This is an unassuming-from-the-outside, really-neat-on-the-inside bar near my friends' house. They offer great cocktails, both speciality options and the classics. They also have some over the top dishes on their food menu (mac and cheese fries?!?) that we didn't try (which was probably a good health decision).
We were there on a Thursday night and were one of the few pairs of people there. My friend informed me that the outdoor space recently became smoke-free (probably to be in compliance with local second hand smoke laws) and I'm glad about that, because it was a really nice place to enjoy our beverages and chat for a couple hours.
Totally stoked to try their Happy Hour since Arsenal is so close to home. Sadly, a bit underwhelmed...
Poutine Fries: 2/5
If you've ever eaten poutine before, this is not poutine. It's criss-cut fries, cheddar cheese and gravy. Don't expect curds or super savory gravy... it's like the Ramada Inn of poutines. On the plus side (or do I mean size?), portion was very generous and could easily be shared by 3 or even 4 people.
Chicken Skewers: 4/5
Probably the highlight of the 3 appetizers. Chicken was cooked well, good texture and was flavorful without being too greasy or too reliant on the (albeit tasty peanut) sauce. Came with 3 good sized skewers.
BBQ Chicken Pizza: 3/5
Much smaller than I thought - just a personal pizza with 4 slices. Reminded me California Pizza Kitchen's BBQ pizza. Not terrible but nothing to write home about.
Overall, not a bad experience but in no way memorable. Cheap food that kind of tastes like cheap food. We paid $16 for the 3 apps so I still think you get value from this Happy Hour but if you're really looking to enjoy food, this wouldn't be my first choice.
Service was fine though when I asked our waiter what he liked, he gave me the standard 'lady-this-just-a-job-make-up-your-fing-mind-and-Âorder' statement: "Everything is good. Everything!" Ugh.
$4 valet, and if the weather is nice, definitely sit on the patio (inside is too dark for my liking).
I love the Arsenal! I rented out the patio for my birthday and it was perfect - friendly fast service, great ambiance, and DELICIOUS food and drinks. Also summer happy hour gets you $2 beer and $3 wings - can't get better than that.
I recommend the Arsenal to everyone.. Try: any of the cocktails (my favorite is the Moscow Mule), the sliders, the mac n cheese... everything. Check it out!
I have been going here for some 7 years or so and I still love this place. Â It's my go to spot for a good night out on the weekends. Â There's always a cool vibe here and this place attracts a diverse and classy crowd. Â They usually have great DJs as well on the weekends. Â The staff are really great as well. Â In particular Drew the bartender (and manager I think) at the main bar. Â He's probably one of the most polite and welcoming people I've ever seen in the service industry. Â I often sit at the bar so I see how he interacts with the customers all the time and he treats everyone with the same polite respect. Â Always has a smile. Â To me this is a huge deal and speaks volumes about the place. Â All the other staff is great too.
Review Source:Love this bar! It has an AMAZING Happy Hour! It's a nice bar with an outdoor area as well as indoor, a dj at night and a even a magician :-). Grilled Vegetables are really great and if your looking to splurge on calories the macaroni and cheese pizza is to die for! Wonderful service and drinks as well.
Review Source:Thank god for older friends with cars.
The super-sweet bartender gave me and my friend drinks on the house, that Midori Sour was so delicious I wanted to order another but didn't want to overstep my bounds haha.
The atmosphere here is really nice, nice lights and fancy decorations. People here are super friendly, too.
Definitely coming back here in about two years when I get my license and will to drive all the way to LA for a good time.
Slow service, good DJ, good food. We went here last night to celebrate my friend's birthday and the server was terrible. She was slow, hardly checked on us (until at the end of her shift at 11pm when she kept bugging us to close our tab), she forgot drink orders numerous times, and then brought out the closed tabs BEFORE she brought out the surprise bday cake! So some of our friends left without knowing they needed to stick around :(
Review Source:Came here on a Friday night with a large group of friends and it was definitely not what we expected. Pictures looked a lot more hipster on yelp...turns out we got the unrenovated side which looked more like a scene from a western movie with guns and rifles hanging up on the wall.
DJ came in at around 10pm...decent music, but DJ needed to turnt it up!
