I only suggest ordering food here if you're drinking and get munchies, I would not purposely go here for dinner, my mistake.
(+)
1. nice cocktail
2. fast
3. good dessert
(-)
1. their trout club is incredibly overpriced ($8). it's not a club and is misleading, when I think of a club, I think multilayer sandwich, this was a pathetic crostini.
2. deviled eggs ($4) price seems fair but gross. The hot sauce did not go well with it, bad pairing.
3. I asked for an espresso when ordering dessert, THEY HAVE NO COFFEE!?!? Yes, you are a bar but ALSO Â restaurant. You should have coffee, that is very bizarre. Even the movie theater sells coffee!!!!
Ok.... where do I start??? Â Umm I guess nice first. Â The brussel sprouts with goat cheese were yummy. Â I also enjoyed the chicken panzanella especially the creamed corn. Oh and the music was fun, old school gangsta rap. Â
Now onto the bad... Â Â We were starving when we got here and we only came here because everywhere else had a long wait, Freddy Smalls said that we could have a table in 30 minutes so we drove over. Â When we got there we were told 15 more minutes and 15 minutes later we were told another 15 minutes. Â When we finally were seated and hour later we were told that they were going to give us olives and almonds on them. Â This sounded great an all but the only thing is we were not planning to order either of these and the olives were too salty and not good. Â
We went onto order all of the smalls and the deviled eggs and the chicken panzanella. Â Here is the run down and it is not good
Hamachi crudo: Â Very small, fish had no flavor, charred avocado not a yummy way to prepare avocado
Deviled Egg: Â Not good. Â One person in our party couldn't eat it because it tasted like vomit (she waited to tell us after dinner because she was afraid there would be a chain reaction)
Beef Tartare: Â Beef was stringy and clumps were stuck together again no flavor except for the char/ burnt flavor that same from the bread that came with the dish. Â
Burratta: Â Burratta itself was yummy but again the bread that came with the dish was burnt. Â
Steak Sandwich on buttery bun: Â Sandwich seemed like it could be okay but my piece had no meat and only fat so basically it was like a fat sandwich on a buttery bun, does that sound good??!?
All of this for $28 each.
All of our thoughts after the meal:
I should've gone to get that $5 burrito from the food truck next to my place.
We all should've just gone to Chipotle.
Waste of money.
I can't wait to get to the car so I can eat a gummy candy to get this taste out of my mouth. Â
That chicken was good but Costco chicken is just as moist and tasty and it only cost $5 for the whole chicken oh and I probably could throw in a whole case of creamed corn for a few bucks more. Â
Sorry I don't get the 4 star rating... Freddy Small's is OUT period!!
I feel like an ungrateful brat for taking this long to review Freddy Smalls. The BF and I must come here at least every other week. The hand crafted cocktails are top notch, but the food.... O.M.Bahgod! The food is a work of culinary genius. For the last several months we've been stuck on the Gluttony. It may be the most spectacular meat, marrow and deli condiment concoction in the world. But last night, they finally had the Chicken Panzanella with Peaches available again, it usually comes with a seasonal fruit side. (I had been waiting to try it since last summer when I saw the peaches but did not take advantage then). This was a crowning achievement in the otherwise humdrum roasted chicken staple. Other notable qualities: All the staff are friendly and helpful, there are tvs to view sporting events, happy hour and sufficient street  parking. Freddy Smalls, West LA salutes you!
Review Source:Cool upscale diner space, tasty small plates, definitely on the pricey side. 4 beers and 5 small plates was a lil over $100. I would go back for drinks and a appetizer. Not for dinner.
Recommendations:
- brussel sprouts
- hamachi
- beef tartar
- cheeseboard. the one with fresh mozzarella, spicy tomato paste and roasted hot peppers.
Great local spot and friendly addition to the Westside. Great food, nice atmosphere. Been on a few dates here. Great fun. Been in at least 5-6 times and owed them a review. See you Monday!
Have tried most of the menu and it is delicious across the board. Stiff drinks, good tunes, good folks. Go!
Small bar located in Santa Monica  pretty close to UCLA. This place get's pretty packed after 6 by young working professionals from around the area, so try to get there before. They have a happy hour menu if you order before 7. They usually chose two beers on the tap by random and they charge 5 bucks. + 5 or so apetiezers that vary from 5-6 bucks. Portions here are very small, so if you are hungry and if you don't want to spend more than 30 bucks, then you best try some place else.
