Allston Yacht Club

This was my second time to AYC, and even though we had a long wait because there was a screw up with their reservations, I am still giving them 4.5 stars because this is great food for the price and because they were sincerely apologetic. So back to the food:
Elysian Burger w/​wild boar — orgasmic! Had to order another after our first round of plates!
Shishito Peppers — super yum
Asparagus w/​red pepper — whatever whatever
Korean Wings — wouldn’t order them again because I like my wing fried crispy (esp when they say double fried) and with heat and tang. These had a little sweetness that just isn’t my preference.
Flourless chocolate cake — Mmmm excellent!

I’ve never been here but i read its pretty good!
cant wait (they are coming back)!!

Food here is really great. The grilled cheese is my favorite thing here. The bread is perfect. Brussels sprouts are really good and they just added this lobster salad on a brioche bun! YUM YUM YUM!
Drink: Echo Park Mule. So delicious.
The food usually comes out really fast once you order it. Getting drinks however is another story! I’d order two right when you sit down so you are covered for awhile.

While the menu has a nice variety, and the service is very prompt and efficient, I tried 5 different dishes at AYC and only liked 1 of them. I’ll run them down, from worst to best.
First, the calamari was tough and chewy, probably overcooked. The breading was nice, but the lone sauce that came with it tasted like watered-​down cheap Chinese sweet and sour.
Second, the brussels sprouts and bacon. The sprouts were rather tough and tasted undercooked, and the dijon mustard on them was almost overpowering. The bacon consists in bacon bits on top that taste like Bacos.
The «eggplant dip-​fried artichoke» was bland. The stiff but moist pieces of pita were nice, but there’s basically no artichoke here, just a couple fried shreds on top, like french fried onions.
The Elysian burger (beef, with boar) is good for what it is, but it badly needs a seasoning or sauce (perhaps the «house made spicy ketchup» that they serve with their fries?). The little dish of coleslaw that comes with it has an overpowering lime flavor.
But the one really lovely item was the Broiled Brie. It’s simply delicious, from the toasts that seem like they’ll be hard but are actually spongy, to the subtle fruit of the quince jelly on the side, to the warm, gooey melted tastiness that is the cheese.
In short: if you have to eat here, get the brie; but try not to eat here if you can help it.

Here is all you need to know about AYC: JALAPENO MARGARITAS.
The other useful tidbit is their Wicked Wednesday deal which means $ 5 food items and some wine specials. I have found their food to be very sub-​par. Nothing terrible, but nothing all that memorable. $ 5 is an appropriate price tag for their tapas, I’d say.
This is a small establishment, and deceptively loud, but I have not had any difficulty in being seated promptly on either a Wednesday or a Friday night.

The location and resturant itself is really cool, but the food was pretty boring.
Everything on the menu sounds like it would be so good and full of flavor, but it really wasn’t. I went with 3 people and we all felt that the food wasn’t really on point. We aren’t snobs at all. We don’t discriminate but this was just not that bomb.
The best thing on the menu is the bison burger for sure.

I’ve only been here once and it was on a weeknight. The place was not very crowded and the service was excellent. Our waitress was extremely friendly and very helpful with wine and tapas suggestions. I had the brussels sprouts which were divine! The 2 $$ price rating is a bit inaccurate. It can get spendy, as tapas tends to add up quickly. Especially when teamed with pricier wine, of which AYC has many lovely selections.
I’ve heard horror stories about the service here on the weekend. The place is small so I could see how it would fill up quickly. This is a good place to meet those friends that you rarely see, although they live downtown and you live in Silverlake (or vice versa). Now you have a pleasant, midway meeting place.

