DTLA’s Beelman’s Pub, long the home of oysters, sliders, hot wings and hulking burgers, is planting its flag as a plant-based restaurant when it goes all-vegan tomorrow. What began as a European-inspired gastropub in 2014 is shaking up its concept and relaunching as simply “Beelman’s” on Wednesday, shifting not only to an entirely vegan menu, but to one inspired by the Asia-Pacific—that includes its cocktail program, which will lean heavily on tiki classics.
The switch doesn’t come as too much of a shock, considering Artisanal Brewers Collective acquired the Beelman’s property earlier this year. The Tony Yanow-fronted beer organization owns a number of vegan-friendly bars around town, including Tony’s Darts Away, Mohawk Bend and the company’s latest, British pub the Stalking Horse.
“Tony’s Darts Away is where it all started—where I grew and where I learned everything I know about plant-based food,” Beelman’s chef Caroline Concha says in a news release. “I am thrilled to bring a redefined plant-based pub experience to Downtown L.A., creating a casual environment where both the beverage program and plant-based fare can share the spotlight. The menu at Beelman’s is entirely original and puts unique, vegan cuisine at the forefront where it belongs.”
Gone are the five-plus varieties of beef burgers of the old Beelman’s Pub, but instead, guests can now find two varieties of Impossible Meat-based burgers, one of which involves plantains, shredded kale, gochujang aioli, pineapple, slaw and house-made jalapeños. There are bar snacks—such as peanuts with toasted garlic, Japanese dried chili and salt, and the pretzels with spicy mustard and gochujang crema—as well as salads, a breakfast burrito, faux hot dogs, a Buddha bowl and even a section of the menu devoted to street food, which is where you’ll find “tatchos” with Soyrizo, cashew cheese, salsa, crema, jalapeños, chili, beans and cilantro.
On the beverage side, expect a well-curated beer selection—a hallmark of any Artisanal Brewers Collective joint—plus tiki-inspired drinks such as the Trinidad Sour, with Redemption Rye, angostura bitters and orgeat, or the cocktail-for-two Mid-Century Zombie, which features white, aged, dark and over-proofed rum. For those who love their cocktails in slushie form, the new Beelman’s will also feature frozen cocktails including strawberry frosé and a piña colada.
As if those weren’t enough changes, to accommodate Downtown’s business crowd, Beelman’s will launch lunch service on Thursday, November 16, and open at noon Monday to Friday, as opposed to 4pm.
Take a peek at some of the new items you can expect from the retooling:
Photograph: Courtesy Beelman’s
Beelman’s is located at 600 S Spring Street, relaunching tomorrow with the hours of 4pm-2am Monday to Friday; noon-2am Saturday; and 10am-2am on Sunday. Beginning Thursday, November 16, Beelman’s will open at noon Monday to Friday.