Upper West…
…has my favorite veggie burgers!
Go east on Pico in Santa Monica toward LA and find yourself at Upper West, a sleek yet earthy bar/restaurant with a wide assortment of specialty cocktails, a respectable wine list, and unique drafts. I met up with an old college pal and his friends for dinner at Upper West recently, and while only two of us ate, everyone left happy.
Cava
Dibon Brut Rosé Cava
While the guys had draft beers (the Ommegan Hennepin and Paulander Pilsner seemed popular) and cocktails (I think it was a whiskey rocks), I indulged in the cava. This rosé had a crisp, dry palate with a yeasty, spiced apple nose and clean finish. Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine, and the Dibon Brut was a delicious example of it. Fabulous!
My friend had The Burger, capitalized because it was finger-licking good. The sweet yet slightly tart balsamic-walla walla onion marmalade created a comforting blend of flavors with their dry-aged beef blend, perked up by peppery arugula and a piquant pasilla goat cheese spread. The toasted brioche bun was buttery and light, a nice platform for the burger. Housemade potato chips rounded out the meal.
Veggie Burger
But the real star of the night was the veggie burger. A special in-house blend of secret veggie ingredients that resulted in a soft, flavorful patty was sandwiched between pineapple relish, avocado, and piquillo peppers. A toasted brioche bun spread with a savory tomato aioli completed the burger. What makes Upper West’s veggie burger stand out is the patty. It’s soft, really soft, and quite juicy. The mouthfeel is akin to steak tartare, which makes this omnivore happy. It’s also filling, leaving me completely satisfied and too full to finish my fries (which were crunchy and well-seasoned, so the rest of my party was pleased to help me with that).
Veggie Burger
Upper West is the kind of place you go to with friends for a loud yet civilized good time. I’ll have to get around to trying their desserts (do you expect me to say no to chocolate cake donuts with bittersweet-rum ganache?) with friends who aren’t as alcohol-focused as these guys…
Upper West
3323 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 586-1111