I ordered their steak sandwich that cost 13 bucks. It was a small burger with the most amazing tasting slices of steak in it! The steak was super juicy and tender, and the pickles were fresh which added to the taste. Also, I really like the warm buttery buns.
The reason why I didn't rate this place a 5 star is because their Smoked Fingerling Potatoes & Dip aka Fries and Thousand Island sauce, was one of the most disappointing dish I had in a while. The portion size was pathetic and the quality of the dish just wasn't on par with the stature of this establishment. I'd rather have went to Mc Dees and had their french fries.
Other than that dish, which I will consider an anomaly, this is a great place to hang out after work. However, as a visitor, I will probably not come back just because there are a gazillion 5 star restaurants in West L.A.
When you're sick of hearing the latest pop music released by twelve year olds...
When you don't feel like acting pretentious so you can blend into a crowd of hipsters trying to look cool by watching live performances of unknown bands...
When you are sick of paying a cover charge for having a penis...
There's only a few places in L.A. where you can just chill to 90s hip hop and R&B. Freddy Smalls is one of them.
The place is small, and the lights are low.
Seating is in booths, stools around small tables, or stools at the bar. Â The limited square footage leaves almost no place to stand lest you are fine with being in people's way. So everyone is sitting in their groups, and the place is not conducive to striking up conversations with others not in your party. So go here when you only plan on socializing with the people (or hot date) you came with.
Drinks are fancy, and cost $10-$12 each. Â They are well worth trying.
Food is all appetizers, so don't come hungry. But they are very tasty. The brussel sprouts come charred with bits of bacon, some goat cheese, and light syrup on them. I highly recommend it.
My only complaints are the small size of the place and how the seating makes it hard to begin conversations with strangers without coming across as an asshole. But I'll live.
Wow, just tried this place for the first this weekend and was hugely impressed. Got a table easily on a Saturday evening, got there a little before 7, and it was packed by 9. The drinks were very good, the food was amazing. The best brussel sprouts I have ever had in my life, a bit of char, some crunch, a tangy apple cider glaze, and goat cheese to add at your discretion - sooooo delicious. And I am talking about brussel sprouts here, which I like just fine, but have never felt the need to rave about. We also had the fingerling potatoes, cooked to perfection and with a dipping sauce with just a little kick, followed by a light house salad, the perfect pallette cleanser. Then we tried the chicken liver mousse on toast (after a hearty debate over that, the smoked trout, or the creamy burrata on toast) - very good, I only wish we could have put the mousse on ourselves. The "main" course we got was actually the most disappointing, though in this case, that doesn't actually mean disappointing! We got the hamachi crudo with seared avocado, and while it all tasted just fine, it didn't have that "wow" moment the other foods had. And finished off with a delightful cheese plate. The drinks are creative and I loved the Bay Ridge. Can't wait to come back here a couple more times and try all the things I didn't try yet. -
Review Source:Went here for the start of a girls night out and loved it!!
You must try the Brussels Sprouts!! Are you serious?!?!? Who knows how to make Brussels Sprouts like this?!?! I almost went out back to kiss the chef - regardless of gender! It was not only extremely pleasurable, but the minute both my friend and I took a bite of the sprouts with the warm goat cheese...we stopped talking to enjoy the moment.
The mixed drinks were a bit on the weaker side - but they were still enjoyable. I was a lot happier when we moved on to the 12 year Irish whiskey! Yes please! Can't wait to try one of their Bourbons...this place knows their spirits!
The atmosphere is super cute and cozy! You were still able to have a conversation over the music which was loud at times, but definitely mood appropriate.
This is a great first date night if you find a spot in a booth or at the tables. :) AND order the sprouts!!
Freddy Small's would be a great addition to any neighborhood. Â But go during happy hour because the prices may blur your eyesight otherwise.
It's a cozy establishment with a scattering of booths and tables and bar seating. Â I'd dare say this would be a great bar to rent out for a birthday party or other special occasion for 30-40 friends. Â The interior is comfortable with great vintage B&W photographs lining the walls. Â Black leather and woods round out the interior. Â I think I spied two TVs at the bar, but with the din of dinner conversations you didn't really hear it too much.
Try it make it in before 7pm because the happy hour specials are rocking. Â We essentially ordered one of every item on the happy hour menu - the brussel sprouts twice. Â Indeed the brussel sprouts are that good. Â I'm not a fan of deviled eggs in general so I'll reserve judgement. Â But the waffles with bacon butter and maple syrup was delicious. Â Soft shell crab was off the happy hour menu, but it was well fried and complemented the greens that came with it. Â The prices on the food menu and drinks menu is a little steep for what I would consider fair for this type of establishment, but it didn't seem to stop people from filling up the place on a Wednesday night.
