A Former Hermon Church Banquet Hall Is Resurrected as Neighborhood Chophouse Hermon’s | Eater LA
"Set in a former church banquet hall in Hermon, this New American, steakhouse-leaning neighborhood chophouse from Last Word Hospitality pairs a produce-forward California sensibility with classic grill-house comforts. Chef David “DK” Kolender (ex-Dudley Market and Tartine) leads a menu that reframes favorites—scallop crudo on crushed sun-dried tomatoes, tuna carpaccio with chile oil, steak tartare with salsa macha, fried coconut tiger prawns in sweet chile ’nduja sauce, and bacon-and-cheese potato fritters—alongside salads like a miso-mustard greens and citrus panzanella with ’nduja croutons. Mains range from mushrooms bourguignon over brown-butter polenta and whole grilled branzino with toum and lemon to the Ode to Chez cheeseburger (a thick-cut patty with soubise fondue, Bordelaise onions, and Dijon on a sesame-dotted milk bun), steak frites with au poivre, and a 30-ounce grilled rib-eye with chermoula and steak sauce; pastas include a two-sheet lasagna vongole and a ragu Bolognese topped with whipped ricotta, with lemon baked Alaska and skillet cookies for dessert. The bar, by Eric Alperin and Angus McShane, organizes cocktails into “Before the Meal,” “Ice Cold,” and “Martinis,” spanning vermouth on the rocks and a foamy Garibaldi to a $9 Tiny ’Tini, the Hermon’s Classic with smoky or blue cheese olives, and the Chef’s 50/50 served on a block of ice, plus a yuzu margarita, daiquiri, and espresso martini; Evelyn Goreshnik’s wine list pulls from California, Oregon, Italy, and France with glasses starting at $14. Holly Fox’s design—with Wick Architecture—preserves Art Deco bones and Craftsman character via upholstered booths, warm wood floors, exposed beams, and a brown-tiled U-shaped bar that looks into the kitchen, giving the 89-seat room a collected, neighborhood feel; the restaurant opens December 3 and operates 5–10 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, with reservations on Resy." - Rebecca Roland
