Nestled in the busy streets of West Hollywood is a restaurant called Barton G. From the outside, the simple structure sits amid surrounding restaurants and boutique shops in the La Cienega Design Quarter. Inside, the high ceiling and dim lighting, paired with the full set of flatware, wine-glasses and tuxedo-folded napkins give the restaurant a lavish facade.
Upon entering, restaurant attendees and connoisseurs are in for a different dining experience unlike any other.
The owner Barton G. Weiss, whom the restaurant is named after, is a renowned event concept designer and restaurateur who combined gourmet food with over-the-top presentations to bring some creative competition to the restaurant industry.
The La Cienega location opened earlier this year in June, but their primary location in South Beach, Florida, has been open since 2002.
After placing an order, patrons can expect a unique deliverance of their meals. The Strike Out Sliders — hamburger sliders presented on a plate with a baseball bat that serves as the plates’ handle — or The Great American Steak — a steak entrée that comes with a giant metal fork.
The waiters, dressed in metallic silver aprons, came by frequently to check on our table. Between every course, they made sure to replace our plates, which helped cleanse the palate for the following meal.
Because of the interesting presentation of each unique meal, diners surveyed their neighboring tables to observe their dish, while taking photos to capture the one-of-a-kind concoctions.
After I took a seat at a corner table across from the bar, a waiter came by with a tray filled with bread shaped like donuts, made with cheese, basil or truffle frosting. While the bread was soft and fresh, the flavor of truffle frosting was so prominent, it overpowered the taste of the bread.
To start our Barton G. experience, our table ordered the Laughing Bird Popcorn Shrimp and G Fries Quartet. About 15 minutes later, the waiter came by and set a popcorn machine on the table. Inside was a basket of fried shrimp and popcorn, an odd yet tasty combination.
The G Fries Quartet included potato wedges, sweet potato wedges, string fries and their in-house potato chips, which are cooked to a perfect crisp.
As we moved on to select our entrées, we ordered the Mouse Trap Mac N Cheese, which was presented on a dish that included an oversized mouse trap. The dish was made with Cavatappi pasta, and unlike the truffle frosting on the bread, the cheese was served in moderation.
While the meals were indulgent and fulfilling, the most interesting menu items were Barton G.’s specialty drinks and their accompanying set of instructions. We ordered the Sabrinatini, the restaurant’s signature martini.
As our waiter brought the glasses out, a cool vapor ascended from the drinks due to the liquid nitrogen infused in it. Our waiter explained that it came with a champagne popsicle used to stir the drink.
Accompanying the drink, hung a chocolate monkey from the side of the martini glass. The drink is named after the restaurant owner’s pet monkey, Sabrina, who died last year.
For dessert, we ordered Marie Antoinette’s head, a dish that could be seen on every table in the restaurant. The dessert, cleverly named Let Them Eat Cake, comes with mini cakes, berries and whipped cream while presented with a mannequin head whose hair is made of pink cotton candy.
Barton G. is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a delicious meal in West Hollywood. With the unique presentation of meals creating an entertaining and fun dining experience, it’s a location not to overlook. Just make sure your pockets are full, the menu items lie on the pricey side.
