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Case 1:16-cv-00506-DNH-CFH Document 1 Filed 05/02/16 Page 1 of 15
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
BEER BELLY, INC., a California
Corporation,
COMPLAINT FOR TRADEMARK
INFRINGEMENT, UNFAIR
COMPETITION AND CYBERPIRACY;
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Plaintiff,
v.
BMT 1110, L.L.C., a New York Limited
Liability Company d/b/a BM&T
MANAGEMENT GROUP d/b/a THE
BEER BELLY; BMT 1110 Realty, L.L.C. a
New York Limited Liability Company d/b/a
BM&T MANAGEMENT GROUP d/b/a
THE BEER BELLY; and MICHAEL
VIGLUCCI, JR., an individual; and DOES 1
through 10, inclusive,
Civil Action No.: 1:16-CV-0506 (DNH/CFH)
Defendants.
Plaintiff, Beer Belly, Inc. (“Plaintiff”), by and through its attorneys, STRADLING,
YOCCA, CARLSON & RAUTH, P.C. and HINMAN, HOWARD & KATTELL, LLP, as and
for its Complaint against Defendants BMT 1110, L.L.C., a New York Corporation d/b/a BM&T
MANAGEMENT GROUP d/b/a THE BEER BELLY (“BMT”), BMT 1110 Realty, L.L.C., a
New York Corporation d/b/a BM&T MANAGEMENT GROUP d/b/a THE BEER BELLY
(“BMT Realty”), MICHAEL VIGLUCCI, JR., an individual (“Viglucci”), and DOES 1 through
10, inclusive (collectively “Defendants”), hereby alleges as follows:
THE PARTIES
1.
Plaintiff Beer Belly, Inc. is, and at all times pertinent to this action has been, a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of California , and having its
principal place of business in Los Angeles, California.
2.
On information and belief, Defendant BMT 1110, L.L.C. d/b/a BM&T
MANAGEMENT GROUP d/b/a THE BEER BELLY, is a limited liability company duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, with its principal place of
business in Albany, New York.
3.
On information and belief, Defendant BMT 1110 Realty, L.L.C. d/b/a BM&T
MANAGEMENT GROUP d/b/a THE BEER BELLY, is a limited liability company duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, with its principal place of
business in Albany, New York.
4.
On information and belief, Defendant MICHAEL VIGLUCCI, JR., is an
individual who is a New York resident with a principal residence in Albany, New York. On
information and belief, Viglucci was and is a moving, active, conscious force behind BMT and
BMT Realty’s infringement of Plaintiff’s trademark and associated rights.
5.
Plaintiff is ignorant to the true names and capacities of the Defendants sued as
Does 1–10, inclusive, and therefore Plaintiff has sued them by their fictitious names. Upon
information and belief, Does 1–10 were and are moving, active, conscious forces behind the
infringement of Plaintiff’s rights. As such, Does 1–10 are liable to Plaintiff.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
6.
This is a civil action arising under the laws of the United States relating to
trademarks (15 U.S.C. §§ 1114(1) and 1125(a)). This Court has federal question jurisdiction
over Counts I, II and V pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a) and (b). This Court has
supplemental jurisdiction over Count III pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
7.
This Court has personal jurisdiction over BMT and BMT Realty in that
Defendants are citizens and residents of the State of New York, have engaged in business
2
activities in New York, and tortious acts by BMT and BMT Realty complained of in this
Complaint have been committed within this judicial district.
8.
Venue in this Judicial District is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391, given that a
substantial portion of the acts and transactions complained of herein were conceived, carried out,
made effective, and had effect within the State of New York and this Judicial District.
9.
In addition, on information and belief, all Defendants are residents of the State of
New York, and at least one of the Defendants resides or is deemed to reside in this Judicial
District.
NATURE OF THE ACTION
10.
In this action, Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief, lost profits, damages and attorneys’
fees for Defendants’ acts of trademark infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1114 et seq., unfair
competition and false designation of origin under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), cyberpiracy and
cybersquatting under 15 U.S.C. §1125(d), common law unfair competition, common law
misappropriation and related causes of action.
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
11.
Plaintiff owns and operates Beer Belly, a restaurant/bar focused on serving “craft
beer, and crafty food.”
12.
Plaintiff is the owner of the BEERBELLY mark, U.S. Trademark Registration
No. 4,669,415, for use in connection with restaurant services.
A copy of Plaintiff’s U.S.
Trademark Registration No. 4,669,415 is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
13.
Plaintiff began using its BEERBELLY trademark as early as May 1, 2011.
14.
Plaintiff’s use of its BEERBELLY mark has been open, notorious, and
continuous.
3
15.
Beginning at least as early as December 2011, and continuing through the present,
Plaintiff’s restaurant has garnered national attention and acclaim.
For example, the
BEERBELLY mark has been advertised or featured in national television shows and print or
online publications such as:
a.
LA Weekly, Best 5 New Craft Beer Bars of 2011,
http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/2011/12/beer_bars_la.php?page=2
(Attached hereto as Exhibit B-1);
b.
GQ Magazine, 12 Bars For Beer Lovers, http://www.gq.com/foodtravel/restaurants-and-bars/201210/best-beer-bars-october2012?slide=2#slide=9 (Attached hereto as Exhibit B-2);
c.
LA Weekly, Best Beer List 2012,
http://www.laweekly.com/bestof/2012/award/best-beer-list-1892645/
d.
CNN.com, 8 Things to Know about Koreatown,
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/17/travel/koreatown-los-angeles/index.html
e.
Los Angeles Magazine, 15 Best New Bars,
http://www.lamag.com/features-hidden/2012/07/01/best-new-bars-no-10beer-belly (Attached hereto as Exhibit B-5);
f.
DRAFT Magazine, A Growing Beer Belly,
http://draftmag.com/features/a-growing-beer-belly/ (Attached hereto as
Ex. B-6);
4
g.
Food Network - Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, (Season 16, Episode 11:
“Unlikely Partners”) (Copy of program information attached herein as
Exhibit B-7); and
h.
Travel Channel - Food Paradise (Episode: Deep-Fried Paradise 3) (Copy
of program information attached herein as Exhibit B-8).
16.
The BEERBELLY mark is distinctive and identifies Plaintiff as the single source
of origin of the services marketed and provided in connection therewith.
17.
Since 2011, Plaintiff has spent significant time, energy and expense building up
the good will and value of its BEERBELLY mark.
18.
Without Plaintiff’s authorization or consent, and after Plaintiff began to use and
had built up extensive and valuable business and good will in connection with the BEERBELLY
mark, Defendants began using the confusingly similar “The Beer Belly” designation in
connection with restaurant services.
19.
