There’s a Baby Blues BBQ in downtown L.A., with cocktails

If you’ve walked anywhere near the corner of Hill and 2nd streets in downtown Los Angeles recently, you may have noticed the complex and unmistakable aroma of barbecue. That’s because an outlet of Baby Blues BBQ restaurant, which has locations in Venice Beach, West Hollywood, San Francisco and Philadelphia, is now open at the Crossing lounge.

Here’s where things get a little tricky. When you walk inside, you’ll notice the decor is the same as it’s been since the space was the lounge Ebanos Crossing — lush drapes, “Game of Thrones�-style lighting fixtures. What’s different is what is on the tables, including Baby Blues BBQ’s squeeze bottles of sauces.

In a collaboration between the Crossing and the barbecue folks, you can now order Baby Blues BBQ at the lounge Monday to Friday. To be clear, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, there is no barbecue — it’s just a lounge with plenty of music and cocktails. Nothing wrong with that.

During the week, you can find Memphis ribs, pulled pork, brisket, hush puppies, fried green tomatoes and banana pudding. Yes, there are lunch specials. And on the weekends after dark: libations.

Happy hour at the Crossing, featuring Baby Blues BBQ, should start next week, available Monday to Friday, from 4 to 7 p.m. And those evening cocktails on the Crossing menu will migrate over to the weekday Baby Blues BBQ menu sometime soon.

200 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, (213) 935-8829, www.babybluesbbq.com.

I like ribs with my martini. Follow me on Twitter @Jenn_Harris_

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