That’s right, I go to a yacht club b*tches!!! I’m classy. Blazers are my t-​shirts. I don’t clap – I golf-​clap. And my pinky has never touched a cup. Accept it. Ooooh, it’s like I’m from the Hamptons. And maybe Emily Thorne wants to hurt me too! Yipee! But seriously, you may think this place sounds highfalutin, but the environment and restaurant are far from that world. I have no idea why this place is called Allston Yacht Club, but what a great, quaint little find with tons of character and great service! Oh, Echo Park, you grimy-​hipster-​ghetto-​artsy gem of a neighborhood.
All the stars must’ve aligned because different circumstances led me to this place and now, it’s my new favorite yacht club of all the fake yacht club restaurants I know. Disclaimer: I know of only one.
Sundays from 4pm — 9pm happen to be $ 5 nights. Meaning all the entrees were $ 5! When my friend and I arrived at 7ish, the place was pretty empty. But it got a bit more crowded by let’s say 8 – 8:30. I think the Echo Park crowd are just later eaters. Take note: Sunday before 8pm. You’re welcome.
I suggest you share all the food. A great place for 2 people, but I did see bigger groups. I don’t know how big the plates are on normal nights, but on Sundays, they are a bit smaller, like tapas. And like tapas, the Sunday menu items are a bit more hardy, so you can get full on a few shared things. Between the two of us, 3 plates and a dessert were about enough. We shared the Shortrib Poutine Tostada, the Lobster Roll with Lemon Slaw (a special of the night verbally told by the waitress), and the Warm Mushroom Salad (replaced mixed greens with romaine lettuce). And for dessert, the chocolate caramel bread pudding with cinnamon in the whip cream (I think). Everything was DELICIOUS! The lobster roll was like the best friend I always wanted to eat… wait…The tostada under the poutine was a bit teeth-​crackingly hard, but that’s just knitpickyness now.
I think alcohol was discounted too, but I can’t remember how much. Beers, wine, mimosas, bloody marys. I went with a BM and it was good! And yes, I understand it wasn’t brunch and I wasn’t hung over, but for some reason I just felt like having a veggie in my drink… or fruit… or veggie… ahh, damn you ambiguously gay tomato!
Anyway, I’m coming back for sure! The place is inconspicuous so OPEN your eyes, and be prepared to find street parking. It seems like it would be a non-​embarrassing place to eat alone too if that’s your thing. The TV and seating at the small bar definitely help!

I wanted to like this place, I really did. It’s walking distance from my apartment so I’ve gone against my better judgement and dined here several times during the 2 and a half years I’ve lived in Echo Park– mostly for the sake of convenience.
And the food isn’t bad– though I always seem to leave hungry. The portions are small, which is to be expected at a tapas place, but the prices are not so small and the bill adds up fast.
My big issue with this place is the horrible service. The waitresses and the owner are pretentious, rude and apathetic. On one visit the tall brunette waitress missed my friend’s glass, pouring wine all over the table and getting some on her blouse. She never even said sorry or made any attempt to clean it up– just walked away without saying a word. Weird.
I had another terrible experience there last week that involved having the table I was waiting for given to the owner’s friends who came in 10 min after I put my name in and then waiting for another 20 minutes with said owner avoiding eye contact with me, only to leave and dine at Mohawk Bend instead.
This place has a bad attitude and an obnoxious too-​cool-​for-​school vibe. Red Hill across the street has better food, service, and ambiance.

It never fails. Every time I come here, my stomach leaves VERY happy.
Wednesdays: $ 5 deals on everything on the menu (except for their lobster roll), and $ 20 for a bottle of wine. Seriously, how could you go wrong?!
The food melts in your mouth. It’s so rich and full of flavor. You don’t get cheated out here. Just remember that all items on the food menu are tapas-​sized, which means you should probably order 3+ plates and if you go with someone, share! (This is why Wednesday nights rock). Also, they have ‘market’ things on their menu that are always changing too… like the cheese/​bread they use for their grilled cheese, which makes it exciting every time you end up going, because you’re going to go more than once.
Though normally pricey, you can check online for their happy hour, and also make sure you go to their Unbrunch Sundays– YUM.
AYC, you’re so good to me.

Only been once on the
, but so far so good. Had a light dinner and with tapas style portions it’s great for sharing a few dishes.
The broiled brie was good although room temp, would have been tastier served — well broiled.
The house salad is quite good with a golf ball sized was of goat cheese on top.
The drinks are well priced and the service was very friendly. Would love to try their grilled cheese and pulled pork plates next time.
Cozy, but bright ambiance with an intimate feel.

We used a
certificate to check this place out since I’ve always been curious. Pretty much in the heart of Echo Park, AYC (while easy to find) does not provide much for parking. We were there on a Friday evening and were seated right away. It’s a small restaurant but it didn’t feel cramped.
The clientele was very chatty/​loud and it was hard having a normal conversation. Our waitress was friendly and informative and we didn’t wait long for our orders. I enjoyed a Pinot Grigio and my husband enjoyed a vodka gimlet.
Off the specials list, I ordered the LOBSTER ROLL and it was the first thing to arrive at our table. I’ve always wanted to try one (based off of what I’ve seen on various Food Network shows) and AYC’s version seemed to be unconventional — it was light and fresh and hardly had that ocean taste. It was slightly sweet and the roll was lightly toasted. I was expecting more flavor and texure — it felt like I was eating a coleslaw sandwich. Definitely disappointed that I didn’t get hunks of lobster in a gloppy mayo mess — aka something a little more authentic.
My husband ordered the ELYSIAN BURGER (Wild Boar & Niman Ranch Chuck. Onion Jam & Cheddar) and he loved it. I had a bite and experienced the juicy meat and smokey/​sweet flavors. We also shared an order of FRIES with chimichurri sauce — the fries were awesome, and we would’ve liked the sauce if it were thicker (it seemed really watered down).
Overall, we liked AYC and would probably return on a special occasion. I’m sure trying other items on the menu would up my ratings, but for now that’s the impression I was left with: AYC-​OK.

