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Father's Office
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Gastropubs American (New), Burgers, Gastropubs [Edit]
3229 Helms AveLos Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 736-2224
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 2 am
Sun 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
S. M. said: "Here they go again. My wife loves this place. They had a January deal, 2 for 1 Bob's burger combo deal Tuesday nights. Our bill price? 9 dollars and change. I was glad to tip 20 percent on the original price for that. They even…" read more »
2586 reviews for Father's Office
Review Highlights
"Burger and sweet potato fries is soooo worth it."
(in 969 reviews)
"The beer selection is just plain amazing."
(in 429 reviews)
"the caramelized onions were amazing."
(in 219 reviews)
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2585 reviews in English
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Review from S L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
BEST SWEET POTATO FRIES IN LA!
i had to start with that. i love sweet potato fries and never fail to order it everywhere i go if its on the menu. So far FO fries are the best i've ever tasted. Its got the perfect crunch and the blue cheese aioli brings it home.
i've been here a few times and i've concluded their burger will never let me down. This is all i will ever have now. i have tried the other food (some specials, and some from the menu) but they were nothing to shout about. The most unmemorable one was a wild boar dish, a special for that night.
The burger is huge and can be shared if you are also having a beer and have a small appetite. I asked for extra blue cheese aioli and smeared it on one half of my burger. it was a nice flavor change. Each half tasted slightly different. it was like having 2 different burgers! Medium rare is the way to go. it was perfect.
i'm not a beer fan but will stick to ordering beers here. The first time, i ordered a white wine which was available on tap. It was not chilled well and when i mentioned it to the bartender, he said the tap probably doesn't chill the wine well enough. mmm ok. But beers on tap chilled ok?? i didn't get that. But they are known for their beers so i guess "when in rome, do as the romans do!" Beer it is. -
Review from john c.
Updated - 2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I can't put my finger on what has changed since the last time I've been here to have the burger, but whatever it is, I'm totally happy that it happened! I do remember that the first time I had it, the blue cheese and bbq sauce were a little too strong. those flavors overwhelmed the burger and I couldn't taste the rest of it. but not this time! I got it cooked medium and it came out super juicy and drippy. I don't remember the bun being a longer roll, but that's how it was and it was also cut in half when it came to me, so it was definitely easier to handle while I was noming away. it was simply really good. Father's Office Burger, you have redeemed yourself!
the Sweet Potato Fries were great as usual.
the Spanish Mushrooms were amazing! if you like mushroom flavor, you HAVE TO order this!
I can't push my rating up to 5 stars, mainly because I wish the prices were a bit better, but overall I have a pretty good experience whenever I'm here :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/18/2009
the first time i came here there wasn't really anywhere to sit so we had to wait a bit. it was… Read more »
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Review from Mary S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012
This place is amazing and has become my go to place for burgers and beer. The atmosphere is great! It has become my go-to place for when friends visit from out of town and ask for a godo burger, plus the bar tenders are great about picking out tasty beers.
Busy on weekends! -
Review from Robert R.
Beverly Hills, CA
2/3/2012
The results are in:
1) BOA steakhouse - best burger in LA
2) Stout on Cahuenga
TIED for 3) Umami and Fathers Office -
Review from Wendy T.
West Los Angeles, CA
2/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This is a great spot to chill with some friends. I always get the FO burger, sweet potato fries, and a beer. The burger is great since it has a very different taste to it. Be wary tho since you're not allowed to make any changes to how it's prepared other than how well done the patty is cooked. I would say the only downfall is that it's always packed and it's self seating. So it's smart to have one person order while the other person stakes out seats. Ive been to both locations and I'd say the food is equally good at both. Although, I tend to go to the Culver location since it's bigger. I never really have issues with parking there since they have a large lot in the Helms center.
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Review from Guillermo C.
El Segundo, CA
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great food, great beer and good looking people... I likes! Much better than the Santa Monica Location!
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Review from Jason O.
San Jose, CA
2/5/2012
Probably one of my favorite late-night-last-night, got up at 1 and too lazy to cook hang outs on a Saturday afternoon. I live in Northern California but anytime I make my way down south, I make sure this upscale pub is on my route at some point.
