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Do people these days not even know what nightlife is?
That was the only question I asked myself after two visits to rapper and record producer Andy’s new jazz and R&B club in West Hollywood. The celebrity-owned restaurant, bar and performance space opened in late September, taking over the ground floor of the former Doheny Room. The project, which replaces the short-lived Sa’Moto, is a collaboration between .Paak and Houston Hospitality. Houston Hospitality is a group that recently developed a Las Vegas-style bar, restaurant, and nightclub concept. Level 8 in Downtown LA Self-described as a “restaurant lounge,” Andy’s promises a “one-of-a-kind” experience that combines “1970s nostalgic vibes” with “modern energy.” The venue’s website says you can also expect live music and food.
Photo: Daniel Carranza of Time Out
If you’re thinking about checking it out, you’re not alone. On a recent Friday night I visited, the line at Andy’s at 11 p.m. snaked past Dan Tana’s, the famous red sauce shop next door. Other groups of well-dressed people were seen crowding the area on foot, presumably on their way to Andy’s. Other than the Troubadour, there are no bars or nightclubs nearby. The hype around celebrity-owned businesses is real.
Other than the fact that there would be live music inside the house and after a so-so initial visit, the venue’s publicist promised that the house band would come on after it was over and the venue would get a big boost. , I went into both nights of Andy’s with low expectations. 10pm. What I experienced inside was certainly “one of a kind,” but it didn’t necessarily live up to that long line. Here are five things to expect from a night out at Andy’s.
Photo: Patricia Kelly Yeo from Time Out
1. Before 10pm, Andy’s operates primarily as a sit-down restaurant and bar.
The chaos was obvious to anyone who happened to be at the venue just before 10 a.m., when employees began removing tables in front of the stage. On our first visit, we arrived around 9pm and ordered from the food menu, which ends serving at 9:30pm. The house band wasn’t on stage yet, but the DJ was spinning records. During this 30-minute period, guests with early dinner reservations may be forced out of their seats to clear the area in front of the stage and make room for bottle service. So Andy’s offers live music and food, but apparently not both at the same time.
2. The small menu of specialty snacks is not appealing enough to merit a solo dinner visit.
On my first visit, I tried two cocktails and a pastrami bao. Pastrami Bao is the creation of Chris Oh of Soul Sausage, who was consulted on the opening menu. The drink was sweet and unbalanced, but I found the sad-looking bao to be at odds with traditional Fujian or Taiwanese gao bao or the Langer No. 19 from which the menu takes its name. I thought. On my second visit, I only ordered drinks, but I also watched as the duo next door delivered all of our orders to the kitchen before dinner service was over.
Photo: Daniel Carranza of Time Out
3. Don’t expect a fully stocked bar or great cocktails.
Rather than wanting another sweet house drink, I tried to order the Last Word first, but was told that the bar couldn’t make classic cocktails. I then tried to order a Vesper and they couldn’t even make it at the bar. That was also a failure, so I settled for a dirty vodka martini, but it was acceptable.
4. The atmosphere after 10pm can best be described as unfortunate, somewhere between a lounge and a nightclub.
On both visits, the house band certainly played a mix of R&B, reggae, and swing at such deafening levels that it was difficult to carry on a conversation with the person next to you. Most of the venue is standing room after 10pm unless you purchase bottle service, but none of the songs played were conducive to serious dancing. Most people at the front of the stage just shook their heads to the music. If that’s your vibe (and certainly not mine), you’ll probably enjoy Andy more than I do.
5. There’s a quirky photo booth on the backyard patio.
Although the back patio remained closed until at least 11 p.m., there was one bright spot at Andy’s as I left the venue. It’s a digital photo booth housed inside the shell of a fully decorated old-school Volkswagen Beetle. I mention it here because most people inside didn’t seem to notice it as the staff kept kicking people out of the patio.
Photo: Daniel Carranza of Time Out
If you’re looking for an authentic supper club experience, head to Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. There, guests will actually have a table to sit at (though they are also expected to purchase dinner and drinks). There’s also Baked Potato in Studio City and, for a more upscale experience, Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz in Beverly Crest. For a night of glamor that’s worth the long lines in West Hollywood, you can always head to Sunset at Edition (open Fridays and Saturdays) or Hyde Sunset (a restaurant that turns into a club after 11 p.m.) You can. .
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