Have you ever combined two wildly different things in your mind and imagined the result? I recently dined out with my wife and the experience was similar to merging Fantasyland with Fleming’s Steakhouse. The result? Barton G in West Hollywood.
A generous gift certificate to Barton G led us there. The dining room was tightly packed with tables and dimly lit. Weaving my way to the restroom, I saw someone with a huge 3 foot whimsical fork stuck into their serving dish. It was then hard to not notice the number of people taking pictures of themselves with their food.
Classy dinner napkin
Buddhalicious with a pear vodka popsicle
Barton G’s signature craft cocktails are made with liquid nitrogen and we needed to see what that was about. I was amused to see their signature martini, the Buddhalicious, steaming away in front of a laughing Buddha complete with a mallet and gong.. A blend of pear infused vodka, lychee and cranberry juice was served with an adult popsicle that included pear vodka. If you like sweet and fruity martinis, this one is for you!
I wondered whether my wife was sending me a subliminal message when this huge diamond studded drink arrived. Named Diamonds Are Forever, it was made with Citrus vodka, triple sec and lemonade and served with a with a citrus vodka popsicle and a sugar stick. She seemed happy with her selection and I was happy that our conversation didn’t shift to jewelry.
The other nitrogenized drinks are the Sabrinatini and the Zen-tini. Both are fruity vodka based martinis, the latter is paired with a frozen vodka popsicle. When I took a bite into my pear vodka popsicle, I thought “wow, that is one adult popsicle!”
Centurion Lobster Biscuits N Gravy
The Centurion Lobster Biscuits N Gravy is Barton G’s take on crab cakes. A life-size centurion helmet (think Roman gladiator) shielded the Maine lobster cakes atop spring onion buttermilk biscuits and surrounded with a delicious sauce made with shellfish and fresh herbs.
The Great American Steak – Char grilled Ribeye Steak
My wife selected The Great American Steak. It is available as a 16oz Boneless Ribeye or an 8oz Filet Mignon. It was served a perfect medium rare and topped with a delicious black pepper bordelaise and an herbed bone marrow butter. The bone marrow is scooped and placed on top of the steak.
We were full, but we noticed that the signature dessert is a tray of petit fours is served in the shadow of a Marie Antoinette bust covered with a towering pink cotton candy wig. Quite a few people ordered that and were busy snapping photos.
After experiencing Barton G, I think it’s probably the most instagrammed restaurant in LA. If you like fun, this is the place. If you want a romantic dinner, Barton G will not be your dining destination. The food was surprisingly good.
Barton G, 861 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069
http://www.bartong.com/