The Garage on Motor Ave — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Ive had two visits to the Garage on Motor, and sadly the difference was huge for me. Coming in on a regular day, they were extremely nice and caring and felt very welcome. Came back today for the doggie happy hour event with my pup and was excited to meet new people. All the servers/hosts there were extremely nice and welcoming, even with all the pups and chaos. I noticed they were busy on the balcony so I asked if it would be easier to order inside, which they let me know was fine either way! I didn’t mind waiting so sat at the bar, and thats where my issue began. The bartender was overwhelmed which I completely get due to the volume of customers, but one after another I got ignored despite arriving before others. No problem, I was sitting in the corner so I get that I’m easy to miss. But when the bartender finally asked what I want, he was clearly bothered by my presence. I asked for a strawberry marg, which he said he was unable to do(and I got a very tasty one yesterday, so I figured maybe they ran out of mix due to the volume of custs). Its no problem, I asked what he recommended thats sweet and he responded in a very demeaning way, offering soda or juice (I do look very young, but still). I immediately began to feel uncomfortable, so told him whatever he recommended would be fine by me as I’m not picky! He seemed upset that I was tasking him with this, and made it clear through his responses and demeanor. Decided to politely cancel the order and walk out. Thank you to all the staff that was kind, and for the bartender, I am truly sorry you felt overwhelmed to a point where me asking for something politely would send you in a mood. Sadly, I don’t think I’d be willing to come back, but I’m sure if you arrive on a non-busy day their service...

What a refreshingly creative theme for a venue! Really, the joint amounts to a local sports bar with above-average elbow room and classy decor, but what's the saying about doing something well..? The building where "The Garage" now hosts their patrons was once an actual mechanic's shop there on Motor. In fact, the joint across the street still IS an Autoshop, so the industrial vibe isn't just a gimmick. However, the bar itself offers a clean, tastefully-decorated tribute to the abundance of gearhead history that our long-standing romance with the internal combustion engine has furnished us with. This motor-city idolatry is joined by a Route 66-spirited homage to the deep history of Americana relating to engines and driving posted vividly across the walls of the place. Mostly excellent food, with a nice range of selections, a great sampling of on-tap beers with some prominent local micro-brews, a decent wine list, and the added enticement of a thrifty happy hour. A reputable place to park for an oil change, but this garage specializes in the hipsters and thirsty millennials that hang about...

A chill sports bar with a car mechanic theme, hence the name. It's also on Motor Ave which also adds to the charm. It is a good place for a small group to meet up and they have bar food including burgers, pizza, wings, and other American classics. The beer selection is simple with a lot of common generic beers and some local taps. They also have wine and some specialty cocktails.

They also have Happy Hour 4-7 pm Monday to Friday too, which has drink and food specials.

On this visit, I just got a beer and their Chicken Nachos. The Nachos were pretty good and well balanced with all of the toppings evenly spread. It had shredded chicken, pico de gallo, cheese, and a guacamole crema. Pretty simple, but satisfying and good to share!

Overall, a nice local spot to catch a game and food with...