31ThirtyOne, from Baja-star Drew Deckman, offers one killer happy hour
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We started with two dozen oysters. We added a dozen more. Photo: Andrew Keatts/Axios
It's tough to beat rooftop happy hour at 31ThirtyOne by Deckman's, the new North Park restaurant from one of Valle de Guadalupe's most celebrated chefs.
Dig in: Drew Deckman, whose Michelin-listed Deckman's en el Mogor has become synonymous with Baja's wine region since opening in 2012, opened his first U.S. location on University Ave. last year.
- The upscale dining room with an open kitchen is refined, whereas Deckman's en el Mogor's outdoor farmhouse is rustic, and it focuses on sustainable, Baja-inspired cuisine.
The latest: The restaurant's happiest half hour offers oysters for $12 a dozen alongside $10 seasonal cocktails on its handsome rooftop deck.
- Last week, it served pai pai oysters from Guerrero Negro in Baja. They were petite, with a big umami flavor and sweet finish.
- It runs Tuesday through Saturday from 5-6:30pm, and reservations aren't available.
The vibe: There was a line specifically for happy hour before 5pm last Saturday, and every seat at the rooftop was filled once doors opened.
- It was a fun, early-evening vibe — under a blanket of June Gloom — with tables making friends and adding orders after seeing their neighbors' food.
- Coral Bells cocktails — vodka, Aperol, blood orange and sage oil — were all over the place.
What to try: The oysters, obviously, but we also snagged some small plates.
- Kombu-jime kampachi won the day — a Japanese technique of curing fish in kelp, served as a refreshing crudo.
- A fish collar with marinated cucumbers carried the deep, wood fired flavor I expect from Deckman.