Our waitress was great - checked in just frequently enough and filled up our water glasses. Â I was annoyed though by the table they have setup next to the bathroom. Â I tripped and nearly face planted trying to squeeze between the table and the bar as I left the bathroom - this is a hazard Freddy Small's and almost knocked you down a star for it. Â If you've had a few drinks, just be careful en route to and from the bathroom.
This is by far my favorite go to spot that's close to me. I've been here 4-5 times? Maybe more? I've lost count.
The first time was when they first opened and my friends and I ordered a ton of food! Deviled eggs - surprisingly flavorful and the yolk was silky in texture. Brussel sprouts - a little sweet for my taste but I appreciated trying a different style that didn't include bacon. Rueben's Gluteny - well fitting name! That plate was GINORMOUS but so yummy. It was a long time since i had good bone marrow and this place curved my craving. Charred Squid and Broccoli - squid's texture was not chewy at all and came with a big pepper which looked scary I have to admit but was not that spicy. Steak tartare -- bread was toasted perfectly and the tartare was flavorful but you could still taste the meat!
At other times I've had the caramelized carrots, smoked trouted on toast, beet salad -- all great! I also had the chicken liver on toast which was a bit too livery tasting for me but if this is your thing you'll love it!
What gives this place a 5 star? The staff and the service!
Came here on dark Tuesday night, after a long day at work - 13 hrs straight, I came home to find the plumbers fixing my apartment pipes without notice and they were drilling past 11pm. I escaped to Freddy's and the bartender kept me company. The drinks there are delicious -- King's garden is my favorite. I had the salmon confit special and the salmon texture was amazingly heavenly. It melted in your mouth and it had a gorgeous presentation. Thank you freddy smalls for putting me in a good mood and getting me ready for another day of work the next day :)
The two things I loved here were the brussel sprouts-(so tasty and full of flavor!) and their Moscow mules. Holy Yum.
I wasn't a huge fan of the deviled eggs (sad bc it was so highly reviewed on here-- oh well, I am glad I tried. AND awesome presentation of the dish. very cool). I would not really recommend the steak sandwich. The plate was set down and I couldn't help but stare at it for a few in confusion. My friend who also saw the immense amounts of visible fat on there was like, "Sarah maybe it is some sort of dressing?" lol  I wish, but unfortunately--- it was straight upppp fat lard-- vom!  I didn't make a big deal and quickly started separating the fat from the meat so I could still eat the sandwich--- but by the time I was done separating all of the fat, there was just BUN! hahaa.. I am serious though. I was like damnit. Maybe they were having an 'off' night and thought at 6pm on a Saturday, scraps would be suffice? I know if I were that server, I would not serve that to my table.. it just looked gross and that was with the bun top on! ahhh!  not really sure but I am staying positive about this place! eeeeeeeeeeeee
I like the restaurant itself, but it wasn't crowded at all  - oh and prepare yourself to get a huge whiff of sprouts when you walk in the door! =) Â
When I return, I will most likely stick to drinks and brussel sprouts! Â I am glad I tried this place! I kept driving past it and finally we stopped to check it out!
Food is awesome! Beer is waaaaay over priced. You are located next to a highway, why are your beers 7-9 dollars? ridiculous and you wont last long. Beers should be 4-7. Also i have no idea why they have table in the area where you walk to the bathroom. dumb setup... not to mention their booths were all marked RESERVED but not one person in any of them for 2 hours. Good music
Review Source:Really, I just want to talk about the brussels sprouts here. I mean, DANG. They're fried, with a sweet apple cider glaze and served with a dollop of creamy, smoked goat cheese in the middle, and they're just amazing. Seriously, don't forget that cheese.
I also had their steak sandwich. This is going to sound weird, but the steak totally tasted like fish. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I was expecting, and I still don't know what to make of that. I like fish, but steak is way worse for your health-wise, so when I go down the beef road (tee-hee), I want the full-flavor impact. The menu is really bougie; they don't have french fries, they have smoked fingerling potatoes (which do actually sound really delicious.)
I ordered the conejo cocktail, which has tequila, chili, peach, lime, and is garnished with radish. I'm not trying to be hyperbolic here, but it literally tasted like soil, possibly due to the chili. My friend got a different cocktail (no chili, I don't think) and it had a similar flavor. I'm not normally one to send things back, but they ended up replacing our cocktails with beers, and only charged us for the beers, not the cocktails, which I thought was nice of them.