Food was pretty good!! I tried the mac and cheese fries and poutine fries...ugh, talk about a delicious heart attack.
Kind of a hipster place when we went on a Thursday night, our kids were the only ones in the place. Pretty loud overall, but manageable on the dining room side for us. Magician making his way around the establishment (Thursdays only) was pretty cool. Bar was hopping.
The food: grilled vegetables were simple but excellent, same with the garlic fries. Regular fries and sweet potato fries were somewhat perfunctory.
The ARSENAL OF FLAVOR BURGER was one of the best 10 burgers I've ever eaten. Holy crap was it good.
Was never a big fan of this place, but it seemed fine for a drink in that neighborhood. Â Now it's pretty much gone completely lamesville. Â Overpriced small-ish cocktails, overpriced mediocre food, and the roided out jerk of a bartender pretty much is the final strike. Â
Add to that a really unbearable mix of overly loud music (for a Wednesday evening) that jumped from the same dubstep song over and over and then going directly to an acoustic Eddie Vedder song, and there's really no reason to go back.
Hit the Arsenal Bar for the 1st time last night. Got to say, the wife & I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Hit it right around 10p for a late dinner. No problem getting seated, drinks were reasonable, DJ was starting to spin. The playoff game was on (hoops - & yes, they have an adequate amount of flatscreens). Oh, the filet mignon dinner was the business! AND it was only $18 bucks! They can have our $36 (dinner for two) on the regular! People-watching was on point, between the So You THink You Can Dance? wanna-be's who battled for a few minutes, & the STAMPEDE of strippers who had a quick gathering by one of the bars! We even got our shimmy on for a little bit. Wide variety of folks in attendance, not pretentious at all. We'll be back soon to check out Happy Hour. Definitely a spot I'd bring friends from out of town, that are new to the city, or meet up with a group.
Review Source:Could it be?!!? Happy Hour Specials on a Saturday?! ... you better believe it.
The hubby and I HAD to come in and check this out for ourselves!! When we entered we were welcomed and seated in the patio section! Our server Diana, was super cheery, prompt and always kept those drinks coming all HH long!!
We even snacked on HH bites including the BBQ chicken pizza, chips + guac and the beef slider trio! The BBQ chicken pizza was my fav, a small personal pizza with a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce that had real ZING! The hubbys fav were the beef slider trios! Great little beef patties that were pipping hot and everything was cooked to order!
I like this little gastropub!! Its a cute spot to grab some drinks, nosh on bar bites and hang out!!
This is a great place to meet for drinks/happy hour. Â Lots of tables and couches both inside and outside. Â The drinks are very reasonably priced and strong. Â I've only had the bar food which was very good and reasonably priced as well. Â Sometimes the music is a little loud but not too bad.
Review Source:This place will always have a special place in my heart since it was where my fiance and I had our first official date.
But yes, this review is for their happy hour. I love places where the happy hour is for a time range I can actually make.
During the week it's 5pm-7pm
Oh and HAPPY HOUR ON WEEKENDS!! 6pm-8pm
Well drinks are $4
Basic drafts are $3, while better ones are $4
House wines are $4
Their HH food is better than your average and for the prices a majority all $5 or under (including pizzas, sliders, wings, quesadilla, etc)
Plus, all of the servers I've had have been more than accommodating. A+
I'm just gutted I don't live nearby anymore. *wah*
Holy fuck, the filet mignon.
Ordered medium rare, GOT medium rare. Light caramelized surfaces, raw and tender between. I stepped out for a phone call, leaving an ominous note for anyone tempted to disturb my steak.
I returned to find my request had been honored, though I'd been relieved of any utensils. I didn't need them. Every bite was perfectly fucking glorious.
The mashed potatoes were smooth and buttery, and the salad was there. I definitely think I can recall a salad being there.
The first time I went here, it was for dinner, and the food took at least an hour to come out, so we were all starving and grumpy, and I've avoided the Arsenal since.
However, I went back with some friends this last weekend and enjoyed myself a lot more. Â I liked the music they were playing... modern songs mixed with a good amount of classic rock. Â Lots of people dancing and having a good time.
Bar service took forever though... I made eye contact with the bartender multiple times for nothing. Â Finally a different bartender took our order. Â Beers were $6.
I'll return to check it out again.
