West Hollywood is full of crowded rooftops with overpriced drinks, but Blondie isn’t like that. It’s much more low-key, probably because it’s hard to find, hidden up a stairwell above a fitness studio, with no obvious signage. The tomato water martinis and coconut-washed milk punches are under $20. And there are views, but they’re limited—you can catch a semi-obstructed glimpse of the hills past the construction site next door. Despite dancey house music that attempts to lift the energy, being at Blondie mostly feels like you’re drinking on the second-floor roof of someone’s condo building. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
But if you’re tempted to treat this place as a restaurant, don’t. The spicy rigatoni is impressively bland, the salads are underdressed, and the bready bar burger is forgettable. If you’re just looking for somewhere to chill in the open air with a $14 frozen cocktail, or you don’t want to deal with the crowds at Catch or Sushisamba, Blondie is a decent enough alternative (though right now, you still might need a reservation to guarantee a primetime table). But if the words “West Hollywood rooftop” lead you to expect stunning views and a scene to match, you should probably look elsewhere.
Blondie accepts walk-ins at all hours, but arrive before 6pm to secure a table without a reservation. Primetime tables book out a week in advance, though midweek tables are more readily available.
Food Rundown
Cocktails
Blondie keeps it cocktail list short and sweet, with eight options that span from boozy to tropical vacation. The milk punch with coconut rum tastes like a frozen piña colada, and the tequila-spike Electric Feel reminds us of spicy dried mangoes (with a Sichuan peppercorn kick).
Prawn Toast
The best dish at Blondie. The toast is dark and crackly, which is a nice contrast to the bouncy egg-prawn filling. The lime, fried thai basil, and spicy curry aioli on top taste like they belong together, too.
Chop Salad
This loaded salad looks delicious, but that’s about it. No amount of cured meat and cheese can save the plain pile of lettuce below that cries out for dresssing.
Spicy Mezcal Pasta
A handsome dupe of the famous Horses pasta that’s nowhere near as good. It’s not spicy whatsoever, and the stracciatella on top, while tasty, dilutes the sauce even more.
Blondie Burger
You won’t be thinking about this burger tomorrow, but it’s fine. The onions are tossed with horseradish to cut through the gooey cheese, and the patty is seasoned with all the salt that is missing from Blondie’s other dishes.
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