In short, I'd go back and maybe sample more of the menu, proceed with caution on the cocktails.
Freddy Small's has what I like to call a dartboard menu: if you ordered by randomly throwing darts at it, you'd be happy with pretty much everything. Everything I tried here was SO delicious! Â The real stand-out item was the fried brussels sprouts with goat cheese. It's deep fried (but no batter and surprisingly not greasy) sprouts that are sweetly glazed (but not too sweet) with what tastes like apple cider vinegar, and plopped atop a dollop of perfectly acidic soft goat cheese. Toss it up and devour! I'd consider getting multiple orders of this if you have 4 or more people in your party because everyone will love it.
Their drinks menu is very exciting (perhaps a bit pricey, but nothing ridiculous). Other items I tried:
Steak sandwich - tasty, a bit greasy. Big enough for dinner.
Steak tartare - exciting and tasty, with a decently sized portion.
Asparagus with cheese and lemon - good, but nothing special
Smoked salmon hash browns - crazy delicious but the dish is very small for the price.
A nice place to stop and get some upscale bar grub, or even have dinner with a small group.
It had been a rough day at work and I was in desperate need of a drink, so met up with my out-of-town friend for a quick after work drink around 6pm on a Tuesday. Â Not very crowded at this point and I grabbed a table, no problem. Â It's not a large place...probably about 6 booths along one wall, 6-7 free standing tables and seats at a long bar. There is a small cocktail menu of suggested drinks and then a huge list of liquor and beer. Â Didn't notice if there was wine. Â I had a cider and my friend had the Cat and Mouse. Â We both loved our drinks. Â
I didn't get the chance to eat, but I remember noticing that something smelled divine. Â I definitely want to go back to eat.
All in all, this place has a great atmosphere and the service was on point. Â I will definitely be back. Â When I left around 7:30pm the place was packed and people were starting to wait for tables. Â I did notice that it seemed to be an older crowd, which I appreciated. Professionals stopping in for happy hour or a meal together. Â No 21 year olds doing jaeger bombs, that's for sure.
Bonus: located in West LA...close to my house and my job!
Bogus: parking...street...but at least the meters are free after 6pm.
Great little bar with fantastic food and incredibly balanced cocktails.
The menu is rather small, but every item I've tried has been outstanding. The fried brussel sprouts with smoked goat cheese and cider glaze is addicting and my favorite item here. The deviled egg, duck fat hashbrowns, grilled squid with broccoli, and beet salad are all also delicious.
The Reuben's Gluttony is on my, "to-try next" list.
If I lived on the west side, I would definitely be a regular at this bar. Â The food is not bar food... it's in a completely different class to the extent that I would call this a restaurant with a bar rather than a bar that serves food. Not much gets me out of the West Hollywood bubble these days, but Freddy Small's qualifies.
We came at around 9pm on a Friday night and were really lucky to snag 2 seats at the bar. Â The bartender was really friendly, offering suggestions for both food and drinks, and giving us free tastes of different liquors he thought we'd enjoy.
Food (All Amazing):
CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE ON TOAST. So good... you get one large piece of thick bread covered with chicken liver and it is to die for. I will start with this every time that I come to Freddy Small's.
CHARRED SQUID AND BROCCOLI
ROSCOE's ASAPARGUS
SEARED PORK RILLETTE
We were full after splitting the first 3 items but ordered the pork just because all of the food was so good that we wanted to try something else. Things I also wanted to try... (after seeing other people's and having food envy) - fingerling potatoes and dip, brussels sprouts, and the belgian waffle. Â
I will DEFINITELY be back.
Funny note - as we were leaving, we heard someone asking if this was "Big Freddy's". haha.
Buffalo Deviled Eggs: This was a really good start to our meal. Â Great deviled eggs with sprinkle of buffalo sauce to give it all a little kick. Â
Chicken Liver Mousse on Toast: Chicken liver makes me melt. Â Well, any liver-based foods, really. Â This was no exception. Â Mounds of mousse slathered on two thick pieces of toast. Â You would think that would be enough to satiate my liver cravings but it just intensified it even more. Â
Fried Brussel Sprouts: This dish is sooooooooo good! Â Crisped brussel sprouts nestled on top of apple cider vinegar and goat cheese. Â Who knew that this combo would be so good? Â The vinegar was not too overpowering and the goat cheese helped neutralize the acidity. Â We lapped up as much of the sauce as ladily possible.
