365 Places to Eat

Joe’s has been one of my favorite spots for a long time. When Joe Miller opened his small Spanish Tapas themed wine bar last year, I immediately added Bar Pinxto to my list.

It’s a tight space, with a max capacity of 30 people inside and a few tables outside. Bar Pinxto isn’t meant for lingering though. It’s a faced paced service of small dishes eaten on bar tables and small stools. You will get friendly with your neighbors, or in my case receive a few elbows in the back from the guy behind you.

The tight space sort of lends to the ambiance though. It makes you feel like you are in a much more central urban spot than being a block from the ocean in Santa Monica.

We tried the happy hour special, which runs daily from 4-7pm if you believe the website, or 4-6pm if you believe the sign outside of Pinxto. You get six small tapas for $6, plus $3 sangria or $1.50 Stella. Everything is small, but tasty. The drinks are 6-8 ounces? And the tapas are different specialties of the house served atop small pieces of grilled bread.

We sampled:

• Crimini Mushroom, Jamon And Diced Vegetables
• Jamon Sofrito With Fried Leeks
• Esparragos Blancos Con Romesco
• Endive, Roquefort Cream, Anchovy & Walnut
• Radish, Jicama, Avocado, Cilantro and Lime
• Fresh Tomato, Serrano Ham, Grilled Bread

And followed up with some full orders of:

• Dates Wrapped in Bacon with Cabralas Cheese
• Costillas De Cordero - Lamb Chop, Chorizo Crust, Small Salad
• Sauteed Brussel Sprouts with grapes
• Grilled White Shrimp with garlic and lemon

With a few glasses of sangria, the bill for the whole dinner for two was around $65. I would definitely go back, although not with too many more people. If there are more than four in your party, it’s too tight quarters.

Bar Pinxto
109 Santa Monica Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.458.2012

Who knew that enjoying a burger could be a full contact sport? There are two things that everyone tells you about Father’s Office. First, the burger is unreal. Second, that it’s a giant pain in the ass to get a table. Everyone is right on both counts.

Father’s Office II is the newest incarnation of the well known Father’s Office in Santa Monica. Father’s Office II is in Culver City at the Helm’s Bakery complex.

Your best bet for dinner is to get there early, like 6:00 if you can make it. After you secure a table, then you order your food and drink from the bar tender and grab a table number so that they can find you.

Father’s Office II has a nice long row of stylish picnic tables outside. Most have heaters above them, so it’s comfortable when it drops into the chilly 60’s here in Southern California.

You have to order a burger, or at least taste one. The burger lives up to the hype. Also add an order of sweet potato fries. One order is plenty for two.

The other reason that Father’s Office is well liked is their wide selection of specialty beers.

As the night gets later, Father’s Office gets more and more crowded. The rules say that you can’t order food unless you have a table. There isn’t anyone to control who gets a table and who doesn’t, so there is much lurking and standing over those who do have a table. If you want to make a friend, give someone a heads up that you are leaving.

The real secret is that in addition to the burger, Father’s Office II has some terrific tapas and small dishes. Duck prosciutto salad, beet salad, smoked eel or white anchovies. I had a special of fried brussel sprouts with Serrano Ham (crispy like bacon) and pine nuts. Delicious.

For all the pomp and rules (no ketchup, aioli only), prices are fairly reasonable. Dinner is under $20 and the special beers are worth the $6-10. Is it worth the hassle? Once in a while, in my opinion, if you go in knowing that it’s going to take a while. At least you can enjoy great beers while you jostle for a table.

One note to remember. FOII is technically a bar. This means no one under 21, even if they are just there for dinner.

Father’s Office II
3229 Helms Ave
Los Angeles 90034