THE SECOND LOCATION of Ye Olde King’s Head in Studio City has been open a few months now and is well on its way to establishing itself as a favorite watering watering hole for expat Brits and Valley dwellers alike.
My better half and I stopped in one Sunday night recently for a bite and a drink and found the place to be well up to the standards of the Santa Monica original, which has been an institution among the local British community almost from the day it opened its doors in 1973.
The decor has plenty to remind you of its older sibling, so to speak, with British pub decor, Union Jacks and pub signage aplenty, although there’s more than a nod to the modern sports bar too, with plenty of big screen TVs for sports fans. The greeting and service could not have been friendlier, with hostess Zoey and our waitress, Nikita, a charming young lass from Bournemouth , taking good care of us.
I’ve always loved a Sunday roast, (which the pub serves every weekend) so I opted for the roast lamb, which came with roast potatoes, yorkshire pud (which stood up far better than mine do), and a very tasty rutabaga/carrot mix. And of course gravy and mint sauce. My wife had shepherd’s pie, with lovely tender beef topped with fluffy potatoes and served with carrots, broccoli and a rich gravy. In the interests of research I also ordered a pint of Old Speckled Hen while the missus downed a Hoegaarden with such relish she could almost be British (she was actually born in Canoga Park). There’s a good selection of British and American beers here, but drink driving laws being what they are, we restricted ourselves (regretfully) to just the one each.
Needless to say we were both pretty full but we allowed ourselves to be persuaded by Nikita to share a sinfully good sticky toffee pudding, which set us up nicely for the drive back across the hill to the beach.
Other British favorites on the menu include their famous fish and chips, which, three decades on, still set the standard in Southern California, as well as a ‘proper’ Mixed Grill (according to my sources) Brum Fish Cakes, Bangers and Mash, Steak & Kidney Pie and traditional Chicken Curry. Entrees range from $14 to about $20 and the place also serves a classic, full monty British breakfast at $12.95 that I must try next time I’m in the Valley for an early soccer game.
To sum up, King’s Head II has got the same great recipe – food wise, drinks wise and every-other-wise as the Santa Monica original, and it’s a great new addition to the local British expat scene.
I’ll see you at the bar….
– Nick Stark
Ye Olde King’s Head II, 12969 Ventura Blvd., (between Fulton and Coldwater Canyon) Studio City, CA 91604. Call (818) 990-9055.
[adrotate group=”8″]
