The Golden State

The Golden State is like a neighborhood cafe that happens to serve beer; I wouldn't really call it a bar. When we first stopped by (a month or so ago), it was with hopes of finding a new spot to add into our weekend social rotation, so we were thrown by the atmosphere, which is more of a place to grab a low-key meal with a good friend than say, "dude, let's get buckwild!!!" I am down with both types of places, I'm just saying you should know what to expect. Recently, we returned for dinner:


Charles got the grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. No complaints here.


I got the burger, which was flavorful and filling: overall, a good showing. But, the slaw was excellent: so light and crunchy and not drowning in a pool of mayo. Plus, I haven't been eating vegetables much, so it was welcomed with even more enthusiasm than usual (I heart slaws a lot).


French fries with hazelnut romesco (I forgot it was described as such, so thought of it as red pepper dip when I was eating).


The owners apparently love ketchup, curry and label makers as much as I do! This stuff is not with a hint of curry, it's right in your face in a very addictive way. I alternated between dipping my fries in the curry ketchup, regular ketchup and the romesco.


Scoops raspberry triple sec gelato. This was my first taste of Scoops, a much acclaimed gelato shop in town. I was blown away by the complexity of flavors! This gelato was truly an eye-opener. I'm pretty sure The Golden State is the only place to carry their product outside headquarters. I plan on hauling ass to Scoops this weekend, end of story.

I'm hoping to become a regular here, especially with the summer's rapid approach (beer? gelato? forget about it!). The Golden State is a welcome and affordable addition to Fairfax Ave and I hope to see it prosper (looks like they're off to a good start as they were nearly packed on a Tues night)! Viva La Golden State!

The Golden State
426 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323)782-8331