As an Englishman, there is something entirely comfortable about a bar like Joxer Daly’s. Plenty of similar establishments in this country attempt to recreate the British pub vibe, and fail miserably. And it’s not completely their fault; much of what makes a British pub special is geographical as well as cultural. And they’re not supposed to be clean, so what is a bar-owner looking for the authentic British experience to do? Buy old cigarette-stained tables, or buy new tables and a whole carton of smokes? Not exactly.
Somehow in sunny Culver City, this bar gets a lot right. The soccer pictures tacked to the wall, the smell in the air that is a weirdly attractive mix of old beer and cooking fat, and the soccer (which should be called football because it’s played with the feet, as opposed to hand-egg) on the TVs.
And then there’s the food, which is not only edible but actually quite delicious. Against all of the odds, Joxer Daly’s created a stellar salad that is both fresh and relatively healthy, and absolutely delicious.
We say “relatively” healthy because the salad is served with some thick slices of parmesan toast, which is cheesy and yummy, but heavy on the carbs. No matter.
Regarding the classic salad ingredients, everything is crisp and fresh. The lettuce, carrot, cucumber and tomato is so vibrant and vivid, it wouldn’t need anything else, including dressing, for it to feel like a tasty treat.
But there is much more, and it’s all so good. The toasted croutons add some much needed crunch, while also serving as delicious little sponges for the other ingredients. Some tomato juice and some dressing soaked into a crouton can make the whole salad.
That Asian dressing is awesome too – a sort of ginger and soy concoction that works perfectly with this salad. It ties everything together and really hammer home the theme. But the star of the show is clearly the chicken. Encrusted with sesame seeds the meat is juicy and not dried out – a common mistake with these salads.
The flavors of the meat and sesame seeds blend together beautifully and, when you add the dressing, the full effect is felt.
The staff is super-friendly and the interior, while in many ways that of a traditional sports bar, is welcoming. As you’d expect, multiple screens show multiple games of multiple sports. There are pool tables and that sort of thing. But if you want to just chill out with a drink and have a bite to eat, you can do that too and it’ll be great.
Joxer Daly’s is located at 11168 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232. Contact 310-838-3745, or visit facebook.com/joxerdalys