spicy potato taquitos

I recently checked out the new but already super popular Everson Royce Bar (ERB) Once you locate it (across from Tony’s Saloon and next door to the new DTLA location of Silver Lake Wine), you enter through an orange door to a narrow bar. It’s very spacious though—- that is when they open. It soon gets crowded with locals and those seeking a bite and a drink from a busy work day.

Service is very nice and generous. The host helped me locate two bar stools together and I settled down at the end of a long beautiful bar. I spent a long time admiring the back bar.

We decided on bar snacks and got the spicy potato taquitos to start. They weren’t kidding around with the spice level on these. I started picking out bits of cheese to calm my inflamed mouth.

Paper Plane

I always like a mix of classic and neo-classic cocktails on a list. I got the Paper Plane which is a neo-classic. The bourbon is pals with a couple of different amari including Aperol which I think is highlighted very well in this drink. It’s a great opening drink to go with the flavorful food.

Paper Plane– bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, lemon

BBQ chicken thighs

When you decide on snack at the bar rather than dinner, it’s hard not to order more than a couple of items. However I knew I wanted to get the BBQ chicken thighs (which was really just one thigh cut up into a couple of pieces). It’s savory, smokey and very juicy.

Havana Special

For a refreshing drink, try the Havana Special which sounds like a dream with dry cherry liqueur which I suspect this is maraschino but is explained as cherry so people don’t ask what maraschino is. This drink wasn’t too sweet and so you can have a couple of these without feeling like you have to visit the dentist to absolve your sugary sins.

Havana Special – rum, lime, pineapple, dry cherry liqueur

ERB burger

Much has been said about the ERB burger with some proclaiming it to be the best in the city. I was initially swayed in ordering the cabbage chorizo burger but decided I had to try the simple meat-cheese-bun. The salty cheese, the fluffy bun, yes I can see why people like this single patty burger.

Fancy Free

I always love a good bourbon cocktail. Here the maraschino is showcased in this simple stirred cocktail.

Fancy Free – bourbon, dry cherry, Angostura bitters, orange bitters

Bartender’s Special- BBS came with a pal

For my last drink, I asked the bartender for a Manhattan style (brown, bitter, stirred) and he came through with a delicious one. Plus I loved that it came with a sidecar (that’s lower case S, which means the extra bit is poured as a shot for the guest and not Sidecar which is a drink).

When the weather warms up, I see the back patio is going to be a very popular hang out spot.

Everson Royce Bar (ERB)

Filed under: booze, cocktalian, food, foodie alert, great cocktails, hot bartenders, minty life, restaurant reviews Tagged: arts district dtla, bar food, bar menu, cocktails, downtown los angeles, drinkwire, dtla, erb, everson royce bar, la cocktails, the minty