The Audrey is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is hidden in the Hammer Museum in Westwood California, but truly a find amongst all of the food establishments in this area. It is tucked away in the courtyard, which has a super fun, modern twist. It is cozy, and intimate, but at the same time, also boasts a lively bar scene. It’s the perfect place to go on a first date or to meet business associates for happy hour. Audrey opened its doors on Feb 26, 2019.
I went to an event for Milan design travel, and met Miya Luce the GM, she was so gracious to invite me to come in and do a tasting.
The magnificent Hammer Museum has 4 rooms with air bridges connecting them, it makes for one architectural miracle. The outside courtyard area has these very festive spinning top type of chairs.
The museums namesake, Arman Hammer, was an American business manager and owner, most closely associated with Occidental Petroleum, a company he ran from 1957, until his death. He was also known as well for his art collection and his philanthropy. This is a great example of fulfilling the American dream and leaving this perfect legacy for the public to enjoy.
There are 3 distinct areas of the restaurant, the patio, the bar and the dining room. Each one has its own set of attributes. In the summer and spring, the patio is the perfect place for an al fresco lunch or dinner. The bar is super happening with its ultra-modern slick appeal. The happy hour is priced so that you can really enjoy many of their menu items and specialty cocktails. The dining room is quiet and intimate, yet super close to both the bar and the patio. The décor uses orange highlights with blonde wood floors and 50’s style hanging light fixtures around the interior. The trees on the patio are also very festively lit. They have a unique garage type hydraulic rolling door that separates the outside patio from the dining room. All areas make for whatever you want to celebrate, with a nice glamorous tone.
Cocktails:
Lemon Drop, sweet and sexy, just what the doctor ordered.
Traditional Vodka Martini with a sidecar. Just love the sidecar, and the actual cocktail was executed with perfection.
Happy Hour:
Snacks:
Popcorn & Bennster Cheese Frico, beemster cheese, cumin, now this is a happy hour item that you could get addicted to, it is just that good.
Selection of Cheeses: flatbread, dried fruit, this is a small taste of all of this yummy cheeses and fruit, but a great deal for Happy hour.
Something to Nibble On:
Oyster: cucumber-ginger mignonette. These little gems were so delicious, fresh and flavorful, a true winner.
Fish & Chips: magic molly potatoes, crispy fish skin, tartar sauce. Not what you would expect, these are the fish skins, not the filet, so be prepared, but none the less delicious.
Lighter:
Green Salad: sugar snap peas, grapes, avocado, sherry vinaigrette. I loved the sugar snap peas, they add a nice sweet crunch, the rest of the salad is a great combination of sweet and tangy, just amazing.
Endive Salad: rye crouton, anchovy, aged pecorino, soft boiled egg. The rye croutons are simply wonderful and the egg rounds out this great salad.
Heartier:
Corn Soup: Dungeness crab, tarragon, smoked corn. This is a must have here at Audrey restaurant, do not ask why, just try it!
Leek Agnolotti: shallot, manchego cheese, hen of the woods mushroom. The pasta had just been made and the delicate nature of their texture is just astounding, along with an incredible leek flavor, another stellar food item.
Whole Sea Bass: hoja santa, sugar snap peas, guajillo chili, a very colorful dish, the presentation is enough to try this wonderful fish.
Garden Things:
Murasaki Sweet Potatoes: Almond aioli, pickled green garlic chutney, grapefruit, they do this dish right, it is healthy and a perfect marriage of all of its ingredients.
Desert:
They gave me a nice combination of treats, cookies, pana cotta, and a chocolate tart, all just the perfect way to end my great experience.
Wines By the Glass:
Arietta on The White Keys Sauvignon Blanc, St Helena, US, 2016 .
Albert Bichot, Chadooay. Pouilly – Fuisse, Burgundy, France.
Lumen, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara, US, 2016.
Le P’Tit Paysan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, CA, US 2017.
Cain Concept, “The Benchland”, Napa Valley, US, 2011.
Their wine list is great, full of wines from around the world, all of these wines paired great with my various tastings. Be imaginative and try new wines that you wouldn’t normally try; your taste buds will be surprised. They did a nice service for me where they labeled all of these wines so I could compare.
My server Jacqueline was informative and sweet; she did a great job guiding me through my dining excursion.
I met Dan & Mary at the bar before my sit-down dinner. A very hip couple that lives close by and loves treating themselves to the happy hour menu. They said it is one of their favorite places to come for happy hour, they didn’t want to me to tell many people because they love that this is their little hide away. Mary works at UCLA and Dan is a Netflix employee, both very successful overachievers that let me ask them some fun questions, thanks Mary & Dan.
Located within the Hammer Museum in Westwood, Audrey blends elevated and soulful cooking with a contemporary Southern California feel rooted in the region’s growing seasons. From restaurateur Soa Davies Forrest and chef Lisa Giffen, Giffen cooked at Maison Premiere in Brooklyn and its sister restaurant Sauvage and has experience at Daniel and Blue Hill. Davis Forrest was at Le Bernardin for a while before working on Maple, a delivery-only restaurant, for the Momofuku Empire. The dishes emphasize European flavors and techniques complemented by a full bar offering fresh, bright cocktails and a diverse wine list showcasing small-production winemakers. The modern and inclusive space designed by architect Michael Maltzan and interiors by Fettle Design features a prominent tile installation from renowned Cuban-American artist Jorge Pardo.
Accessibility: Audrey at the Hammer fully ADA compliant.
Built around a culinary philosophy that takes heavy cues from the seasons, the restaurant will balance a familiar rusticity with a smart global approach. With a focus on organic, local ingredients mixed with Mediterranean flavors and Italian elegance, Audrey will serve as both a destination for Greater Los Angeles and a meeting place for locals in the community.
The menu highlights innovative dishes and signature hand-made pastas inspired by land and sea. Guests will discover an eclectic collection of wines and fresh, creative cocktails. Prepared and beautifully served, Audrey inspires both the mind and the senses.
Audrey At The Hammer
www.audreyatthehammer.com
10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024 · ~4.1 mi
(310) 443-7037
https://www.audreyatthehammer.com
Audrey is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday along with the rest of the museum.
* Note some content was taken off of their website.
