Brick + Mortar: We're Here to Stay

Brick + mortar, a new restaurant serving Mediterranean-American fusion on bar-lined Main Street, is aptly named as an antithesis to food trucks and pop-up eateries.

"It's a neighborhood spot. We plan to be here for a long time," said co-owner Travis Lester.

The former home to has been re-fashioned into a local bar with brick walls and dark tufted leather booths. On the menu are short ribs, tuna tartar, gourmet burgers and pizzas, healthy salads and soups. None of the food is frozen. According to Lester, there's not even a freezer on the premises (the one left over from the wine bar was turned into a chilled holding tank for beer).

But there's nothing pretentious about Brick + Mortar, he said.

Though not a sports bar, there's a handful of TVs, 24 beer taps and more than 200 different liquors. There's also a menu of 100 wines and 12 rotating specialty cocktails.

"We're trying to bring that beach feel with a little bit better food," he said. "We know that people, especially on the Westside, are flip flops and shorts."

It's the first American eatery for Lester and partner Justin Safier, who founded Brosephs Restaurant Group in July of 2010 to open Bar Esquina five months later in Cabo San Lucas.

At 2435 Main St., Brick + Mortar is earning solid reviews on Yelp, where users' average star rating is currently four out of five.

Maria T. wrote "LOVE the vibe of this place, dark interior/exposed brick walls, great local crowd, laid back but still cool... accommodating and warm service."

The only downside for this user? "Single stall restrooms :("

Weekend brunch is served 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a Bloody Mary bar with toppings such as fresh shrimp. Draft beers and well drinks are discounted from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday during happy hour.

The restaurant is open 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday and Friday; and 10 to 1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call (310) 450-3434.

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