Sarah BennettFather's Day is a time for restaurants to set aside their French-inspired brunch buffets and dainty prix fixe dinners in lieu of meat-centric, alcohol-heavy feasts. These lunches, dinners and all-day specials on June 21 make beer, cocktails and spirits all part of the deal.
California's Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control frowns upon the word “free,” but with one-cent beers, bottomless bloody Marys and half-price offers on cocktails and wines by the glass, the city is full of places doing their best to give dad a cold one. Here are a few of L.A.'s best Father's Day deals that include booze for pops.
Ashland/Hill
At Santa Monica's neighborhood beer garden — which opened in the old Wildflour space in January — chef Brad Miller is serving one-cent beers to all dads who dine in. The beer of the day isn't too shabby, either: Anderson Valley's Boont Amber Ale, a classic California craft brew, which he can pair with the paprika-hollandaise benedict or lamb-and-pork hash from Ashland/Hill's brunch menu. 2807 Main St., Santa Monica; (310) 392-3300; ashlandhill.com.
Cardamom
Indian food is one of the best pairings for light and crisp beers (especially IPAs), the beer's dryness balancing out the cuisine's lovely spices. At Cardamom — a contemporary Indian restaurant on Beverly Boulevard, where dad can get a complimentary beer with his meal — the basic saag and chicken masala are there, but so are rare pan-regional Indian dishes such as Manju's Lamb Shank (slow-simmered overnight in a spicy tomato sauce), Jhinga Patia (Parsi-style tiger prawns cooked in a zesty hot-and-sour sauce) and Sylheti Murgh (chicken tikka simmered in a naga chili sauce). 7233 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax; (323) 936-1000; cardamomla.com.
House cocktails at The Detour; Credit: Courtesy of The Detour
The Detour Bistro Bar
Just a few months into being West Washington's new neighborhood brunch spot, the Detour in Culver City is offering half-price drinks all day for dads (or buy one get one free, if you prefer). Included in the Father's Day deal: house cocktails such as a Honey Old-Fashioned or a Mini Mai Tai; bottled beers from Lagunitas, Leffe and more; and wines by the glass from the bistro's small, curated selection. Let dad go deep on drinks while he eats from the Detour's menu of scrambles, small plates and dinners (try the Cubano sandwich, made with slow-cooked pork). 12473 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City; (424) 289-8191; thedetourbistrobar.com.
Fuego at Hotel Maya
The buffet at Fuego (which has stunning views of the Long Beach harbor) screams dad. In addition to the requisite omelet and dessert stations, the hotel restaurant's Father's Day Barbecue and Beer Brunch also has a seafood and ceviche area — with jumbo gulf shrimp, Alaskan king crab legs and Citrus Bay scallops — and a Brazilian churrascaria station featuring brisket, kielbasa, New York strip steak and ribs. Endless Montejo beer, bloody Marys and sparkling wine are included in everyone's $60 brunch ticket. 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach; (562) 435-7676; hotelmayalongbeach.com.
Los Balcones
We absolutely love Peruvian food, and Los Balcones in Hollywood is home to local masters of the country's diverse cuisine. They have created some Americanized riffs on Peruvian food for their recently launched brunch menu, which includes salsa criolla benedicts and chicharron-and-sweet-potato hash. Buy dad any of the new brunch dishes on Father's Day and he'll also get a pisco sour, made with the Peruvian liqueur, egg whites, lime juice and Angostura bitters. 1360 Vine St., Hollywood; (323) 871-9600; losbalconesperu.com.
Popcorn and Peroni poolside at Mr. C; Credit: Courtesy of Mr. C Hotels
Mr. C Beverly Hills
Lounge poolside at the Mr. C Beverly Hills this Father's Day. Executive chef Guiseppe Manco is cooking a Venetian-inspired buffet complete with an Italian grigliata (grilled) station where salmon, rib-eye, ahi tuna and burgers will be cooked on an open fire. The Italian lager Peroni will be on tap, too, and dads get a complimentary first pour with their $75 buffet ticket. Bottomless bellinis and mimosas are also available for $30. 1224 Beverwil Drive, Beverly Hills; (310) 277-2800; mrchotels.com.
Ox & Son
Another recent opening from chef Brad Miller (see: Ashland/Hill above) is offering one-cent beers for dads on Father's Day. A meat-loving neo-American restaurant on the eastern edge of Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, Ox & Son has everything from sticky pig cheeks with black rice to a prime charcrust hangar steak, along with an oyster bar and a good selection of draft beer. On Sunday, however, it's the cheap stuff, Schlitz, that's on special, costing one penny per pint. 1534 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; (310) 829-3990; oxandson.com.
The Pikey
British pub The Pikey pulls out all the stops for holiday meals, and Father's Day is no different. Bring dad to Sunday brunch, when the Hollywood spot is already slinging smoked meats, and he can choose from sticky smoked pork ribs, curried potato hash with a fried turkey leg, a market frittata or a classic full English breakfast. Until 3 p.m., a Peroni or a bloody Mary comes included for dads. Heading in for dinner? The vintage whiskey flights are divine. 7617 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; (323) 850-5400; thepikeyla.com.
Credit: Courtesy STK
STK LA
Steak and whiskey belong together, and there's a restaurant in Manhattan Beach now dedicated to the combination. At the newly remodeled STK LA, Father's Day is an excuse to take this pairing to the extreme with a $60 special that will get dad a cut of dry-aged Australian Wagyu beef and a glass of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, which itself can run up to $40 a shot. The steak will be served with horseradish potatoes, red watercress and cedar-roasted morels, which should be a great accompaniment to the smoky Scotch, which blends together liquid from the best casks in the Johnnie Walker collection. 755 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 659-3535; stkhouse.com.
Venice Whaler
Sundays tend to get schwasty at the Venice Whaler (we named it one of the most hard-partying bars in L.A.), but that's even more of a reason to head to the end of Washington Boulevard with dad this Sunday, when he'll get to base layer with a decadent brunch of short-rib hash or chicken and waffles, then wash it down with crabshell bloody Marys, a Whaler Old-Fashioned or a domestic draft. First beer for dad is on the house. 10 W. Washington Blvd., Venice; (310) 821-8737; venicewhaler.com.
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