Tag Archives: nightlife

Five Awesome LA Cocktails to Try this Month

by Daniela Galarza
EaterLA
May 1, 2012

7133038643 e1fda20a8a o Five Awesome LA Cocktails to Try this MonthEvery other barman/woman in LA keeps pots of rosemary and mint growing next to their bowl of fresh citrus. Seasonal cocktails are not new to Los Angeles, but the skilled bartenders who produce them are multiplying. They are making their own syrups, bitters and vinegars. “Mixer” is finally a dirty word. Here to help the avid imbiber navigate this delightful new world, we present Strive for Five, a column where Eater highlights five outstanding drinks to try each month.

The Charleston: Cucumber Cooler $11

Jet Tila is behind this place, but it’s almost hard to tell. The chef is letting the nightlife aspect of his restaurant run the show, and though it’s lots of fun, it’s outshining his delicious menu. Fortunately, the place is always packed and everyone is drinking. Among the rum and cokes, ladies and gentlemen are sipping composed cocktails from the list. For spring, Tila’s introduced a straightforward cucumber cocktail, with Hendrick’s and honey and rosemary. I had three before I realized what had happened.

What to Eat at The Charleston, Grand-Open Tomorrow in Santa Monica

by Hadley Tomicki
Grub Street Los Angeles
March 28, 2012

20120328 charleston 560x375 What to Eat at The Charleston, Grand Open Tomorrow in Santa Monica
Already soft-open and serving over the last few weeks, Jet Tila grand-debuts The Charleston tomorrow night. This is the former Wazuzu chef and big-time bistronomics pumper’s reworking of the Angels space in Santa Monica into another nightlife venue that, like Angel’s before it, plans to have nightly live entertainment by bands. This includes that jerky eighties cover band that must have played everywhere else by now, as well as karaoke, comedy, and get this, dueling pianos (apparently, you can take the guy out of Vegas, but…well, you know). Anyway, what we’re really here for is the food and drink, and here Tila plans a selection of unique comfort eats and spruced-up cocktails, along with a series of pop-ups (an event with chef Evan Kleiman is already in the works we’re told). Come check the menu and bar.

The interior exhales the same vintage supper club cool as its predecessor, with a bar wrapped in kinky white leather (we’re imagining this, but like, at a bar), red booths, and a central portrait of Josephine Baker (please be this one).

20120328 charlestonint 560x375 What to Eat at The Charleston, Grand Open Tomorrow in Santa Monica

The menu features Tila’s take on comfort eats and will include tacos with slow-roasted short ribs and shaved brussels sprouts, fried chicken wings in a sweet chili sriracha, flatbreads of various designs, Welsh rarebit, and five-spice pork belly bao.

Tila will not, as far as we can tell, take Kaya toast back from Susan Feniger. Nor will he introduce a bar program called Tila’s Tequila. Instead, the spot offers beer, wine, and craft cocktails like a vodka-soaked “Kaffir Lime Pie” and a “Jet 75.”

See The Charleston’s full drinking and dining menus.