On information and belief, Defendants have been using and continue to use the
designation “The Beer Belly” to market and sell Defendants’ restaurant services.
20.
On information and belief, Defendants seek to capitalize on the strength and
reputation of Plaintiff’s BEERBELLY mark, by registering, trafficking in or using the domain
http://www.beerbellyalbany.com which is substantively and confusingly similar to the
distinctive BEERBELLY mark with a bad faith intent to profit.
21.
On information and belief, Defendants’ use of a domain which is confusingly
similar to Plaintiff’s registered trademark directs consumers to Defendants’ website where such
consumers are misled as to the origin, sponsorship or approval of the goods and services
5
marketed and offered for sale through the http://www.beerbellyalbany.com website, and are
deceived as to Defendants’ affiliation, connection or association with Plaintiff.
22.
On information and belief, Defendants were or became aware of Plaintiff and its
trademark rights before Defendants launched their services and adopted the “The Beer Belly”
designation.
23.
Plaintiff is informed and believes, and on that ground alleges, that Defendants
adopted the confusingly similar ‘The Beer Belly’ designation with knowledge of Plaintiff’s
trademark rights and with the intent to deceive consumers and to cause confusion among
purchasers for the purpose of misappropriating and benefiting from the goodwill and public
recognition associated with Plaintiff and to divert sales from Plaintiff to Defendants.
24.
On information and belief, Plaintiff and Defendants offer restaurant services
which are nearly identical in scope.
25.
On information and belief, Plaintiff and Defendants market and promote their
restaurant services in nearly identical ways, including through their website, review sites (such as
Yelp), print advertising, and social media.
26.
Defendants’ “The Beer Belly” designation is sufficiently identical to the
BEERBELLY trademark in sight, sound, connotation and commercial impression that its use in
the sale and marketing of Defendants’ restaurant services to the same class of customers, through
the same or similar channels of trade is likely to cause consumer confusion.
27.
On information and belief, Viglucci is the founder, owner, president and creative
force behind BMT and BMT Realty.
On information and belief, Viglucci actively and
knowingly participated in and directed BMT and BMT Realty’s willful adoption of the “The
Beer Belly” designation.
6
28.
On information and belief, Defendants knew or should have known of Plaintiff’s
trademark rights prior to adopting the “The Beer Belly” designation and that use of this
designation is confusingly similar.
29.
The aforementioned acts by Defendants have caused, and will continue to cause,
actual confusion and a likelihood of confusion in the minds of the public, and have damaged and
will further damage Plaintiff’s reputation for exclusivity in connection with its BEERBELLY
mark.
30.
On or around April 28, 2015, upon learning of Defendants’ infringing use of the
“The Beer Belly” designation, Plaintiff sent a Cease and Desist letter requesting that Defendants
discontinue all use of the “The Beer Belly” designation and informed them of Plaintiff’s use
since May 2011 and of its then pending federal trademark application. A copy of Plaintiff’s
Cease and Desist Letter is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
31.
Plaintiff never received any response from Defendants to the April 2015 Cease
and Desist letter.
32.
On or around July 28, 2015, Plaintiff sent a second Cease and Desist letter to
Defendants. A copy of Plaintiff’s second Cease & Desist letter is attached hereto as Exhibit D.
33.
On or around October 20, 2015, BMT indicated by email that it would change its
restaurant signage to comply with Plaintiff’s demands. A copy of BMT’s email is attached
hereto as Exhibit E.
34.
Despite repeated attempts to follow-up on this transition, as of April 19, 2016, on
information and belief, Defendants continues to use the “The Beer Belly” trademark on their
website and on social media outlets such Facebook, Twitter and Yelp, to name a few. Copies of
screenshots of Defendants’ website and social media profiles are attached hereto as Exhibit F.
7
35.
On information and belief, Defendants BMT and BMT Realty are inadequately
capitalized or insured to respond to claims against them; there is no separation between the
business activities of BMT and BMT Realty and the personal activities of Viglucci; BMT and
BMT Realty’s funds and Viglucci’s funds are co-mingled; BMT and BMT Realty’s funds are
used to satisfy Viglucci’s debts; BMT and BMT Realty’s funds are used for Viglucci’s personal
travel and entertainment expenses; and BMT and BMT Realty has disregarded corporate
formalities. BMT and BMT Realty are mere instrumentalities of Viglucci’s will and are shells
with no independent direction. As such, BMT and BMT Realty are the alter egos of Viglucci.
36.
On information and belief, given the alter ego relationship between BMT and
BMT Realty and Viglucci, Plaintiff alleges that fraud and/or injustice is likely to occur if the
separation of entities is not disregarded.
37.
On information and belief, Viglucci personally participated, directed, controlled,
ratified, was the moving force behind, and acted consciously, willfully, deliberately, and
knowingly when he and BMT and BMT Realty committed the wrongful acts alleged herein,
injuring Plaintiff.
COUNT I
WILLFUL INFRINGEMENT OF FEDERALLY REGISTERED TRADEMARK
(LANHAM ACT §32)
38.
Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation contained in paragraphs 1
through 37 hereof as if fully stated herein.
39.
By virtue of Defendants’ conduct, Defendants have used and are using a spurious
term in connection with the advertising, marketing, and offering of restaurant services, which
are identified with the BEERBELLY mark used by Plaintiff.
8
40.
Plaintiff’s services are offered and advertised to the same or similar classes of
purchasers as Defendants. As a result of Defendants’ conduct, there is a strong likelihood of
confusion, mistake, or deception, and many persons familiar with Plaintiff’s BEERBELLY
mark, its reputation and favorable good will, are likely to purchase Defendants’ services in the
mistaken belief that such services are related to, offered or authorized by Plaintiff.
41.
Defendants’ actions have been and are willful, unfair, false and deceptive, in that
they tend to mislead, deceive and confuse, and have had and will have the result of misleading,
deceiving and confusing the public to believe that BMT and BMT Realty and/or its services are
affiliated with, sponsored or controlled by Plaintiff.
42.
As a consequence, Defendants have traded and are trading upon, and have gained
and are gaining public acceptance and other benefits from, Plaintiff’s favorable reputation and
valuable good will, which have accordingly been placed at risk and damaged by Defendants’
illegal actions and conduct.
43.
The foregoing actions of Defendants constitute trademark infringement by
inducing the erroneous belief that BMT and BMT Realty and/or its services are in some manner
affiliated with, originate from, or are sponsored by Plaintiff in violation of Lanham Act § 32, 15
U.S.C. §1114.
44.
Plaintiff is informed and believes, and on that ground alleges, that Defendants
have made and/or will make unlawful gains and profits from their unlawful actions as alleged
herein, and by reason thereof, Plaintiff has been deprived of gains and profits which otherwise
would have inured to Plaintiff but for such unlawful actions.
