The West End: Craft Bar and Neighborhood Kitchen

4/15/2016

Walked by the place a few times, and decided to check it out today. The interior has a really cool vibe. There was good music, some couches, and good lighting. Definitely gives the expectation of pampering. The bartender was unavailable at the moment I ordered, but the gentlemen who helped me was dressed so lackadaisical. He was so out of place with the bar. His candor was just as apathetic. I could see him being the owner or the barback. I was bummed that the select cocktail of the day was bourbon and cola. Craft cocktails, to me, would not include bourbon and cola.

My caveat to this would be the time of day I came in; it was 5:30. Not busy; it's happy hour. You can't be on your A-game all the time. I'm a server; I get it. And at $4, honestly, they probably wouldn't go all out on happy hour cocktails.

The saving grace is when the bartenders came in. Their friendly demeanor and insight improved the experience, moving my rating from 3 to 4 stars. I think that if I came in during rush hour, or later at night, and if I want so miserly, I would enjoy it even more!

6/22/2016

Really good vibe on the interior.  Nice middle eastern menu.  Appears that they share the kitchen with the restaurant next store.  Excellent hummus with really nice pita (get the extra veggies for dipping).  Varied craft cocktails.  Good service and they have a parking lot in the back

3/15/2015

• 1 check-in

I came on a Saturday night, and it was almost completely empty - only one other table, which left by the time we received our food. The place is setup so there is the bar up front, and tables toward the back. It's connected through a small doorway to a place next door, which I believe is a separate restaurant (not sure if owned by same person). There is a small private lot, which is convenient, but there shouldn't be a problem with street parking on Westwood Ave.

In any case, the service was a bit slow, but very nice. It's supposed to be tapas, so we wanted to order a good sampling.

1. Cauliflower: Yes. Really liked this. Large pieces, well-seasoned. Just crunchy enough.

2. Merguez: This was done perfectly. Moderately spicy, large pieces, and came with crispy baguette.

3. Burger with side of "Dirt" fries: This was pretty good, with plenty of cheese inside (I think it was feta?). The fries were crispy and well-seasoned.

4. B'stia: Delicious! Very thin crispy pastry (think a light baklava) filled with semi-sweet meat. May not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really like lightly-sweetened meats, so I loved this dish.

We also got a few drinks, which were decent. Overall, the pricing of this place can get pretty steep. It was about $40 a person for two people for the above items with drinks.

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  Burger with "dirt fries"

  Burger with "dirt fries"
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  Merguez

  Merguez
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  Cauliflower

  Cauliflower
• See all photos from James W. for The West End: Craft Bar and Neighborhood Kitchen

7/4/2015

We were surprised to find this place so empty and quiet on a Friday night on the evening before 4th of July. As we sat down and could actually hear each other speak we thought "is this real life or is this the twilight zone?"

The place has a nice vibe - quiet, nice lighting, cool art on the wall - pretty small with a couch in the center and booth/tables on the side by the bar. The place is connected to a Moroccan restaurant by an opening in the wall, covered by transparent red curtains. The building has a big colorful mural on the wall outside that added a nice pop of color to Westwood Blvd. and the surrounding shops that all look pretty similar. Our server was nice and cheerful.

I ordered a Goose Island IPA and my fiancé ordered the Stella hard cider. Not much of a beer selection for a "gastropub" but there were more cocktail and wine options.

We started with the Mac & Cheese, which was great - simple but creamy and tasty. 2 cheddars, pecorino and béchamel.

I ordered the veggie burger (homemade vegan patty, onion marmalade, Mesclun greens, Harissa aioli and Moroccan spiced ketchup with big wedge fries - (although the menu doesn't state what kind of fries come with this dish - I was assuming skinny shoestring fries) and was surprised by what I got. The burger was tasty with a Moroccan flair and spices and raisins, but it was far too sweet. I wish the waiter would've warned me about this when I inquired about the burger. I think most people assume when ordering any kind of burger it will be savory, not sweet. I removed a star for this.

My date order the beef burger - onion marmalade, Mesclun greens, Harissa aioli add fried egg ($1.50), add dirt fries: beer-battered skinny fries, fresh herbs, Gilroy garlic and olive oil. These were delicious. I didn't see an option to add cheese but I'm assuming one could if desired. The burger was decent. His burger came without the egg as ordered, so the waiter took the plate back to get a quick egg fry-up and was kind enough to deduct the egg charge from the tab. This is a simple gesture yet much appreciated when the order doesn't arrive the first time as expected.

Overall this place has a nice vibe, although could've used a bit more AC. A great place to go if you want to get a drink, some gastropub type food, catch up with a friend and actually not have to yell to hear and be heard. I'm not sure why there was barely anyone there, but the emptiness is nice for those who don't like too many people and noise. Maybe not so nice for the business though. This place is not too far from our house and we would go back.