They're known for their endless variety of beers on tap, no ale, lager, pilsner, or brewski fanatic will leave disappointed but I would argue the burger is enough to fight the crowds at F.O. for. Among the gourmet burger places in LA (Fraiche and Umami to name a few) Father's Office will always take top dog in my book. Paired with string fries (or sweet potato), garlic aioli sauce, and a good lager you've got yourself the best distraction from midterms or work.
A little pricey and always crowded (my experience 2-4pm is the best time to go to the Culver City one, which is larger than Santa Monica) but a bucket list checker for anyone in the LA area who hasn't been yet. -
Review from Christina L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2012 1 photo
After a long Thursday at school there is only one place to unwind...obviously the place I'm writing a review for!
Father's Office is known for its beer and burger but I actually ordered other things on the menu this time and they were pretty good too! We got sweet potato fries, clams and marrow on toast and although a love a good burger, it was nice they had a pretty extensive food menu besides that.
Keep in mind it's self-seating and you order at the bar so it's a good place to socialize but not to have deep and meaningful conversation (unless you're drunk and can tune out the rest of the babble). After a couple hours at Father's Office I hobbled home much more relaxed and happy...perfect mid-week pick me up! -
Review from alison p.
Brea, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
The venue is very nice and cozy with large outdoor seatings. I liked dthat part about it. It's one of those self seat, community seating type deals. Came for dinner and it was a bit hectic trying to grab seats. I felt like i was constantly on the look out for people to leave as if i was staring them down. other than that nice place.
The burger was well cooked but nothing out of the ordinary. I liked their sweet potatoe fries. the have a bar inside too and my friends enjoyed their beers. I got the Manhatan and wooo it's strong.Listed in: Got Buns Hun
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Review from Steven V.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2012
Finally get to use my 21 privileges and see what all the hype is about from my UCLA friends! This place is extremely small, so I guess it seems kind of exclusive. After waiting 10 minutes my friends and I found seats, and I saved the seats while my friend ordered the food. I got an Office Burger and Sweet Potato Fries. The burger looked quite plain with meat, cheese and spinach leaves on a bun, but despite its simple appearance it was quite good. The fries were average with a very small portion size. I do not think it was worth it after awkwardly hovering over strangers to get a seat and paying almost 20 bucks for both items.
This is a good place to chat with some friends (on a weeknight when it is probably less crowded). In terms of food, I think Umami has the better burger. I didn't have beer since I was too intimidated by the crowded bar/ didn't know what to order. -
Review from kat m.
2/4/2012
I like my Burgers MY WAY....not your way!!!!!!!!
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Review from Brittany m.
Whittier, CA
1/31/2012
When one goes to Father's Office, they do so for their burgers: caramelized onion, bacon, gruyere, maytag blue, arugula on top of a delicate patty. Good? Yes. The best burger I've ever had? No.
The beer selection here is great though and the bartenders are not only handsome but super friendly. -
Review from Samantha S.
Somerville, MA
1/30/2012
Burger - AMAZING. The best I've had to date. (I ordered the Fathers Office Burger - dry-aged sirloin topped with applewood-smoked bacon onion compote, maytag blue and gruyere cheeses, caramelized onions, and arugula on a french roll. AMAZING). The fries were perfectly seasoned and teeny tiny shoestrings (my personal fav).
I had a sidecar to drink- which was delish.
The inside was spotless - the outdoor seating was chaotic (I hate the idea of sharing tables with stranger when you go someplace with friends).
Parking was easy - lot right in front of the building had spots a-plenty.
Service is meh (hence the minus of 1 star) - no waiters or waitresses and you have to order and pay at the bar. Not ideal if it's busy - or if you want multiple drinks.
Overall, best burger I've had in LA - I just wish they had table service! -
Review from Florence L.
WOODLAND HLS, CA
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I liked Father's office a lot. They have an abundance of different beers on tap. Plenty of options for whisky, scotch, tequila, etc. It was a friends birthday and decided to take him out for a good time. A good time we sure did have! We got lucky and joined a couple that was on a date sitting outside. I swear we were like a sitcom to them. I think it was 5 of us, pretty buzzed and cracking jokes left and right.
