Thursday, November 17, 2011

Lexington Social House: Social Hour and Fried Chicken

Good cocktails in the heart of Hollywood, for cheap? We're not talking dive bars, here. It's possible during Lexington Social House's Social Hour, where all specialty cocktails are priced at $7 on weekdays 6-8PM and all night Sunday.

With the launch of Social Hour they also launched a bar menu (items from this menu are also $7 during social hour!)
Do try the Chipotle Pork Belly biscuits with aged gouda, fried egg ($14)

Pork Belly Biscuits
I have a soft spot for McD's sausage egg mcmuffin, but this is (of course!) so much better! Everything you'd ever want from a breakfast sandwich, even if it isn't breakfast time. Great buttery biscuits, thick and tender pork belly, fried egg with runny yolk. I will definitely get this again.

The cocktail menu was created by barman Kyle Ackley, who used to work at XIV, and the cocktails are quite good and interesting (well, the bottom half. The top half consisted of mainly vodka drinks catered to the usual Hollywood crowd).

For my first drink I ordered the Palmera made with Zirbenz stone pine liqueur, pineapple juice, lemon juice, velvet falernum, angostura bitters
Palmera
This refreshing drink is a great one to start the night off with. Frothy, velvety, nice light grassy note.

Next bar food: Short rib panini, port salut, pickles, IPA mustard ($12)
Short Rib Panini
One word to describe this would be "rich". Very rich. The bottom slice soaks up the juices from the braised short rib and melted cheese.

My friend got the SPANISH HARLEM with tanteo cocoa infused tequila, maraschino liqueur, agave nectar, chocolate-chili bitters
Spanish Harlem
As you lift the glass, you'll get a strong chili aroma, but the drink itself is actually not spicy. Strong and balanced.
The restaurant was comping us one round of drinks and appetizers, but at $7 a cocktail for "social hour", it's easy to order more. I tried the fragrant namesake, THE LEXINGTON, made with earl-grey infused woodford reserve bourbon, honey, lemon juice, orange bitters.

Just so I can feel a little bit healthy:
LOCAL APPLE AND POMEGRANATE SALAD, radicchio, mixed greens, salted almonds
Apple and Pom Salad
Fresh produce, light dressing. What a salad should be .

STEAK TARTARE ($14), fresh herbs, shallots, garlic rubbed toast
Beef Tartar

They were only comping appetizers but since they said the fried chicken is their most popular dish, I couldn't resist ordering and paying for one.
FRIED CHICKEN, smashed potatoes, bacon braised kale, mustard sauce ($24)
Fried Chicken
These were indeed some great fried chicken. The meat was very moist, the batter thin and crispy. I think fried chicken is a bit of a personal preference. I prefer lighter batter over the thick, crunchy ones and this one falls in the former category. No, I have not tried Ad Hoc/Bouchon's chicken, but as far as the best fried chicken I've had in recent memory, this is definitely around the top of my list. The bacon braised kale was earthy and satisfying as well.

Kyle said that the weekends do get a bit crazy, but when I was there for "social hour" the place was completely chill. He also said that they try to keep Friday nights more low key (avoid Thursday and Saturday). But early night social hours or Sundays mean half priced drinks, so I know when I'm coming back.

IMG_4845
Lexington Social House
1718 Vine St
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 461-1700
lexingtonsocialhouse.com
Lexington Social House on Urbanspoon

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