Immortalized in Vince Vaughn’s Swingers, the space formerly known as The Brown Derby, is today the epitome of Silverlake hipster chic.
Messhall, as it is now known, has settled comfortably into its epic environs with an updated menu of comfort food that has afflicted locals and foodies from all over Los Angeles alike with brief bouts of amnesia regarding calories, carbs and the much ballyhooed perils of sugar.
Cocktails poured from small batch American spirits are kinda brilliant (the house Old-Fashioned even ingeniously reinvents the classic); Corn Fritters are smoked and served with a poblano & pumpkin romesco; pork belly is perfectly crisped and served alongside battered and fried pickles and a remoulade in a mouthwatering pairing whimsically called Pig & Pickles, and the Willard’s “Far-Famed” Crispy Chicken served with Yukon mash & gravy and slaw sets a new benchmark for fried chicken in the City of Angels.
That said, you don’t have to be bad to be good at Messhall where, in keeping with the predispositions of the locals in the hood, Vegan options like the Camp Chili, a bean medley with crisp hominy and tofu cream and the Kale Caesar have followings of their own.
Ditto for the desserts, of which the Banana Cream Jar Pie complete with banana brulée and the Some More, a chocolate bread pudding and graham crumble served with the ‘most amazing ever’ marshmallow ice cream, are the undeniable stars.
Popular nights: Mondays| Burger & Beer (or Bourbon) $15 and Tuesdays | $1 Oysters & $5 Drafts.
Find out more at: messhallkitchen.com