45.
Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law for the injuries alleged in this Count. The
injury is, in part, intangible in nature and not capable of being fully measured or valued in terms
9
of money damages. Further, the injury is of a continuing nature and will continue to be suffered
so long as Defendants continue their wrongful conduct.
46.
Notwithstanding the inadequacy of, and the difficulty of presently fully
ascertaining the value of the damage to Plaintiff caused by Defendants’ wrongful conduct, said
conduct has resulted in irreparable, direct and proximate damages to Plaintiff and Plaintiff is
entitled to injunctive relief under 15 U.S.C. Section 1116(a).
COUNT II
FALSE DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN AND UNFAIR COMPETITION
(LANHAM ACT §43(a))
47.
48.
This claim arises under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act.
Defendants’
unauthorized use and continued use in interstate commerce of “The Beer Belly” constitutes use
of a false designation of origin and a false description or representation that has caused and is
likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception (a) as to the characteristics, qualities or origin of
Defendants’ services, (b) as to an affiliation, connection or association between Plaintiff and
Defendants, and (c) as to the sponsorship or approval of Defendants’ services by Plaintiff.
49.
Such actions, as used in commercial advertising, have misrepresented and do
misrepresent the nature, characteristics or qualities of Defendants’ services and/or commercial
activities.
50.
Upon information and belief, Defendants have intentionally and falsely
designated the origin of their services by adopting and using a term that is substantially the same
as the BEERBELLY trademark for its goods so as to profit from Plaintiff’s reputation by
confusing the public as to the source, origin, sponsorship or approval of Defendants’ services,
10
with the intention of deceiving and misleading the public at large, and of wrongfully trading on
the goodwill and reputation of Plaintiff.
51.
The activities of Defendants’ complained of herein have caused and, unless
enjoined, will continue to cause substantial and irreparable harm to Plaintiff, its business
reputation and its goodwill, for which Plaintiff is without adequate remedy at law.
Such
activities have also caused Plaintiff monetary loss and damage including, but not limited to, the
loss of profits in an amount not yet determined.
52.
Further, the injury is of a continuing nature and will continue to be suffered so
long as Defendants continue their wrongful conduct. Notwithstanding the inadequacy of, and the
difficulty of presently fully ascertaining, the value of the damage to Plaintiff caused by
Defendants’ wrongful conduct, Plaintiff is informed and believes, and on that ground alleges,
that said conduct has resulted in irreparable, direct and proximate damages to Plaintiff.
COUNT III
COMMON LAW MISAPPROPRIATION
53.
Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation contained in Paragraphs 1
54.
Plaintiff has invested substantial time, man-hours, resources and money in
adopting, developing and using the BEERBELLY mark, and the BEERBELLY mark is
Plaintiff’s property.
55.
In committing the acts of trademark infringement and unfair competition as
alleged herein, Defendants have misappropriated and taken without permission Plaintiff’s
property and converted it to their own use for their own benefit.
11
56.
Plaintiff is informed and believes, and on that ground alleges, that by
misappropriating and converting Plaintiff’s property, Defendants have benefited greatly and
illegitimately by using “The Beer Belly” to offer its goods without having to make a substantial
investment of their own.
57.
Defendants’ acts constitute common-law misappropriation under the common law
of the State of New York.
58.
Defendants have been and will continue to be, unless enjoined, unjustly enriched
by their acts of misappropriation.
59.
The foregoing acts of Defendants’ have injured and will continue to injure
Plaintiff by depriving it of sales of its genuine services and by injuring its business reputation
and good will, all in violation of the common law of the State of New York.
60.
Defendants’ acts have caused and will continue to cause irreparable harm and
damage to Plaintiff, and have caused and will continue to cause Plaintiff monetary damage in an
amount thus far not determined, for which Plaintiff is entitled to its actual damages, Defendants’
profits, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs.
61.
Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law.
COUNT IV
CYBERPIRACY UNDER 15 U.S.C. 1125(d) OF THE
ANTI-CYBERSQUATTING CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
62.
through 61 as if fully stated herein.
63.
Defendants’ acts as described in this Complaint including registering, trafficking
in or using the domain www.beerbellydeli.com, which is substantially and confusingly similar to
12
Plaintiff’s distinctive BEERBELLY mark, with a bad faith intent to profit, constitute cyberpiracy
and/or cybersquatting in violation of Section 43 of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §1125(d).
64.
By reason of its illegal conduct, Defendants have and continues to wrongfully
derive income and profits from these acts, and Plaintiff has sustained and will continue to
sustain, substantial injury, loss and damage.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants as follows:
A.
That Defendants’ conduct infringes Plaintiff’s BEERBELLY mark, falsely
designates the origin of Defendants’ services, falsely describes such services, and unfairly
competes with Plaintiff, all in violation of Lanham Act §§43(a) and 32, 15 U.S.C. §1125, and 15
U.S.C. §1114 et seq.
B.
That Defendants’ conduct serves to infringe Plaintiff’s BEERBELLY mark and
unfairly compete with Plaintiff under the common law of the State of New York.
C.
That Defendants and their agents, officers, directors, servants, employees,
attorneys, its successors and assigns, and all others in active concert or participation with
Defendants be preliminarily and permanently enjoined from directly or indirectly:
i.
Using Plaintiff’s BEERBELLY mark, or any other marks which are
confusingly similar to or colorable imitations of Plaintiff’s BEERBELLY mark, including,
without limitation, the term “The Beer Belly” alone or as part of or together with any other
designs, word or words, trademark, service mark, trade name, trade dress or other business or
commercial designation or any logo, symbol or design;
13
ii.
Committing any act which, in and of itself, or from the manner or under
the circumstances in which it is done amounts to false designation of origin, false description or
false representation of Defendants’ services; and
iii.
Otherwise unfairly competing with Plaintiff or misappropriating Plaintiff’s
intellectual property, including, but not limited to the BEERBELLY mark.
D.
That the Court issue an Order directing Defendants to file with the Court and
serve on Plaintiff, within thirty (30) days after the service on Defendants of such injunction, a
report in writing and under oath, setting forth in detail the manner and form in which Defendants
have complied with the injunction.
E.
That the Court award judgment in favor of Plaintiff for the amount of either
damages sustained by Plaintiff or the profits made by Defendants as a result of Defendants’
wrongful conduct, whichever amount is greater, and damages in an amount necessary for
Plaintiff to conduct corrective advertising to eliminate the confusion caused by Defendants’
wrongful acts.
F.
That the Court award judgment in favor of Plaintiff in the amount of treble
damages under 15 U.S.C. §1117, plus prejudgment interest.
G.
