7950 Melrose Ave

The Hart and The Hunter Review - Fairfax - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"When “Pali” falls before a word in this town, it means a few things. First off, turn around and go home because you’re probably not wearing enough black. Secondly, consider just staying at home. The end-high hospitality group’s properties have long thrived off exclusivity, awkward pseudo-nightclub dance floors, and the deep wallets of drunk CAA agents. So needless to say the offer of casual Sunday brunch at one of their establishments sounds unnecessarily stressful, right? Well, hold on. First of all, The Hart and The Hunter is located inside the PaliHotel, a few minutes drive but a world away from the colossal PaliHouse in Weho. The Hart and The Hunter acts as the all-day restaurant for the boutique hotel and aside from a few peak hours on the weekend, it remains largely serene and inoffensive. The interior has a relaxed, cafe-like feel and the side patio is a comfortable spot that looks out over the neighborhood. But more importantly, let’s discuss the prospect of their hangover-curing brunch. The Hart and The Hunter serves very good loosen-your-belt-buckle Southern comfort food. Your vodka-scorched stomach is rebelling? The only remedy is the best biscuits in LA. Sure, housing an order of them is like taking a point-blank butter cannon straight to the aorta, but it’s Sunday: time for calories. The Hart and The Hunter has a separate menu for each meal of the day and while there are some gems to be found on each, this restaurant thrives best in the late morning. So round up the crew and your favorite pair of sweats and go wash away your Saturday night sins with some old-fashioned American cholesterol. ClassPass starts on Monday. Food Rundown Butter Biscuits and Condiments Double check your health insurance plan and then go all-in on these steaming hot butter igloos. Served with pimento cheese, more butter (obviously) and peach jam, we’re not going out on a limb by saying these are far and away the best biscuits in town. Pork Hash All of the yes. Only served on the brunch menu, this hearty helping of peppers, potatoes, and sunny side up eggs is the ideal remedy for any Sunday hangover and a nice starting point for your upcoming food coma. Fried Green Tomatoes Your Southern BBQ dreams have finally come true. With a cornmeal crust and a side of Thousand Island Dressing, this is summer picnic goodness and easily shared amongst the table. Shaved Raw Brussel Sprouts This dish has the look and feel of something your stoner roommate threw together for a 4th of July party, but don’t worry. The crunch of those peanuts and a fist full of cheddar cheese are all that’s needed to make this appetizer a table favorite. Shrimp and Grits It’s hard to beat any version outside of South Carolina but The Hart and The Hunter has given LA a very respectable version. The shrimp is good and those grits are even better. Smoked Trout It’s hard to tell it from the menu but this might be one of the more dynamic versions of avocado toast around. The trout is served in a skillet and comes with a board full of fixings like pickled onions to put on top of your avocado masterpiece. Steamed Venus Clams Not the star of the menu by any means but still pretty good. And for $16 this massive portion is actually a phenomenal deal." - Brant Cox