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  Veggie burger - homemade vegan patty, onion marmalade, mesclun greens, Harissa aioli, Moroccan spices ketchup

  Veggie burger - homemade vegan patty, onion marmalade, mesclun greens, Harissa aioli, Moroccan spices ketchup
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  Mac and cheese - 2 cheddars, pecorino, béchamel

  Mac and cheese - 2 cheddars, pecorino, béchamel

6/6/2015

• 1 check-in

This place seems to be pretty hit or miss with the crowds, according to other reviews. I was here on a Sunday night, when no one else was (literally, the place was empty), but they were bumping those tunes WAYYYYY too loud, and stuck us next to the bass, and finally I just...I just had to ask. Please turn it down? Or off? OH THANK GOD, they did.

The food itself was forgettable, having eaten here a couple months ago and I can't remember what I ordered. The drinks were alright, not the best. HOWEVER, the four stars - and only the four stars - are for their divine dessert, the ice cream sandwich. They bake the cookies from scratch each time, and it is...oh...it's so perfect. It's just delectable. I beg and plead my boyfriend that we should come here again, but so far no dice - trying to eat healthy, or some shit. Whatever.

I give this place the official stamp of: Do NOT skip dessert here.

4/19/2016

Cute small bar with good food. I've tried their sliders and fries and they're all really good! They have a great beer selection. There's a small parking lot on the side which is nice. All in all, a great place to lounge and have a few drinks and good food with friends.

7/10/2015

2.5 stars - REVIEW FOR DRINKS ONLY

I certainly wouldn't call The West End a craft cocktail bar; the drinks aren't that original (i.e., the menu is filled with spins off of classics like old fashioneds, gimlets, and whiskey sours). Plus, their only happy hour offerings are for beer, wine, and well drinks. ...Well drinks?? How can you be a craft cocktail bar if you're advertising well drinks on the menu!!?

Ok, all my hipster cocktail snobbery aside, the drinks are definitely on the light/sweet end. I tried one with cognac, white pineau, benedictine, and raisin but it was definitely very heavy on the pineau and tasted more like a very alcoholic wine. My friend's banana old fashioned was slightly unbalanced with a little too much of that banana ester-y flavor. Moreover, when we arrived on a Thursday night business was dead (we were the only ones there!) so the atmosphere was a bit awkward and lacking.

I can find plenty of other places in this city to get mediocre cocktails (at better prices during HH too for that matter), so unfortunately, the West End falls in a little behind the rest at 2.5 stars for me.

4/3/2016

• 1 check-in

Amazing, amazing place. Great food, great place for hanging out and having great conversation. Our server Alex was very amazing. Recommended awesome choices and very efficient. He made such a great dining experience. Try the chicken B'stia, the Mac 'n Cheese, as well as the Dirt fries. Also, the burger and the sliders are really really good! Kudos to this place and to Alex!

12/8/2015

They have a good veggie burger. They overcharged my credit card ($7 more). I contacted them and they asked me to stop by to double check the tickets. I did it, when I could, and they didn't have the ticket ready to show it to me. What?? I finally contested the payment through my credit card assistance service, but they wasted a lot of my time. Won't go again or will use cash.

p.s.: This behavior (overcharging credit cards) seems very usual in west LA, it already happened to me and my friends in other bars in SM. Bar owners should check more on their employees.

3/8/2015

• Listed in 2015: Yelp 100 Challenge!

This is a pretty good option for happy hour in the century city area. We came with a group of three on a Tuesday for drinks and light snacks. I ordered the house red ($5) and the sliders ($6). The sliders were really good and a nice size. I wasn't super impressed by the wine but can't complain too much given the price.

Service was just ok, we were seated quickly but it took a while to get menus. Our server didn't seem very familiar with the menu (maybe he was new?). We asked a couple of questions and were looking for suggestions on what to order but his response for just about everything was "I haven't tried that" - not helpful.

The overall vibe of the place was pretty good. And we were a chatty group so stayed for quite a while. I didn't feel any pressure to leave even when we didn't order a second round, so bonus points there.

Parking was easy (and free!) on the street less than a block away.

5/26/2016

Tried this place for the first time a few days ago and left pretty disappointed. I was expecting better food and service considering the fact that they have 4 stars. My friend and I got here around 645pm, almost at the end of happy hour. The restaurant was COMPLETELY EMPTY. It was literally just me, my friend, and the bartender. The bartender didn't look too stoked to be there either. Their happy hour menu is super basic and doesn't have the best food and drink options. We then proceeded to order appetizers off the regular menu but 5 minutes after ordering, the bartender told us they were "out of cauliflower" so we had to order something else. We ended up getting the dirt fries, the veggie burger, and the B'stia which were just ok in my opinion. Nothing spectacular. Won't be coming back here.

