Woo hoo! Bigfoot comes to the Westsiiide! Finally! And Bigfoot Lodge West is just down the street from its theme bar sister, Saints & Sinners, and in the former Rae’s Lounge space. Sounds like trouble in the form of a very short barhop. But with such strong cocktails who needs to add a third destination? Oy, that Holy Water at S&S!

And yes, like Atwater Village’s Bigfoot Lodge, this one features those crazy woodsy-themed specialty cocktails:

• Toasted Marshmallow: Vanilla vodka, butterscotch liqueur, Frangelico and Bailey’s topped with a flaming marshmallow
• Girl Scout Cookie: A chocolatey Thin Mint martini
• Dudley Do-Right: Canadian Club whisky, amaretto, cranberry juice and lime
• Sasquatch: Wild Turkey 101, ginger brandy, ginger ale and dash of bitters

Yeah, if you aren’t a big sweets cocktail drinker, you’ll be happy to know that this Bigfoot unlike that bar in the east boasts a rare collection of North American bourbon and whiskey as well as beer choices — on tap ($7 each except for Bigfoot which is $6) is Stella, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Boddingtons and Bigfoot Amber Ale; beers in cans or bottles ($4-$10) include Westmalle, Allagash, Trois Pistoles, Hitachino Nest, to name a few.

BTW, if you’re curious about that jar of brown liquid behind the bar, be afraid, be very afraid. Apparently it’s some kind of sexual tonic concocted by an herbologist and made with the likes of bark, deer antler, ants (!), goji berries, leaves and a neutral grain spirit, maybe everclear. It needs a couple of more weeks to ferment before it’s ready to, um, drink and then it’ll be $35 a shot! The guys at the bar are considering holding a naming contest for it but I think Horny Goat Hooch will do.

Anyway, since I’m off uber sweet drinks — they upset my stomach — I asked bartender Ian, who happens to take his mixology seriously, to fix me up a fine Manhattan. Since this was a media party and my drink was comped I just HAD to try the

Manhattan made with their more expensive rye, Hudson Manhattan Rye, which was created specifically to be used in Manhattans! The thing is that if you order the Hudson neat, it’ll set you back $24. But in cocktail form, it’s $25.50 (add $1.50 to the price of the spirit on the menu to get its cocktail price). Yup, that’s one expensive Manhattan.

And how does a $25.50 Manhattan taste, you ask? Twas all right. It had a disorienting flat aftertaste, like it disappears and makes you want more because you’re not sure if you got an accurate taste of it. I don’t know if I’d pay for one myself, though. Actually I know I wouldn’t because that’s just wayyy too expensive. Fortunately there is a cheaper rye available, the Michter’s 10-Year Small Batch Rye for $10, which is described to taste like pepper and vanilla.

And if you’re looking for a tasty off-the-menu cocktail, ask your bartender for  Sasquatch’s Sidecar (originally the Satan’s Sidecar when it was meant to be served at Saints & Sinners). Apparently Ian is the man to go to for this awesome concoction but he assures me that the other bartenders know how to make it, too. It made with brandy, grand marnier, lemon juice, simple syrup and a rim of sugar and a flambe’d lemon peel. Yes, fyah!

Unfortunately that will be the only pyrotechnics you’ll see at this Bigfoot, unlike Saints & Sinners and Bigfoot Atwater where they’re known to spit out the occasional fireball.

No, this Bigfoot feels so grown-up, Grandpa’s hunting lodge versus the summer camp feel of Atwater’s. Here, the bar takes centerstage, booths and a lounge seating area offer lots of places to rest your laurels, there’s a smoking patio and no giant Smokey the Bear statue greeting you at the door. There is, however, a jackalope head as well as a disco ball surrounded by antlers. Oh, and there’s talk of perhaps even opening up an upstairs space in the future.

I know I’m going to love it here. With no special comedy, iPod or movie nights, it’ll be a lot more chill. And don’t worry, they are looking into doing up a happy hour eventually.

Bigfoot Lodge West officially opens to the public tonight.

More pics of Bigfoot Lodge West media party.

Bigfoot West
10939 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90034 (map)
(310) 287-2200
Twitter: @bigfootwest
Hours: 7pm to 2am