Mid-City: 3rd Street Station

3rd Street Station opened recently in Mid-City. Within a stone’s throwing distance from the Beverly Center, 3rd Street Station commands the corner of La Cienega and 3rd Street. The Station part comes from the idea this gastropub serves “train station” food but think heavy comfort food with an European twist.

We caught the tail end of happy hour so we ordered wine and well drinks along with three appetizers before deciding on a couple of entrees for our dinner.

We were very happy with the mac and cheese, duck fat fries and Brussels Sprouts. My dining companion liked the room though I thought it was a bit too new in feeling. The electronic board reminded one of a train station and flashed their cheese, wine, beer and other food offerings but also flashed their wi-fi info. It could get annoying after a while if you wanted to read just about the beer or cheese. I’d suggest a printed list if they don’t already have one.

After my bourbon and soda from happy hour, I switched to the cocktails. Scanning the list, the Firenze S.M.N. (Maker’s Mark bourbon, Cinzano sweet vermouth, Luxardo Bitter liqueur, Bitter Truth Xocatil mole bitters) caught my eye– it was very much in a classic Manhattan vein. I also thought about the Peche D’Or (Maker’s Mark bourboun, mint, lemon, Mathilde’s Liquor Peches). I wondered if it would be like the smoked peach mint julep at Onyx but I didn’t order it as we got our entrees and were starting to think about dessert after.

It was a bit shocking when we got our entrees. Up until then, we had enjoyed our food and drinks. My dining companion thought her grilled cheese to which she added short ribs to it was a bit chintzy– granted the photo only shows one half of the sandwich. It also took a really long time to get to our table. I tried very hard not to eat up the literal two bites of my fish and chips while we waited for her food. My fish and chips at $14 was laughable. We got more duck fat fries at happy hour. It is a good thing we had a Blackboard Eats code or else the meal would have been tough to swallow.

3rd Street Station is great for happy hour and there’s plenty of people watching with the mall being so close. The one cocktail I tried was good and I’d be willing to try the others such as the Caboose (Pierre Ferrnand Ambre cognac, Marie Brizard Apry liqueur, lemon), Paddington (Plymouth gin, Luxardo Morlacco Cherry, lemon) or Chamartin (Partida Reposado tequila, Briotett Blackberry liqueur, lime, agave).

3rd Street Station

8486 W 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048 — (323) 782-8466

 

© The Minty 2012