That the Court award statutory damages pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §1117(d), against
Defendants in the amount of $100,000 or in an amount the Court otherwise considers just.
H.
That the Court award judgment against Defendants for the full costs of this action,
including reasonable attorney fees.
I.
That the Court award to Plaintiff punitive damages sufficient to deter Defendants
from committing such willful acts of infringement in the future.
14
J.
For interest on all amounts found to be due to Plaintiff from Defendants, at the
prevailing rate, from the date said amounts or any part thereof became or become due.
K.
That the Court requires Defendants to notify any parent, subsidiaries, investors,
affiliated companies, commercial associates, advertising agencies, suppliers and customers of
said Order.
L.
That the Court Order such other, further and different relief as the nature of this
action may require and that the Court deem just and proper.
M.
That the Court retain jurisdiction of this action for the purpose of enabling
Plaintiff to apply to the Court, at any time, for such further orders and directions as may be
necessary or appropriate for the interpretation or execution of any order entered in this action, for
the modification of any such order, for the enforcement or compliance therewith and for the
punishment of any violations thereof.
JURY DEMAND
Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure on each and every cause of action asserted in its Complaint that is triable by jury.
DATED: May 2, 2016
HINMAN, HOWARD & KATTELL, LL
Attorneys for Plaintiff Beer Belly, Inc.
By: /s/ Paul T. Sheppard
Paul T. Sheppard
Bar Roll No. 102596
700 Security Mutual Building
80 Exchange Street
P.O. Box 5250
Binghamton, New York 13902-5250
Telephone: (607) 723-5341
Fax: (607) 723-6605
Email: sheppard@hhk.com
15
Case 1:16-cv-00506-DNH-CFH Document 1-1 Filed 05/02/16 Page 1 of 2
Top Hops: Best 5 New Craft Beer Bars of 2011 | L.A. Weekly
Page 1 of 5
Top Hops: Best 5 New Craft Beer
Bars of 2011
BY DANIEL DRENNON
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2011 AT 9 A.M.
The Many Colors of Craft Beer
Keith Underwood
Over the past few years, sales of mass-produced beer (Bud, Miller,
Coors and the like) are down along with housing, investments and
other barometers of economic growth. Guess what is not down?
Craft breweries. Craft beer bars. Craft beer sales.
http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/top-hops-best-5-new-craft-beer-bars-of-2011-2374996 4/21/2016
Page 2 of 5
According to the Brewers Association, which represents the artists who brew
innovative and exceptionally drinkable beer, craft beer sales went up 11 percent in 2010
and were up 14 percent in the first six months of 2011. Conversely, mass brewers are
losing sales (silent applause OK here). Droves of (good) beer fans are supporting new
beer bars in numbers that have bar owners expanding into second and even third
locations within years of opening the first. Plus, seemingly every new restaurant that
opens must offer 24 or more tap handles of craft beer.
"It's an artistic movement," says Tony Yanow, who this summer opened Mohawk Bend
in Echo Park. Yes, great craft brewers are a form of art. Here are the top five new beer
bars of 2011, in alphabetical order.
Burger and beer at Steingarten L.A.
Daniel Drennon
5. Steingarten L.A., West Los Angeles:
Page 3 of 5
David Watrous, aka the Gueuze Hound and a self-described "beer evangelist," has
created 20 taps of rotating excellence and a bottle list that is even better. Watrous has
forgotten more about sours, lambics and gueuzes than we know. Hence, if your beer
preferences lean in that direction, Steingarten should be your new home away from
home. If they lean more toward California craft, he has you covered there as well.
Steingarten has frequent beer event nights with brewers. We especially recommend the
happy hour, 4-7 p.m. weeknights. The food, which focuses on sausages and burgers, is
excellent. The interior bar and restaurant are warm and welcoming. And the outdoor
patio in the back is an escape from the hustle and bustle (read: traffic) of the Pico
corridor. 10543 W. Pico Blvd., W.L.A.
Mohawk Bend in Echo Park
Kat Nguyen
4. Mohawk Bend, Echo Park:
Page 4 of 5
Mohawk Bend is the latest project of Yanow, who also has the beer bar Tony's Darts
Away, in Burbank, and the brewing company Golden Road Brewing. Mohawk Bend is a
beer wonderland that features a whopping 72 tap handles with four nitro lines and two
Firkin pump handles. Formerly a vaudeville theater, Mohawk has a relatively dark
front room with high ceilings and, to the right, a long, cool bar with a wall of chrome
tap handles, which seems to stretch on forever. The entire left side is an open kitchen.
But your eyes are drawn to the skylight-lit backroom, with its original brick wall that is
more than 100 years old. It is a beautiful space in which to drink beautiful beer. Half of
the 72 tap handles will rotate with each blown keg, so customers can always expect
something new and different. While the selection is overwhelmingly California-centric,
five handles will be dedicated to an out-of-state brewer each month -- yes, they brew
great beer in other states, too. 2141 W. Sunset Blvd., Echo Park.
Vanessa Sikoff pours the "Hoppy Hour" glass jug of craft beer
Daniel Drennon
3. City Tavern, Culver City:
City Tavern is a sibling of Rush Street, which is several blocks west of it in downtown
Culver City. City offers 22 rotating taps of craft beer, plus an additional nine taps split
among three party-size booths where you can pour your own beer at the table. It has a
big, inviting dining room and bar, along with a small but lovely outdoor patio.
Page 5 of 5
Matt Meiers, the bar manager, keeps the California craft beers in a near-perfect
rotation of styles and featured breweries. City Tavern also puts on beer-pairing
dinners, with the brewers present for meet-and-greets that are extremely popular with
beer geeks. Jessica Christensen's North Carolina-influenced menu pairs nicely with the
brews. Simply put, one of our favorite places to hang. 9739 Culver Blvd., Culver City.
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BEER BELLY
Photo by Photo: Garret Synder
With a strictly curated tap list of 12 hyper-local
brews rotating on a near-daily basis, Koreatown's
Beer Belly has become one of the craft beer bars of
choice for drinkers looking to bump their beer
knowledge into the next echelon. Can't order your
usual hefeweizen? Try Eagle Rock's Manifesto
witbier. No Guinness? Try Bootlegger's chipotlecoffee porter. By eliminating "the usual" order
without overwhelming neophytes, Beer Belly
probably has converted more Bud-swilling
blockheads into certified beer nerds than any other
place in town. Owner Jimmy Han's sharp eye for
http://www.laweekly.com/best-of/2012/food-and-drink/best-beer-list-2580912
4/21/2016
Page 2 of 8
Best Steakhouse
JAR
Best Restaurant
PROVIDENCE
Best Free Water
FOOD
Best Overpriced Coffee
COFFEE COMMISSARY
hard-to-find IPAs and obscure sours doesn't hurt,
either, especially when it comes to his collection of
by-the-bottle offerings stocked in a back-room
fridge. 532 S. Western Ave., Koreatown. (213) 387-2337,
beerbellyla.com.