I guess if you dont get there fairly at a reasonable time, you will not have a place to sit and the place gets pretty crowded, pretty quickly. Only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because I did not try their food. I hear the burgers are great. So we do have plans to check it out again.
Overall we had a great experience here and probably our new go to spot in culver city. It is definitely worth a visit if you're in the 'hood!Listed in: My drinky drink spots
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Review from Botao W.
Los Angeles, CA
1/21/2012
I'm sorry to break it to everybody but Father's Office does NOT live up to the hype.
Several months ago I had one of the best, most unique burgers I've ever had at Umami Burger in Santa Monica. After eavesdropping on the table next to us have a hardcore debate on whether Umami was better than Father's Office, I vowed to try FO sometime. Any burger joint that is in the same discussion as Umami must deserve a chance right? Wrong!!!!
Contrary to popular belief, FO is actually more of a pub/gastropub/bar rather than a traditional sit down restaurant. If you look young, there is someone at the door to card you so make sure you bring your ID. Food is ordered at the bar (the wait wasn't too long on a Sat night), and servers bring your food to your table. Now the tricky part is finding the table. There are tables inside and outside, but the tables inside tend to not leave. It took me and my group of 4 friends about 30 mins to get a table outside in the cold, and to to this, we had to awkwardly interrupt a couple's date to ask if we can take their table when they leave, then stand near the table and stare them down. You have to be aggressive or you will be waiting forever!!
Now the food I was quite disappointed with. I ordered the $13 regular office burger with $8 basket of sweet potato fries. Pricey right? The fries were nothing special, the patty could have been juicier, and the entire sandwich was smothered in some sort of sweet onion concoction that tastes like bbq sauce which did not suit my taste buds at all. I'd much prefer the sweetness of the Umami burger coupled with their fries and their plethora of sauces.
Why did it get two stars? Parking and a WIDE selection of beers. We all know how parking in LA can be a b**** but this place is located in a small plaza with a private lot. Although convenient parking definitely deserves 2 stars by itself.
How much did I pay for a small burger, an order of fries, and a pint of beer? $30...PASS! -
Review from Holly F.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2012
Awesome place when you're in the mood for a low key night. One of the few places with a normal sized bottle of my fav beer Hitachino Nest White Ale. Usually I just find the giant expensive bottle at places. Anywho, I love their burger (and that they stand by how they make it...no changes!) and their beer selection. It's a great place for groups of people...although you do have to vulture your table. The large and free parking lot is also a huge plus!
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Review from Renita K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came to this location for a late night bite and beer. I was told that this place wasn't as good as the Santa Monica location and I would have to agree... that said, it's still amazing.
I wasn't hungry at all so I just stole a couple bites of my friend's food (this would have been my second dinner of the night). He ordered the Spanish Mushrooms.... oh my god. I don't know what they put on those things but WOW they will change your life!!
I stole a bite of my friend's burger... and it was pretty overcooked IMO. How disappointing! But that's only because I expect nothing less than perfection. The french fries were skinny but good. The sweet potato fries are better. -
Review from Violet K.
My friend from OC moved to NY and was visiting LA. After a day of shopping all throughout LA we decided to eat something NY didn't have. When you think about it without really thinking about it, the only thing that comes up is In N Out or King Taco.
After few minutes she asked about Umami. I told her it wasn't worth it. Then I remembered Father's Office.
Been around long enough and I have yet to try to I was ok with going there. I punched it into my Yelp app and off we were. Perfect timing too cause it was 4:45pm and they opened at 5pm.
The rumors I've heard were that they had the best burger in town. And they were the burger nazis. NO SUBSTITUTIONS. And my only reason for wanting to go was to try the burger and then declare that it is probably NOT the best burger in town. (That's my specialty)
We waited a little bit before they opened the doors, it was kind of like waiting in line for a club! Kind of weird but then realized it was a bar and not a restaurant.
IDs were checked and we had to order at the bar. They gave us the numbers like they do at Carl's Jr. Come on FO, couldn't you have found another number thingy to use. Spend some money on the little details. It already looks as though you spend more than 1mil for the interior decor! Even the bathrooms stall walls were high grade wood with lacquer! Using the same number thingy as Carl's Jr is tacky!
