Cadet Michelada [CLOSED]

Cocktail Los Angeles

Cadet is a seasonal Santa Monica restaurant from The Counter founder Jeff Weinstein and chef Kris Tominaga that harnesses the power of a wood-fire grill in an airy setting. From their November 2014 opening, the space looked great, with brick walls, grey cushioned booths, a bustling square bar and chandeliers that could either qualify as Art Moderne, “The Day The Earth Stood Still” or futuristic Q-tips, depending upon your perspective.

Now that Tominaga and crew are really rolling, they’re open for two meals daily, including standout weekend brunch that includes food-friendly cocktails. I was especially impressed with Cadet’s Michelada ($13) that starred Strand Brewing Co.’s Atticus IPA, which provided a beautiful bittersweet base that was far more interesting than the standard Mexican lager.

Bartender Gaby Mlynarczyk, who previously worked at ink. and Eva, balanced the contents of the Collins glass with St. Germain, chiles, lime juice and honey. Shichimi togarashi, the Japanese seven-spice blend, lines the rim, and a slice of lime serves as a colorful garnish. The flavor profile was bright and spicy. IPA is an aggressive beer style for a michelada, so be sure to stir the drink and integrate bitter flavors before sipping.

Address: 2518 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90403
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Joshua Lurie

Joshua Lurie founded FoodGPS in 2005. Read about him here.

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