Imagine being able to lay back at a local, classy eatery after work, sip on a Corona, munch on lamb chops, spend only about $10, and maintain a decent calorie count all at once.
With Sunset at Seasons 52, the Century City-based restaurant’s version of happy hour, this ideal scenario has thankfully become attainable.
Sunset at Seasons 52 is a recent endeavor of the restaurant, as the menu specials launched just last month due to the change of season to fall. From 4 pm to 6:30 pm Monday through Friday, guests can order select small plates for $5, select specialty cocktails for $8, select cocktails for $6, select wines for $6, and select beers for $4.
“The drinks offered on the menu are very refreshing,” said Isbhak Vazquez, managing partner at Seasons 52. “They’re perfect for transitioning from summer to fall.”
For instance, the Prairie Mule, which is one of the specialty cocktails offered on the Sunset at Seasons 52 menu, is a mix of classic vodka and an autumnal ginger beer, iced and served in a copper mug so as to preserve its chilled elements.
The cucumber basil smash, on the other hand, seems to hold on to the last bits of summer what with the tastes of fresh produce in its ingredients. This specialty cocktail incorporates cucumber vodka, white cranberry juice, fresh lime, cucumber, and basil into the concoction.
There are two more specialty cocktails (the Hawaiian pineapple cosmopolitan and the organic sunshine martini) in addition to a variety of seven cocktails made with premium house spirits (Finlandia vodka, Bacardi rum, Bombay gin, Jose Cuervo, Jim Beam, Seagram’s 7, and J&B Scotch).
Four white wines (Santa Julio Pinot Grigio, Indaba Chardonnay, Jam Jar Sweet White Blend, and Aveleda Vinho Verde), four red wines (Mirassou Pinot Noir, Juntos Merlot, Wrongo Dongo Monastrell, and Concha Xplorador Cabernet), and four beers (Stella Artois, Michelob Ultra, Corona, and Sierra Nevada) are all specially priced on the Sunset at Seasons 52 menu.
As far as the small plates go, executive chef Russell Johnigan elaborated on the intricacies of the ingredients required to create his culinary masterpieces and maintain their quality levels.
“In the grilled chicken yakitori skewers, a couple of the ingredients we use are pineapples and Asian glaze,” Johnigan said. “In the grilled scallops, there’s Hawaiian sea salt, lemon oil, and microgreens. And in the lollipop lamb chops, a special balsamic vinegar that has aged for 15 years is used.”
Vazquez added that each of the restaurant’s dishes utilizes the fresh local items available in Southern California.
“A lot of our fruit are bought from nearby Santa Monica,” Vazquez said.
The restaurant also offers menu options with set calorie counts. Due to the widespread health-conscious mentality of Westside residents, Seasons 52 has done its part to accommodate to its guests with dishes exceeding no more than 475 calories each.
To top this special menu off, those who take advantage of Sunset at Seasons 52 can also catch some live music if they time their evening correctly: starting at 6 pm, a live piano player takes over the scene behind the bar, making for an intimate, up-close performance for those who dine in.
Vazquez noted that “there has been good feedback” already due to the ambiance of the restaurant combined with the components of the menu specials.
Sunset at Seasons 52 offers a range of appealing qualities that tend to be atypical of the common happy hour, from healthy food to seasonal drinks to live music.
Seasons 52 is located at 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. in Century City at the Westfield mall.
To find out more about Sunset at Seasons 52, call 310.277.5252 or visit seasons52.com.