Now to the food.
Appetizer:
Oysters were yummy. Fresh, not small, forget where they are from. They don't give the typical horseradish and cocktail sauce. It was some vinegar-y and chive sauce which complimented the oysters perfectly. With lemon of course. Dozen oysters were gone in 60 seconds. 15 for half, 30 for dozen. Dollars that is.
Entree:
Burger and shoestring fries with garlic aioli were delicious. I hate shoestring fries but these were perfect. The garlic aioli was the perfect dipping sauce as well. They do not serve ketchup so don't ask. The burger was perfect for 2 girls to share. They cut it in half for you already so don't ask to do that either. It was perfectly juicy at medium and the arugula was the perfect greens for it. There was a flavor of some kind of sweet marmalade that I didn't like on the burger but I managed to still finish it. I didn't get to taste much of anything else. It was dripping and messy just like a good burger should be.
So why the 3 stars? I hate self service type of places. I don't like the fact that its kind of a cafeteria style. If i'm going to pay for a burger that's $15, I need a waiter to take my order and serve me my food and bring me my bill. Seems like a lot of work for a meal that's priced high. I don't mind paying for an expensive burger, but shouldn't the price be expensive because the cost includes their overhead?
Just saying!Listed in: Bad Calories
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Review from LUBY H.
1/18/2012
I gotta say, I really didn't understand what the hype was about. In fact, I was completely perplexed.
Not being a big burger fan, I came here to be wowed, but in return, walked out fully convinced that I still don't like burgers. For about $15, you can get the Father's Burger with fries on the side. I recommend the sweet potato fries instead of the regular fries though.
The burger is juicy and big enough to share between two people in my opinion, especially with the big basket of fries, but the taste just wasn't memorable. I remember it as a burger, but probably wouldn't be able to tell which one was from Father's office if I had to taste 5 different burgers blind-folded.
But on a side-note, the beer selection was incredible! The fruity beers were AMAZING, and was definitely worth coming for. I would recommend coming here just to grab some fries and beer for a weekday game night. The reason I suggested WEEKDAY especially is because, seating is incredible hard to find on weekends, especially if you have a group more than 4 people! And of course, because it's on a first come first serve seating basis, I felt like I was hovering over other eaters the entire time. Somewhat...unpleasant I must say. I am sure that table felt a little uneasy being constantly attacked by eye contact and pressure also. -
Review from Wasin L.
Los Angeles, CA
For the longest time, I've been coming here just for the F.O. burger and beer. Yup, Father's Office still has one of the best burgers around; I really wish it were closer to wear I live or work or that the traffic getting here wasn't so bad so I could come more often!
The other day, I came with a group of friends right when they opened at 5 PM on a weekday so the place wasn't packed yet and seats were easy to get. There have been occasions where the bartenders here refused to let me order my food until I could point out exactly where I'm sitting. But since this wasn't the case this time I ended up ordering a lot of their food besides their burger and was impressed with every single dish.
Didn't feel like a beer that day so I ended up getting their F.O. Martini which was perfectly made. Just the right amount of gin and vermouth. I ended up liking the cocktails so much, I got some Manhattans as well. It was good, the black cherry garnish was amazing, but it didn't go well with the food. So I'd stick with the Martini if you want a cocktail instead of a wine or beer with the food.
Ended up doing 5 courses, each the right proportion. The Manilla clams sauce was amazing. It seems like they use some sort of frutti de mare sauce that went perfectly with the fresh succulent clams. Next item was the F.O. burger and fries with their signature garlic aioli sauce. I don't know what they do to make their burgers so amazing here, but I hope they keep it up and continue to refuse people's request to do it a different way. After that, had a meatier boar chop. Just the right amount of gameyness and paired with very good sweet yams. Afterwards, enjoyed their Diver Scallops. The scallops were wonderful. The risotto or whatever it came with was over-salted and this was the only thing I did not finish. It also might have been because I was getting kind of full after that course. Topped off the night with a strawberry short-cake bar and an apple pie ice cream sandwich. Oh and the dessert wine the bartender recommended was decent as well, although I prefer the Framboise which they no longer carried.