I just heard about Allston Yacht Club while perusing Unilocal,and am happy I did.
I came here with my roommate after we wanted to take advantage of a happy hour, unfortunately is was Saturday, so happy hours at 5 aren’t easy to come by. Enter Allston Yacht Club, with happy hour from 5:30−7 every day. Now it isn’t the best happy hour in all the land, but I still appreciate that they offer it on the weekends.
We walked in around 5:45 and there were only a few other people there. The space itself isn’t very big, but its nicely decorated, and the staff is very friendly.
They give you complimentary crunchy chickpeas in what I believe to be paprika, ooh they are so good! We ended up each getting a drink ($ 7 each during happy hour and $ 9 regular). My roommate went with the dark and stormy, and I went with the Yacht Club Old Fashion. Both were heavily poured, and tasted right. We also ordered the Jalapeño and Corn Fritters and the Arancini. They each came with three balls to the plate, and both were also very tasty.
We didn’t spend a whole meal at Allston Yacht Club, but it was a great time we had there. Our waitress was really friendly, the drinks were good, and the food was delicious. I would definitely come here again. They also have a ton of different «nights» where they have deals on different food, oh and they have happy hour every night, I mentioned that already, didn’t I?

Okay, which one of y’all failed to tell me about Allston Yacht Club sooner?
OMG, what an awesome, hidden gem! I was a fan from the word «go,» what with the awesome décor and the Hawaiian surf music playing in the background. It was the perfect place to have a celebratory birthday meal.
The food was super delicious. I ordered the burger, sans cheese, and my roommate and I split the lemon slaw and the onion rings. She got the tostada, which had short ribs and sweet potatoes, and was to die for. Very flavorful and tender. The portions were perfectly sized — not too big, and not too small, great for sharing and all priced fairly. They also serve Bunderburg ginger beer, which I lurve.
I guess on another night, a more crowded, douchey scene, I might have thought less of AYC, but given the relative quiet of a Sunday, the ambiance, the late afternoon light, and the fact that it was my birthday, all made AYC something really special. I would come back in a heart beat!

Yum yum yum! I cannot wait to come back to this wonderful gem of a restaurant! We (2 ppl) ordered:
Ratatouille
Elysian burger
Arancini
Broccolini
Beer cheddar clams
Lobster roll
Everything was great. Great great.

This is a nice little hidden treasure on Echo Park Avenue, just north of Sunset Boulevard. It had a nice ambiance, and it’s always great to be greeted by a very friendly and hospitable owner. Our waitress, Misa (sp?), was wonderful and a delight as well. She was super nice and very accommodating, putting our Happy Hour tab on one bill, while separating the rest of the tab on a 2^nd bill where I applied my $ 50
certificate.
These were small plates, but the were very hearty, and for the most part, very satisfying and delicious. And if you make it here during Happy Hour (5:30pm — 7:00pm), all food listed on the Menu are just $ 5 a plate. Wednesday is when they have their All Night Happy Hour, which my friends and I have indicated that we’ll be taking an advantage of the next time we come back here. Our favorite dishes included the Broiled Shrimp with Feta Gratin — 4 succulent shrimps for $ 5 was a huge bargain! Other big hits with our table were the Cedar Plank Salmon, the Elysian Burger (patty made with a mixture of wild boar and ground chuck), and their off-​menu item, the Lobster Roll ($ 12).
It was a great place to hang out with friends. The only complaints were that the temperature can get a bit warm inside (especially after a cocktail or 2), and that there is only street parking. However, that won’t stop us from coming back for more. And if that Lobster Roll is available again, I’ll be there!

Decent place to grab a small bite and a drink during happy hour. The Broiled Shrimp & Feta Gratin was not bad at all. Plates are tapas size portions good for a quick casual bite. Aside from their Jalapeño Margaritas and cocktails they consistently have two artesian beers on tap. The only issue I had was consistency, I’ve ordered the same plate on separate occasions and each time it was seasoned differently the later being too salty.
Tips:
— Wednesdays: every plate on the menu is $ 5 and bottles of wine are only $ 18.
— Happy Hour from 5:30−7pm.
— Sundays ‘unbrunch’ from 3 – 8, special menu.

