The Village Idiot
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Phone: (323) 655-3331
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Gardner Street
- Specialties:
- After-Work Bar, Beer Selection
- Best of Citysearch:
- After-Work Bar 2008, Comfort Food 2007
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 11:30am-12am, Fri-Sat 11:30am-1am
Editorial Review for The Village Idiot – by Nancy Hunter
The Scene
High ceilings and large wood-framed windows--lined with lofted banquettes--create an airier (read: noisier) pub vibe than their cozy counterparts across the pond. An exhibition kitchen and central bar island add to the bustle, as do the friendly, hip servers gliding from table to table. The otherwise bare-brick walls feature shocking blown-up images snapped during 1993's London Riot.
The Food
From traditional fish and chips fare to flavorful twists on pub-grub standbys, the tidy menu pleases with an assortment of kicked-up comfort food. Starters include delicately fried rock shrimp and scallion fritters as well as a savory leek and goat cheese tart paired with shaved fennel. The juicy, tender Angus pub burger with sweet balsamic-onion relish is a popular entree choice while fancier main dishes include delicious braised pork shank and a Southern-inspired, lightly battered cornmeal-crusted catfish. Many opt to finish with the gigantic, rich homemade chocolate chip cookie topped with a scoop of gelato.
Hits: It's nice to find a place that has good food, a fun crowd and is actually affordable--most entrees are in the teens. The upshot of the egalitarian seating system is that you've always got a back-pocket last-minute restaurant, and the big shot who tries to palm the host a $50 isn't getting a table any faster than you.
Misses: It is loud, so this might not be the best place for a cozy date. The downside of the no-reservations policy is that you're looking at about an hour wait for prime time tables on weekends, and once the bar fills up, you're stuck lingering in the small entryway.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Know Before You GoThere are no reservations, but there is a large full bar and back lounge (unless it's rented out for a private party), if you're looking to grab a drink while you wait. Otherwise, plan to arrive before 7pm.
ParkingAlways-full Melrose meters and permit-only side streets mean opting for the valet services is likely.
What to DrinkStandards such as Guinness and Boddingtons are offered on draft, in addition to local Pasadena brews such as the Poppyfield Pale Ale. A list of over 30 wines range in international flavor, from France and Italy to New Zealand and Napa. Or, bring in your own bottle for a $10 corkage fee.
User Reviews for The Village Idiot
03/05/2009 Posted by cathcwang
A few of my friends and I had dinner and thought it was a pretty good bar & restaurant with a few downers. The design was interesting with a bar counter situated in the center of the restaurant and cushy booths. It also resembled an English-styled pub, so it attracted a hip crowd. Most of the drinks were reasonably priced (pints at $6), only some mixed drinks and wine were a bit pricier. The food, though, was a hit-or-miss. What I considered a miss was food that was definitely edible but not memorable from a foodie's perspective. For example, the smoked sausage on Yukon mashed potatoes was a total miss because both the sausage and sauce were too sweet for a typically savory dish. The burger for $12 was pretty good except for its thick bun that was also too sweet (just go for a yummy side of fries instead). Some dishes that were excellent were the rock shrimp and scallion fritters and the lightly battered catfish that are hard to find elsewhere. So I can see myself going back for more catfish and giving some other items a try (there's a possibility that some menu items are so good that you would want to go back again and again) but there are also menu items that are disappointing. Overall, I think the restaurant has a great concept in serving lots of drinks like a bar but actually having some decent restaurant food (not enough LA bar & restaurants are like that). I would suggest sticking to the menu items that are more bistro fare than the ones that are more pub fare. Also, I thought that conversations were getting so loud that I couldn't hear what my friends were saying (possibly the design of the restaurant carries sound too well). Lastly, I didn't have any problem finding parking the two times that I have been there. I just parked on the corner where there was some metered parking.
Pros: Catfish, Rock Shrimp & Scallion Fritters, Drink Selection
Cons: Smoked Sausage
02/20/2009 Posted by heather517
OK, I went last night and I’m totally middle of the road on this place. The food was good and reasonably priced, but it was so crowded and everyone standing at the bar was pretty much sitting on our table. I seriously stared at people’s butts about 1 foot from my food! It just ruined the night for me. I think if we had been able to get a table farther away from the bar area, this wouldn’t have been a problem. So, I’ll definitely go back, I just now know to be more specific on where I sit!
Pros: good food, cute décor,
Cons: no parking, crowded bar right next to tables
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