A Saturday Happy Hour at Sawyer
image credit - www.la.eater.com (including thumbnail)
Restaurants today, especially in Urban areas, need more than just a great menu. They need to belong to a vibe. It doesn’t always have to look like it just stepped out of some design magazine. Some great restaurants are known for a couple great dishes or that they’re a staple in their community and have been around forever. The vibe could be a hole in the wall in Koreatown, but their Japchae and Kimchi are to die for and you keep coming back when the mood strikes. One of my personal favorites lately has been restaurants that are designed uniquely and are just as aesthetically pleasing. Sawyer caught my eye months ago and when I finally was able to go, it was even more gorgeous and enjoyable than I imagined.
Image Credit - urbandaddy.com
As you walk in, the ambience is perfect, with just the right pairing of candles and low lighting. A blend of a modern and rustic design separate the restaurant in half, with rustic banquette seating on one side, and a modern bar on the other. The specific time we were able to make it (living in Santa Monica makes Eastside trips far and few between) happened on accident. After a failed attempt at one restaurant and a quick yelp searches of weekend happy hours, we found ourselves at Sawyer for the final minutes of happy hour.
The hostess and servers were incredibly attentive and helpful. As we did arrive in the final minutes of happy hour, disheveled from our failed attempt at a relaxing dinner, the hostess quickly sat us to ensure we could put an order in for happy hour before it ended. Not only did we squeeze in an order, the server made sure we didn’t want to put in another round before happy hour ended. Two old fashioneds and a fried chicken sandwich completed and confirmed the experience to be just what we needed, after our hectic day.
Final thoughts on the ambience: in addition to the main dining area and bar, there is the loveliest patio area for dining. Not available for happy hour but worth a sit down, full meal to enjoy the great food, wait staff, and overall aesthetic experience.