I don't give very many 5 stars. Especially to places that don't have a more dressy formal ambience to it. But after those dishes that day, Father's Office came reall close to 5 stars from this reviewer. It's a solid 4.5 out of 5 from me. If only the side with the Scallops was better then I'd say five stars for sure. Nonetheless, I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the dishes like their lamb! Yup, a little piece of advice. If you end up opening a tab, you're gonna end up ordering a lot of stuff because every thing here is so good whether it'd be their food or drink selections. -
Review from Yuna K.
Rowland Heights, CA
1/30/2012
I came here a couple of times and order the same things both times, Father's office burger, sweet potato fries, and peach flavored beer.
The burger was good, but the first time I got medium rare, which was a little too rare for me. The second time I got medium, which tasted better. The sweet potato fries were my favorite. Normally the sweet potato fries I order at other restaurants are kind of bland and need some type of sauce/dipping, but these were already flavored and tasted great. The peach beer was great too. -
Review from Allen H.
Fullerton, CA
1/23/2012
Father! I am happy to be called your son for I love this beer heaven you call Office!
Ok so FO is suppose to be known for their burger but the beer selection is downplayed.
They have a good selection of beers on tap and alot more from the bottle and from all over the world.
The FO burger wears the crown of best burger in LA, Not in my opinion but it is a damn good burger. Gruyere and blue cheese with carmelized balsamic onions got it med rare and it came out a bloody perfect mess! I scarfed that motherfucker down like a hungry meth head coming off a 3 day binge.
I also had their iberco prosciutto with persimmons and the bone marrow. The Persimmon complements the prosciutto rather nicely. The bone marrow is just awesome buttery fatty salty mmmm.
Yea the seating situation can be awkward but you just gotta be aggressive about it. Are you a sheep or a wolf? If you're a sheep your gonna be standing a long time! Wolf? Youll have no problem getting a seat.
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Review from Sally Z.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 1/22/2012
Still awesome! Their featured brews are a must if you're a regular!
I had one of their cupcakes, and it was surprisingly delicious! So if it's FO, you can't rule out anything on their menu!
Pro tip: When it gets crowded during the busier hours and you can't find a seat, ask to share a table with other guests in the patio!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2010
I like this place. It's got a really good crowd, with most the folks being in their mid 20s I would… Read more »
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Review from Joy B.
Los Angeles, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of the best burgers around. A Delicious Father's Office Burger, Sweet Potato Fries, and a variety of beers to choose from... you will not be disappointed.
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Review from nick A.
Van Nuys, CA
2/5/2012
Love this place. good food, great beer, very helpful staff.
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Review from Mimi L.
1/3/2012
I don't even know how many times I've been asked by shocked friends, "You've never been to Father's Office?!"
Well, I guess I've finally joined the cool kids. I went to FO last night and tried a few beers along with some appetizers and sides. Everything was pretty good, but what really stood out were the sweet potato fries. How is it possible that every single fry was perfectly crispy?! I couldn't find one soggy fry - not even towards the bottom of the basket. Amazing.
All in all, I really enjoyed my experience at FO, but it's not some place I would drive to Culver City for. If I was in the area and wanted some delicious fries, though, I'd definitely stop by. -
Review from Chris D.
Hayward, CA
1/23/2012
Crap. In. A. Hat. I never thought I'd say this but I might have just found the perfect burger. Or at least as close as one can get to such declarations. I've been meaning to visit due to some glowing recommendations, but never found the time as I live in NorCal. But through some twist of fate, I managed to find my way here for lunch thanks to a day trip for work.
I've had various burgers from a whole bunch of locations, including Umami, and was told this was hands down the best. With that in mind, I decided not to f around and ordered the infamous Office Burger medium rare. After a short wait I was greeted by a oozing heap of bovine nestled so comfortably between two pieces of baked happiness. Initial impressions were great: bigger than Umami and without looking like a hipster plated the thing.
Then I took a bite. After the smelling salts kicked in, the party in my mouth raged on for a good 10 mins and was only heightened by the beer recommendation of the staff. I don't know the specifics of what's in the burger, but I just want to hug my recommenders for leading me to this place. Simply put, they know what they're doing.
