little over one year ago in September 2017, the Artisanal Brewers Collective (co-founded by Tony Yanow, formerly of Golden Road Brewing) opened the doors to its English-style pub just down the street from Pico Playhouse in West LA. With the recent launch of their Sunday Funday Special ($20 bottle of rosé with purchase of any entrée!), this is an absolute must for some weekend brunch action!
Right when you walk in, you’ll notice the design of the space (by Spacecraft), which resonates as British brewhouse with an upscale, contemporary vibe. At the front, you’re greeted by the main bar, followed by the six stainless steel brewing tanks housed behind a glass-windowed wall. The main restaurant space is adorned with Edison-bulb chandeliers and opens up to a beautiful back patio of communal tables and hung foliage.
In addition to their dedication to brew craft and design, The Stalking Horse is also distinctive as an LA pub in that it is very vegan-friendly. Executive Chef Trevor Faris oversees the restaurants side of ABC’s properties and is well-known for having delicious vegan options on the menu.
Kicking off our Sunday Morning (View) Brunch was the Stalking Horse Breakfast,
which is an absolute must if you’re looking for a taste of traditional British pub fare. We ordered this entrée with the pork belly rasher and Yorkshire pudding (vegan options are griddled avocado and crispy bread, respectively). As egg lovers, we added on the two sunny eggs, which were great as an additional dipping accompaniment.
But those baked beans though… We never imagined we could enjoy baked beans so much. The consistency is on point, and the seasoning has a hint of spice that really makes it stand out! And it goes with absolutely everything on the plate, particularly the Yorkshire pudding and the dipping chips (note: British chips = American fries, and they’re usually thick).
If your prep-for-holiday-feasting body is craving a salad, the Root Salad
is a vibrantly popular choice. We were absolutely delighted to see this plate of beautifully stacked kohlrabi, carrots, and beets, topped with a generous helping of rocket (note: British rocket = American arugula). The salad rests on a layer of black garlic dressing and sprinkled with toasted walnuts. Pro-tip: this salad is for those that really enjoy their dressing; if you like minimal dressing, ask for it on the side.
If you’re in the mood for an extra hearty kind of meal, that’s the Eggy In The Basket.
The Stalking Horse version of this classic fried-egg-in-toast dish is to smother it in their delicious chicken potpie filling. This comfort dish is guaranteed to warm your soul, especially now that our SoCal weather has started dropping into the fur boots and beanie range (we recognize that we are spoiled wimps when it comes to below-perfect temperature).
The bread the restaurant uses comes from local LA-based Röckenwagner Bakery, and it is heavenly! As full as we were, we couldn’t resist tearing off “just one more” piece of potpie-filling-soaked bread. Skip to the end of this story where we polished off the massive plate. No regrets.
With so many amazing savory options, the Stalking Horse Brunch menu does also feature two sweet options: Crispy French Toast (vegan) and the Dutch Baby Pancake.
Topped with a divine blackberry compote, maple syrup, and house-whipped cream, this delish oven-baked pancake is hands-down the KG fave. We would definitely recommend ordering this no matter how stuffed you are from the other delicious dishes you’ve ordered. After all, brunch needs dessert, too!
On a community influence note, we’d like to mention that we love this place for its local impact and awareness. The Stalking Horse (and ABC properties in general) has actively establishes itself as a neighborhood spot. Residents in the surrounding areas come to watch sports, compete in costume contests, and participate in a number of other events that The Stalking Horse regularly hosts. The Stalking Horse also donates once a month to a local charity/organization, including LAFD Station No. 92 just across the street.
If you have a passion for a local cause, if you just want to rave about their delicious offerings, and/or if you just want to drop them a line, be sure to give them a shout on Instagram @thestalkinghorsepub and Facebook @TheStalkingHorse. Cheers!
