The Benjamin Hollywood
Restaurant · Fairfax District ·
Burger, martinis, and classic American dishes in art deco style
Burger, martinis, and classic American dishes in art deco style
"I’ve long been wanting to visit the Benjamin, Los Angeles’s hotshot restaurant on Melrose that opened in 2024 from the team behind the Hundreds. I finally had a chance to sidle up to the bar and have one of its martinis and a few snacks before heading upstairs to a celebration at its newer sister haunt Bar Benjamin. Among a compelling slate of starters, orange chicken wings stand out for their deviation from the Panda variety, something you might expect to find at a longtime Chinese American restaurant like Formosa Cafe more than you would a restaurant that feels like a sleek softcore steakhouse. Huge chicken drumsticks and wings come in a neat pile shellacked with orange-infused sweet and sour sauce and pocked by sesame seeds. They’re sticky and hedonistic, just what you want before indulging in a second (or third) martini. Pair them with a side of fries and house pickled cauliflower for an impeccable bar trinity. — Nicole Fellah, Eater editorial manager" - Matthew Kang
"For Thanksgiving this year, Ben Shenassafar’s vibey steakhouse will offer a specials menu that features a confit turkey leg, a selection of seasonal sides such as creamed kale, and desserts like a buttery budino and mini pumpkin pies. Make a reservation to secure a seat for the Thanksgiving Day service." - Eater Staff
"This Old Hollywood-themed bistro on Melrose is dark and moody with plush green booths, a room-spanning bar, and nine different martinis on the menu. In other words, it’s the perfect setting for a throwback bar burger. The Benjamin’s version is as unfussy as it is juicy: there’s an inch-thick, medium-rare patty, gooey American cheese, pickles, and a generous coat of smoky hickory sauce (a subtle nod to Apple Pan). A slab of sauteed onion on the bottom sweetens the plump sesame bun as you eat. The burger is available in the dining room if you want to book one of the booths, but we prefer sliding up to the bar and ordering one. That’s why they call it a bar burger after all. Reservations are released at 9am a week in advance, but they're usually snapped up in minutes. The bar area is first-come, first-serve, though and if you arrive by 6pm, there are usually stools available." - brant cox, cathy park, sylvio martins, garrett snyder
"The Benjamin is where you go when you want a martini but also want to keep your cocktail options open. This dark, sexy bistro on Melrose has nine variations on the menu and we’ve yet to try one we didn’t love. The house martini is made with gin and sunshine-bright lemon oil, and the smooth-as-silk Manhattan pairs nicely with the smoky bar burger, one of the best in town. If you’re looking for post-dinner drinks, head upstairs to Bar Benjamin, which is basically an extension of the restaurant, except with ambitious, culinary-leaning cocktails like a savory Gibson with “everything bagel” gin or a brandy and walnut liquor creation inspired by the Persian stew fesenjoon. Reservations are released at 9am a week in advance, but they're usually snapped up in minutes. The bar area is first-come, first-serve, though and if you arrive by 6pm, there are usually stools available." - sylvio martins, brant cox, garrett snyder
"This dark and moody bistro on Melrose doesn’t shy away from Old Hollywood touches. There’s a long bar where Manhattans flow, booths the size of jacuzzis, and a wedge salad buried under a metric ton of bacon. But don’t mistake The Benjamin for a living museum. By 6pm most nights, the place packs in a crowd dressed like they’re auditioning for a Stüssy print campaign. Huddle with your personal Brat Pack in the corner over strip steaks and caviar baked potatoes, or join the neighborhood scene at the bar that sneaks in for martinis and burgers. There are many ways to do a meal right at The Benjamin and none of them are snoozy. Reservations are released at 9am a week in advance, but they're usually snapped up in minutes. The bar area is first-come, first-serve, though and if you arrive by 6pm, there are usually stools available." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park
