Bigfoot Lodge West

Sorry, sorry, it's been almost a week! I have been a horrendous blogger! Reviewing a bar (again):

Bigfoot Lodge West
10939 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90034

Telephone: 310.287.2200

7:00 pm - 2:00 am


Never heard of Bigfoot Lodge? It's in Los Feliz, on Los Feliz Blvd. I hear there's one in San Francisco, as well, which I have never been to (the bar, not S.F.- definitely been to the city!).

Bigfoot Lodge West opened up this past Wednesday, and a few friends and I decided we'd go check it out. The Bigfoot Lodge in Los Feliz (Silverlake or Atwater Village area, sort of) is fun and silly, a sort of hip version of a hunter's cabin, and we desperately needed some fresh blood in the area. The portion of Venice Blvd. that Bigfoot is on doesn't have enough fun places, other than Saints and Sinners, its sister bar.

Plus, Caroline on Crack's website told me it was fun!

We went pretty early, maybe 8:30 or so, and it wasn't too full. I wanted to get there before massive crowds started forming, because I hate lines and I especially hate just standing there with a drink in hand. I want a barstool or a table, dagnabit!

When I had initially read Caroline's post about Bigfoot, I knew that I wanted to try all the specialty drinks. I hadn't been planning on trying them all at the same time, but it ended up happening somehow (perhaps because my friends are enablers instead of being responsible adults?), in the order in which they appear on the cocktail menu:

Toasted Marshmallow:
Vanilla vodka, butterscotch liqueur, Frangelico, and Bailey’s, topped with a flaming marshmallow

Girl Scout Cookie:
A chocolatey Thin Mint martini (it's GREEN like Kermit!)

Dudley Do-Right:
Canadian Club whisky, amaretto, cranberry juice, and lime juice

Sasquatch:
Wild Turkey 101, ginger brandy, ginger ale, and a dash of bitters

My favorite was the Dudley Do-Right, served in a ginormous glass. It's not too sweet but still really easy to drink. I was pleasantly surprised, since I am not a huge fan of whisky. I know, it's an acquired taste- I have not yet acquired it, that's all. Maybe Dudley Do-Right is my gateway into whisky appreciation??

There was a man there taking photos of the opening night- he took a few shots of us after asking us if it was okay. We were told that there would be an article in the L.A. Times ... but he didn't end up using a photo with us in it. : ( Our chance at stardom, gone!

There is also a giant glass vat behind the bar full of a dark liquid with lots of little things suspended in it. If you ask a bartender what the heck it is, they'll hand you a sheet of paper with all the ingredients in it- A TON. An entire sheet of letter-sized paper! Includes all kinds of weird things, including bugs and twigs and branches and brains (well ... maybe not brains).

It's supposed to be some sort of an elixir for men, colloquially called "horny goat hooch." Yes. Classy, I know.

The decor is determinedly outdoorsy and male- mounted dead animals, antlers, wood and stone. There's a large totem pole that's actually really nice but not well-situated, as it blocked our view of the rest of the bar. Or maybe hid us away from prying eyes? I haven't decided yet.

Definitely not pretentious, very casual- a great neighborhood bar to go to for a quick drink before dinner (I hear the Mediterranean place a few doors down is really good) or after a movie.

I recommend:

Toasted Marshmallow, just for the novelty of it. The marshmallow's delectable, the drink is so-so (REALLY strong and REALLY sweet).
Dudley Do-Right, because it's delicious.

I do not recommend:

Girl Scout Cookie, too sweet!
Sasquatch ... just ... too ... much ... yikes.

I'm positive that I will be at this bar again sometime in the near future. So glad that I don't have to trek to Los Feliz (or even worse, San Francisco!) for the Bigfoot Lodge experience!