Kitchen 142: A New Gastropub at Saint Rocke

Saint Rocke is known as one of the South Bay’s best venues for live music.  To elevate the concert experience at their intimate establishment, Saint Rocke has rebranded their kitchen as a grastropub called Kitchen 142.

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Food, Wine, Beer

Like most gastropubs, the menu at Kitchen 142 is focused on comfort foods, craft beers, choice wines, and hand made cocktails.  In the “Grub” section of the menu, you’ll find crowd pleasers like Lobster Mac’n’cheese ($12.95); Angus Beef Sliders with goat cheese and garlic aioli ($12.95); and Fish tacos served with ginger slaw, romesco sauce, and cilantro crema ($10.95).

The beer and wine list is extensive.  All varietals are covered in the wine category with the by-the-glass price averaging about $9.  Beers are what you might expect for a classy South Bay establishment.  All appetites are satisfied from Bud Light and Heineken to local craft beers like El Segundo Pale Ale.  Ciders are on the list too: Stella Cidre and Ace Cider in particular.

Cocktails

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Despite the pedigree of the food, beer, and wine,  cocktails were the focus of my visit during an invite-only Grand Opening*.  Guests were invited in to sample a few of the cocktails and almost all  of the menu.  The lines for the cocktail samples were long so I headed straight to the bar to get the inside scoop.

The “Scratch Cocktails” menu has a range of mixed drinks that everyone can choose from.  Five of the nine drinks  feature vodka – Ketel, Ciroc, or Belvedere –  as the main ingredient.  But tequila, whiskey, rum, and gin make an excellent showing the the remaining  cocktails.

I’m not a vodka drinker, but a fellow diner next to me ordered the Velvet Gypsy Martini, a layered cocktail with a Belvedere floating on top of lemon and Chambord in a sugar-rimmed glass.  I was taken by the visual appeal of the drink and was advised that yes, it tasted as good as it looked.

The Velvet Gypsy Martini - Belvedere, lemon, Chambord.
The Velvet Gypsy Martini – Belvedere, lemon, Chambord.

Whiskey is more my preference so I ordered the Sour Rocke, a mix of Bushmills, fresh lemon juice, and marmalade.  I couldn’t have asked for a better “whiskey with lemon”; this drink was tart and strong.  The kicker was the marmalade.  Instead of just a blast of sweetness from a sugar based simple syrup, the marmalade added sweetness with a citrusy, zesty depth.

The Sour Rocke - Bushmills, Fresh Lemon Juice, and Marmalade.
The Sour Rocke – Bushmills, Fresh Lemon Juice, and Marmalade.

I know I said I’m not a vodka drinker, but for the next taste I wanted to try something different.  The Road to Lahina Martini sounded like the perfect way to venture off my beaten path.  What caught my interest was the way the Road to Lahina Martini mixed Ciroc Coconut with St. Germaine, cranberry, grapefruit.

The Road to Lahina - Ciroc Coconut, Cranberry Juice, Grapefruit Juice, St. Germaine.
The Road to Lahina – Ciroc Coconut, Cranberry Juice, Grapefruit Juice, St. Germaine.

On my own I wouldn’t think to blend coconut with cranberry, but it works.  The St. Germaine adds a bit of flowery sweetness while the grapefruit brings a perfect touch of bitterness to counter the sweetness of the Ciroc.  I’m glad I took my own “road less traveled” and tried this vodka based drink.  I’d walk down that road again anytime.

Happy Hour, Live Music and More

Saavy concert goers and discount seekers alike will be glad to know that Kitchen 142 is continuing Saint Rocke’s tradition of an affordable Happy Hour.  Served Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 PM, the HH menu has many of the regular dishes priced at %50 off.   Their beers, house wine, and cocktails are priced at $4.95.

The concert experience at Saint Rocke is one of the best in the South Bay.
The concert experience at Saint Rocke is one of the best in the South Bay.

Despite the revamped menu, live music will still carry the weight of bringing folks in.  The stage and sound system make a show here feel like a concert in your living room.  Check out their calendar for a list of the shows coming up.

And ladies, if you take a seat at the bar, you’ll be glad to know that there are hooks under the counter!  They’re perfect for hanging your purse…or camera bag…if you happen to be carrying one. With my wife in mind, I’m always  on the look out for these at bars and restaurants so finding them at Saint Rocke was a nice touch.

Yes! Look for hooks under the bar for your purse, murse, or camera bag.
Yes! Look for hooks under the bar for your purse, murse, or camera bag.

With a great line up for shows on an almost nightly basis, happy hours through the week, and a recently revamped gastropub menu, Saint Rocke is a great destination for live entertainment, food, and drinks!

* The samples served during the Kitchen 142 Grand Opening event were provided on a complimentary basis. The full sized drinks pictured with this article were purchased at the happy hour price for the purpose of this review.  Prices and menu items mentioned are subject to change without notice. This story was accurate when it was published and reflects the uninfluenced opinion of the reviewers.

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