The food was a 4/​5, the ambiance last night was a ²⁄₅. Allow me to explain: The shrimp & feta, short ribs & grilled cheese were great! The mac n cheese was a 3… good, but a little too tomato-​y which was unexpected. I happened to go when there was a rowdy birthday party going on. I’m no party pooper, I enjoy lively crowds, but there was one guy there with the bday group that ruined the night for me. Hard to believe ONE patron can ruin an evening, but he was obviously beyond drunk and was SCREAMING at the top of his lungs, pounding the table with his fists and — get this — had a freaking whistle that he blew loudly, not once but around FOUR times that I heard. I had a TJ flashback with the guy pouring tequila down my throat and blowing the same type of whistle while shaking my head. No bueno.
This may be unfair, but the place is small and I feel management should have put their foot down with this D-​Bag who was succeeding at ruining the dining experience of everyone else outside his group. I left the place with a headache and upset stomach. While I enjoyed the food and the staff was pleasant, I do think that management should have pulled the reigns in with this pr! ck who was making everyone else miserable in his presence. Since this was hopefully a fluke, I’ll have to report how I feel on a second visit but right now I am still annoyed at dining experience to think about going another time.

I went here on a date this past Wednesday night. I read about this place in the LA Times — the resurgence of Echo Park — something like that.
Allston Yacht Club is a little restaurant/​bar that is about the size of a coffee shop. It’s very cozy. The atmosphere is hip and trendy yet cool and über romantic.
Three meats always catch my attention — duck, lamb and pork. I was in luck as all three were on the menu. The food portions are «tapa» style to be shared. We order the duck confit which was delicious. The lamb sausage was juicy and vibrant. We unfortunately did not order the pork, so this just makes it another reason to return to Allston Yacht Club. Out of all our dishes, I found the celeriac salad to be the best.
The service was fast. Our server was prompt and attentive to our needs. We did not have to wait long for our food to arrive to our table after ordering. Maybe the service was fast because it was a Wednesday night, who knows? It’s definitely worth coming back another night to see if it is true.
Street parking.
All in all, I am a fan of Allston Yacht Club.

OK, I’m being a teensy bit generous with my star allowance here, but I really think this place needs more than 17 reviews from us Unilocalers. It is definitely a spot that should be on your list to at least check out.
A friend of mine was raving about their Sunday Special… your choice of a snack, side, and entrée plate for $ 16. He had visited Allston’s just the week before and wanted to share his discovery, so we headed over that next Sunday (word on the street is that the $ 16 special goes for Wednesday too.)
Personally, I was enamored with the décor. I am a sucker for bold colors, candlelight, and ocean-​influenced art so I was totally comfortable as soon as I sat down, which is all I can ask for. There were only two other tables occupied when we arrived, so the atmosphere was very relaxed, perfect for an early Sunday evening. As the evening progressed, friends of the owners and regulars from the neighborhood stopped in to chat or grab a glass of wine. The hub of activity seemed to be the bar area which separates the dining area from the kitchen, where one could effortlessly pull up a seat, grab a drink and a dish for a quick, easy meal.
Our chosen plates for the evening were…
Snacks — Arancini (tasty) and Grilled Cheese (who doesn’t love grilled cheese?!)
Sides — Fennel, Orange & Greens (divine!!!) and Summer Squash (it was ok)
Plates — Ribs (I’m not a rib fan, so I’m not the best judge) and Merguez Sausage (very strong flavor, musky, but I like foods that make me do a double-​take)
Drinks — My cohort was a teetotaler but I am perpetually in need of a drink, so I went with Lena’s Holiday, whose key ingredients were Vodka, St. Germain, Cucumber and Ginger. Pure heaven, I had to use serious restraint from ordering seven more glasses of this sweet nectar. Mmmmm.
The service was definitely relaxed, some may call it slow, but I appreciated the casualness. I’ve noticed that the best meals I’ve had were at restaurants where I’ve said goodnight my dinner dates, walked back to my car, put the key in the ignition, glanced at the time that pops up on my car radio and realized that I’d been there for 3 hours! The waiter and owner were attentive and inquired on our meal, but they were never overbearing. I hope to have another leisurely Sunday evening meal at Allston to meet with friends, sit, chat, and gaze over Echo Park Ave sometime very soon.