I’m not new to eating at The Den on Sunset in West Hollywood.

My first visit to the restaurant was to preview their brunch menu and shortly after I found myself returning with the same appetite for more. While traffic in the area may be difficult and the billboard advertising may be overwhelming, The Den has a way of reeling me into their space to find a more favorites on their menu. With that, I had no problem with them pulling me in to try out a few other items. If I’m being honest, I eagerly made my way in to do just that.

On this visit, I was with my friend TJ and it was only a matter of moments before the plates and drinks we ordered arrived. When it came to the cocktails, TJ went with the Hook and Tender ($12) and I had the Prickly Pear Cooler ($12). The Hook and Tender was such a simple yet classy drink in its look almost something that Don Draper would drink, while mine was bright and colorful leaning to be in the hands of Kimmy Schmidt. The Hook and Tender was made with Old Forester Bourbon, maple syrup, lemon juice, and grapefruit bitters. It was a strong drink with a bourbon you can’t miss and with a casual fruit flavor from the lemon juice to follow. I happened to like my drink because it suited my taste so much more. The pear cooler took New Amsterdam Gin and mixed it with prickly pear, lemon, simple syrup and a slice of lime around the rim. It was a good balance of the deep gin alongside the tartness flavor from the pear and lemon.

After a few sips of the cocktails, the starters were the only thing I cared to have. Fried Pickles ($7), French Fries ($6), Bacon Wrapped Dates ($12), and Brussels Sprouts ($10). I can honestly say that I don’t care much for pickles, but when they’re fried they taste like a completely different vegetable. With the breading encasing the pickle I question if it was ever really a cucumber because it has transformed into something more interesting. At The Den, the chef has managed to make such a small item come packed with an intense taste that you can’t help but keep going back from more. A bite into one will let out the hottest steam that then introduces you to a sour and salty pickle covered exactly as it should be. Pickles should always come fried. After the pickles were the fries. Since it’s fairly difficult to mess up a batch of French fries were, these were done just right.

The next two appetizers easily became my favorite from the starter section of the menu.

The bacon wrapped dates may have been tiny, but they were incredibly delicious! A selection of dates were enveloped in bacon, sat atop of a blue cheese spread, and sprinkled with lemon zest. From each individual date, I loved how the salty and greasy bacon paired so perfectly with the sweetness from the gentle dates. I normally wouldn’t suggest blue cheese anything, but with this dish it was so ideal because the sharp flavor and even the scent that makes blue cheese what it is was possibly the best component to it all. Not to be overlooked, the Brussels sprouts covered with small bits of bacon, parmesan, a smoked almond crumble and drizzled with an almond vinaigrette was nice. It was light and filling with unique degree of textures to make your mind think you were eating more than you actually were.

I can honestly say that you can get full on a handful of The Den’s starters. However, if you’re looking for a bit more, then a burger and a flatbread is a great avenue to go down. We had the Prosciutto Flatbread ($15) and the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger ($14). The flatbread was topped with dates, goat cheese, prosciutto, arugula, and a fig balsamic glaze. The long and thin slices of prosciutto were so delicate but incredibly rich especially alongside the smooth and creamy goat cheese and the sweet balsamic dressing. I loved that the flatbread was so soft without coming off as too much bread to overpower the other components of the dish. It was perfect.

The cheeseburger on the other hand was a lot to tackle. The burger took thick bacon, onion rings, Tilamook cheddar, and smothered it in barbecue sauce. Unsure how to properly eat this, it’s definitely not a first date burger as it can quickly become a mess, a delicious mess. The onion rings, the greasy bacon, the melted cheese all on the solid patty with sauce dripping from every direction made it such a great burger and one I highly suggest.

After each and every plate and both of the cocktails I can easily say that The Den was just as good on this visit as it has been on those before it. The restaurant has created delicious and strong starters that are hard to ignore with a selection of entrees that are both filling and appetizing. I’m glad I got a chance to explore this side of The Den’s menu and can see myself coming back to do it again in the near future.

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Address: 8226 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Phone: (323) 656-0336
Hours: Sunday 12:00pm to 2:00am, Monday through Friday – 5:00pm to 2:00am, and Satuday 3:00pm to 2:00am.
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