I liked this place - I agree on the friendly vibe. Â The menu is small, however - so if you're looking for full dining fare, this isn't the place. Â You might want to visit and order a bunch of small plates as apps, or split a burger or pizza. Â I had the BBQ chicken pizza which was yummy, and my date had a mac n cheese burger, which he said was amazing. Â Fries were crispy and hot. Â
It's a bit of a hole in the wall but pleasant - the server and bartender were really nice folks and took good care of us. Â It was obvious to me that they value their customers. Â Good stop in for a casual bite.
All around decent. Â Good happy hour prices, and pretty standard pub fare. Â The service is his or miss. Â Some of the staff is really on top of their game, while others have kept me waiting over 30 minutes for a drink. Â My coworkers and I hit this place up once a week for happy hour, and it's definitely one of the better spots in the neighborhood.
Good bar service too, though I wouldn't recommend ordering anything too complicated.
Regardless of what you read here...you have to try this place out for yourself. Â
I bring friends here because I want them to experience what I experience at The Arsenal. Â When you walk in the door the bartender smiles at you, when you sit down and your server comes to you, it's with a smile. Â That's what I love about the Arsenal and that's why I keep coming back. Â
A friend asked if we we're drinking at the Arsenal and I said "we can change it up if you want to." Â He said "No, I like the Arsenal, I like the way we get treated when you walk in."
I went for happy hour with a friend on a Tuesday night. The prices were great and the ambiance (as always) was very laid back. It was not crowded at all and so was easy to grab a pair of chairs and a table and hang out for a few hours.
The beers were cold (what else can you say about a beer?), and the chips and guac were really good. The service was, unfortunately, really slow and it was hard to get the attention of the server but somewhat in her defense she was the only person serving the entire place, so she was meandering through several rooms and was out of sight for long-ish periods of time as a result.
Overall, a great place to have a happy hour, just expect to be relaxed and place any food orders you want when you order your first round or expect to wait a while...
This place has a decent vibe with a good "Happy Hour" Menu.
I went here with some great companions, so the atmosphere and experience was definitely accentuated by the company around me, making this a great place to meet up at.
Parking in the area can be a bit of a bear, but if you want, there's valet parking.
if you don't like valet, part 1 block before the intersection or turn right then go down the block and turn right again for residential parking. Â If metered, watch 'em, if street parking, read and obey the signs, if you're avoiding the valet for the fees, you'll end up kicking yourself to a $65 ticket or $300 tow bill. Â If you hate valet service as I do simply because you don't want strangers in your car, driving it, then self-parking can be accomplished with patience.
The food was good for basically bar food, with the Happy Hour pricing.
The service is friendly as well.
Arsenal is one of those rarities. A restaurant and bar in West LA that's survived years and decades of being in one spot. And that's pretty rare for LA these days.
According to some people long time Angelenos, the place has changed a bit from it's early days. It's now more of a classy dive bar than anything else. There's three rooms, including one for smokers. That room, of course, is the quieter room. It's also the hottest and maybe the least healthiest? It's hard to say, the other two rooms are small and loud and this room is quiet but hot. And filled with second hand smoke. Trade off?
Beverage wise, it's an OK bar. A few drafts and bottles and nothing really too out of the ordinary. Shock Top and Firestone are probably the best drafts and Fat Tire and Lagnuitas the best bottles. Actually, I couldn't make out the Fat Tire bottle on the wall so I asked the bartender what bottles they had and he pointed to the wall. Don't do that. Either tell me or give me a beer list. Don't point. It's rude. Meantime, he didn't know what beer that was and it took another bartender to tell me it was Fat Tire. That's the next thing. Educate your staff! If he or she can't identify something, they can't work there until they do. This should be common for all establishments.
Was there for a party so I got to sample a number of dishes. The chicken was probably the best. Really tender and flavorful and it's just a pity they were fried. Grilled Cheese was decent. Very gooey and good choice of bread albeit a bit overcooked. It was a bit too toasty if that makes any sense. Chips and Guac were OK. Nothing out of the ordinary. Which brings me to Poutine. Are the owners from Quebec? That's always the question I ask when I see this on the menu. Sauce was OK but the choice of frozen, waffle fries ruined it. Not the right choice.
