El Compadre

Did the name for your indie-rock band come to you in a dream on the rim of a flaming margarita? That was no dream. You blacked out at El Compadre. Specializing in lighting tiny fires in the scooped-out interiors of limes placed in the center of its ridiculously potent house specialty, El Compadre also makes a mean carne asada platter and hosts a peppy house Mariachi band that will keep you tipping all night long. The place was once a German restaurant and for the longest time they had the only existing bottles (that we could find in L.A.) of the discontinued super liquor Bad Apel (once a favorite shot of waitresses and regulars at the Red Lion Tavern). If you ask for it they will try to dig it up.

TIPS: It doesn't look like it but the bar area of this restaurant hosts a pretty thriving sports-watching scene. The TVs are always tuned to whatever sporting event draws the most eyes and the bartenders will fill you up with chips and salsa for as long as you care to stay. This is also a great place to go when you get tired of the over wrought scene at neighboring bars the Short Stop and the Little Joy.