Restaurant Review: Three Drunken Goats

I first met Brandon Kim when what is now was Gouda’s and Vines. Usually, before a nice summer evening at the Hollywood Bowl, you could find me in there getting excellent advice on a nice bottle of wine to take to Hollywood’s infamous outdoor concert venue. This is also where I discovered a cheese called Drunken Goat (now sold at Whole Foods, and also what I consider to be the inspiration for the current name of the restaurant).

Then one day the store got boarded up and come to find out Brandon and his father had decided to open a Spanish tapas restaurant. I was happy to find out that they were not shutting their doors. With the recession, it was common to start seeing people no longer able to sustain a family run business. A few anticipated months later, Brandon opened his doors. My then fiancé, now husband, and I went to the restaurant early on. While we were very impressed with the food, there were still things that needed to be improved upon. A few years later I can assure you it is a well-run restaurant and worth making it a regular on your restaurant circuits.

We always enjoy walking into the restaurant and seeing Brandon’s smiling face. I don’t think I have actually ever seen him not smile! Even during the tough economic times, he has found unique ways to cut costs and still maintain a high service levels, if not actually improve upon it. If he is there during our visits, he always makes sure to come by and say hello. We realize running a business can be hectic, but he always takes a few minutes to catch up. We talk about anything from his new son born last year to the recent current events in the neighborhood. What I like about Brandon is that he understands community and cares about the city he runs his business in. To me, this is crucial in maintaining a successful business in a small town.

Now, what about the food? Don’t be overwhelmed by the food names or their unique ingredients for one. Everything on their menu is delicious and worth trying. Over the years I have tried numerous menu items which include the roasted chicken, bacon-wrapped dates, flat breads and more. In this particular visit we tried the artichoke and goat cheese croquettes, the cheese plate and the paella of roasted vegetables. For drinks we had the happy hour specials which were the Poppy Cabernet Sauvignon and the red wine sangria. By getting in on the happy hour prices, our bill came to about $40. Not bad for our regular Friday night out. All the food was delicious and was exactly the taste and vibe I was looking for after a long week at work. We did not get them this time, but I would also suggest ordering the churros. This delicious dessert is an excellent twist on your standard street cart churros.

Their happy hour is Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and includes an array of tapas for $5 as well as sangria and wine for $5 each. On Wednesday, Brandon has Wine-O Wednesdays which includes a flight of wine and cheese for $10 a person.

Hope to see you there! 2256 Honolulu Ave, Montrose CA 91020

If you have any follow-up questions, please post a comment and I will respond.