Father's Office - Santa Monica, CA Review

I have been temporarily living in So Cal for the past 6 weeks, looking for an East Coast type of bar. Father's Office (or FO as everyone there refers to it as) was recommended to me by a local. Hands down the BEST burger and fries I have had. They make them up their way with caramelized onions, bacon, a bit of gruyere and blue cheese,  excellent angus beef topped with arugula and a sourdough roll. You can get either sweet potato fries or regular fries but they are freshly cut.

But it is tough love there-- no subs, no removals-- the burger and other menu items are what they are. You can order how you want the meat cooked but that is it. No ketchup, mustard, mayo or relish. Not even for fries. Their attitude is that they know there burger is good, as long as you don't mess it up. I kind of appreciate that commit to something-- we will stand by it but we have to do it our way. And it is GOOD their way-- get past the description for the combo is fine. And it is ok that there is no red stuff for the fries, their garlic aioli rocks for both types of fries.

They have about 15 beers on tap, ranging from a porter to a belgium (East Coasters note, they serve Allagash) plus about 10 different wines. You have to order both food and drink at the bar (which is small, I have seen kitchen counter-tops bigger than this) and they bring out your food. You pick up the drinks at the bar. Completely laid back staff, though, and friendly, just very busy.

It is a small bar, may be 15 stools and 15 small tables. As a result, it gets packed by 8 pm. and people are eyeing you for a table. But no one is rude about it if you want to hang out. Everyone hangs around all over the place, in the aisles around the doors, but it works.

It is on Montana Ave, in Santa Monica, which is popular road, and b/t 10th and 11th as cross streets. You need to street park which can be hard. If you are driving to find it, look up-- their sign is above the restaurant, old school diner style with an arrow. Funny, but the bar inside is quite nice and modern with light wood.