One of the best Thanksgiving dinners I experienced in LA was at The Pikey in the heart of Hollywood. No family and no plans found me in 2013 at my nearby U.K-style gastropub curious to sample their Thanksgiving feast, a generous plate of fancy vegetables, stuffing, potatoes, and a gigantic turkey leg. It did not disappoint, nor does any night you visit for their cocktails and elevated comfort food with locally sourced ingredients.
This restaurant bar with dark moody vibes became one of my favorite joints because the scene is always festive and filled with good-looking people. The Pikey’s realness brings real people and a hip LA crowd. Six years later, The Pikey on Sunset Blvd is still in business. This time my Pikey return (now from Malibu) was a lengthy drive to celebrate my friend Michelle’s birthday, who has known me longer than The Pikey has been around.
My favorite menu item continues to be the Fish and Chips, just like in England, not too greasy and a perfect light and crispy coating. The fish is a wild line-caught Pacific snapper served with a malted whey tartar sauce. We started with the fresh, light Hamachi Crudo with pickled pears, fried ginger, English breakfast radishes, and ponzu sauce AND the Buffalo Burrata Bruschetta with roasted peppers and arugula. Both a nice way to ease into the menu.
Guests adore the Char-Grilled Beef Burger with Worcestershire Aioli and the Vegan Curry with Seasonal Vegetables, Red Lentils, Jasmin Rice, and Grilled Flatbread. Bar food is abundant, like Deviled Eggs, Hot Artichoke Dip, and Bacon Wrapped Dates.
Not many spots in LA can you find Potted Chicken Liver or Welsh Rarebit, a regular British menu item. Even many vegetarian options abound, like the generous Kale Ceasar topped many inches high with parmesan and garlic toast, as well as Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Charred Beet Salad, and Rigatoni. Nex time we will be back for their Smoked Trout Salad and Grilled Spanish Octopus.
Come for their Sunday brunch and sit outside on their dog-friendly patio and watch the action on Sunset Blvd. Brunch comes with a separate brunch cocktail menu. Their Sunday roast is a popular affair too. Starting at 3:30, choose from their main course of Roast Short Rib with Beets & Horseradish Cream or Slow-Roasted Pork Belly with Caramelized Apples & Parsnips with all the fixings.
Ready for a pint or cocktail? Cocktails are thoughtfully concocted, like the PIKEY HOT APPLE CIDER with
Ancient Age Bourbon, Courvoisier VS, Apple Cider, Chili, All Spice, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Star Anise, the PONY BOY with Chamomile-Infused Mata Hari Absinthe, St. Germain Elderflower, and Lemon Juice, OR the CARAVAN with Bacardi 8, Baronjager Honey Liqueur, Pineapple Juice, and Habanero-Infused Peach Bitters.
Where can you find a Happy Hour on the weekends from midnight to 2 AM? Drink Responsibly with half off booze. Choose from their extensive beer list too.
The Pikey was named among the top three Critic’s Choice for brunch by the Los Angeles Times and touted by Jonathan Gold as “the real deal.” The Infatuation says,”We love The Pikey for several reasons. Its aggressive English pub interior is oddly comforting, the beer list is stellar, and everything on the menu is apparently organic and that means those fish and chips are healthy.”
7617 W Sunset Blvd (Near N Stanley Ave)
Los Angeles, CA 90046
lalascoop.com 