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Can you say - "Over 100 Beers." How about - "Bacon Crusted French Toast?"
High School buddies from New York, Steve Lieberman and Keith O'Brien opened West 4th/Jane at the beginning of June on 4th Street in Santa Monica as a place where pretensions are left at the door. The guys are self described "blue collar" and say that West 4th/Jane caters to everyone. I agree. Want a Duvel? Done. A nice red wine? Done. How about a Beast red can? Also, done. Almost every bit of work (except electrical) put into the place was done by the guys, their gals, and friends. To put it bluntly, it's the kind of place you wish that you owned.
Although NYC is where the heart is for the owners (the notorious burger joint Corner Bistro is located on 4th/Jane in NYC), New Orleans flavor runs through most of their food (besides the NY street hot dog).
Specials that you should know about
-Mondays - 1/2 price wine & sake
-Wednesday - Authentic New Orleans Crawfish Boil (ask for a New Orleans beer when ordering, you may get hooked up (wink, wink, nudge, nudge))
-Everyday - “Wings of the Week” Happy Hour $.50 wings until 8 pm - different flavors weekly
-Art - the guys showcase a different Artist each month with an opening on the first Tuesday of each month. Be sure to stop by for the free wine and live music.
-Tucked away upstairs among the leather couches is a old school Ms. Pac-man/Galaga machine. I dare you to beat my score.
Some people have approached them about making West 4th/Jane a Penn State bar and they guys have obliged. I asked if, because of their New York roots, if West 4th/Jane would become a NY Giants bar, and the response I got... "well... it is a Giants bar." Although I'm a Steelers fan, I can't hate on hometown friends opening their hometown dream bar, in our new hometown. I'll see you bright and early during football season for some Bacon Crusted French Toast. Oh, and a Golden Monkey too!
West 4th/Jane
1432A Fourth St.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
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This is on the must try immediately list. Biking over this weekend.
I want to go for the beer, and I'm sure my boyfriend wants to go for the French Toast.
I have dreams about the french toast...
did i just hear 100 beers on tap? i'm THERE.
Only a few taps, but yes, 100+ beers... glorious.
This place sounds amazing... I was in once I read "bacon crusted." Is that bad?
As good as this food looks (and it does look good), "unpretentious" has become the new "pretentious". Sorry, but serving bacon crusted brioche on a long rectangular plate and calling yourself "blue collar" doesn't jibe. The presentation of the tater tots is pretty "unpretentious" too. Serve that same shit in a red plastic basket, then I'll buy your bullshit story.
You're right, unpretentious is the new pretentious, and everyone wants to look like they're not trying, but miraculously stumble upon a great dish by accident that everyone loves... but this is LA, and restaurants have it tough out there. If you're not a Tacos Por Favor and haven't been around forever, then people will scoff when you put a plastic basket of fries in front of their face and ask for anything over $3. A plate of food is like a picture and if one wants to stay afloat, the food must "look" good as well as taste good.
The owners come from working class families, never had anything handed to them, and are now trying to make it in the deepest recession since WWII in a part of the city that has seen a ton of businesses shut down. I don't blame them by catering to the LA crowd and tourist central Santa Monica by trying to stay in business with some nice presentation.
Give it a try, talk to the people behind the bar, the servers, and the owners, and even the other patrons (another table and I were sharing plates of food back and forth), if you still think this place is pretentious, then that's fine and you can call this story bullshit, in the meantime, that comment was uncalled-for.
p.s. - get the bacon french toast!
word up, matt, i like your style :)
NO TAP BEER? no thank you.
i will be at father's office.
psst... quarrygirl, there's tap beer!