Los Angeles - March 04, 2009

The Golden Child

The Golden State Readies to Open

A shamanic-led peyote trip here, a pitch-black mystical sweat lodge there: You’re no stranger to altered states.

Enter The Golden State. Opening tomorrow, the cafe on Fairfax brings together owners James Starr and Jason Bernstein’s favorites from all over California under one clean industrial roof.

The menu features hearty sandwiches, Let’s Be Frank dogs, sides like caponata and Persian cucumber salad (hey, thanks, Rustic Canyon’s ex exec chef). It also happens to be the one spot you’ll find Scoops artisan gelato outside the original East Hollywood shop.

And from the Fiscalini cheddar on the burger to the art on the walls, the only thing without a strict Cali pedigree is the beer: A few rare imports snuck onto the list of homegrown artisanal selections.

What a long, strange trip it must have been.

The Golden State, 426 North Fairfax Avenue, between Oakwood and Rosewood Avenues, Fairfax District (323-782-8331 or goldenstatecafe.com).