Flash Grilled Steak Tartare: After all the fabulous dishes we had, this dish was very disappointing. Â The tartare fell apart and we felt as though we were eating ground beef. Â We couldn't taste any anchovies other than the occasional saltiness on our tongues, which really could be attributed to just salt.
Our final dish was also crap - some oxtail on top of quinoa-like grains. Â It was bland and mushy dish and a dish I hope they will either improve or scrap off the daily special.
Overall, the experience was a good one. Â I mean, how can you beat dinner with 90's hip hop music playing in the background. Â Not to mention that our waiter (seemed like the owner or manager himself) was very attentive. Â Maybe because he was blatantly flirting with my friend. Â ;)
Loved Freddy Smalls. Â Sat at the corner of the bar and gorged on deviled eggs, brussel sprouts, grilled squid, olives, corned beef and bone marrow. The latter two items were the stars of a dish called "Reuben's Gluttony"-- a deconstructed version of the classic sandwich served with popover style brioche buns and generous helpings of mustards, kraut and horseradish cream.... so good.
Cocktails were expertly prepared and the service was top notch. Only 2 things that keep it from being a solid 5-stars in my book are the noise level (my ears were actually buzzing a little when I got home) and the fact that the prices could be a tad more reasonable. Â But neither of those things will keep me from making many return visits to Freddy Smalls!
Ive been here once before when they just opened and had only drinks which were amazing, and finally had a chance to try some of their food last Fri.
It was absolutely amazing! We had the Brussels sprouts which were the best I've ever had (better than Ink's better than Red Medicine's), warm olives and the grilled squid with (I think) farro? omg- i died. full of flavor, cooked to perfection.
then I had 3 amazing cocktails that weren't even on the menu, the bartender was so nice and after he saw i wasn't in love with the first cocktail i ordered he just asked me what type of alcohol i liked, and made me this amazing cocktail with whiskey (or was it bourbon?), lemon and some egg white, without being too sweet. if i didn't have low tolerance and not watching my calories, i would have had 5 of those.
can't wait to go back and try more things on the menu!!!
Absolutely loved this place! Only two small negatives (no reservations for less than 5 people, and it can be hard to hear your dinner mates in the restaurant), but they are greatly outweighed by the quality of the food, the service and the ambiance.
Service was outstanding. Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu. Everything that she suggested that we tried was outstanding. There were two or three other people that come by our table to fill water or clear plates while we were there too. Quick and efficient! I like it.
Food... so good... yum...
1. We got drinks. Beer list is solid. I got a Paddy's Girl cocktail, which was strong and tasty. My friend got another cocktail, which I don't remember the name of, but it had gin and she loved it.
2. Brussels Sprouts - Definitely my favorite dish of the night. The apple cider glaze and smoked goat cheese went very well together. We all loved these.
3. House Pickles - Made from seasonal vegetables. Vinegary and a little spicy. I liked the ones I tried.
4. Bean soup with Torn Bread - One of my dining companions said he would come back just for this dish. Unfortunately, it was a special, so it is not always available, but the waitress did say it tends to be in a somewhat monthly rotation.
5. Chicken Panzanella - Rustic presentation with amazing flavors. Crispy chicken skin, and the chicken comes pre-sliced, so very easy to eat and share. Croutons that were garlicky and buttery, cheese and greens. A great take on a traditional panzanella salad.
6. Beet Salad with Mache - This was ok. Well-prepared, but the sauces (avocado and something red) were kind of heavy and took away from the dish. We felt it needed a little acid to help balance it better.
7. Char - Tasty and the fish was perfectly cooked. A little heavy handed with the mustard glaze (some at the table thought it tasted like horseradish?), but the mushrooms and the puree were super tasty.
Great spot to enjoy a meal with friends. Not so great if you want a romantic date, because you won't be able to hear each other. We will definitely be back!
Went to Freddy's the other night with one of my good guy friends, not realizing it was kind of a romantic ambiance. We really enjoyed ourselves though!
They have a really awesome & different selection of beers. The food menu is really interesting too. I ordered the brussel sprout and now crave them at least once a week, HIGHLY suggest them - although they're addicting. My friend ordered the Belgium Waffle and really enjoyed that too. Overall I had a really great experience here & will definitely be coming back!
Small, dim space. Simple. Kind of retro. Atmosphere is everything to me, and I felt welcome at this little place. If my eyes had been closed I'd have thought I just entered a hip-hop club. From the late 90s/early 00s. Tunes like Mase - What you Want, Hey Ya!, and Lauryn Hill were playing. Â Not too loud, but loud enough. As we were waiting for a table I couldn't help but dance. The servers were attentive as we waited, and we had a table before long even though the place was packed. My Neck, My Back started playing as our food came. Sexy.
