Another new hot spot in my neighborhood, Third Street has really come along way. The Phoenix is only been opened for 3 weeks but already there’s a really good local buzz. When Shawn Antonio, manager, said I could come for a review I was very excited. Shawn has been in the food business for a long time, he is a very cultured guy and speaks Dutch, Spanish and English. Shawn Says, “The Phoenix is a whisky bar with whiskeys that no one has, whiskeys that aren’t available to the public, with a great vibe all the time.” He laments, “It’s really cool to be able to leave your egos outside, and a lot of people forget to have fun that is what The Phoenix is all about.”
The menu is very minimal, but the food is really terrific. What you really are coming to The Phoenix for though is the drinks and ambiance. The whole experience is very fun. The Phoenix concept, a whiskey bar with food, and they deliver on both big-time.
The music is adult rock with smatterings of Led Zeppelin, Eagles, and Rolling Stones. Friday and Saturday evenings they have a DJ, with funky soul music, and a very large eclectic crowd.
My server Kelly Reeves was very entertaining, but professional, she informed me about all of my drinking and dining options. She worked previously at The Fairmont in Santa Monica, so she knows her stuff!
Here’s What I Tried:
Cocktails:
Paloma Milagro, with Blanco Tequila, Giffard’s Pamplemousse, and lime soda. Sweet and sour, this cocktail is the bomb!
Dublin Donkey, with Tullamore Drew, Gifford’s Ginger of the Indies, lime, and ginger beer. Bubbly and effervescent, very thirst quenching.
Paper Plane with Jim Beam Bonded, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon. This is a mixed crafted cocktail for the whiskey lover in its entire splendor.
3rd Street Elyxir, with Absolut Elyx, Giffard’s Elderflower, St. George spiced pear, and lemon. A nice martini type of cocktail with amazing floral essence.
Salads:
Phoenix House Salad, with mixed greens, feta, pear, pepperoncini, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, and red onions. This is a salad for a salad aficionado, it is packed with super fresh goodness, and the pear was my favorite part.
Chicken Paillard with arugula, red onions, and cherry tomatoes. Think of this, as a salad with a very tender piece of nicely sliced chicken on the bottom, a delicious low calorie menu item.
Entrees:
Grilled Sausage – Marquez with sweet baby peppers, grilled bread. This is a great way to start your experience here at The Phoenix; the peppers are super sweet so it is a wonderful combination.
8 oz. Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce, and grilled bread. A perfectly cooked steak with great fresh sauce on top, a true winner.
Chicken with Chimichurri Sauce. If you prefer chicken then order this dish, same idea as the steak but with chicken.
Rib Eye Steak with Grilled Zucchini, I loved the grilled zucchini, it’s super sweet with nice grill marks, the steak should have been cooked rare, too bad it was a bit over done.
Hanger Steak with Onions, this was by far my favorite dish, the steak was super tender cooked almost raw and the onions were very delectable as well.
Special – Fusilli Marinara Pasta with an egg on top. What a great idea, the egg oozes it’s yoke all over the pasta and the sauce is simple but is an amazing marinara.
Sides:
Hand Cut Fries with garlic, rosemary, sea salt. Truly fantastic fries, simple and direct but really perfect.
Grilled Bread with olive oil, sea salt. The bread here is a feat in itself, but don’t eat too much you won’t be able to eat all of your meaty main dishes.
The interior is very low key; but with a tranquil feel. The outside patio has a large screen on the wall for an Alfresco Film series that will be starting soon. All the patio tables have fun games to play. Adorned with garage type doors, beige tufted banquets, concrete brick walls. Little fabulous touches like; post modern chandeliers with wooden globes, wood stumps as tables, brick floors, long tables, and industrial stools. Near the outside back staircase is a very cool chalkboard with The Phoenix spelled out on it.
Owner Adolfo Suaya moved to LA in 1982 and quickly made a name for himself in the LA restaurant scene, four years later with the opening of Gaucho Grill. By 1996, he had 16 Gaucho Grills in operation. Having carved out a rather lucrative niche for himself, Adolfo now boasts an array of successful restaurants and nightclubs that stretch from the east ends of Hollywood, through the infamous Cahuenga Corridor district, and down to the west area of Hollywood Boulevard. Past, present and future projects include Memphis, Dolce, Bella Cucina, The Lodge, Goa, Zen Grill, Bar Deluxe, BoHo, The Surly Goat and Osaka, Suaya’s high-end Japanese-Peruvian dining concept. The Phoenix used to be down the street on La Cienaga, this new version is with The Goat Restaurant Group, the same name but a different location. Whatever the concept, The Phoenix promises to be the new hot spot in the hood, it’s really worth experiencing the relaxing atmosphere that this place has to offer!
The demographic here is 22 to 65, which means literally everyone, and there are no snooty airs. No shirts and ties instead bring your casual attire, tank tops and sandals need only apply!
No cover charge or minimums, Yay!! 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM is their Happy Hour, with lots of enjoyable specials. Bottom line: no hype, a very simple consistent cheers bar.
The Phoenix
8480 West 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
http://www.thephoenixla.com/
323-655-5030
