LIFT YOUR SPIRITS AT SADIE’S BAR

If you’re in Hollywood looking to start your night off right or just searching for a cool spot to sit, relax and indulge, belly up to the bar at Sadie—the perfect location if you’re going to hit the town at either Supperclub, Playhouse, Lure Nightclub, or AV Nightclub. Under the direction of resident Director of Spirits Giovanni Martinez, a local mixologist that has studied gin in London, tequila and brandy in Mexico and scotch in Scotland, Sadie’s bar program offers savory cocktails that will definitely lift your spirits.

Talk to Giovanni while he rules the roost behind his bar and “balance” is a word he likes to use referring to the impressive cocktail menu that Sadie sports. Focusing on the finer points of making a truly sublime cocktail, he manages to engage clients in a way that makes each one feel special, born out of a genuine interest to know those who he serves, which means your drinks, no matter how stiff or sweet they are, won’t taste like cough syrup or rubbing alcohol.

Giovanni has overseen bar programs at The Buffalo Club, and Fig & Olive, and at Sadie he has crafted an impressive cocktail list that ranges from Apéritif, Shaken, Stirred, Seasonal, Classics, and Sassy, all of which are built on seasonal and farm-fresh ingredients, with an accompanying West coast craft beer as well.

"I think it is incredibly important to think of the drinks as a piece of an entire experience,” Martinez explains. “A good drink should be an appropriate fit for the environment in which it's served. It should fall in line with the mood, theme and narrative of the bar, restaurant and cuisine…not to mention the neighborhood, time of year and climate. Though my experience is firmly rooted in the 19th Century Golden Age, I'm not a stickler for rules and standards. After all, I'm born and raised in L.A. [where] we don't like being put in a box."

At Sadie, you have your choice to drink in the welcoming front parlor or in the main dining lounge’s behemoth bar, and of course, if they can spare the space, time spent in the outdoor dining courtyard is always a treat. Recently, we made ourselves at home in the middle bar and sampled Martinez’s refreshing handcrafted cocktails. And as we learned during our recent Jameson tasting at Sadie, they know how to make one heck of a Jameson Margarita—this one is so worth trying.

During our cocktail tasting, we started Round One with the Pink Rose, made with lillet rose, lemon juice, strawberry syrup, and GH Cordon Rouge, which is a refreshing “girly” drink with a nice champagne finish. The Guaybera, mixed with lemongrass and basil infused Avion Tequila, watermelon syrup, lime juice, soda and chili salt rim is a keeper as it starts off light and refreshing but is followed by a soothing tequila bite.

Round Two featured the Sandy Swizzle, made with pineapple and sage infused Chivas Regal, agave lemon juice, whipped coconut cream, and Smith and Cross float, which is smooth and goes down ever so easy. The Temperado, prepared with Cachaca (liquor made from fermented sugarcane juice), Avion Silver Tequila, lime juice, fresh cilantro and jalapeño, offers a great bite and is highly recommended if you prefer drinks on the potent side.

In need of a little sustenance in between rounds, we ordered the Wagyu Sliders, two delicious sliders with caramelized onions, Tillamook cheddar, bacon aioli on a brioche toast, along with the Ahi Tartare, prepared with avocado, wonton tostone, Yuzu pepper, and mirin dressed micro-greens. After a little fortification, it was on to the next one.

Round Three consisted of stiffer drinks and the Pantera Rosa, made with Aperol, Beefeater 24 Gin, homemade vanilla syrup, shaken with fresh lemon juice and egg whites, along with the Green Beast, mixed with Pernod absinthe, fresh lime juice, Castor sugar, cucumber, water shaken and served over crushed ice (think bitey and minty) did not disappoint.

Round Four featured the menu’s strongest cocktails and were perhaps our favorites of the night. I highly recommend the White Monk made with white pepper and cardamom-infused Dolin Blanc Vermouth, Silver Tequila, two dashes of Castilian bitters, and Benedictine rinse. Lookout, this one packs a punch. And the Pontchartrain, made with bourbon, 10-year-old tawny port, house-made grenadine, dash of fresh lemon juice served in an absinthe-rinsed cocktail glass is easy going down but be warned, it can sneak up on you if you’re taste don’t favor the hard stuff.

With a great night courtesy of Giovanni Martinez in hand, we just had to get one final drink under our belts and bartender Chris G. saved a terrific capper for last with his Vieux Carre, made with Jameson, sweet vermouth and Cognac served in a double Old Fashioned glass over ice. That hit the spot.

Trust your bartenders at Sadie, don’t go for your usual and let them create a cocktail that is based on your preferences that is guaranteed to delight.

Sadie is located at 1638 N. Las Palmas Ave in Hollywood. Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday from 6 - 11 pm; Thursday thru Saturday from 6 pm - 2 am. Call 323-467-0200. Secured valet is available for $7 with restaurant validation.