We started off with the Buffalo Deviled Eggs with crisp chicken skin, point reyes blue, CP's hot sauce, celery and a bit of cilantro. What a wonderfully presented dish! It was good, but a little heavy on the blue cheese. I like blue cheese but it was a bit much, unbalanced. Next, we had the dungeness crab on buttery toast, with tarragon remoulade, old bay and lemon. I feel like we should have started with this, it would have been a less harsh introduction for our palates. The strong blue cheese (combined with the hot sauce) killed my taste buds a little. But the crab was subtle and elegant, and the buttery toast was heavenly. Perfectly charred and crisp.
Next we had the Pork Roulette with mixed greens and bitter greens. A fried egg on the side. Yum! Next up was Flash-Grilled Steak Tartare with smoked egg yolk, anchovy and crisps - as in chips. Cutting into the perfectly smoked egg yolk over the tartare was a sensual experience in itself, as the yolk broke and slowly cascaded down the tartare. And my mouth was happy too when the tartare and egg/yolk bite made its grand entrance. The crisps were divine and paired well with the taste and texture of the tartare. A well-balanced dish.
We finished with Di Stefano Burrata & Grilled Bread with spiced artichokes, shishito peppers and romesco sauce. The Burrata was good quality (slightly creamy but still kept its shape somewhat) and the grilled bread was perfect, nice char and crisp as before. I thought the dish was a little under seasoned though, a bit of sea salt would have been appreciated. I should have asked.
We both had a Golden Monkey beer, "tripel" style brewed by Victory Brewing Co. 9.5%ABV and delicious. The beer and wine selection is good and the cocktails looked tasty also. I'll be back to try something new next time. Â
When our bill came, it was adorned with a cute Valentine's card (see pictures). On the back were Valentine's Day specials. "Feeling Lucky? Buy a stranger a drink and we'll cover half." Nice touch, Smalls.
Freddy Small's was somewhere that I'd never heard of, and it was never even on my radar. Â I'd driven past it a couple times and passed it off as a regular bar, but it's definitely more than that, with incredible food, great service, delicious cocktails, and a modest but inviting atmosphere that induces immediate comfort. Â
The food was delicious, they have the best brussels sprouts I've ever eaten in my life, the Reuben's Gluttony is a beautiful piece of plating with a healthy helping of bone marrow, the chicken liver mousse on toast had great flavor and texture, and the cocktails kicked ass!
I'll start this one off with a summary: food good, service deplorable. Â If you don't give a hoot about service, then eat away. Â But if you want to be treated courteously, go elsewhere.
I came here around 8:30 on a Friday night with my husband and friend. Â They have a valet, but after waiting on Pico for a few minutes with no valet in sight near the stand, we opted to look elsewhere and lucked out finding a spot on Gateway. Â Otherwise, parking is rough.
Then we go inside and it's small and pretty busy. Â We notice that there's a host area, but no host in sight. Â After about 5 minutes the host asks us our party size (3) and says that it will be a 15-20 minute wait. Â J and B go to the bar to get a drink. Â I look around and there's about 5 4-tops, one slightly larger corner booth, 3 high tables with groups of 3, and a few more with groups of 2. Â
Around the 15 minute mark, a party of 4 gets up. Â Sweet, right on time. Â But instead of seating us, they seat a party of 4 that arrived after us. Â And then the host asks us if we want 2 of us to sit at the bar while the third one stands. Â Needless to say, we said no and continued to wait. Â After a while I spotted the host (who was swigging some liquor near the bar, and asked the host how much longer he thought it would be for us to be seated, since it looked like most were not far along in their meals. Â He said "I think there's a group of 3 getting up at the bar soon." Â I asked about tables, as we preferred not to be bombarded by the latest Clippers game, and he said some tables were getting up soon. Â "I'd like to say 30 seconds, but probably not."
Luckily, or so we thought, a group of 5 gets up from the largest table. Â By now it's after 9pm. Â The host clears that off, but doesn't seat us. Â As we're trying to get his attention (and by now the place has been clearing out) the party of 3 at the bar gets up. Â He sets those seats and tells us to sit there. Â We asked if we could be seated at the table, and he said no, that those are only for groups of 5 or more. Â Um... what? Â And then he points to the row of 4-tops and says "these are only for groups of 4 or more" then points to the 3 high tops saying "and these are for parties of 3." Â So literally, dude would have only seated us at 3 high tops that had been filled just before we arrived, and were in no rush to get out of there.
