu, description clearly states whats in the drink. Bartenders reaction? "We dont have that!", she tried anyway.. Ha!!!! It took two bartenders to figure it out, guys.. its on the menu with the ingredients. Come on! The girl was rude, and seemed pretty damn stupid. The stars are for the male bartender that had to jump in and help her. Who hired this chick!? read more

Went here for the first time with a friend for happy hour, and end up having the best time! Margaritas are a MUST! Definitely coming back

"Try to be cool" place, bland food, warm red wine (!), lousy service. In fact there is no service! ORDER AT THE BAR, then pick-up your drinks yourself from the bar, push the the other people that stay at the bar so you can get your drinks, the if you sit outside like we did, push the door with your leg since your both hands are holding drinks, and make more then one trip if you happen to order more then 2 drinks . Seriously, WTF is that??! read more

I've decided this place is PERFECT for blind dates. Invite your latest internet dating prospect here and even if true love isn't in the air at least you get some yummy fries and cold beer. Great decor and ambiance! Had the feel of the Boston bar scene. The bartender was really friendly. He would say hello and goodbye to everyone at the bar, and it looks like there is already a good deal of regulars even though it just opened. Apparently los angelenos are like moths to a flame when it comes to new gastro pubs...I knew I loved this city for a reason! read more

I give this place a star only for its overall style and atmosphere... I have a softspot for the industrial look with brown leather and brick walls.. but that isnt enough for me to come back... I went in on a Friday night at around 9:30 pm and it was SUPERRRRR crowded.. It was crowded for the entire night.. up until about 1 am when we left.. we had to pounce on somewhere to sit and had sooo many people staring down our chairs the second someone went to use the restroom.. pretty nerve racking if you ask me. The real "fun" started after I decided to order the terribly over priced and sub-par gruyere and ham grilled cheese... it was $12 for a sandwich that was about 4x4 inches in size and took 45 minutes to receive.. i literally could have made this thing at home.. You order at the bar..which was fine because the bartenders were pretty nice.. and are given a number to keep at your table that youre lucky to find... After about 30 minutes of waiting, a food runner finally shows up, takes my number, drops off my plate, and takes off.... before i even notice that he gave me a completed wrong sandwich... once he realizes his mistake..and AFTER i have already fondled the sandwich in my confusion.. he literally takes the sandwich and gives it to some other unknowing person.. i even told him that i had touched it.. WTF 15 minutes later.. im starting to get pissed because he never came back with the correct sandwich and worried that it was forgotten since he took my number from before.. I then notice that the SAME GUY is walking aorund with MY sandwich not knowing who it is for.. i had to wave my arms in order to realize that he once again screwed UPith my order. Needless to say.. i wont be going back to this place.. my boyfriend paid 17 dollars for TWO beers and i paid 19 dollars for one beer and a fiasco that was my grilled cheese sandwich.. May I also add that you have to pay to valet in order to park here? yea its not that fantastic.. All in all.. if you to have a cheap, relaxing, and fun night.. DO NOT GO HERE.. if you plan on paying up the wazoo for drinks that are small/dont taste good, food that is whatever and takes forever to get, and tons of people fighting to find a chair.. then go for it.. HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE read more

I'll be strait up for this one. The place itself is really nice. Nice tables, bar and general ambiance. I also think that the drink selection was sufficient. What really irked me about this place was the service. The last time I went there the bouncer was a total douchebag to me for no reason. And after I was let in the bartender gave me some attitude. Maybe I was a little drunk coming in and just saw things in the wrong light. But whatever. If I don't think a place is cool when I'm drunk there is definitely something wrong about it. yeah. read more

