The Westside has taken a giant step toward awesome with the recent opening of Bigfoot West, the aptly named outpost of an Atwater Village favorite.

Driving along Venice Boulevard, you will likely have a "wtf?" moment as you pass what looks like a log cabin
just a few doors down from the 1933 Group's sister bar Saints And Sinners. You'll know you've arrived when you see a lit-up sign that looks like it was stolen from a movie theater and an outdoor patio full of twenty and thirtysomethings smoking up the night.

Bigfoot West gets an A for effort in terms of decor. The owners went balls out with the woodsy theme and it quite feels like you're in a huntsman's lodge (without having to kill an animal to get there). What little light is provided comes in the form of deer-antler chandeliers, and the bar itself is made of wood from naturally fallen trees in Big Bear. The walls are fresh from the Yes Man replica-set of the original Bigfoot Lodge, and the rest is recycled pine.

On the patio, a conveniently placed tree stump works splendidly as a final resting place for your Hoegaarden empty or your tush. Inside, the long rectangular bar provides ample seating, or you can retire to a red leather booth and get to work on that Toasted Marshmallow.

Which brings us to the reason we're here in the first place: Bigfoot West has a wide selection of imported beers, whiskey, bourbon, rye (if you're feeling old man-ish), and a small wine list for stayin' classy. The specialty cocktails are more for novelty's sake than for achieving a level of inebriation, but it's
still pretty cool to watch the bartender light a marshmallow on fire before dropping it into your glass.

It might've just been our tough luck, but on the night we visited the mixed drinks were heavier on the mix than the drink. Nonetheless, the notable exception is the signature "Sasquatch," an unholy concoction of Wild Turkey 101, ginger brandy, ginger ale and bitters that had our posse chatting up attractive strangers after just a few sips.*

Overall the name of the game is reasonably priced drinks, awesome atmosphere, friendly staff and a low-key place to hang without pretention. Staples like a screwdriver will only knock you out 7 bucks, while specialty drinks are $9-10, and beers run anywhere from $4-$9. The crowd tends to veer on the young side, and the music on the rock 'n' roll side. Valet parking is available for $5 on weekends, but it's easy to find a spot on Venice Blvd. or a nearby side street on less popular nights. Last Saturday the Japanese BBQ truck pulled up halfway through the night, but if you want classic drunk food there's also a hot dog vendor a few yards away.

And while our rugged cabin retreat is still somewhat
of a Westside secret, don't be surprised when it's spotted as the next big thing.

____________________________________
____________________________________

*Editor's Note: In a double-blind study conducted over a two night period using a random sample of male and female drinkers between the ages of 21-40, LA.COM staffers have scientifically concluded that the "Sasquatch" will utterly fuck you up. Not since the Tiki Ti let loose a "Blood & Sand" battle cry of Toro! Toro! Toro! has a designated driver been so unequivocally imperative. --Lisa Brenner