Brit Pub Opens With Bangers & Mash, Savory Pies & Sunday Roasts

Susan C. Schena
·3 min read

LOS ANGELES, CA — Wave the Union Jack! Market Tavern, a new gastropub —as authentically British as it gets — opened Monday at The Original Farmers Market in the Beverly Grove neighborhood in Los Angeles.

The restaurant will lure locals craving such U.K. delicacies as steak-and-ale pies, pickled eggs, lamb with mint sauce or traditional, Sunday afternoon roasts. And this new spot also should appeal to sports and rock 'n' roll fans with ample TV screens and an overall homage to '60s and '70s Brit-Invasion bands.

Market Tavern is an English-duo collaboration of acclaimed musician Gary Twinn, who also manages the market's E.B.’s Beer & Wine and Bar 326, and Chef Brendan Collins, with a resume that includes Santa Monica's Fia, Birch in Hollywood and Culver City's Waterloo & City.

"My vision was to combine the contemporary London gastropub experience with the sex appeal of a hip L.A. eatery, throw in a bit of rock n’ roll music, all the sports TV you can handle,” Twinn said. “It’s basically my fantasy pub brought to life, with California’s best chef in the kitchen.”

A renown, area chef, Collins' menu features such fare as: melt-in-your-mouth, "Drunken Short Ribs," a large-party share served with peas and carrots; Grilled Lamb Shoulder with mint sauce and riced cauliflower; the Truffle Burger with caramelized onions and truffle cheese; Bangers and Mash; and Sticky Toffee Pudding; along with the staple of Fish and Chips, made from hand-cut potato chips, beer-battered, local rock cod and house-made tartar sauce.

From the more adventurous, “British Bites” menu: Pickled Eggs and Tartar Sauce; Marmite on Toast; and a Prawn Sandwich, with cooked prawns tossed in a tangy mayonnaise dressing and served on toasted bread.

“I was thrilled when Gary approached me to partner in making new British California classics," Collins said."And I immediately knew it was going to be a place my mates and family can enjoy, as well. ‘It’s bloody great,’ as my granny would say.”

Collins also plans to resurrect the U.K. tradition of afternoon roasts every Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Roast Beef and Horseradish, Half Roast Chicken with Sage and Onion Stuffing and Lamb Leg and Mint Sauce, plus hearty sides of peas, carrots, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, roast potato, Yorkies and gravy.

Singer and songwriter Twinn's career includes decades of touring as lead singer with rock groups Supernaut and Twenty Flight Rockers, along with his current band, The International Swingers.

Market Tavern's music-inspired mural and interior highlight such 1960s' and 1970s' British greats as The Rolling Stones and The Clash, along with portraits of Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols, and Twinn's personal, photo collection from his star-studded, touring days.

Given COVID-19, in-house restrictions, Market Tavern currently only offers open-air, patio dining with socially distanced seating.

For more info on the new restaurant and its menu, follow this link. It is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with happy hour 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

The Original Farmers Market is at 6333 W. 3rd St., with Market Tavern in space #706.

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This article originally appeared on the Los Angeles Patch