It's great to have the Studio City version of Father's Office within 1/2 a mile's walking distance from the office. Went on a Friday, got there at 4:30 where it was still very empty but by the time it hit 6pm it was packed. This is a small place, so be prepared to stake out your seating early. Tons and tons of beers on tap, wish they did samplers however, but for the reasonable prices of $5-$6.00, you won't be upset over all the full size sampling you can indulge in. Loved the pork belly skewers and the hand cut fries cooked in pork fat. I wasnt crazy about the chorizo fondue, it was too salty (yes I know chorizo is supposed to be like that), but there was something lacking in that dish. Food ranges from $6-$10, another plus and a great alternative to some greasy sports bar. There were only 2 bartenders holding up the whole joint, so your wait at the bar could be a long one if you arent forceful enough to get your order in. I love gastropubs and really am impressed with this place, considering how new it is, they seemed to work out most of the kinks very quickly. I'll definetly be back! read more

(#Vakseen4taste #foodie) I'm not a regular at a lot of spots but I'll have to admit, LT is one that I like to frequent. Always on point with the food and service, which is a great thing considering how packed they usually are. Matter of fact, expect to repeat yourself cuz it gets pretty loud here lol. My hands down fav item is the fried chicken sandwich but I decided to walk on the wild side and try something different today. LT grilled cheese!! Omg wow. The sourdough bread was toasted perfectly. The combination of asiago and Gruyere is damn amazing, but the true winner is the brandy sage carmelized onions. The onions definitely take this sandwich up a notch! I also ordered a side of the steak fries (extra crispy of course), as usual, which are straight CRACK! God these things are addictive and the serving size is enough for a small village lol. Another great experience guys! Of course I'll be back! Food 4.5/5 Service 4/5 Atmosphere 4/5 read more

Laurel Tavern - Oh boy...LT grilled cheese! - New American Near Me - Studio City, California

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Get here at 3:30 or 4p. Have some shishito peppers and a beer. BE HAPPY! the early early happy hour crowd is... not. it's not a crowd. it's a nice little neighborhood bar full of moderately nice but not invasive regular types. Also, good beer and knowledgeable bartenders. read more

It's a great place for after work drinks. The crowd sometimes it's hit or miss.

Two downsides: A) parking is tough unless you want to shell out for valet and B) on weekend nights there is indeed a line snaking out the door. HowEVER....if you can sidestep those two issues (i.e. go on a Thursday at 6 and snag street parking) this place is GREAT!! True, it is loud, but I've always been able to get a table, and lemme tell you, you want a table because the food here is REALLY good. Far far above "bar food." Highlights include: -Hickory Burger -Beet and Burrata salad (if you haven't tried burrata cheese drop everything and do it now) -Grilled artichoke (the best artichoke I've ever had) -Mussels Everything is delicious! And the beer selection is fantastic. They always have something seasonal and unusual to try. The crowd is lively--a fair number of heavy drinking youngish Banana Republic professionals, but pretty diverse too (we sat next to a table making a porn deal last night: ah, the Valley!!). Pleasant cozy atmosphere and flattering lighting....ordering at the bar takes time, but your food arrives quickly. I'm still dreaming about that hickory burger....... read more

I can't ever figure out exactly why I dislike setting drinks here for after work, but part of it is certainly the parking and the other is the service setup. Solid craft beer selection and wines. Food is really solid as well, for a gastropub, but I'll admit I've had very little off their menu. If I'm having to serve myself by waiting in line essentially for dinner, I'm either staying home or looking to pay a little less. Waiter service would merit the prices and make this place at least a little stronger overall. Staff here is always nice, but always in a rush for people not actually being servers. Bartenders are having to do extra duty with bar orders, and walk up table orders for food and drinks. There is a valet attended parking lot for a fee but getting my car (even though I could walk up to and drive away, if I'd wanted to) took forever with only one or two guys on hand the couple times I have used. Forget parking on ventura (nightmare after work), so I've resorted to ubering most of the time. It rests on its laurels being so close to CBS and not having a ton of other spots in the area for good post-work rendez-vous. This place could be better and that's perhaps the most frustrating part of it all. read more