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Culinary Connection
YD's Sports Bar & Grill
By Staff Writer
Yankee Doodles is the place everyone should know about in the Valley. When you walk in, you can tell it's the ultimate sports bar, as there are dozens (over 35) of flat screen TVs on the walls throughout the site.
Fabian Bartolini knows all there is to know about Yankee Doodle's. Bartolini was partners in both the Santa Monica Yankee Doodle's (for 15 years) and the Woodland Hills Yankee Doodle's (for 12 years). Bartolini has been patiently and carefully waiting for the right opportunity to open another sports bar in the West Valley.
The Stargazer in West Hills was operated as a banquet hall with a Chinese buffet during lunch hours. Stargazer, however, was in need of rescue. Bartolini approached the owners of the Stargazer about partnering up and transforming the facility into a sports bar.
A deal was struck and in 30 days Bartolini and his team made a series of mostly cosmetic and technological changes to the facility to convert it from a banquet hall and Chinese buffet into what they confidently hope will become "West Hills' #1 Sports Bar and Grill."
Some highlights of Yankee Doodle's:
Over 35 LCD TVs and 4 Big Screens for watching every sports game imaginable (amazing electronic system that lets them independently control the HD programming on each and every TV - no expense spared)
All Sports Packages - NFL, NHL, NBA, etc. as well as ALL PPV FIGHTS and even , WWE, UFC, and Mexican Soccer
Upscale Location, Yet Affordable Food and Drinks ("Cheaper than 'The Rack')
American, Italian, Mexican Fused Menu
NTN Trivia (Only place in the San Fernando Valley with NTN!)
Happy Hour 4 to 7pm - 7 days a week - Half Price Appetizers and Tons of Drink Specials
Late Night Happy Hour - 10pm to Close (Food Specials Only)
DJ Dancing (huge dance floor) Thurs, Fri, Sat 9pm to close (2am)
Karaoke Tuesdays & Fridays 5pm to 9pm
Ample night time security, tons of parking, and valet parking coming soon on Thurs, Fri, & Sat nights Games.
Fabian prides himself on the diverse customer base that he hopes to attract with Yankee Doodle's, from the suit and tie Warner Center crowd to just about every type of neighborhood local sports fan you could imagine. The 10,000 square foot facility is also still available for banquets, special events, and parties.
In addition, the food is delicious.
Yankee Doodle's Sports Bar and Grill is located at 6501 Fallbrook Avenue, West Hills, CA. Their phone number is (818) 704-6633.
Townhouse Kitchen & Bar
Hidden Location Becomes "The" Location
By Gerry Furth-Sides
Hidden away Townhouse Kitchen & Bar sits snugly behind the massive walls of Sherman Oaks Galleria. But once you walk in the door of the airy, completely open box of a 7,000-square-foot restaurant with its metal glass frame, you have arrived at a warm and inviting party. Where else can you find an afternoon Happy Hour plus a Reverse Happy hour that from 11pm to 2 am?
Floor-to-ceiling windows replace front walls of the former Macaroni Grill, wrapping the Townhouse in glass, creating an inside out energy extending to a patio that seats 40.
Wood, stone and tile dominate the stylish Townhouse interior with elements of sturdy distressed concrete and brick walls, mosaic tiling, and slate floors. The design is just so, so smart. A rounded granite-topped bar is smack, center-stage in the middle of the room seats 250. Tables surround the bar and large, comfy leather banquets surround them, hugging the walls ringing the room. The 14-flat screen TVs hung high through the room are not noticeable unless you are watching them.
It totally works with everyone able to look out on the happily buzzing, diverse crowd of large birthday party tables, families, date couples, pairs and a full bar filling the room by 7 pm.
Diagonally across from the front door, cooks happily bustle about an open kitchen, separated from the main floorshow by an openwork wood latticework. This is a kitchen with casual dishes, not a "foodie' destination. But the generously portioned dishes are tasty, appealing and most have an added fun twist to them. Local, organic products and house-made ingredients are evident in the affordable selection of small plates, salads, sandwiches, and entrées.
Each dish is perfect for pairing with a glass of wine, one of the 30 beers on tap, or a handcrafted signature cocktail. Many of them star fresh fruit that lingers on the taste buds after the drink is gone, so fresh my companion asked for ice tea to pour over the fruit left from a luscious monitor berry mojito made with Bacardi razz, fresh raspberries and blackberries, mint leaves, fresh lime, pure cane syrup and sugarcane
Stick. The Fire and Ice Martini (absolut ruby red vodka, jalapeño, fresh lemon, jalapeño slice) makes all traffic problems fade with a kick, but such a smooth kick.
Manager Chris's concise, thoughtful list of inexpensive, quality boutique label wines by the glass that include selections from the best California producers ($6-12). Over 30 beers are on tap, including regional brews such as Stone's Levitation ($6) or Karl Strauss's Woodie Golden Ale ($5).
The "back to basics" all-purpose eclectic California fare menu starts with a base of flatbreads, "Two-Handed" sandwiches, entrées, salads, small plates and daily specials, many with Signature dish potential.
We were even more pleased with the suggested dishes than our own choices, first with The Roasted Red Pepper Hummus ($7.99), rustic-rich and thick, served with a little olive salad and The satisfying Thai Beef Salad (11.99) filled with cucumber, pea shoots, almonds, mint, basil, cilantro, lemon grass soy vinaigrette.
The Lobster Cake, Pork Belly, Angry Shrimp (a wow), and Apple Wood Smoked Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders ($8.99-9.99) are stuffed into larger-than-usual buns, each with pizzazz, totally opposite to the original concept of a White Castle miniscule burger "sliding down the throat."
When we mentioned that The Grilled Skirt Steak ($17.99) would be even better topped with more chimichurri, and the Cobb Salad with less dressing, the server attentively said he would relay this to the chef, mentioning that they had recently changed it to suit customer taste.
And watch out for the "Happy Ending" desserts. The decadent sampler "trio" of Chocolate Cake Bites, the Blondie (a bit dry)-tini Sundae, and Fresh Berries with Crème Anglaise ($3.99 each or$10 for the trio), are so large they must have been designed for Paul Bunyan.
When smart, experienced, dedicated people put together a restaurant it appears to run effortlessly, here starting with congenial Manager Chris LaCava, and here the intelligent yet easy service alone marks it as a "must-go." Add a fun vibe, inventive and tasty drinks and food, and TOWNHOUSE Kitchen & Bar has all the makings of a standard for years to come.
TOWNHOUSE Kitchen & Bar (15301 Ventura Blvd. in the Sherman Oaks Galleria, 818.453.9900 or visit www.restaurants-america.com and Facebook. Open daily for lunch, dinner, cocktails Mon-Sat (11 a.m.-2 a.m.), Sun (11 a.m.-midnight). Kitchen & Bar Happy Hours (Mon-Fri, 4-7 pm); Reverse Happy Hour (11 pm to close) featuring specially priced bar menu.
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