BOA uncoils fun and tasty treats almost every Friday night when in Los Angeles.
We head to BOA for Happy Hour and usually spend the evening hanging with our lovely friend who we met when we first starting splitting time between Santa Monica and Manhattan. She makes a killer martini ($11-16), shaken not stirred, with my all time fav vodka, Chopin.
BOA has great jumbo green olives stuffed with blue cheese. It is so much fun to watch the bar backs use a pastry cone to filler up…life is all about the little pleasures!
We usually start with oysters. They feature them from both the east and west coast. I discovered recently how delish Maryland oysters are. They are market price and usually run about $3 a piece.
Friday night we tried a new item off of the Happy Hour menu (5:30-7pm) which features BOA burger sliders with camembert, crispy onions on a brioche roll ($10), house spiced nuts ($4), olives and white bean hummus ($9), seasoned herb fries ($7) and our selection, cobb guacamole and chips ($9).
The veggies were fresh and guacamole tasty, just needed a pinch of salt and pepper which was easy to apply because they have bacon flavored salt and fresh ground pepper on the bar. I love their cabernet sauvignon Beckstoffer Est ’75 California. It does down so smoothly with a beautiful finish ($16).
Frequently, we order the wedge with chilled iceberg lettuce, bacon, blue cheese, vine ripened tomatoes and basil with a side of Shaft blue cheese dressing.. This week we selected the classic caesar salad that is prepared table-side with anchovies, parmesan, tabasco and spicy mustard ($15). As always, it is perfectly chilled and tangy.
My husband does not eat meat so I have to live vicariously through fellow barmates. An attractive commercial realtor ordered a center cut filet mignon ($46) and allowed me to photograph it…rumor has it that is was fabulous.
Also on the menu, NY strip, bone-in ribeye, porterhouse, Japanese wagyu, a darn good hamburger, lamb t-bone and organic chicken. Seafood and fish are also abundant with rubs, crusts and sauces a plenty.
We split a main couse of ahi tuna ($32). As always, it was cooked to perfection and very flavorful. Everything comes on the side at BOA…nothing for free so we selected whipped mashed with sour cream and chives ($10). I love their grilled jumbo asparagus ($12) because they are fresh, meaty and huge…just like I like my sides. They are definitely farm to table.
The dessert of the moment is the freshly baked chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies with vanilla ice cream. Gooey and decadent.
I have met many interesting people at the bar and some real losers. I have learned invaluable lessons such as most people are lousy tippers. A guy, dressed in Armani, ordered 2 drinks that totaled $33 and left a $4 tip. The biggest loser was $100 drink order and a $2 tip. They demand fast delivery and perfection from the bartenders and then stiff them.
The bartenders are all superb. Scott handles all the table orders and works at mach speed. Carl and Derrick are top notch as well, but no one compares to my bud…she is classy, smart, beautiful and a damn good bartender.
BOA Santa Monica has a sophisticated, metropolitan feel. We have never sat in the actual restaurant. The patio, with an ocean view, would usually be at the top of my list, but at BOA I am a bar fly and that’s the truth…reminds me of several road trips I navigated to promote TJ Burnett’s album and another crazy adventure publicizing Charles Bukowski’s poems and short stories… all the interviews were conducted at the local bars.
Give BOA Santa Monica a try…it’s a lot less schticky than BOA in West Hollywood, great food abounds and the drinks are stellar. We seem to experience ground hog day every Friday…almost like a throwback to my favorite Thursday night college hangout.
BOA Steakhouse 101 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica, California. Reservations accepted. Valet parking discounted with validation. Open every day for lunch and dinner. Dinner starts at 5:30pm. boasteak.com. Other restaurants in the group are such notables as: RivaBella, Sushi Roku, Katana and Robata Bar.
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I love your Tuesday restaurant reviews.. Why don’t you remind your readers that Tuesday is restaurant review day!
Paula
So glad you enjoy Tantalizing Tuesday’s! I do remind and shall remind! We have to get you on Twitter and Instagram so you see my reminders.