Burger hour
Bar 109, Elysian Heights real estate, Unearthen, Maru, best Las Vegas Strip restaurants, World Series tix, MORE
BARS • First Round
Party in the front
The Skinny: Chef Brian Baik (a vet of NYC spots including Eleven Madison Park, Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare, Sushi Noz) recently debuted Bar 109, an understated, chic cocktail bar with a great burger in the front section of his eagerly anticipated Corridor 109 in Melrose Hill.
The Vibe: A more casual, no-reservations complement to Corridor 109 (slated to open next month with a 12-seat chef’s counter and seafood tasting menu), Bar 109 is refined and inviting, with friendly, knowledgeable staff, dark and sleek interiors, and cozy seating (especially at one of the three elliptical banquettes). The bar top is a pretty Forest Gold marble, and DFA Records dance tracks buzz in the background.
The Food: A short menu of upleveled American bar snacks: colossal shrimp cocktail with wild Mexican U-10 shrimp, sashimi-grade cured and smoked fish dip with Ritz crackers, a wagyu hot dog topped with ample amounts of Dijon and roasted-then-pickled pepper relish, and a Nanban-inspired fried vermillion rockfish sandwich with a tartar sauce so exceptionally chunky and creamy, I was convinced it was egg salad.
On trend with NYC’s increasing proliferation of limited bar burgers, Bar 109’s Tuesday 10pm burger (available only 10-1045p on Tuesdays in limited quantities) is, perhaps irritatingly, one of the best new burgers in LA. An eight-ounce Australian wagyu patty is grilled over binchotan with clarified butter, finished with American cheese, house-made Mac sauce, and caramelized onions, and served on a fluffy Bub and Grandma’s potato bun with pickles on the side. It features just the right amount of char in every juicy bite. I savored mine with a glass of Bourgogne.
The Drink: Delicately balanced classics with innovative seasonal twists like the Ichigo Punch (vodka, mezcal, sake, strawberry, basil, clarified milk), Oolong Boulevardier (bourbon, oolong, Campari, rosso vermouth), and my personal favorite, the Marine Layer (a dirty martini with gin, manzanilla, dry vermouth, saline, white kelp). Delightful non-alcoholic options are also available, such as the Chic Hey (malted barley, fermented rice, hojicha kombucha), inspired by Korean sikhye, a traditional sweet rice punch.
The cocktail program is led by Kayla Garcia, who oversaw acclaimed bar Kumiko in Chicago, and here in LA, helped open Thunderbolt’s sibling bar Night on Earth. A small selection of wines and sake is also available, curated by master sommelier Michael Engelmann.
The Verdict: More delicious than a casual neighborhood cocktail bar should be, Bar 109 masters the art of high-low with a fun menu, stellar service, killer cocktails, and spot-on vibes. –Deana Saukam
→ Bar 109 (Melrose Hill) • 641 N Western Ave • Tue-Sat 6p-12a • Walk-ins only.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Sponsor
Dinner, reimagined
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LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Momofuku’s all-day Super Peach opens at Westfield Century City • Why Maru is still the only coffee shop that matters • 6 ways fine dining chefs say they are using AI • When does hospitality hustle go too far?
REAL ESTATE • On the Market
Three properties in Elysian Heights that have come to market recently.
→ 2323 Avon St (Elysian Heights, above) • 3BR/2BA, 1167 SF • Ask: $1.295M • cozy bungalow with deck and strong pine tree vibes • Annual taxes: $12,797 • Days on market: 6 • Agent: Eugene Ridenour, Compass.
→ 1501 Ewing St (Elysian Heights) • 2BR/2BA, 1421 SF • Ask: $1.349M • storybook blue cottage with handcrafted shutters • Annual taxes: $5189 • Days on market: 23 • Agent: Meredith Wick, Sotheby’s.
→ 2165 Valentine St (Elysian Heights) • 6BR/4BA, 2574 SF • Ask: $1.599M (reduced from $1.899M) • ‘treehouse-like’ multi-family triplex, delivered vacant • Annual taxes: N/A • Days on market: 49 (and previous) • Agents: Richard Schulman & Alyssa Vanzyl, Keller Williams.
WORK & PLAY LINKS: With just 4 rebuilding permits issued, Malibu is frozen in place • Downtown office buildings selling for huge discounts, but rents remain lofty • It’s time to embrace the absurdity of work • Ohtani the great.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
Dig it
I first discovered Unearthen when I ran into a friend who was en route to pick up her custom wedding bands. My surprise was twofold: I had no idea she was getting married and I was shocked to discover a new-to-me jeweler in my neighborhood. My day was double-made.
Tucked away on Monte Vista Street in Highland Park, Unearthen is chock full of one-of-a-kind jewelry and objects, all created by Gia Jones. The shop itself is an oasis, with custom mosaic floors laid by Jones in shades of white and beige, and curved plaster moldings showcasing dozens of handmade treasures.
Since 2007, Jones has been creating innovative, organic, one-of-a-kind designs using raw crystals and semi-precious and precious stones. The majority of her business is in custom jewelry (starting at $3000), though she does carry a large selection of ready-to-wear pieces (ranging from $100 to $3500).
Unearthen also has a beautiful selection of homewares, including incense holders, flatware, drawer pulls, and more. Each piece would make an unmissable addition to your space or the perfect gift for a design-minded friend. I can’t get enough of these wavy brass-cast hooks ($75) and this scalloped door and drawer handle ($90). Come to ogle the gorgeous display, stay to find a modern-day heirloom. –Olivia Nielsen
→ Unearthen (Highland Park) • 5428 Monte Vista St • Fri-Sat 11a-5p, or by appt.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Back-to-Back
Twenty One Pilots • BMO Stadium (Exposition Park) • Sat @ 8p • Section C4, $306 per
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas In Concert • Hollywood Bowl (Hollywood Hills) • Sun @ 7p • Section TERR5, $315 per
Blue Jays v Dodgers, World Series Game 3 • Dodger Stadium (Elysian Park) • Mon @ 5p • Sec 39BL, $2752 per (lowest $831 per)
GETAWAYS LINKS: At LAX, Terminal 5 begins closure this week • Joshua Tree short-term rental frenzy cools • SingleThread owners take over Healdsburg’s River Belle Inn • Maui’s vacation rental ban just cracked wide open • In Las Vegas, a new generation of luxury steakhouses.
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GETAWAYS • The Nines
Restaurants, Las Vegas Strip
The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundla.com. Access the full archives.
Delilah (Wynn), Jazz-age inspired supper club with mid-century dining classics like Beef Wellington for two, inarguably the Strip’s best date night or party spot