THE TRIPEL
WHERE FINE FOOD & LIBATIONS MEET
http://thetripel.com

Playa Del Rey is an often-overlooked beachside gem. Not as popular as trendy Venice Beach or as swanky as Marina Del Rey, well, now prepare to let the cozy yet very cool The Tripel provide you with a stellar reason to make your way to Playa.

The Tripel brings an all craft beer and small production wine bar with an elevated menu to the beach. A destination for beachfront locals, as well as Angelenos in general, The Tripel is popular for its inviting neighborhood vibe, carefully curated beer list and refined-yet-approachable pub fare. By bringing high quality brews and bites to the area, The Tripel is raising the bar for beachside eats.

The name, Tripel, is a clever take on the pub’s address and its association with a style of strong Trappist beer. The brainchild of husband and wife celebrated chefs Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts, who also own Redondo Beach’s Hudson House; The Tripel provides a relaxed and comfortable setting to enjoy a triple threat of savory fare with bold microbrews and booze.

During a recent visit to Playa’s Tripel, where you can choose a slew of domestic micro beers, as well as beers from California, Hawaii and Europe, including Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium and England, along with Mexico cervezas, we started with one of the their innovative beer crafted cocktails. Opting to sample a slew of bites, we began with the Baked Potato Dumplings, served with pancetta, mushrooms, salsa verde, and a poached egg; followed by Fried Beans; and Sweet Potato Tots. These are tasty bar treats that will definitely kick off a great time. The tots, a new and trendy take on sweet potato fries, are a winner.

Other favorites included the Poppy-Parmesan Biscuits with orange blossom honey and clotted cream, which are yummy, filling and decadent, as well as the Charred Baby Octopus, with black coconut rice, jalapeño, and saffron, and the Chicken Sausage Stuffed Dates with piquillo pepper and cilantro. These are all perfect to share. Believe me, you don’t ever want to eat that many biscuits in one sitting if you care about your health one iota. The octopus is a daring and delicious choice, and the dates are delectable and addictive.

If you’re looking for heartier fare, the Steamed Mussels & Clams with Serrano pesto broth and served with grilled bread is filling; the Potato Salad with Trout gets the job done; and the Pretzel Burger with caramelized onions, poppy seed slaw and aged cheddar, along with the Tripel Burger with duck confit, pork and aged beef, served on an onion brioche bun with truffle pecorino, arugula and house made apricot jam are all solid choices. On paper the Tripel Burger sounds out of this world, but we found the Pretzel Burger to be our favorite among the two. The Pretzel Burger doesn’t have as much going on, which perhaps allows you to really appreciate its savory taste.

A great way to spend an afternoon by the beach or a good time hanging out with friends, it’s also close enough to Culver City and Marina Del Rey or El Segundo to stop by before a movie or other beach outing.

The Tripel is located at 333 Culver Boulevard in Playa Del Rey. Hours:           
Monday - Thursday: 5 p.m. – Close; Friday - Sunday: 12 p.m. – Close. Call 310-821-0333.