Not really much to say after that. As others have said, it's first come first serve and you order at the bar. They tell you this at the door, so you can't really blame anyone if you wait at a table for the invisible wait staff to come by. They also don't allow alterations to the burger. And really, if you're here to try what people call the best burger, why in the hell would you start playing "chef" and change things around? I don't go into Mario Battali's restaurant, pay $300, and tell him to hold off on the mozzarella. If you want to do that, go grill and chill in your backyard. -
Review from Christine V.
San Jose, CA
1/8/2012
Finally got to cross "Father's Office" off my LA bucket list, and my overall impression? "Yay! I'm a fan."
Here's what to expect:
Free, plentiful parking on a Friday night. (YES, really)
Carding at the door - didn't expect this, but sure!
Open seating - outdoor tables, indoor booths, indoor bar
Super friendly bartenders
LOTS of beers on tap including HEMP beer?!, they even had WINE on tap!
I ordered:
"The Office Burger" ($12.5) cooked medium rare (per everyone's suggestions) Great burger. Made with a French roll, so it's not as puny as those Umami burgers that use regular-sized hamburger buns.
Sweet potato fries ($7.5) were just as promising and came with a blue cheese aioli sauce. I'm not a big fan of blue cheese, but I personally think sweet potato fries should always come with this sauce because it was THAT good.
Finished it off with a Peche Lambic ($8) which pretty much tasted like peach soda.. Yum!
Overall, surprisingly good food but -1 star because my meal cost me ~$30 -
Review from Maggie H.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Still the best burger i've had in LA! I think FO is the first place i went to try gourmet burger! Even though its so far for me to go, I still make the trip every once in a while. the burger is still just as good!
I came here again last night and this time i made sure to order their specials for the night. They sounded AMAZING.
I got their Fresh Sea Urchin Crostini. Two big cuts of toasted baguette with multiple pieces of fresh sea urchin and garnishes. SO creamy and delicious. I am drooling as I am writing this review. I WANT MORE! it was only $9! not bad!! the amount of uni you get in that appetizer is probably more than an order of it at a sushi restaurant.
I also for their Mushroom and Grits! This had sauteed mushrooms with arugula and grits with a sunny side up duck egg on top. mushrooms were savory and the grits were creamy! the duck egg really topped it off!
Their burger! its got a mixture of guyere and bleu cheese! but the bleu cheese isnt very prominent because its mixed with the guyere. and one thing you MUST know is that they do NOT do any altering of their burger. If you don't like anything they have on their burger, well you just have to remove it yourself. only adjustment you have any say is how you like your meat.
You also have to be 21 and over to get in. dont waste your time driving over there if you aren't 21!
Lesson of the day, ALWAYS get their specials! last time i came here I got their pig ear fries, which is crunchy thinly deep fried slices of braised pig ears! WONDERFUL!!!
recap:
1) 21 and over!
2) Sea Urchin Crostini special
3) no changes to their burgers! -
Review from Christine N.
Los Angeles, CA
I would give them a 5 but sometimes it is just so damn hard to find seating!
Their burger is by far, the BEST burger I've had. I know many people love The Counter and Umami but the flavor of these burgers don't even come close to FO's. Each bite is a perfect bite. I always get my burger medium rare and it is always served perfectly cooked and very juicy. The subtle spiciness of the arugula pairs well with the sweetness of the caramelized onions (best I've EVER had). The cheese is a mix of Gruyere and blue (I am not a fan of blue) but the flavor is so mild that it is not overpowering. I get full off just a half, but it's so delicious I can't help but finish the rest. The burger comes perfect as is.
Sweet potato fries and regular (shoe string) fries are always perfect sides and are served with aioli and they do not serve ketchup.
Gingerbread cookie and eggnog ice cream sandwich was DELICIOUS and HUGE. You can get away with eating 1/4 of the sandwich. Reminder of the holiday season.
I crave this burger often and it never disappoints, EVER. -
Review from Matthew V.
North Hollywood, CA
1/16/2012
Cool beer bar and restaurant. Seems to be very trendy which is strange for beer bars. Go to San Diego or San Francisco Bay Area where the beer brewing communities are dominate and you'll see how the people are more chill and drink in hole in the wall type of places. Father's Office is more of an upscale beer bar with a nice selection of beers. Prices are high compared to other beer bars in L.A. Place gets packed and I highly recommend arriving early if you want a seat.
