> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Father’s Office expands to L.A - URL: https://www.smdp.com/fathers-office-expands-to-l-a/ - Published: 2008-04-22T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T23:55:09.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: local, Montana, #archive-import *New Father’s Office could alleviate lines* Attaining the best burger often depends on whomever can win the waiting game at one local landmark. But those seemingly endless lines at Father’s Office on Montana Avenue, a painful yet strangely pleasurable wait for the delectable caramelized onion-topped burgers and beer connoisseur’s selection of brews, could soon be much more bearable as Santa Monica’s neighbor to the south welcomes Father’s Office 2.0. Chef/owner Sang Yoon, who purchased the 55-year-old neighborhood fixture in 2000, celebrated the grand opening of the second iteration of his successful Santa Monica eatery, called Father’s Office 2.0, with a launch party at the Los Angeles bar last week. Part deux is located in the Helm’s Bakery Building on Helms Avenue near the Culver City border and is in a considerably larger space than its predecessor, estimated at three-times the size with an added benefit that is absent from the flagship — a patio dining area. Lesley Balla, the editor and writer of Eater LA, an online gossip blog that follows restaurants and nightlife in Los Angeles, predicts the opening of 2.0 will alleviate the lines in Santa Monica. “It’ll be interesting to see if I go on a Saturday and compare (the line) to three weekends before,” Balla, who has seen the new Father’s Office space, said on Monday. “That was a destination that people came from all over to see.” > “It’ll be interesting to see if I go on a Saturday and compare (the line) to three weekends before,” > “That was a destination that people came from all over to see.” — Balla, who has seen the new Father’s Office space, said Regulars at the Father’s Office seem to have mixed reactions as to whether they will ditch the old for the new. Adam Taylor and Evelyn Chang, or “Adam and Eve,” as they’re often called, said they would rather wait out the line in Santa Monica than make the drive through traffic in Los Angeles, pointing out that they live only 10 minutes away and walk to the bar. It can at times be a battle of wills — fighting the will to give up and go to another restaurant. “It’s the wait inside that kills me,” Taylor said. The couple at one time waited 30 minutes inside for a table, that’s aside from the wait outside. “But they have really good burgers and a good selection of beer,” Chang piped in. Standing in line in front of them, Jack Jones of Santa Monica seemed pleased to hear that a Father’s Office opened in Los Angeles, a drive he would consider to get his fix of his favorite burger. 561,“I definitely don’t like doing this,” Jones said about standing in line. “But (Father’s Office) is a happening place.” Balla predicts the biggest fans of the new Father’s Office will be the regulars and locals in Santa Monica who might not have to deal with customers who come from all over the country to visit, customers that might not be familiar with the dining etiquette in the bar — don’t hog a table unless everyone in the party is present and be willing to give up the unused seats at the table to strangers. The restaurant opened at 1018 Montana Ave. in 1953, given the name by its original owner who was called dad by locals. When Soon purchased the restaurant in 2000, he redesigned the bar menu, added an “esoteric wine” selection and installed a temperature control system of the 36 micro brews, according to the bar’s Web site. Aside from size, one of the differences between the old and the new is the introduction of hard alcohol and carefully crafted cocktails with no substitutions, which is the policy for the burgers. “The restaurant is over 50 years old, it has a great ambiance, but this new one is a little splashier,” Balla said. Jump hedline: New Father’s Office could alleviate lines in Santa Monica Suggested pullquote: “That was a destination that people came from all over to see.” Lesley Balla Editor and writer *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 22, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/042208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)