—Garrett Snyder
532 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, 90022
MAP
213-387-2337
beerbellyla.com
Best San Fernando Valley Pastry Shop
SWEET BUTTER
Best Hollywood Glamour Restaurant
POLO LOUNGE AT BEVERLY HILLS
HOTEL
Best Taiwanese Breakfast
FOUR SEA RESTAURANT
Jar
BEST STEAKHOUSE
Best Doughnut
THE DONUT MAN
Best Pie
CAKE MONKEY
Best Pho
PHO FILET
Best Tamales
RIVERA
Best Place to Fit in Dinner Before a Downtown
Show
'TINA TACOS
Best French Fries
CHURCH & STATE
Best Handmade Noodles
SWEETHOME GRILL
Best Taco
GUISADOS
Best Dim Sum Restaurant
SEA HARBOUR SEAFOOD
RESTAURANT
In this era of gastropubs and fusion bistros, it comes
as a welcome relief to enter a place that still calls
itself a "chophouse," as does Suzanne Tracht's 11year-old West Hollywood restaurant, Jar. The
moniker is a signal to other beautifully atavistic
traits: a maitre d' in a suit and tie, white tablecloths,
an iceberg wedge on the menu, a playlist of Sinatra
and Armstrong and Nina Simone — and some of the
best steaks in Los Angeles. Not only will your dry-
4/21/2016
Page 3 of 8
Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant
ELF CAFE
Best Sushi
URASAWA
Best Farmers Market
SANTA MONICA CERTIFIED
FARMERS MARKET
Best Martini
MUSSO & FRANK GRILL
Best Brewery
LADYFACE ALE COMPANIE
Best Margarita
aged Kansas City steak or your filet of beef or your
prime rib-eye arrive perfectly cooked and
presented, it will be served with a little white
ceramic boat of sauce like the perfect accessory (a
cufflink, a pocket square). The beef is so tender that
it hardly needs the lobster béarnaise in the first
place, but you are not here for restraint. (Think to
yourself: What would Frank do?) Order a martini or
two, then the stellar chocolate pudding for dessert.
8225 Beverly Blvd. (323) 655-6566, thejar.com.
—Amy Scattergood
8225 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, 90048
MAP
323-655-6566
thejar.com
BORDER GRILL
Best Macaroni and Cheese
BAY CITIES ITALIAN DELI
Best Bloody Mary
FIG
Providence
Best Breakfast Spot
BEST RESTAURANT
CANELE
Best Burrito
LA AZTECA TORTILLERIA
Best Pizza
SOTTO
Best Pizza Slice
VITO'S PIZZA
Best Salad
DOMINICK'S RESTAURANT
Best Culinary Cocktails
INK.
Best Soul Food
R&R SOUL FOOD
Best Burrata
OSTERIA MOZZA
Photo by Anne Fishbein
Spot prawn jewels
Michael Cimarusti's seafood palace on Melrose
Avenue in Hollywood earlier this summer
4/21/2016
Page 4 of 8
Best Oyster Bar
L&E OYSTER BAR
Best Upscale Burger
RUSTIC CANYON WINE BAR AND
SEASONAL KITCHEN
Best Baguette
BREAD LOUNGE
Best Lowbrow Burger
THE SPICE TABLE
Best Drinking Chocolate
DEMITASSE
Best Farm Stand in the SFV
TAPIA BROS. FARM STAND
Best Pisco Sour
PICCA
Best Cheese Shop
THE CHEESE STORE OF BEVERLY
HILLS
celebrated its seventh birthday, a suitably biblical
number for a fish restaurant with an excellent
pastry kitchen. In those seven years, Providence has
neither plateaued nor reversed direction: It has
gotten better, kind of a stunning achievement for a
restaurant that was worth 2 Michelin stars back
when they gave them out in this town. Cimarusti
and his crew manage something rare: a combination
of technical mastery and playfulness, and a
willingness to change things up instead of resting
on their considerable laurels. The menu transforms
as frequently as the fish swim in and out of their
seasonal waters, the staff forages for local greenery,
and the plates emerge from the kitchen like small
epiphanies. Maybe you can credit it all to the fact
that the chef and the general manager like to go
fishing out of San Pedro on their few days off. 5955
Melrose Ave., Hlywd. (323) 460-4170,
providencela.com.
—Amy Scattergood
5955 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, 90038
323-460-4170
providencela.com
MAP
Best Fish Taco
RICKY'S FISH TACOS
Best Place to Eat Alone
advertisement
PIZZERIA MOZZA
Best Korean BBQ
KANG HO DONG BAEKJEONG
Best Torta
COOK'S TORTAS
Best Old-School Food Truck
MARISCOS JALISCO
Best Carrots
WEISER FAMILY FARMS
Best Stone Fruit
TENERELLI ORCHARDS
Best Bibimbap
FOOD
OO-KOOK KOREAN BBQ
4/21/2016
Page 5 of 8
Best Tapas
RACIÓN
BEST FREE WATER
Best New-School Food Truck
JOGASAKI SUSHI BURRITO
Best Boat Noodles
PA-ORD NOODLE
Best Pasta
ANGELINI OSTERIA
Best Omakase Deal
KIRIKO SUSHI
Best Ramen
TSUJITA L.A.
Best Falafel
JOE'S FALAFEL
Best Shawarma
TA-EEM GRILL
Best Okonomiyaki
GOTTSUI
Best Butcher
MCCALL'S MEAT AND FISH
Best Japanese Curry
FAT SPOON
Best Fried Chicken
JIM DANDY
Best Place to Feel the Heat
NIGHT + MARKET
Best Crispy Dumpling
BEIJING PIE HOUSE
Best Filipino Pastry Shop
GOLDILOCKS BAKESHOP
Back in 2007, when Judy Ornstein first opened her
neighborhood café FOOD, she had a recycling
brainstorm: Why not install a plastic, serve-yourself,
all-you-can-drink dispenser and fill it with filtered
H20, ice cubes and whatever fruity odds and ends
she found in the kitchen? Sometimes there are
hunks of pineapple sweetly infusing the cold water;
other times it's a mind-bendingly thirst-quenching
day spa mainstay of cucumber slices and handfuls
of fresh mint. Often they go refreshingly tropical
with floating orange, lime and lemon slices.
