Father's Office

Father's OfficeFather's Office
Father's OfficeFather's Office
Bar, Eatery

3229 Helms Ave
Los Angeles, California, 90034-3209
United States

(310) 736-2224 | map
fathersoffice.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.27
Reviews:
33
Ratings:
62
pDev:
8.67%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Craftcutta:
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Rated by Craftcutta

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

Jun 16, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of mrcraft
Reviewed by mrcraft from California

4.32/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
This Father's Office is located in Helms Bakery District in Culver City. It was once the home of Helms Bakery but now is a collection of stores and eateries.

It's been a very long time since I visited the Santa Monica location, but this place seems larger albeit "skinny" in design. There's a long bar with plenty of tables inside and outside on the patio. The interior was well done. The tap list is quite extensive. I had a glass of Russian River Perdition.

It's only a block away from the Culver City Blue Expo line so that's a plus. This is a quality craft beer establishment to visit regardless if you're a local or a visitor. Cool place.
Nov 24, 2018
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Reviewed by West_Chester_Ale_Tester from Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Get the burger. The one everyone talks about. It's worth it. Don't over think it. It's what you came for. The beer selection is pretty killer as well. Pair one with the burger that you came for.
Nov 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4.66 by santig0nzalez from Paraguay

Oct 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.31 by GreesyFizeek from New York

Jan 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.54 by Studfarm69 from California

Jul 07, 2016
Photo of FBGordon
Reviewed by FBGordon from Oregon

4.06/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Had their famous burger and enjoyed some amazing beers including one of my favorite from out West, Big Sky Moose Drool. This was a bit of a bright spot during my trip to L.A. Definitely worth swinging through for both food and craft beer selection.
Jun 03, 2016
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Reviewed by rex_4539 from Greece

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Pros: Best burgers I have ever tasted and big selection of beers.

Cons: Overcrowded and bad service.

Still, this is the no1 place to visit when in LA.
Apr 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.11 by adamranders from Wisconsin

Nov 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.26 by Mista_Carta from California

Aug 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by DerekE4750 from New York

Jul 29, 2015
Photo of nathanmiller
Reviewed by nathanmiller from New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3
Great selection but very high prices. My friends assure me the food used to be top-notch but honestly I wasn't much impressed by it. That said, service (bar only) was friendly and knowledgeable and drinks were good.
Jul 15, 2015
Photo of JohnCassillo
Reviewed by JohnCassillo from California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
Along with one of the city's best burgers, Father's Office (Santa Monica location) is simply one of the city's best beer bars too. Great local beer selection, great food and knowledgeable staff cancel out the fairly small confines -- which you'll gladly embrace within minutes. If you're in L.A., it's a must-stop (and proximity to Santa Monica State Beach doesn't hurt either).
Jul 06, 2015
Photo of blues_fever
Rated by blues_fever from California

5/5  rDev +17.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
The burger is world class and the selection is amazing as well.
Jun 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by Keananmichael5 from California

Apr 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by Cynic-ale from Texas

Feb 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.36 by Stevedore from Oregon

Dec 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.56 by LADaveBN from California

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by crob3888 from California

Nov 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by DCLAguy11 from California

Nov 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by ralphw56 from Nevada

Nov 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by wethorseblanket from California

Oct 05, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by dmquinn from California

Sep 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by poormishi from Illinois

Sep 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by belm001 from California

Jul 23, 2014
Photo of amano_h
Reviewed by amano_h from Oregon

4.85/5  rDev +13.6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Labels and hype are probably the worst things that can happen to a restaurant and it was indeed what initially stirred me away from this establishment.

My friend introduced this place to me as a "gourmet burger" place, and asked me if I was into "gourmet burgers." Having been displaced to the east coast where every restaurant seems to market or label their flagship burgers as "gourmet" Father's Office's initial appeal was a little... underwhelming. He also finished his introduction by saying that the place also had a good selection of craft beer, so I figured it couldn't hurt just stopping by for a quick drink.

It wasn't really long until I figured out why this establishment is called "Father's Office." Remember being 12 years old and sneaking into your dad's study because you were strictly forbidden from entering, and the moment you entered everything was so mystical and wondrous because they were all so new to you and everything seemed to have a sense of majesty to it? And then twelve years later after you grew up, you'd revel in joy and nostalgia because you found a shop that sells that really expensive pen that your dad used to use, or the crystal decanter that he'd pour his whisky into while smoking out of his mahogany pipe?

Well, me neither.