3/28/2016

This is my favorite bar/restaurant in West LA for the past couple of years.  Alex knows how to concoct delicious cocktails and tasty food.  The sliders are outstanding.  Service is excellent.  Can't wait to go back again ASAP!

7/8/2015

I used to love going to The West End with a few of my girlfriends after work for Thursday Happy Hour. The atmosphere is relaxing and I would definitely recommend for someone who simply wants a relaxing happy hour.

The Food: I've only ever gotten a few appetizers (Garlic fries, etc.) here. The food was good and served in a timely manner.

The Drinks: I've only been here for happy hour, so everything was affordable. Their happy hour menu was small, but with good selections.

The Service: There is nothing wrong with the actual service once you're in the bar, but they've had inconsistent store hours. I've arrived quite a few times 30 minutes after the bar is supposed to open, only to see it closed. A couple times I've even called the bar when they were not open as expected, only to be told that they're closed for a party, and see the bar open 30 minutes later for no private party. I'm not sure if this was some miscommunication, but these inconsistent hours are the reason I no longer go to The West End.

12/11/2014

• 1 check-in

• Listed in Yelp 100 Challenge - 2014

I have never had a restaurant/bar to myself before - it's a bit weird but kinda cool. I met my date here on a Wednesday night and there was one other couple in there but I guess they got there earlier and quickly left. There was one waitress at the bar and essentially some kitchen staff in the back that was shared by the Moroccan restaurant next door. It was weird because we we sat at a table and you could hear the music going - felt like someone's cell phone ring tone kept going off.

We had gotten there at 7:30 and unfortunately the happy hour had stopped at 7! From the reviews and the website I thought it was until 8pm.  Oh well, we started with some cocktails - I got a strawberry tequila drink that was pretty good and my date got a Manhattan. They were both very strong!  We ordered some of the dirt fries and "pickled stuff" to start with.   Fries were tasty and came with this aioli sauce and the pickled stuff included some carrots, radishes and an assortment of veggies.

Since I was eating the fries, I decided to be good and have a salad. The waitress recommended the goat cheese and my date got the burger.  We enjoyed another drink and then our food came.  It didn't look like there were any patrons in the Moroccan restaurant so we basically had the kitchen staff to our self. The food came out fairly fast, we were still munching on our appetizers.  My salad had bit chunks of goat cheese and beets on it - very yummy!  The burger looked yummy and messy.

Overall a great place to hang and have a few drinks. Food is good and the one waitress was friendly and attentive.  Not sure why more people don't come here but maybe they should bring back happy hour until 8!!

5/30/2015

• 1 check-in

Vibe was fun , food was great & drinks were better!! My first time there & definitely won't be my last

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  Fun young crowd

  Fun young crowd

5/29/2015

• 1 check-in

I like the location & the fact that it has a small parking lot.  The place is small & on Friday night it is pretty full.  I'm surprised that there is only one girl waiting tables & tending the bar busting her ass.  She had some help with a couple of guys busing tables, but maybe someone called out sick.

I had the Paloma.  It was really good.  Very well made.  I had the fish tacos which were pretty solid & the hand cut fries were excellent. I like that the menu is pretty small, but has good options.  

All in all, the food was satisfying, but I wouldn't necessarily run back for more.  Ambiance is nice & they definitely need ore staff on a Friday.

9/12/2015

The food here was great.  The veggie burger was one of the best I've had.  The "vibes" leave something to be desired.

The strange thing was that I went here on a Tuesday night and there was only ONE other table in the whole place.  It definitely has a "lounge" feel but without the people!  It was trying to be trendy but it didn't work aesthetically -- like the artwork was trying to fit some modern aesthetic of 'edgy and graphic' and yet at the same time there was a TV over the bar broadcasting a football game.

I think this place is better suited to a casual cocktail than a dinner for two.  If you do want a nice cocktail, I recommend "The Last Call" -- a prohibition era gin drink with green Chartreuse and maraschino liqueur.  Very tasty!

11/11/2015

This is my Wednesday Wine Down place, although from time to time I get one of their delicious cocktails (either the Last Word or the Tom Collins with a twist).  Alex, the owner, is amazing in the kitchen.  Killer sliders & dirt fries, cauliflower, etc.  

To the locals, it's more like our own club, since there has never been much promotion of the bar, so it's purely word of mouth.  It's more of the cult-groovin' place than a trendy 20 something bar.  It's for those who are into a chill evening with friends and a good drink and bite.

11/12/2014

• 1 check-in

This place was empty for happy hour on a weeknight. The servers were loathe to help us out and were preoccupied with the TV. The drinks were okay. I had a cocktail that was pretty weak so I ordered a cider on tap next.
The fries were also okay and not that cheap for happy hour pricing.
I probably won't be back after a stale first experience when we have better options nearby.

1/31/2016

• 1 check-in

The owner Alex is amazing Thank you for a great night. A great place to just chill. The art on the wall is nothing short but amazing.