THE HUDSON
WEHO FAVE RELAUNCHES

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, West Hollywood’s The Hudson, a local favorite, has relaunched with a venue upgrade and revamped menu. Ten years in L.A. is a pretty big deal as restaurants and bars come and go so quickly that being able to last a decade in this town where trends don’t last long should be applauded.

Still an intimate and cozy spot to eat and drink, The Hudson’s Chef de Cuisine Michael Kahikina, formerly of Water Grill, and Barrel & Ashes in Studio City, offers a variety of small plates, including honey glazed lamb ribs, alongside house favorites like The Hudson Mac n’ Cheese.

Step inside The Hudson and you’ll be greeted by a rousing roar from the energetic space. Be prepared as it is loud in here. This isn’t a spot to have a quiet conversation. Next you’ll probably be wowed by the two full grown trees that inhabit the main dining room. My guess is that the building was built around the already fully grown trees.

During our recent visit for dinner, we started with cocktails—of course. The Old Reliable with Michter’s Rye & Bourbon, charred pineapple and bitters is a good start. It’s slightly sweet but still works. The popular Netflix & Chile with Espolon blanco tequila, ancho chile, bell pepper, salted chocolate, and lime is very nice albeit a little spicy.

We started our meal with the Summer Watermelon with jicama, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime. And light and refreshing dish, this is a great Instagram photo opp but is too simple to order when dining out. I say go with the Deviled Eggs with capers and fresh dill as it’s a lovely and tasty menu item.

Another small plate standout is the Crispy Colorado Lamb Ribs with wildflower honey mop sauce. One order may simply not be enough. The ribs are so flavorful and the honey only elevates the rich taste.

The Brussel Sprouts with chicken jus and parmesan cheese is a good side dish to share.

As for the entrees, you can’t go wrong with the Grilled Pork Porterhouse with date sage molasses and charred broccolini. This one is hearty and filling and the added date flavor only ramped things up. This is a menu standout.

The Treehouse Burger with Swiss cheese, black pepper bacon, and house-made burger sauce was solid but maybe not necessary as it’s nowhere near the best burger in town. The Rigatoni with pistachio pesto, torn basil, and parmesan cheese is also solid but I feel that dinner at The Hudson can best be experienced with the lamb ribs and porterhouse, and maybe a side of the famous and ridiculously popular mac n’ cheese.

If you save room for dessert, the Butterscotch Bourbon Bread Pudding with pecans, caramel, and vanilla ice cream is beloved for a reason.

The Hudson is located at 1114 N. Crescent Heights. Open weekdays 4pm to 2am and weekends 10am to 2am. Call 323-654-6686.

Story By: Jose Martinez

Photography Courtesy Of: The Hudson