I love a good Bloody Mary, and the Bloody Royale at Franklin and Company Tavern in Hollywood may be the biggest, baddest, wildest Bloody Mary I have ever seen.
It starts as expected — basic tomato juice and vodka — but then takes it up a notch, with spices and garnishes galore.
The Bloody Royale has a celery stalk, a green olive, a pickle spear, a bacon-wrapped jalapeno, an onion ring, pepper jack cheese, a roasted brussel sprout, and even a hamburger slider.
That’s right, this drink pretty much comes with a meal on top of it.
Franklin and Company Operating Partner Jeremy Fraye told me that the Royale is in keeping with the Bloody Mary’s long tradition as a culinary drink. The cocktail’s focus on garnishes, spices and sauces leads each bar’s version of the drink to taste a little bit different, depending on what the chef — I mean, bartender — tosses into the mix.
Every version is unique. (Case in point: here’s a Bloody Mary that’s grilled!) As for the Royale, it’s definitely a culinary adventure. It’s a meal, a drink, and some say the hangover cure to beat all hangover cures. If this drink doesn’t wash away the night before — nothing will.
If a burger sounds like too much, there are always Franklin and Company’s six other Bloody Mary variations, including the Bloody Maureen (made with Guinness instead of vodka) and another using spicy Sriracha hot sauce and jalapeños.
What: Franklin & Company Tavern
Why go: For the Bloody Royale, the fiercest Bloody Mary you’ve ever seen … and a full menu as well.
Where: 5923 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles; 323-463-1552
When: They are open from 11 a.m. until midnight Sunday though Thursday and from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Fun facts: They ring a bell every time someone orders the Bloody Royale.