Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
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.
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
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