So my friend B says "fine, we'll sit at the bar" because at this point we've been waiting for over half an hour, which I pointed out to the host. Â And as he seats us he says "well fine, but she just keeps complaining." Â I'm sorry, but if you're the host, that's flat out rude. Â Had I been the driver of our group, I would have left, but by now it was too late and we were hungry. Â All we could talk about though was how rude this guy was.
The food, though, was good. Â We had the fried brussels sprouts, the cheese plate, smoked potatoes, and burrata. Â The boys also had lamb, steak tartare, and another meaty dish that I don't recall. Â I thought that the meal was heavier than ideal but that was likely our food choices, not the menu as a whole (the salad descriptions didn't seem that appealing). Â The food, though, was all well seasoned and tasted good. Â
Our bill, pre-tip, for the above dishes plus a drink or two apiece for the guys came to $150. Â Â Â
Had the service been lackluster, I would have likely gone back. Â But between the ridiculous policy of only a party of 4 at the 4-tops and a disgustingly rude host running the front of house, I absolutely have no interest in returning.
And, for what it's worth, that booth that we wanted to sit in remained empty for the entirety of our meal.
I am a big fan of gastropubs. Â I've frequented many and have ate wonderfully at some and disappointed at others. Â Freddy Small's falls on the side of being wonderful. Â It's located on a quiet industrial block of Pico Blvd just West of the 405. Â There is a decent amount of outdoor seating, or more like it outdoor standing for those warm summer days, but since this review happens during the winter, we won't go into that. Â The space inside is both chic and inviting and that's something that many pubs in this city missed the point on. Â White subway tiles combined with wooden table tops and dark chairs lend a very Gotham vibe to it. Â The bar is front and center in the room with tables and booths flanking it. Â Word of caution though, during the weekends this place has a tendency to get loud so if you want somewhere peaceful to talk, this might not be the place for you.
The menu at Freddy Smalls is what sets it apart from other gastropubs in this city. Â Yes, it offers the traditional pub burger, but it also offers unique offerings like liver mousse on toast, slow roasted chicken, lobster and waffles. Â While the food is delicious, it is also priced accordingly so its not for the bargain hunters among you. Â What I will say is, if you're looking for something unique that still has an extensive beer, well drinks and wine list you would do yourself a disfavor by not checking Freddy Smalls out.
As with the food, the liver mousse was well executed. Â The consistency of the mousse offered a complex flavor profile that really worked well with the frisee salad that topped it. Â The slow roasted panzanella chicken was cooked to perfection. Â The fried kale offered a good textural difference to the dish. Â The marscopone cheese brought in some sweetness and the croutons added another dimension to it. Â Together it made for a very delicious bite of food not to mention the extremely generous portion they provide here. Â The pork belly and sardines was decent although I felt like the flavor of the sardines really overpowered the dish. Â With that said, each course offered something unique that I don't think is very prevalent within the gastropub world of Los Angeles.
Certain inequities asserted themselves before we even walked in. I drove, yet you were the one in Business Casual. I paid, yet you were the one Business Drunk. For a lopsided pair we commanded a healthy share of staff attention: the hostess, a prematurely hatched hipster avatar and the waitress, a divinely interpolated Nubian burlesque, haunted our table at ever-shrinking intervals, bubbling with apologies and schoolgirlish patter.
Not that they had anything to apologize for. It was you (and I, after carelessly beginning to mirror your inflections) who threw out churlish demands with an ironic smile. Their patience: Jobean. Their Brussels sprouts: a revelation, a triumph of the Platonic ideal of a balsamic glaze. Of course, even in the throes of its sweet delight, you couldn't resist devastating the sauce thusly: "melted Kit Kat." I shook my head, wordlessly looking to the chicken liver mousse for comfort.
We reached our ideological breaking point predictably, as we always do, right around the Buffalo Deviled Eggs. Snoozefest? Brilliantly engineered mayonnaise delivery system? These questions inhabit the gaping no-man's-land between us, and serve as signposts on the road towards Why Are We Here?
Tonight, though, these questions seemed ho-hum, beside the point, perhaps, when faced with the reality of you, here. And me. And all these delicious Brussels sprouts.
Bottom line: Those deviled eggs were missing something, and I have a feeling we'll all die without ever knowing what.
Sent from my Prius!
