** Going back through my archives, I apparently had a Manhattan on the rocks at TonyвЂ™s Saloon. I do also like the new-fangled ones at Thirsty Crow. One for the westside and one for the east! But for a Manhattan, the best is still at Seven Grand. Apparently they felt people would вЂњget wasted.вЂќ I suppose thatвЂ™s not the point of a bar? Er. They вЂњdonвЂ™t make Long Island Iced TeasвЂќ but did for a friend while I was there. I asked the bartender what other whiskeys would she recommend and she said she was a Jameson girl. I was back a couple nights later and went to a fall back- Jameson and Ginger. Still, this is the bar I come to when I want a good rum on the rocks. I should have ordered it perfect (half sweet vermouth, half dry vermouth) but neglected to. It was definitely pleasing to look at but I felt there was a bit too much vermouth. I couldnвЂ™t resist, I ordered a Manhattan at Verdugo Bar. I was still on a Manhattan kick the next night on while on the Craft Beer Crawl. Or any of the drinks with ginger as they will add a dash of minced ginger for an extra kick. Sometimes I might have a mint julep to fully take advantage of the freshly grown mint. They tend to turn up their nose though if you try to order a vodka redbull. They have a short list of cocktails though you can order whatever you feel like. And I damn well like theirs with the veritable salad they give you the grape tomato is usually the sweetest grape tomato IвЂ™ve had in months. I do come here just with friends though as I did after dinner at Mariscos Chente. I hate to admit that I have a date bar but this is what the Mandrake is to me. The music can be good depending on whoвЂ™s the DJ. There are low tables made from tree trunks, a вЂњgalleryвЂќ (IвЂ™ve heard they have art but IвЂ™ve yet to see any) and an outdoor patio where they grow their own mint. Walking in, youвЂ™ll find the most вЂњhipsterвЂќ bar on the Westside. ThereвЂ™s a tiny sign that says вЂњbar.вЂќ Otherwise thereвЂ™s no other signage and most people have trouble locating it the first time they go. ItвЂ™s on La Cienenga, in between Venice and Washington. One of my favorite bars is the Mandrake in Culver City.

Mandrake bar