Southern Charm at Hatchet Hall and The Old Man's Bar.
From the street, this spot looks like nothing more than a rundown dive bar. A twist of creepy could be interpreted through the large sign in front with just a single large hatchet knife. But like many other great spots in LA, don’t let the outward appearance fool you. Hatchet Hall in Culver City is one the tastiest, eclectically cool, small plate restaurant out there. A woodfire cookery with an emphasis on American techniques, this restaurant will transport you to a more progressive Southern state with menu items like the White Cheddar Cornbread. Most definitely their signature dish, the smell alone can put you in a food coma. The only way to fix it is consumption of said cornbread! And the taste is just as satisfying as the smell.
It’s hard to find a restaurant in Los Angeles that provides a shared dish experience that actually leaves feeling full. I deeply appreciate the art of cooking but when you bring me a plate with one small scallop over a tablespoon of pureed mashed potato, I am going to get ‘hangry’ real fast. These dishes are shareable and easily filling and the servers will be honest with you. No one is trying to sell you on buying more food, they’re just concerned with you having the best experience at what feels their Southern home.
The decor is eclectic at best, finding a uniform approach to mismatching everything. The chairs, the silverware and dish-ware, the glasses. It’s perfectly imperfect. Masculine wall paper and dark woods spread throughout the restaurant create a balanced feel to your grandmother’s china cabinet approach the main bar area has. The menu unarguably favors an Old Fashioned, with the longest list of variations on the drink I’ve ever seen. And being a lover of Old Fashioneds and frequent sipper of them all over the city, this was impressive.
On the backside of Hatchet Hall, the Old Man Bar is just what the name seems; an ode to all things old man. (or cool young girl, we don’t discriminate here) Fireplace, taxidermy hanging proudly as a centerpiece, and an overall hip grandpa vibe. Dimly lit and small, the experience is intimate and the cocktails are excellent. Again in the theme of Old Fashioned centric menu, the Old Man Bar menu has 7 different options are available, from classic, to single barrel, even to a tequila take on the cocktail.
After being closed for 3 months, they have just announced they are back in business! With an extended patio and a new approach to ordering at the bar and finding your own seating, I feel safe to go back and cannot wait to get my hands on one (or three) of their tasty Old Fashioneds.