With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here .
The Original Father's Office: Still Amazing
With Father's Office branching out to Culver City with a second location this week , an inspection of the Santa Monica original seemed in order. I'll confess, it was my first trip to the Office, but I'd be happy to spend more than a few 9-5s there. To call the gastropub a burger bar seems inadequate – the Father's Office burger shares about as much in common with its local competitors as a BMW does with a Pinto.
A 7 p.m. arrival and glance around the intimate space quickly confirmed the bar's reputation as a popular post-work destination: it took us a half-hour to stake out a table, though thankfully we weren't kept waiting outside. Once seated, there was ample enough room for comfortable dinner and conversation, and the dim lighting and sleek hardwood of the floor, tables and bar counter lent the Office a refined, romantic air.
The wait for our order wasn't long - 10 minutes, perhaps - and at $12 each, the burgers were worth every penny. Eschewing a traditional bun for bread better suited to a French dip, the thick, flawlessly cooked patty merged with the sweetness of the caramelized onions to create a unique tang akin to barbecue sauce. If the intensity of blue cheese worries you, rest easy: here, its flavor is subservient to the sweet and savory notes of its neighbors. The fries, of the shoestring and sweet potato varieties, were also outstanding, salty without sacrificing subtlety and a perfect match for the accompanying aioli dip.
Sponsored message
While it's easy to pick an entree from the minimalist menu, the 30+ beer selection requires careful decision-making. I chose the Craftsmen Hefeweizen, a local brew from Pasadena. As promised, the hef offered heavy banana overtones, to the point where the fruit threatened to escape the glass and hop back in a peel. Not the best choice for a salty meal, and while hefeweizens are hardly a beer known for their bite, the Craftsmen was nevertheless a shade too light. Still, one can hardly blame the restaurant for my poor judgment; I guess the next time I visit Father's Office, I'll have my work cut out for me.
Father's Office, 1018 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403, (310) 393-2337
Photo by David Greenwald / LAist
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