Ornstein's light, rejuvenating, bright idea also
doubles as an art installation that changes daily:
Some have compared the dispenser, sitting in a far
corner next to a stack of glasses, to wallpaper in a
ladies' restroom circa 1968 or a freeze-frame from a
Trix cereal commercial. But we think it recalls a
dreamy, zero-gravity fruit salad experiment at
NASA — and what's not to like about that? 10571 W.
Pico Blvd., W.L.A. (310) 441-7770, food-la.com.
—Margy Rochlin
10571 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, 90064
310-441-7770
food-la.com
MAP
Best Natural Wine List
SALT'S CURE
Best Sake List
KATANA
4/21/2016
Page 6 of 8
Best Deli
BRENT'S DELICATESSEN &
RESTAURANT
Best Potpie
Coffee Commissary
BEST OVERPRICED COFFEE
GOOD GIRL DINETTE
Best Peruvian Food
MO-CHICA
Best Arepas
BOLÍVAR CAFE & GALLERY
Best Yakitori
KOKEKOKKO
Best Hot Dogs
FAB HOT DOGS
Best Macarons
EUROPANE
Best Coffee Roaster
HANDSOME COFFEE ROASTERS
Best Funnel Coffee
BALCONI COFFEE
Best Bánh Mì
BÁNH MÌ MY THO
Best Hot Dog Time Warp
CUPID'S HOT DOGS
Best Place for 4 a.m. Thai Crispy Pork
CRISPY PORK GANG & GRILL
Best Place to Dine Like a Beijinger
BEIJING RESTAURANT
Best Shaved Snow
CLASS 302
Four dollars for a cup
of coffee? Before you
spit out your
Starbucks, hear us
out: There's a
revolution going on in
the java world that
has little to do with
the over-barbecued
cafe loco you're used
to and everything to
do with small organic
farms in South America that are churning out
product with the kind of terroir previously
associated only with wine. Now, we're not so sure
about hints of chocolate and pomegranate in our
perfect, 195-degree cup of Commissary joe, but it is
super smooth and low on acid. Props to
Intelligentsia Coffee for kickstarting this thing in
L.A. But what we like about the 2-year-old Coffee
Commissary in West Hollywood is that it's simple,
casual and gimmick-free. Nobody's slurping and
"cupping" this stuff, and you won't be huffed on if
you don't know your Coava from your Victrola. Hot
water is swirled over a cone of precious grinds, with
the resulting brew transferred to a thick mug. That's
it. 801 N. Fairfax Ave., #106, W. Hlywd. (323) 782- 1465,
coffeecommissary.com.
—Dennis Romero
801 Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, 90046
323-782-1465
coffeecommissary.com
MAP
Best Thai Grocery
BANGKOK MARKET
Best Juicy Dumplings
Best Hot Pot
Sweet Butter
LUSCIOUS DUMPLINGS
4/21/2016
Page 7 of 8
BOILING POINT
Best Bargain Oaxacan Cuisine
EXPRESION OAXAQUEÑA
BEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
PASTRY SHOP
Best Soufflé
MAISON GIRAUD
Prettiest Restaurant
EVA RESTAURANT
Best Sommelier
CHRISTOPHER MILLER, SPAGO
Best Wine Program
TERRONI
Best Wines by the Glass
LUKSHON
Best Non-Fast Food Drive-Thru
SUNNY GRILL
Best Prepared Mole
RIVAS FOOD COMPANY'S MOLE
ROJO TELOLOAPAN
Best Hung-lay Curry
SPICY BBQ
Best Foodie Toy
LA TIENDITA'S CHEF KEY RINGS
Best New Restaurant
BÄCO MERCAT
Best Empanada
THE EMPANADA FACTORY
Best Trader Joe's Parking Lot
FAIRFAX TRADER JOE'S
Best Raw-Food Restaurant
CAFÉ GRATITUDE
Best Poutine
ANIMAL
Best Bakery
MILO & OLIVE
On a chic strip of shops near a leafy Sherman Oaks
neighborhood filled with film-industry types, Sweet
Butter is designed to feel as if you've stumbled into
a sidewalk pastry shop in Paris. Fleur de sel caramel
brownies, butter-rich croissants, bread pudding
with brioche (in coconut-lemon and chocolate
versions), cinnamon muffins filled with homemade
peach or strawberry jam, plum-lemon bars and
savory bacon-cheddar scones are churned out by
three in-house pastry chefs. Founder Leslie
Danelian, a former food stylist and longtime caterer,
keeps the charm factor high but the prices low:
Mouth-watering chocolate chip cookies are $2,
muffins and scones $2.75. The pastry items rotate,
so each day Sweet Butter's glass case is filled with
surprises. The French county–style restaurant offers
full breakfast and lunch menus, with items such as
grilled turkey, fig jam and bleu cheese sandwiches.
13824 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (818) 788-2832,
sweetbutterkitchen.com.
4/21/2016
Page 8 of 8
Best Kimchi
GRANNY CHOE'S KIMCHEE CO.
Best Pastry Shop
JOAN'S ON THIRD
Best Way to Drink Wine While Traveling 60
mph
—Jill Stewart
13824 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 91423
MAP
818-788-2832
sweetbutterkitchen.com
AMTRAK'S COAST STARLIGHT
Best Late-Night Eats
DU-PAR'S
MORE AWARDS
Best Garlic
WINDROSE FARM
Best Korean Restaurant for Partying
GAAM RESTAURANT AND
LOUNGE
Best Organic Greengrocer
COOKBOOK
Best Cooking Class
THE GOURMANDISE SCHOOL OF
SWEETS AND SAVORIES
SHOPPING & SERVICES
SPORTS & RECREATION
©2016 LA Weekly, LP. All rights reserved.
4/21/2016
8 things to know about L.A.'s Koreatown - CNN.com
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8 things to know about L.A.'s Koreatown
Besha Rodell, Special to CNN
 Updated 6:19 PM ET, Wed March 25, 2015
13 photos: The flavor of L.A.'s Koreatown
The flavor of L.A.'s Koreatown – Mae Uhn Tang (spicy fish stew) at Dong Il Jang restaurant in L
Koreatown. Anthony Bourdain visits the neighborhood in the new show "Parts Unknown."
1 of 13
4/21/2016
Page 2 of 4
Travel +
Story highlights
L.A.'s Koreatown is home to one of the city's
densest populations
Looking around, it feels like Asia, but the area
is also 100% L.A.
The neighborhood is home to Asians, Central
Americans, South Americans and more
Koreans are the largest group, but the
neighborhood is majority Latino
Live TVwinning
World-renowned chef, author and Emmy
television personality Anthony Bourdain visits Los
Angeles' Koreatown in the next episode of "Anthony
Bourdain: Parts Unknown," airing Sunday, April 21, at
9 p.m. ET. Follow the show on Twitter and
Facebook.