Food wise I recommend the burger. One of the best burgers ever. No joke! And the fries go good with the aioli they serve on the side.
I know what bars pay for their beer. If they drop 90 on a 1/6 barrel keg then they'll get 40 pints out of it. If they sell a pint for $7 then their net income off that keg is 200 dollars. That's almost a 300% market up. Now bad! But still why not sell the pints at 5 instead? Keep it reasonable. This place will cost you 50 dollars for two burgers and two pints after tax and tip. Pricy IMO for burgers and beer.
Cool spot to visit though. Food is worth it. -
Review from Logan H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/25/2012
Best B&B in town...Burgers & Beer, I mean. You can't really say who has the best burger in LA, because there are different styles of burgers like gourmet (Umami), fast but incredible (In n' Out), sloppy, etc. In my opinion, Father's Office has the best All-American burger. They also have an excellent selection of sides; don't even get me started on the sweet potato fries...
They also carry a great selection of beers on tap, usually in the $8-12 range. This is a great place to eat and have a few evening drinks with a group of friends as it has that "let's sit down, catch up, and laugh our asses off" vibe. Highly recommended. -
Review from Bernice C.
Irvine, CA
Updated - 1/2/2012 2 photos
DO NOT GET THE MAPLE BACON BEER FLOAT!!!
DO NOT GET INTRIGUED BY THE NAME!!
The beer for the float is strong, heavy and bitter. It gives ice cream beer floats a bad name. You will be trying to get rid of that taste in your mouth the whole time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/5/2011
i'm a cheater. i'll admit it. I think about Father's Office sweet potato fries every time i eat… Read more »
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Review from Grace S.
Irvine, CA
2/9/2012
This place is crowded, i don't like how we have to pay $13 for a burger and seat ourselves. The office burger is good, but I don't like the bbq flavor. I prefer umami burger, and it's a little cheaper too! however, the sweet potato fries are a MUST, they are really good..especially the with the sauce that they provide.
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Review from Tiffany C.
Long Beach, CA
Coming into a conversation late, I always miss things.
Friend: Yeah, remember that time we went to Father's Office?
Me: Who? What? Who's father's office?
Friend: ::just looks at me funny::
Have to be 21+ to get into this place. Once you're in, find your own seating. We lucked out and swooped a table inside on the cold, wintery, Southern California night it was. Before or after table is found, head on over to the bar where the friendly bar staff will be happy to take your order. Don't go waiting at your table because there ain't no waitress who's going to come to your table to take your order there.
It being my first time here, I was told I absolutely HAD to try the office burger. Office Burger you say? What's in it? Well, I was told a whole lotta deliciousness, and apparently, at the time, that was good enough for me to not even consider the menu and go off the word of this friend of mine.
Well thanks friend, because my burger WAS a whole lotta deliciousness. Carmelized onions, blue cheese, arugula, warm, soft bun. Oh, and the best part - my patty was cooked perfectly medium rare. Many places try to dwell on the safe side and end up cooking my patty medium or medium well. NO MISTER! Didn't you hear me? I wanted MEDIUM RARE! And this is exactly what Father's Office gave me, and I enjoyed every scrumptious bite of my medium rare office burger thank you very much.
Also had the sweet potato fries, which I could not stop munching on. And to top off the treat for the tastebuds that night, I had an some Irish stout beer (sad I didn't catch the actual name of the beer) that went perfectly with my burger. Wait, scratch that ... I had two. Don't fear people they have PUHLENTY of beers on tap, variety of beers would be another awesome selling point for this place.
Atmosphere is pretty tops. It's chill, and nobody seemed to mind how loud me and my four other friends just happened to be that night.
And if you were still wondering ... Yes, I did finally figure out we weren't going to someone's actual father's office. Duh Tiff.Listed in: Five Star Worthy
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Review from Funk U.
