Just off of MLK and Crenshaw Boulevard, on the periphery of the Crenshaw/Baldwin Hills Plaza, you will find Post and Beam in the location that used to be Creole Brothers. The mid-range menu and the open, sleek atmosphere makes Post and Beam the perfect place for a business lunch or quiet dinner.
We were lucky to lunch there during DineLA week, for which they have an excellent menu. The red pepper soup of the day was flavorful and multilayered, and the fried catfish was crisp without being greasy. The regular lunch menu is heavy on pizza and sandwiches. Sandwiches is where the creativity really comes into play. The deviled egg sandwich is topped with bacon, and although the bacon does overpower the vinegary deviled eggs, it is an inspired combination. The buttermilk fried chicken is thick and crunchy while remaining moist inside. It is probably a dish to share, maybe alongside the dreamy beet and goat cheese salad, which I think is the most succesful dish; the dressing is definitely made with a deft hand.
The wine list is mostly California, and wholly West coast. They have a full bar without the cocktail nation frou-frou. Service is friendly and knowledgable. Although we still lament the loss of Creole Brothers, Govind Armstrong’s Post and Beam has been a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