Overall, it's a nice bar and I like the lounge area. Still between the noise factor in two rooms and the second hand smoke in the other, it might give me pause about a return.
The food was ok. The chicken sliders on HH were so so. There was definitely a higher bread to fried chicken bits n stuff ratio which didn't impress me. Â The "classic poutin" wasn't classic in that it used shredded cheddar cheese instead of squeaky cheese curds. Â Disappointed, but it still tasted good. Â I appreciate that it came with waffle fries. Â I recommend placing it on an already hot plate though - it would keep it hotter longer. Lucky for me, I was a fast eater. It started to get cold really fast, and cold gravy is not tasty. Â
Well drinks were strong yet drinkable, and the off the menu chocolate espresso martini was basically dessert in a glass. Â The other cocktails on the list looked enticing. Â
I will definitely be coming back for drinks and food. I think they need to tweak the dishes a bit though (see above) to really make this place better.
I don't love the inside, but the outdoor patio is great. Â We go here for post-work happy hours a fair bit - best to call ahead and reserve a table (no charge!). Â Happy hour food is actually pretty good - the pizza is handmade with fresh mozzarella, and not just some thrown-in-the-oven frozen brick. Â
Unsure what the scene is like indoors  and after 10 pm - but if you need a few drinks after work this is a great place!
==-Happy Hour! Greatest thing ever about this place. It went until 7pm on the Monday that I went. Parking on the street is free after 6pm, but there's always a valet in front. Most of the beers and well drinks went for $4. They were generous on the alcohol content as well. Plus plus. I was glad to choose to sit on the patio since it seemed like it'd be too stuffy inside. Good call there. There wasn't much of a crowd, but it wasn't empty either. A group of 4 could easily find a nook to hang at. Service was not bad at all and our server was pretty attentive to our needs and our beer needs. Drastic turn-around from what I've read around Yelp.
-=-Beef Sliders-=- This was probably my least favorite of the items we got. I've been spoiled heavily by other place's sliders, but these simply did not fit the bill. The patties were tiny, and the appetite filling capability were dismal with these. Pass.
-=-Poutine Fries-=- All the awesome good things packed on one plate. Crisscut fries, cheese and gravy, just piled on. It wasn't as spectacular as I had imagined, but it wasn't bad either. It wasn't overly soaking of cheese and gravy, but that could be a good thing since the fries wouldn't get as soggy over time. The gravy was the best twist to these. Try asking for more gravy on top when you get these.
-=-Mac and Cheese-=- It was not on the happy hour menu, but boy am I glad we got these. Best tasting mac I've had in a while. I was mistaken when I thought they had lobster mac and cheese here, but one bite and I was over the lobster. This is not a single plain jane cheese that they give you here. It's a nice cheesiness super generous cheesey blend that screams CHEESE as you take each bite. GET IT!
Decent food, decent drinks, decent service, clean atmosphere. If service was just a little more consistent, it'd be four stars. Not that they weren't trying, but they had a very hard time managing a large group. Which seems a bit strange since the place seemed to be filled with only other large groups.
The crowd seems a bit on the douchey side of hipsterism, so there's that as well. Maybe it was a bad night, I don't know. I'd go back if I was in the area, but wouldn't go out of my way for it.
Oh, how I love this bar so much.
Before the remodel, this bar was the best. I saw no changes that we needed aesthetically or in terms of configuration. AFTER the remodel, though, I detested the changes and longed for the place to be reverted to it's original form. However, after many (insert a synonym of debauchery or inebriated) nights here, I grew to love the place for what it is: a small, chill spot on the Westside that plays great tunes, serves bomb drinks, and unites a bunch of friendly (not overtly hip) folks.
This is the place to be on weekends, if you're looking for a HELLA fun night not at a club nor a dive. Albeit clubs and dives can be fun in their owns respects, I prefer to hang at a spot like The Arsenal. If I'm in Hollywood at a club with my girlfriends and the DJ is simply bumping house or electro and there are perverts galore, I think to myselff: "Why the heck did I not just go to The Arsenal instead? This dumb Hollywood club blows. The Arsenal plays better music!"
Don't regret where you go for drinks and tunes. Choose the place that has the best old-school tracks, funky beats, and top bomb-diggity drinks. Choose The Arsenal!
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