Tar Pit TarPit Mark Peel Campanile THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Tar Pit

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Tar Pit

609 N. La Brea Ave. (Clinton St.)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-965-1300
Map
Cuisine: American
The combination of upscale specialty cocktails and chef Mark Peel's modern interpretation of classic American dishes from the 1940's at reasonable prices makes The Tar Pit an easy choice for a leisurely evening.
Openings: Dinner nightly

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THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Tar Pit, Los Angeles, CA


THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Tar Pit Restaurant Review:


This venture from chef Mark Peel (Campanile) is named for the La Brea Tar Pits. Once you've passed the black door evocative of a club rather than a restaurant, you discover a space elegantly decorated in a 1940s style, with a long bar on the left, tables in the middle and booths on the right, separated by ironwork. The upscale specialty cocktails bear psychedelic names such as Death at Midnight, Daisy de Martinique and The Prude's Demise. Chef Peel has composed a short menu with his modern version of what he likes to call “classic American dishes from the 1940's.” Expect to find radish, cucumber and onion salad with a cucumber yogurt dressing, white bean and pecorino salad with black cabbage or black bean minestrone for appetizers. You may also borrow the steak tartare or the crab cakes from the bar menu. Do not bypass ordering the perfect black cod, accompanied by sautéed mushrooms. You will find escargots with gnocchi and, of course, a garlic, parsley and butter sauce. In the meat department, the meatballs are made of wild boar and served on spätzle and tomato ragù, while the braised pork cheeks and ears top orecchiette, braised beet greens and dandelion greens. More straightforward is the chicken, simply herb-roasted and paired with mashed potatoes and mustard sauce. Finish with the cherries jubilee (bitter almond ice cream, cherry compote, candied pistachios) or the chocolate caramel tart. The wine list is short and quite selective with some 25 unusual wines from around the world, all priced at $38 a bottle. Let us mention that the menu is also reasonably priced, ranging from $8 to $19, a great value for this venue with a supper club feel.