Kassi Club: LA’s sexy new Mediterranean restaurant

Our absolute favorite neighborhood haunt for cocktails, dates, and brunches (Goldie’s on West Third) has been reinvented to feel like you have been whisked away to chill sexy Tulum, Mexico with stucco walls, oak flooring, hanging basket lamps, macrame wall hangings, a natural rustic stone bar, a glowing candlelit ambiance, and even wood plates.

But you are not eating Mexican food or even Goldie’s fresh produce dishes here at the new Kassi Club, you are dining on Greek-style Mediterranean bites meant to be shared. It is not a surprise this place helmed by Executive Chef Thomas Lim dishes out exceptional food because Nick Mathers with the Wish You Were Here Group (responsible for Santa Monica’s new Elephante and longstanding Eveleigh) is the reason this intimate West 3rd Street establishment exists. Mathers designed Jimmy Kimmel’s LA home and Chef Thomas Lin is also behind Elephante and former Goldie’s.

With plenty of foot traffic and valet parking, this should be your next date night or enchanting evening out. On a Wednesday, packed Kassi Club became busier as dusk set in and more people found spots at the bar. If you aren’t into loud dining experiences, you may want to go on the early side.

Start your foodie frenzy with the shareable Mezze mix consisting of olives, veggies, and two puffy warm perfectly crafted pitas meant to be dipped and smothered with the individually plated taramasalata, whipped eggplant, and tzatziki. Up your smothering bread intake by including the Greek rich cheese saganaki in a skillet to your order.

Order cocktails ($14 to $17) created by bar director Julien Calella (also of Élephante) like The Kassi, a signature drink mixture with tequila (substitute for Mezcal), tsikoudia (Greek brandy) splashed with watermelon, pineapple, and lime rimmed with chili. Stick to Mezcal with the Evil Eye or Always Summer. Draft cocktails include Greek Sangria, an Aperol Spritz, or the Athen’s Spritz made with Tito’s vodka, Lillet Blanc, St. Germain Elderflower, sparkling wine, ginger, and lemon.

To ease into your more heartier courses, share the light citrusy Grilled Octopus Salad with fennel and Spanakopita, a flattened better version almost like a quesadilla. The buttery lemon-like Crab Fettucine is a worthy split but make room for the $80 buttery flaky Salt-Baked Branzino, enough to serve 2 -3 people. There are only two places we have enjoyed Branzino this much – here at Kassie Club and Angelini Osteria.

Other notable dishes to sample include the woodfire-grilled Wild Prawns, Grilled Chicken doused in harissa honey, Grilled NY Steak with herb butter, and Lamb Shoulder for the whole table.

Lighter options include Endive and Snap Pea Salad, Greek Salad, Grilled Watermelon with whipped goat cheese, and Goddess Salad with green tahini. All salads are around $12-$14. Next time we are making room for the Baklava Sundae!

The friendly servers help guide your ordering and never make you feel pressured to rush the meal along. The personable manager almost looks like the brother of James Franco, offering such a wonderful service we hugged him goodbye in awe of our night.

And in true Los Angeles fashion, some nights feel like a small town, especially when you see three people you know on a Wednesday. It’s an intimate setting that transports you in spirit to the stylish Mediterranean or boho-chic Tulum, if just for a time in LA.

Come for dinner through midnight, but also for weekend brunch and weekday lunch.

Monday through Friday, 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.