Bartender Crush Du Noir: Steve at Ford's Filling Station

— by Caroline on Crack

Chocolate Martini a la Steven

Steve is a 20-something, tall, lanky guy with blonde hair and an easy, friendly smile who tends bar at Ford’s Filling Station in Culver City. He kinda reminds me of some actor in a romantic comedy I’ve seen before. Hmm, Josh Lucas?

I walked up to the bar and asked for the cocktail list and he smiled and, very gentlemanly, came around the bar to make sure I took a seat at one of the tall tables before he handed the menu to me. “What do you like to drink?” he asked me and Dre, leaning forward on our table looking genuinely interested. I told him I like chocolate martinis and he promised to make me the best chocolate martini ever! Sold! For Dre, he found out that she doesn’t like sweet drinks and likes to be surprised.

With a couple shakes of a cocktail shaker he returned to our table bearing gifts. My chocolate martini a la Steve ($10), a treat not on the cocktail list, WAS the best ever. Not too rich, just sweet and creamy enough where I don’t feel sick; and it tasted like heaven going down my throat with each sip. “It’s orgasmic!” Dre exclaimed after sampling it, and she was right. Her Lemon Meringue cocktail ($10) was very strong and tart, which I don’t like but she found divine.

“Come back Saturday,” Steve said, looking deep into our eyes. “OK! Oh. We’re gonna be out of town,” we sighed, defeated. “Then come back Wednesday or Thursday.” “OK!” we said in unison like the groupies we are, kinda embarrassing but he’s so cute he probably gets that kind of gushing all the time.

A good-looking guy who can make a heavenly chocolate martini? Dreamy!

9531 Culver Boulevard
Culver City, California 90230
(310) 202-1470
Cross Street: Washington Boulevard

Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-11pm; Sat 5pm-11pm