Fun Fact: All the paintings, decorations, mirrors and event the front door were shipped from England.
Over the past six years, The Wellesbourne has been serving West LA the best in classic handcraft cocktails. What I’ve always loved about The Wellesbourne is that you can savor an old-fashioned drink in a bar that has the feel of Mad Men, but without that Betty Draper stuffiness. The lighting is dim and dark (brutal for us foodies on Instagram) but it’s fun to take your focus off the phone and place it in the company you’re with.
This old-school, library inspired lounge has plenty of space for big groups to kick back after work. Plus, there are foosball and shuffleboard tables for fun.
The Wellesbourne
10929 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
http://thewellesbourne.com
When I got the word that they just started dinner service (5 PM – 11 PM), with a menu from Chef Parker Shaw (formerly of Flores and Sons) I couldn’t resist stopping in to check it out. I got to talk to Chef Parker, and he told me that the menu was inspired by the liquors they currently serve and that the idea is to pair cocktails with food to elevate the flavors together.
For my drink, I decided on my old standby a Rob Roy, scotch, sweet vermouth and Angostura bitters. This oaky but smooth cocktail paired well with my savory bites. A Rob Roy is one of those cocktails that’s tough for bars to get right (probably since it’s such an “old man” drink by most LA bar standards) but The Wellesbourne nails it. They’re knowledgeable and well-trained in the art of craft cocktails.
My gal pal Kathy went with an Old Fashioned, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey, Bitters, and Sugar. Her Old Fashioned also came with a fun presentation; the server flamed the citrus peel for us. So much fun to watch.
Now onto my favorite shared plates-
Stuffed Veal Meatball
The stuffed veal meatball was my favorite item on the new menu! This big, flavorful meatball filled with a foie gras mousse, confit bacon and parmesan and regianno cheeses. Then it’s topped with carrot top pesto and a light amount of greens, shaved fennel and pickled tomatoes surround the meatball. Unlike your traditional meatball with tomato sauce (or gravy if you’re from the mid-west) this meatball is surrounded by veggies. Sounds different, huh? Trust me on this one the veggies flavors play very well with the meatiness.
Sticky Cognac and Orange Marmalade Chicken Wings
The wings are sweet, crispy, sticky but worth the clean up! The portion size is also perfect for sharing.
Smashed Fingerling Potatoes
These fried smashed fingerling potatoes have a drizzle of spicy remoulade, garnished with fresh rosemary. Then they added sliced dill pickles. I realize this may sound odd to some readers, but I am a dill pickles fanatic! I can eat dill pickles anytime wth any dish. Another filling shared plate, big enough for leftovers.
Other great dishes include the Whiskey Cured Pork Belly (top) and the Raspberry Cider Glazed Pork Ribs (bottom).
For dessert, we ordered a round of The Kensington Court Special, Absolute Vodka, apricot liqueur, passionfruit, lime and orange juice. Nothing wrong with a liquid dessert!
There is also a great happy hour here that includes food and drink under $10.
Hopefully, I’ll see you around here sometime, we can play fooseball and trow back a few together!