Los Angeles, California (CNN) — "Have you been
to Koreatown yet?" my friend asked eagerly over the
phone. It was my third week as a resident of Los
Angeles, and I could no longer claim the pure shock
of moving to a city so sprawling, so overwhelming,
as the reason I had yet to explore its most interesting
neighborhoods.
But I had to answer "no." In a city as vast as Los
Angeles, Koreatown seemed especially
impenetrable, a huge warren of restaurants,
markets, strip malls and residences. As much as I knew that it held a treasure trove of food, culture and
nightlife, I was intimidated to even get started.
Now, almost a year later, Koreatown is one of my favorite things about living in Los Angeles. It's like
having an entire other city within a city, a gloriously foreign one at that. There are places in Koreatown
where you look around and swear you are in Asia. And yet, it's also 100% Los Angeles: a strange,
sprawling melting pot full of hidden delights.
Here are eight things to know about Koreatown, things that I hope will help make discovering this
neighborhood a little less daunting.
15 things to do around Los Angeles
It's big

Related Video: Artist earns millions with
Facebook stock 00:10
Koreatown is west of downtown and south of
Hollywood and is considered part of the MidWilshire district. Its borders are somewhat
amorphous and have shifted over time, but the
neighborhood's generally accepted area is around
3 square miles and has one of the densest
populations in Los Angeles.
In the 1920s and '30s it was very much a swinging
spot for Hollywood celebrities, and was the
location of the Ambassador Hotel, which hosted
the Academy Awards in the '30s and '40s (and
was also the site of the Robert F. Kennedy
assassination). Though the Ambassador was torn
down in 2005, you can still see some remnants of
that old glamor in other buildings scattered among
the newer strip malls and construction.
The ever-changing flavor of L.A.'s Koreatown
4/21/2016
Page 3 of 4
Travel +

Related Video: Bourdain gets 'low-down'
in a lowrider 00:10

Related Video: Korean-American food
true to its roots 00:10
The neighborhood has seen turmoil
Live TV
Heavy Korean settlement in the area cemented the
neighborhood as Koreatown in the 1970s, when
many South Koreans immigrated to California. In
1992 Koreatown bore the brunt of much of the
violence and looting that happened during the L.A.
riots, and many Koreans fled to the suburbs after
the riots. But renewed development in the early
2000s, plus a new subway line with stations in the
neighborhood, led to a revitalization of the area.
Most of the residents are Latino
This is a tri-lingual neighborhood: Wherever you go,
you will hear Korean, Spanish and English, and
often times a mashup of all three. This blend of
cultures has led to some of L.A.'s most recognized
food, such as Roy Choi's Kogi tacos, the original
Korean taco truck. Choi, who is Korean but grew
up surrounded by L.A.'s Latino influences,
channels a completely authentic experience of
America's melting pot.
While L.A. has the nation's largest Korean
population and Koreans make up the largest
nationality in the neighborhood (22%, according to
demographic analysis) most of the residents of
Koreatown are Latino: 58%. But you can also find
Bangladeshi, Brazilian, Vietnamese, Pakistani and
all manner of South American residents,
businesses and eateries in the area.
Koreatown never sleeps
Twenty-four-hour restaurants are just the beginning. Koreatown is home to more nightlife than many
other entire cities can claim, from dive bars to high-end cocktail speakeasies, from karaoke clubs to
establishments that must be a business of some sort, on the second level of a strip mall with a sign in
Korean and people coming and going at 4 a.m. There's a lot of mystery here, but also a lot on full
display.
A few spots to get you started: In the dive bar category there's Hangover bar (3377 Wilshire Blvd.) with
all you can drink beer and soju for $21.99. Lock & Key (239 S. Vermont Ave.) is a new speakeasy where
you have to try different doorknobs from the foyer to get in. Inside, it's all Korea meets 1920s Hollywood
glam. The tucked-away spot is fronted by Stall 239, a walk-up restaurant serving international snacks
late.
Koreatown is said to have the highest concentration of restaurants and nightclubs in Southern
California. My Koreatown nightlife of choice? Karaoke. Most karaoke clubs here have private rooms, so
you and your friends can sing your hearts out without having to deal with a bunch of drunk strangers'
off-key wailings. Try Palm Tree L.A. (3240 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 401), a swank club with private rooms
and songs in Korean, Japanese and English.
4/21/2016
Page 4 of 4
If strangers' off-key wailings is what you're in the mood for, you can hit up Brass Monkey (3440 Wilshire
+
Travel
Live TV
Blvd.), a more
American
karaoke dive bar that's good for sloppy fun.
There is a LOT of good food here
Koreatown is home to some of the country's best Korean barbecue (check out Park's and Genwa for
high quality meat as well as fantastic banchan, or small side dishes served with rice), but there's so, so
much more to explore.
Soup, porridge, raw fish salads, stews -- every Korean specialty you can imagine exists in this
neighborhood. It's hard to even begin to list favorites -- every Angeleno has a Koreatown hole in the wall
they want to rave to you about. The fun is in getting out there and finding your own personal must-try
dish.
Korean food isn't all that's on the menu
Koreatown is home to more than just Korean -- for instance, Guelaguetza, one of the city's best
Mexican restaurants, lives in the heart of Koreatown. Expect amazing moles, live music on weekends, a
ton of families sharing huge platters of grilled meats, and fun fruity tropical mezcal cocktails.
Beer Belly, a newer craft beer bar, finds its home in an odd building behind one of Koreatown's strip
malls and serves killer bar food along with one of the best beer selections in the city. And the rest of the
neighborhood's diverse population means tremendous eateries are tucked throughout.
For more on the neighborhood's food, check out some of Anthony Bourdain's recent culinary stops in
the gallery above and tune in for "Parts Unknown" on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.
$15 spa day? Yes, please
Korean spas are a lovely and affordable way to pamper yourself, and Koreatown has a whole slew of
options. Natura Spa offers an all day pass for $15, which gains you access to the saunas, steam rooms,
hot tubs and cold pool, with extra options like body scrubs available. Wi Spa is open 24 hours and has a
kid's area as well as a mud spa. Korean spas generally have Korean cafes within, and many of those
serve really great food, making them perfect all-day immersions.
Stinky, spicy souvenirs abound
There are some amazing kimchi purveyors in Koreatown, stores that sell jars of fermented cabbage and
other delicious banchan. Seek out artisan producers like the folks at Kaesung Market (1010 S. St.
Andrews Place) where owners have been making kimchi for 35 years.
Besha Rodell moved to L.A. in May 2012 to become the lead restaurant critic for L.A. Weekly. She
has previously lived in (and written about) Atlanta, North Carolina, New York and Melbourne,
Australia. You can read her weekly reviews of L.A. restaurants and daily musings on the food world
at laweekly.com/restaurants.