But if I did have such memories, Father's Office would be a spot-on reification of such an experience. If I'm not mistaken, Chef Sang Yoon's vision for his restaurant is, like the proverbial Father's Office, is to discreetly educate and introduce the public to his idea of fine dining and there are many clues at his establishment that stand as a testament to this vision. His rotating and expansive draft collection, while it houses your everyday favorites, also includes among the finest of America's microbrews, starting from California's Pliny the Elder to Maine's Allagash White. The Scotch at this joint, while at first glance simply house familiar everyday brands such as your Laphroaigs and Macallans, upon second glance you'll notice that all the scotch being served at this establishment is from INDEPENDENT BOTTLERS and most of them are CASK STRENGTH. Upon third glance you may also notice that they carry an Independent Bottling of 1982 PORT ELLEN, albeit for 50 dollars a glass, and if you're an avid Scotch drinker like myself you would probably stop reading this review at this point and book your next flight to L.A.

A great place for bite, an even better place for a drink.
Jul 15, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Bramsigman from California

Jun 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by rollncalguy78 from California

May 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by portia99 from Massachusetts

Apr 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by jsunj from California

Apr 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Bnoise11 from California

Apr 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by powerlaces from California

Apr 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by ubiq3000 from California

Mar 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by chaint from California

Mar 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by hoppymcgee from Maine

Feb 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by GRG1313 from California

Nov 02, 2013
Photo of GentlemanQuan27
Reviewed by GentlemanQuan27 from California

4.14/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
As I said in the last review, the same type of atmosphere. If you LLLOOOVVVEEE beer or wine like me, you need to be there. I am telling you. This place is one of those places where you feel exclusive and intimate at the same damn time. I love their burger and fries
Oct 08, 2013
Photo of VegasBill
Reviewed by VegasBill from Nevada

3.6/5  rDev -15.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 2
On the site of what once was Helm's Bakery is Fathers Office II. Back in the day Helm's was the baking Co. for L.A. The site has been wonderfully restored into shops and restaurants.
When I arrived here I sat at the bar, something I would later regret, it was not busy, like two other people at the bar. No RR brews so I tried the Craftsman 1903, a very nice brew on a warm day, and I ordered the famous Fathers Office burger. I soon realized this is a order at the bar type of operation, and by the time I left there were people on both sides of me ordering and they were even handing menus over my head to people behind me. Now I dont question the dozens of reviews that say the burger was two things, big and jucy. I dont know what they served me but mine was not neither big or jucy, I ordered it medium and it was dry and mostly tasteless. I asked for mustard, I like mustard instead of ketchup and they dont have it and no ketchup either.
So let me finish, and I hope my review does not get removed, but if a restaurant serves burgers and fries and they dont have mustard or ketchup that restaurant sucks!!
Oct 02, 2011
Photo of blincoln
Reviewed by blincoln from California

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Just went here for the first time tonight. Its got a gastro pub atmosphere - order everything at the bar and find a seat to wait for your food. There are no waiters, but the bartenders are really friendly and helpful. They also seem to have a decent knowledge of beers with a pretty good selection to back them up.

The beer menu by coincidence had a number of my favorite micro-breweries - Unibroue, Allagash...just to name a few.

The food is great - although you can't change anything (my girlfriend didn't want the blue cheese on her burger, but the chef sticks with what he's made and doesn't waver). They also won't give you anything other than what comes with your food - we were denied ketchup for our fries. But, that being said my food was pretty amazing so I'll give it to the chef - You know what you're doing.

I'd definitely give them a go if you want a nice relaxing night at a trendy spot with a pretty decent selection of beers.
Sep 26, 2011
Photo of jgasparine
Reviewed by jgasparine from Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Atmosphere- The place hosts an array of patrons from white hairs to young bloods. The decor is rich with wood. People are friendly. A nice bar to be in, and it gets more fun as the night wears-on.

Quality- Appropriate glassware is used to serve all beers. Draught lines seem to be clean. The barspace itself was well-kept, and overall this place exhibited good quality.

Service- The service was very good... I mean the waitstaff and bartenders were very good... but certain policies out of their control force me to give a lower Service rating... like not being able to order a burger without onions or bacon... yes, you are not allowed to request any alterations to the Fathers Office burger... lame... Other than that, the waitstaff and bartenders were quite knowledgeable about their product and quite prompt with service.

Selection- With 36 taps and a couple dozen bottles, none of which are macro-brews, the selection is impressive... despite its low quantity of beers to choose from.

Food- My steak tasted great, but the meat was a little tough

Overall- I would definitely return here!
Jul 31, 2011
Father's Office in Los Angeles, CA
Place rating: 4.27 out of 5 with 62 ratings