If I had to pick a place to eat near the 3rd street Promenade, it would be The Independence Tavern. Replacing Buddha's Belly on the corner of 2nd and Broadway, the Independence is a welcoming, casual, yet cool place to meet up with friends over great food and great drinks.
Chef Tom Block helms the kitchen and creates beautiful dishes like grilled octopus with pickled chili, an addicting blue crab and shrimp ceviche, or a rack of lamb with Thai red curry rub. The Independence showcases creative thoughtfulness and is more than the burgers and fries you expect at a gastropub; although they make an ambitious angus burger with french onion soup onions, gruyere, and herb aioli.
The crowd is mixed with visitors, locals, and professionals on their lunch break. At night it gets loud, lively, and energetic. The head barman, Vincenzo Marianella, who also works for the sister location just a few doors down at Copa D'Oro, mixes incredible drinks named after local places in LA like the Sawtelle, Ocean Park, and Laurel Canyon. Vincenzo's warm and welcoming personality and ability to create amazing drinks, gives you a great reason to visit The Independence. While that may get you through the door, you'll be sure to stay because of the outstanding food.
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| Grilled octopus with smoked white beans, grapes, celery, pickled chili. |
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| Roast Mary's chicken with black beluga lentils, leg confit, guanciale, broccoli di ciccio. |
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| Venison ragu, house made pappardelle with marsala, truffle, pecorino. |
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| Smoked whitefish toast with pickled shallot, apple, fried capers, radish, and cilantro flowers. |
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| Wolfskill - Bourbon, Mezcal, rhubarb liqueur, elderflower liqueur, and Jerry Thomas Bitters. The Independence 205 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401 |
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