The Park: Burger Night and Beyond

Overview: This casual American bistro may be best known for its $5 burger night (Wednesdays), but nearly every day offers a different special: Tuesdays feature a $15 three-course meal that changes weekly; Thursdays all bottles of wine are half off; Fridays you can get three courses off the regular menu for $20; and weekdays, most lunch sandwiches are half off--or close to it ($5 to $8). The seasonal menu updates every three months.

Décor: The vibe at this neighborhood joint is warm and homey, with black-and-white checkered floors, functional wooden tables and modern art on the pale green walls. On the stereo, expect classic rock of the Stones-Beatles variety, and don’t be surprised to run into your neighbors. At night, tea lights and a glowing vintage streetlamp keep things cozy, and when it’s warm out, there are a few mosaic-tiled tables on the fenced-in patio (heads up: there’s no booze outside).

The Drinks: Gone are the days of BYOB, but you can now order a respectable selection of wine and beer off the menu. Around a dozen affordable, accessible wines (mostly reds) range from just $20 to $35, and all are available by the glass ($6 to $10). There are no beer taps, but seven craft brews include everything from Stiegl lager ($5) to Hitachino Nest Ginger Brew ($8). As for drinks of the non-alcoholic variety, you can get a Mexican Coke, or outstanding French press coffee at brunch.

Appetizers: A holdover from previous seasons’ menus, the Szechuan fried calamari ($8) made with a spicy sweet sesame-soy glaze remains a favorite, along with the New England clam chowder, which is also available at lunch ($5 cup, $7 bowl). Butter poached lobster ($10) served with garlic noodles is an indulgent treat, and potato latkes ($6) are dressed up with caramelized apples and horseradish cream. The winter version of the wild arugula salad ($8) is spiked with poached pear, roasted almonds and crispy sage, then topped off with a caramel citrus vinaigrette.

Entrees: For brunch, organic eggs show up in a variety of dishes from brioche French toast served with homemade strawberry sauce (half order $6, full $9) to Marian’s frittata ($8), made with wild mushrooms, spinach, onion and gruyere. At lunch, expect simple, well-made sandwiches stuffed with pulled pork barbecue, homemade meatballs or the classic BLT (all only $5 on weekdays). For dinner, the succulent roasted Jidori half chicken ($15), served with a mountain of addictive skinny fries and arugula salad, is always on the menu. Spaghetti and meatballs ($12) with garlic bread is another menu mainstay, as is the popular made-from-scratch veggie burger ($10). You’ll also find bistro fare like mushroom risotto ($12), braised brisket ($15) and pan-seared bluenose bass ($17). As for the rich, juicy burgers, expect seven ounces of sirloin--and no, they don’t skimp on burger night; add tasty toppings like caramelized or crispy onions, homemade aioli and bleu cheese for a buck each.

Sides: At lunchtime, standard sides include potato salad, pasta salad and creamy coleslaw ($1 with a sandwich, $3 a la carte). For dinner, a limited selection of “Snacks” includes roasted cauliflower, sweet potato gratin and broccoli rabe (all $4).

Desserts: There’s no dessert menu, but The Park generally offers a trio of selections, which may include options like homemade butterscotch pudding, warm apple crisp or a chocolate pecan tart. Add the house dessert to any entrée for $3, otherwise a sweet finish will set you back $6.

Service: At dinner, there’s often a wait for tables, especially on Wednesday’s burger night, when reservations are not accepted—get there well before 7 p.m. to avoid a wait; on other nights, it’s a good idea to reserve a table in advance. Servers are friendly, pleasant and laid back, but occasionally a bit on the slow side.

Signature Dish: Roast Jidori half chicken

The Park
Address: 1400 Sunset Blvd.
Chef: Joshua Siegel
Cost: $$