On a hot August night (Neil Diamond fans, you know the reference), my wife and I met another couple in Riviera Village, and The Craftsman was the destination of choice. Apparently, everyone else in the South Bay had the same idea because the place was absolutely humming. Parking can sometimes be a challenge, just be patient.
Fortunately, we had reservations and were quickly seated in a roomy table tucked away in the back corner. It turned out to be prime real estate: enough privacy for conversation, but still a great vantage point to take in the entire restaurant. The patio out front might be even better, though, if you're into people-watching. Catalina Avenue on a Friday night offers no shortage of entertainment. But for our group, this table was perfect.
The interior has a warm, industrial feel, exposed brick, dark wood, metal accents, garage-style doors, and televisions scattered throughout. Oddly, the Dodgers game wasn't on. Maybe they don't get SportsNet LA. I never bothered to ask because the conversation at our table was far more enjoyable.
Let's address the elephant in the room: Friday-night service. The place was packed, and our server was clearly running a marathon. He's usually stationed behind the bar, sports a sleeve of tattoos, looks super fit, and carries a permanent smile. He worked hard all evening, but there were some significant stretches where my Ikasu Ikasu West Coast IPA ($11) sat empty with no rescue in sight. A man can only stare sadly at an empty pint glass for so long.
We started with the poutine fries, crispy fries loaded with gravy, skirt steak, mornay sauce, Gruyère, and green onions. They were outstanding and disappeared so quickly that I remembered to take a photo only after the massacre had already occurred, see my picture, LOL.
Our server redeemed himself with his entrée recommendation: The Philly. Thinly sliced ribeye, grilled onions, sweet and hot peppers, house sauce, all piled into a sesame roll. It was fantastic, messy, savory, and exactly what you want from a cheesesteak.
My wife paired a Harmonia Mango Wheat ($11) with the Blue Cheese Avocado Burger ($20), a hefty seven-ounce burger topped with melted blue cheese, grilled onions, avocado, applewood bacon, and arugula. She was a happy camper. Our friends split the same burger and also ordered the hummus appetizer, adding filet mignon on top. Excellent call, I snuck a few bites!
To their credit, at the end of the evening our server came back to the table, apologized for the pacing, and made amends with a complimentary Crafted Cookie: a warm chocolate-chip cookie topped with vanilla ice cream.
At the end of the day, restaurants are about more than perfect timing and topped-off beers. They're about sharing stories, laughing with friends, and breaking bread with people you enjoy being around. The service had its ups and downs, but the food was solid, the atmosphere lively, and Riviera Village on a summer Friday night is hard to beat. read more