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Best New Bars No. 10: Beer Belly - Los Angeles Magazine
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Best New Bars No. 10: Beer Belly
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July 1, 2012
Los Angeles Magazine
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4/21/2016
Best New Bars No. 10: Beer Belly - Los Angeles Magazine
Page 2 of 2
•
The bites from chef Wes Lieberher are such a draw that Beer Belly skirts the line
between drinking establishment and restaurant. Beer lovers-turned-entrepreneurs Jimmy
and Yume Han focus on quality, not quantity, with their frequently rotating selection of
rare and specialty kegs. The “bar” has just a few stools, but the tables are open to drinkers
as well—if you can land a seat. Good tip: Log into the bar’s wireless system and control
the music from your smart phone. » 532 S. Western Ave.
TAGS: 2012, JULY 2012
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Koreatown’s suddenly famous beer joint is shaking up L.A.’s culinary scene. Oh, and the fries are
awesome.
It’s 9:30 on Sunday morning, and Jimmy Han quickly sweeps the black concrete floors, stopping
only to wipe away beads of sweat: Last night was Beer Belly’s biggest night ever, and he has a
pretty good guess at what drew the crowd. “Yesterday was National French Fry Day,” he smiles.
Not exactly a bank holiday, but still, famed Los Angeles food critic Jonathan Gold included Beer
Belly’s Death by Duck Fries on a list of five L.A. dishes for the occasion. Even in the quiet, sunny
morning, it’s easy to imagine this casually cool wood- and metal-clad space—a converted tire
shop—buzzing with fry-crazed foodies, mmm-ing over metal pails of crisp strings, topped with
crispy duck-skin cracklins and smothered in duck confit, before sliding them through a thick berry
condiment, a sweet counterpart to savory perfection.
4/21/2016
Page 3 of 12
The man behind the fries, Chef Wes Lieberher, saunters in, double-fisting Powerade and water; he
greets Han and heads to the kitchen. He’s tired, too. For both, the banner night was the sum of a
two-year whirlwind that’s landed Beer Belly atop restaurant lists, earned critics’ favor and even
captured national airtime on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”
Beer Belly’s skyrocket was entirely unexpected; Han says its popularity was the biggest surprise he
encountered opening his first restaurant. It’s the sort of statement that might bristle veteran
restaurateurs; after all, Beer Belly was his first brush with the food world.
A Koreatown native and a real estate guy with a thing for craft beer, Han wanted to turn his hobby
(cracking open bottles and drinking along with online reviews, eventually collecting hard-to-find
vintages and joining The Bruery’s rare-beer Reserve Society) into a new path. His vision was just a
small mom-and-pop beer bar in his otherwise brew-vacant neighborhood—a family business with
his wife that would support them and his infant daughter. Above all, it had to be affordable, not
only to suit the area, but to be as recession-proof as possible. “The Korean culture is very ‘work
hard, play hard,’ so there are a lot of places open late at night, a lot of karaoke bars, a lot of clubs.
People in Koreatown love to eat and drink, so there’s a nice mini-economy of nightlife.”
He’d find a new after-hours niche with the beer angle, and, determined to be “hyper-local,” turn his
taps over to Los Angeles breweries. “Two years ago, I wasn’t sure I could fill up 12 taps with local
brews,” he says. But while Beer Belly took flight, so did beer in Los Angeles. “Now there are so
many breweries, I basically have everyone on a two-week rotation.” SoCal taps from Eagle Rock,
Haven and Smog City are regulars, and the cellar list holds gems like a 2006 Pike Old Bawdy
Barleywine.
A foodie in his own right, Han met Lieberher at an L.A. sausage company (“Jimmy was my best
customer,” Lieberher remembers). Han invited him to see Beer Belly, and when the young chef
dropped by a week before the opening, he found Han in the kitchen rolling meatballs. “He said, ‘My
chef didn’t show up.’ I told him I would help make him a menu, and he could see if he liked it.”
Lieberher’s classically trained in a hard-knocks sort of way: He learned the ropes in the humming
kitchen of a family Italian restaurant in Philadelphia, later landing a sous chef (then executive chef)
position plating upscale French cuisine for the white tablecloth set. There, he honed his skill with
duck, now a Beer Belly motif from those duck-topped fries to the melty Duck French Dip. He also
learned to cook with wine, a precursor to deftly splashing beer in his dishes. The sausage shop
brought him to L.A., but it’s Beer Belly that’s keeping him here: “I’ve accepted that here I’ve found
my niche in food,” Lieberher says.
4/21/2016
Page 4 of 12
That niche is a divine brand of beer-friendly comfort cuisine, and in a city known for “skinny,”
Lieberher embraces the literal beer belly with fly-in-the-face-of-fitness indulgences. After all, who
could resist a four-layered grilled cheese sandwich, warm Cheddar, Asiago, Gruyere and goat
cheese oozing over crisp, smoky bacon; the lightly toasted, buttery bread still crisp against a thick
drizzle of maple syrup? The oft-overrated gourmand mac and cheese is also a revelation here:
Skillet-served and shareworthy, each heavy forkful of Fontina, Provolone and gooey basil beer
whiz gets a crisp lift from bacon breadcrumb sprinkles and a sweet honey swirl. Lieberher is
masterful with beer as an ingredient, from simple statements like a witbier-battered fish to
expressive octopus in a brew-infused twist on a Bordelaise sauce. His falls-off-the-bone short rib
soaks in Eagle Rock Solidarity for hours; the black English mild stands as the neutral background to
deep-hued, tender slow-cooked meat; spicy chipotle snaps it into the moment. “It’s fascinating how
much you can do with beer,” he says. “It’s probably the coolest ingredient I’ve ever come across.”
In spring, the restaurant’s beer got a few cool ingredients of its own. Patrick Rue, founder of
Orange County’s The Bruery collaborated with Han on an anniversary beer, FUBRue (For Us, by
Rue). The two scouted neighborhood Korean markets for inspiration, eventually landing on black
sesame seeds, jujubes and azuki red beans; Rue brewed the beer and blended it with his own Oude
Tart, a sour Flanders red ale. Han calls it a Korean-American brew, noting the fruity notes from the
red beans and touch of toast from the sesame seeds easily married the sour. It’s just another
success that’ll keep the world buzzing about Beer Belly. •
(http://draftmag.com/recipes/detail/290)
Beer & Chipotle Braised Short Rib with Cheddar Puff Pastry
(http://draftmag.com/recipes/detail/290)
L.A.'s Beer Belly tops cheesy pastry with ultratender spicy short rib.
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Figueroa Mountain Davy Brown Ale
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