Brea, CA
2/2/2012
If I lived near this joint, I'd be coming here at least once a week for the brew (draft or bottled) and the food. Yes, their signature is the burger and the ingredients are quality. Spanish mushrooms and pork rinds are appetizing. With beer, I've had first discoveries here that I was pleasantly surprised with. For the imperial stout lovers, try the Firestone Parabola. If you're a fan of Des Chutes Mirror Pond, I'm sure you'll enjoy the Fresh Hop version they got right now.
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Review from Adam K.
Beverly Hills, CA
2/9/2012
First of all I'm shocked that the current rating for FO is 3.5 stars, this is the best burger in LA, and maybe the best burger I've ever had, so the abundance of negative reviews is a bit surprising. Lets start with the bad, it is fairly pricey (though not overpriced), and its often so busy that it takes forever to get a table. Besides the sheer volume of diners, the wait is so long because of my least favorite aspect of FO, "lingerers". These "lingerers" will finish their dinner and beers and wait for an hour or so, chatting about Cindy's green nail polish, or Tony "the taco guy" and his awkwardly shaved chest hair. Sorry if I don't care about Tony "the taco guy" or that your asthmatic/drunk/rape whistle sounding laugh doesn't amuse me, but couldn't you just act like an insignificant human being in the confines of your own home or some empty bar in West Covina (shout out to Blue Streak). And not to be shallow or a jerk but these "lingerers" tend to be on the uglier/less fit side, which makes sense given they probably spend most of their days talking about their cats' clothing or whether their lesbian friend looks like Justin Bieber (for the record she did) instead of working out or being productive. So why despite that did I give it 5 stars, because their burger is incredible. The perfectly balanced layers of flavor, the butter like texture of the meat, and the handsomely dry aged beef combine in a perfect harmony, kind of like the goaltending combination of Goldberg and Julie "The Cat" Gaffney in Mighty Ducks: D2. I don't understand why people give FO bad reviews based upon the reason that they couldn't customize their burger. Do some research before you come here and then you could figure out before you show up and steal a seat from me or some sweet old dude with a beard that looks like "the rent is too damn high guy" that FO isn't for your cottage cheese thighs. As to the people who proclaim that Umami is better, well i'll admit Umami is a good burger, but its no FO. That'd be like comparing Ron Harper to Michael Jordan, sure Ron Harper was great in that episode of Kenan and Kel, but he doesn't have his own chain of steakhouses now does he? Also, the sweet potato fries are a revelation, and that aioli is like crack, maybe not quite as much like crack as that syrup from Roscoes (every time I go to Roscoes I actually want to inject that syrup into my veins like heroin), but lets just say its so good that I'd bathe in it (a bath filled with that aioli while watching "The Meteor Man", "Blank Check" or "A Kid in King Arthur's Court" sounds like the perfect night to me). I guess what I'm trying to say is that even with the "lingerers" FO is as good as Sinbad was in "First Kid"!
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Review from Jennifer M.
Santa Monica, CA
2/2/2012
I go here for the burger and a glass of red wine once a month. I'm passionate about passionately great these two things are. Yum.
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Review from Katherine L.
San Jose, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
OMG the burger is delicious!! The meat was so soft and tender. I do have to say, that I am not a fan of blue cheese - I will have to remember to ask for that off my burger next time. I loved the fries and sweet potato fries. They were both super delicious! It took a very long time, I was done with my burger when finally our bone marrow appetizer came. I usually like bone marrow but this, I didn't like. The marrow was very oily and the texture wasn't to my liking. Spreading over the piece of bread didn't look very appetizing. The oiliness just made me not want to eat it. So sad...
It does suck that they don't have enough indoor seating or outdoor heated seating, especially on a winter night. I was really cold outside waiting for my food. There were a lot of people here but we found parking pretty easily.
They have a large selection of beer. I decided to get the apple cider, which I found to be quite delicious! I can't wait to come back again! -
Review from Seena A.
1/7/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Adam and Steve greeted us at the door with friendly attitudes and smiles. They set the mood for our entire evening! Great guys and make sure you chat with them a bit!
Busy on Friday night.
You seat yourself, but we found seating quickly.
Known for the burger, and it was tasty.
Also known for their wide selection of beers on tap.
Outside seating but with heaters!
Very clean and nice layout.
Can't believe it took so long to try this place out, but I'll be back again for sure!
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