Michael's Room Bar Review

There is nothing like having a favorite bar in your neighborhood. A place where you can always wind up at the end of the night, where everybody knows your name, where you can rendezvous with cute boys you hardly know. So after moving to Los Angeles, I was on the constant lookout for what would be my new favorite bar. As I live in Thai Town and the closest bar to my house is Ming's Dynasty, a rather sad tranny bar, I knew I would have to look further afield. Los Feliz, to be exact. In a neighborhood still within stumbling distance from home, and full of hip folks and the businesses that cater to them, I knew I would find my Nirvana.

At first I thought it would be Ye Rustic Inn. I was drawn to the name, the lack of pretension, and the cheap drinks. But alas, it never quite panned out for me. Too smoky, for one. A little too far from home, for another. Then I wandered into Bar Vermont, and after a tasty cocktail or two felt quite at home, but again I had to say no. Too expensive, and a little to sleek and chic for my tastes. It was like drinking in a Zen temple. I had previously rejected the Dresden (too kitschy), the Akbar (too gay) and Jumbo's Clown Room (too scary). So where was I to go?

Adjacent to the recently relocated Hollywood Hills Restaurant, I first encountered this swanky hideaway back in September during a private party for the Silver Lake Film Festival. I vowed to return, but as most of my drinking companions live to the west, hanging in Los Feliz is not usually an option. But one fateful night, a friend and denizen of the east side fancied a drink and I suggested Michael's Room. Upon entering the warm wooden glow of the small room (just eight booths and two tables, with a bar at the far end of the room that seats about four people comfortably), I became instantly excited because although it was 11pm on a Friday, there were only about eight people in the whole place. This may sound strange to some, but one of my first criteria for a good bar is lack of other people. I like a few to mix and mingle with, but standing up, or god forbid, waiting in line to get in, is not an option. My friend and I settled into a booth, and I hit the bar to place our order, which the courteous bartender told me he would bring to our table. What service!

The theme of the bar is 1920s era Chris Craft boats, with dark wood planking on the walls (echoing the mahogany used in the construction of the original Chris Craft), plenty of framed photos of old Chris Crafts and a few other nautical touches. Continuing the theme, the Chris Craft logo is emblazoned above the bar and the signature drink of the place, an amaretto-infused concoction, is called the Chris Craft. This place has yet to really be discovered, so it's calm and quiet. The majority of the patrons are friends of the eponymous owner, who is always in attendance, and a few locals, ranging from eighty-year old couples to young swingers out on a first date. But the main draw and ultimate highlight of Michael's Room are the drinks.

You must understand that I like my liquor. You will never catch me drinking beer or red wine in a bar, but I also shun the trendy cocktail (I am proud to say I have never ordered a Cosmopolitan in my life). I'm a gin and tonic gal, a bourbon neat gal, and my cocktails of choice (Negronis, Side Cars, and Mojitos) are ones that are rarely made well in any but the fanciest (read, most expensive) bars. But then there is Brian, bartender extraordinaire of Michael's Room. His previous gig at San Francisco's Ritz Carlton has made him a purveyor of fine cocktails the likes of which I would believe most people in LA have never tasted (Los Angeles is a hellish wasteland of bad bartenders and even worse cocktails. If you find a bartender that can make a decent drink involving more than two ingredients, cleave him unto you). Brian became a god to me the night he made me a real honest-to-goodness whiskey sour, egg whites and all. So as long as I can still find a place to sit, I encourage you to visit Michael's Room. Currently, the bar's liquor license only extends until midnight, but since they open at 5:00 pm, you can get plenty of drinking in before they send you home. Need some food to sop up that alcohol? Never fear, appetizers (such as calamari or stuffed mushrooms) are nicely priced at $4.00 each, and you can also order off the menu from the restaurant next door. What more can you ask for? Delicious drinks for a reasonable price in a cozy bar where the people are few but friendly, and everyone knows at least my name.

Michael's Room, 1745 N. Vermont Ave. in Los Feliz. Open 5:00 - midnight, seven days a week.

Cosmopolitan
2 oz vodka
2 oz cranberry juice
1 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz Cointreau
Shake well with ice; serve up with a slice of lime.

Negroni
1 1/2 oz gin
1 1/2 oz Campari
1 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
Shake well with ice; serve up with a twist of orange.

Side Car
2 oz cognac
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz fresh lemon juice
Shake well with ice; serve up with a twist of lemon in a glass with a sugared rim.

Mojito
8 mint leaves
juice of 1/2 lime
1 tsp raw sugar
2 oz white rum
seltzer
Muddle lime, sugar and mint together. Fill up glass with ice. Add rum. Top with a squirt of seltzer. Garnish with mint leaves and a slice of lime.

Whiskey Sour
2 parts whiskey
2 parts fresh lemon juice
1/2-ounce simple syrup
1/2-ounce egg whites
Furiously shake all these ingredients together with ice. Serve up. Leave the maraschino cherry in the bottle.

Writer's Addendum: Due to the ever-changing nature of Los Angeles bar culture, since this review was written some things have changed:

- Ming's Dynasty is now The Stone. Although I have not yet been there, the presence of a valet and actual patrons leads me to believe it has gone rather upscale. Of course, this only adds to my neighborhood parking woes, so I'm slightly bitter.
- Brian is no longer associated with Michael's Room, but probably still makes an excellent whisky sour, although he is most likely mixing them in prison.
- Michael's Room has a new head bartender, Traci, who also makes awesome drinks and is a rad chick to boot.