Have you ever visited London? If you haven’t, do yourself a favor and book a flight immediately. For those who haven’t been to London before, it seems like the city places a love hex on you after just one visit. Once you leave, you’re immediately making excuses to travel across the pond and reunite with Big Ben, eating great curry, surrounding yourself with grand fashion, and experiencing the famous grey skies and drizzle. But then reality hits, and you have to settle for the next best thing…… a local English pub.
The Village Idiot on Melrose Ave, Los Angeles
Luckily, if you live in the Los Angeles area, you have your variety of choices of English styles pubs and gastropubs. One of those choices is The Village Idiot located on 7383 Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles. With a name like The Village Idiot, you might be asking yourself, “What can I expect from a place with that sort of name?” Short answer: great atmosphere and delicious food.
Long answer: when it comes to English-themed pubs in America, the atmosphere is either authentic or a very cheap knock off; there really isn’t an in-between. The moment you enter the doors, you know this is the real deal. Whether you’re looking for an intimate one-on-one date, a private room to hang out with your mates, or a casual night relaxing at the bar, The Village Idiot accommodates all types of occasions and parties. One of the greatest assets of The Village Idiot is that, unlike the countless bars in the area, the establishment isn’t cluttered by big screen TV’s and loud sports. This allows an environment where you can actually enjoy the company you’re with, which is becoming more of an anomaly during the 21st century.
The Village Idiot on Melrose Ave, Los Angeles
Now to the nitty gritty: the food. When you visit a English pub, you can never go wrong ordering fish and chips, right? Let me tell you that sometimes you CAN go wrong, but again, The Village Idiot nails this aspect as well. The fish itself was covered in a thick, crunchy, yet surprisingly light batter that once you took one bite, you knew you were in for a tasteful extravaganza. Something that can ruin fish and chips is a bland, dried-out fish. The fish at The Village Idiot was booming with flavor and very juicy. The fries on the side were equally enjoyable, and I’d suggest ordering a side of their house aioli sauce to dip along with the malt vinegar dipping sauce.
The one drawback? You are definitely paying for what you’re getting. To be a regular here, you must have deep pockets and/or be seriously committed to the experience.
So for all my fellow Angelenos who are looking for an escape from the blistering sun, and need to be transported to jolly ol’ England, but don’t have the funds, consider The Village Idiot as your next best option.
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