Tag Archives: cocktail

The Charleston: Surprising, Delicious, And Memorable

by Sallie Oto
Santa Monica Mirror
June 8, 2012

smmirror charleston1 The Charleston: Surprising, Delicious, And MemorableYou’re not going to get what you expect at The Charleston – but in such a good way that when you leave, you’ll be feverishly texting all of your friends about “this cool new place on the Westside.”

Recently I sat down with chef Jet Tila and, as we relaxed to the heartwarming live RandB and disappeared behind cocktail rims, he talked about his menu, dreams, and what he had for breakfast.

“We want you to leave saying “WTF?” so you’ll go Facebook us, tweet it, yelp it, and everything else you do to spread the word,” he explained, as I pointed out the surprising juxtaposition of live music, pork belly buns, old school chandeliers, and a drink named the Victoria’s Secret.

Unlike most bars, Chef Tila doesn’t want his patrons to have to order pizza, smuggle chips, or wait for a food truck in order to satisfy their hunger.

Since this is Santa Monica, his menu spans enough genres, themes, tastes, and trends for anyone who wants a snack or a full plate to piece together a meal of utter fancy.

smmirror charleston2 The Charleston: Surprising, Delicious, And MemorableDuring the flashback of 1990’s RandB, we tucked into the Short-Rib Tacos and Machengo Stuffed Piquillo Peppers for starters, followed by the Bacon, Egg and Cheese Flatbread, Shepherd’s Pie, and Smoked Macaroni and Cheese for mains, all topped off with the Chocolate Bread Pudding (a la mode) for dessert.

smmirror charleston3 The Charleston: Surprising, Delicious, And MemorableAs we bonded over our mutual love for everything pig, I hogged (pun intended) the Pork Belly Bao (succulent five-spice braised pork belly, tender bao buns, pickle, and hoisin), and totally swooned over the Bacon-Wrapped Dates (marcona almond-stuffed).

The Bread Pudding was so good I’m pretty sure I blacked out through that portion of the conversation (I blame the brioche and crème anglaise) and just as I forgot I was in a bar.

We got reminded with several signature drinks from the beverage menu.

With the Minted Mule, Jet 75, Victoria’s Secret, and the cucumber cooler, we were set, and began to see the transformation of The Charleston from a supper club to a sexy Santa Monica bar. And then everything went silent – well – almost: Chef Tila was telling me that he had a protein bar for breakfast when his operations manager and resident mixologist Myke delivered a drink that had a stick of candied bacon curved coyly against a cinnamon-prosciutto dusted rim.

Sallie? Sallie? It took several seconds and a few calls of my name before I was able to pull out of my delighted delirium and fittingly that’s what I think it should be named, and have lobbied ever since. So if you like to drink and love bacon then ask Myke for the candied-bacon Sallie. It’s fantastic, and sums up The Charleston exactly: surprising, delicious, and memorable.

But it gets better. While The Charleston is open at 5 p.m. during the week, on the weekend it opens its doors several hours earlier for Jazz Brunch from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

A firm believer that there is always a need for more bruncheries in Santa Monica, here is the newest and coolest: live jazz, endless mimosas, and bombastic fare like Brisket Hash (Chef Tila recommends his fried Chicken and Waffle), I’ve officially added this to my GPS favorites.

And so should you – for any and every occasion.

What: Gastrolounge.

That Means: You’ll eat well and drink a lot as you relax back and listen to house-vetted music.

And Will Remind You Of: A Kogi truck in Vegas with a splash of what we love from the 1930’s (but tastier, closer, and current).

The Charleston: A Westside Speakeasy

by Scott Bridges
Huffington Post
May 23, 2012

The Charleston is what you get when you take a celebrity chef, a menu of classic American comfort foods, a team of mixologists and a friendly staff and put them in a small space full of art deco décor and fill it with live music every night. That might not be anything out of the ordinary downtown, but “Iron Chef” Jet Tila’s latest creation is in Santa Monica, in the location formerly occupied by Angel’s.

Apart from his television celebrity, the Le Cordon Bleu graduate gained respect with his pan-Asian Wazuzu at Steve Wynn’s Encore resort in Las Vegas. But this restaurant is a very different enterprise, featuring Tila’s modern take on traditional comfort foods like mac n’ cheese, shepherd’s pie and pulled pork sliders.

You’ll want to begin with a cocktail. Depending on when you come, there may or may not be room at the bar. It’s worth choosing an off-time just to enjoy the environment and get to know the talented bartenders there. The white leather seats are a nice touch, too. There’s a list of specialty cocktails that should be tried, including the Sazerac (Ri whisky, lemon peel, sugar, peychaud bitters, angostura bitters with Kubler absinthe wash), the Cucumber Cooler (Hendrick’s gin, a slice of cucumber, basil leaves, a sprig of rosemary, fresh lime and honey syrup) and the Ginger Kiss (Bombay Sapphire gin, lime juice, simple syrup, fresh ginger and habanero chili). There’s also a good selection of top-shelf liquors, and for the bold — a variety of absinthe.

For starters, consider the bacon-wrapped dates. Stuffed with marcona almonds, they’re not typical of the appetizer. Another dish worth trying is the short rib tacos with shaved Brussels sprouts and Korean Salsa.

The sides are good, too. The fries — both sweet potato and the garlic & herb — are what you’d expect from a modern take on American cuisine. And you can’t go wrong with the wedge, grilled Caesar or asparagus salad.

One of the most decadent items on the menu is the pork belly bao buns — spiced braised pork belly, pickle, hoisin sauce and five buns. Another is the pulled pork sliders — slow-smoked pork shoulder and cole slaw on a country roll. The cheese-crusted filet mignon crostini is yet one more.

The desserts are pleasantly unique. Imagine a crispy plantain with vanilla ice cream and candied nuts or a heaping scoop of vanilla bean ice cream floated in Guinness stout. I would also suggest the chocolate chip bread pudding, featuring brioche, chocolate chips and crème anglaise.

I’ve heard varying opinions on The Charleston, but everyone seems to agree that the food and drink are great. The discrepancies are a result of the atmosphere you are expecting. There are not a lot of booths — I strongly recommend reservations — and if you’ve got a loud group next to you, that may color your dining experience. The lines outside can be excruciating. The parking is basically valet or no way. The space is small and can become loud and overcrowded. The jazz is fantastic, for those who appreciate it, and the karaoke and ’80s night are fun — again, for those who appreciate it.

The bottom line is that The Charleston is a great experience, but you need to check their website ahead of time to make sure you’re planning a visit that fits with the experience you desire. Pick the time and date that suits your style and you won’t be disappointed. On the contrary, you’ll find a speakeasy like nothing else on this side of town.