I'm no drinker (can't due to Asian flush, and I can't be bothered to take Zantac), so this is a review on the food at Freddie Small's.
The chef here has it going on! Â Freddie Small's is the only place that gets brussel sprouts done right. Â For years, I have tried to like brussel sprouts, but they were always soggy and bitter. Â However, the best way to cook 'em is to fry/bake/char the hell out of them, until they are crispy, and this is how Freddie Small's does 'em. Â Add a bit of bacon-y/smoky undertone and goat cheese hiding underneath, and you've got a seriously winner of a plate. Â YUM. Â I could eat these <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FHJxH0&s=b890c760a8b15c80811fb016290d16b07c57b701a6b58e61a37770ab19649082" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://goo.gl/HJxH0</a> until the cows came home.
I've lately taken a liking to the ancient grain, Farro. Â It's hearty and when done right, super nutritious and filling. Â Also it's not wheat, so it's great for gluten-free folks. Â I'm guessing the chef at Freddie Small's does a seasonal menu but whatever the case, since it's fall, I immediately chose to sample their Autumn Farro Stew with Trumpet Mushrooms <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FNzZM2&s=dee34f743719f09f2f170453abe357626199399341b45b14db06cbb47f641ec9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://goo.gl/NzZM2</a>. It was pretty good: flavorful with big bits of mushrooms, plenty of carrot slices, and of course, farro. Â Farro is deceptively filling within a few bites, so I ended up taking the remainder to-go.
Lastly, we ordered the Mustard-Glazed Artic Char with Celery Root Puree and Sunchoke <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FhFHoX&s=541d792c71673b3052821ddaea5935874eea97ef5278317b9498cef583039464" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://goo.gl/hFHoX</a>. Â The fish was pan-fried to perfection and the celery root and sunchoke blended all together to form subtle flavors and textures that go great with the light, delicate Artic Char. Â Highly delightful dish that I really recommend (and eat again, if I could!). Â And again, chef kept with the autumnal theme, using root vegetables well. Â
If this bar was closer to me, I'd be eating here on a regular basis! Â Really yummy, good ambiance, and it'd give me an excuse to try Zantac to drink!!
I love the food. It's extraordinary .
... However... I look somewhat shady...
When I walked in they made it somewhat uncomfortable for me when I sat sat down at the bar.
They judged me walking in...and made it uncomfortable to start....
U can draw a negative by my look .
I do, however,have $$$ to pay my bill.
The staff didn't think so.
I know this due to the fact that when I showed them pix of me playing w/Billy Idol, the weird looks and constant attention ended , as the exec chef, Charlie, showed the staff my iPhone pic of me playing with Billy,Idol on my iPhne, and said "he's all good."
This happened after I was there about 45 mins getting food and drink, and neglect of me and my service... .
BAD taste in action.
It's a room full of low-brow people with a lot of $$$, acting churlishly in a public format.
If you like loud , stupid, arrogant and moneyed, this is your place...
The service is marginal, at best.
They gave me a menu and said that was the food available...
After I ordered, they pulled that menu, and said that it was not the menu actually available. I was disappointed greatly, because the new choices they offered were so toally limited...about 6 things, down from twelve.
Charlie's a good guy with a bunch of idiots as customers.
I feel for him... He's a good guy.
He doesn't deserve a stupid audience like he has, but they are well there.
The cocktails are meticulously assembled, in an amazing way.
The food is excellent, no matter what, BUT...
The crowd sux...
They're pretty base mentality...
If you like this go there. I
t tells you who you are....
I'm sad to say that on whole, this is a stupid, moneyed crowd, with ZERO manners, and NO sense of how to host a proper meal...
If you're STUPID, under 25, want bad service, and to be judged as an asshole, and treated accordingly, even though you are there as an innocent patron, and love to be LOUD, rowdy, and have NO class, then go to this place . Y
ou'll love it !
I'll go to Josie's in the future, myself, as I have done for a while...
Fu*k this place...
Charming! Came for food + drinks with a girlfriend per her rec, and sat at the bar. Service was notably fantastic, bartenders were attentive and friendly. Cozy, relaxed atmosphere. Small space, not recommended for large groups. Was the perfect place for a catchup conversation. Metered street parking along Pico or valet.
I had the Buffalo Deviled Eggs which were tasty and the Steak Tartare which was standard. Check the board for specials. For drinks, I recommend the Pico Sour (pisco, lemon, egg white, orange blossom) or the 1962 Old Fashioned. I'll be back when I'm in the area!
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