HEAVY HANDED TRANSFORMS A STORIED STUDIO CITY BUILDING INTO A SMASH BURGER PLAYGROUND
Over the last few weeks, Heavy Handed owners Danny Gordon and Max Miller have spent long hours at their second and newest location. Opening today, April 19, in the former Mister O’s space in Studio City, it’s hard to miss while driving down Ventura Boulevard with a fresh coat of bright orange paint and a tall sign emblazoned with the shop’s red graffiti-style logo. The transformation is so stunning that the three-month remodel seems almost impossible.
For months, the Gordon and Miller oversaw construction, selected paint, placed in custom orange tiles, and converted a full-service restaurant into a fast-casual one. The former Mister O’s, which closed in 2023, had plenty of advantages for Heavy Handed 2.0. “We had the bonus of the extra beer storage and [beer] tap lines,” says Gordon. “We have more elbow room, indoor seating, and a covered patio — the things we wish we had in Santa Monica.”
With illuminated menus, LED art, a brightly tiled bar backsplash, a wraparound patio, and a custom parking lot mural by artist DJ Neff, Heavy Handed truly made this space their own. Those familiar with the Santa Monica menu will see single, double, or triple short rib-based smash burgers, tallow fries, sodas, and dipped (or not) soft serve. Gordon says future options will include a new batch of dips with flavors like Funfeetti, chocolate, and butterscotch. They’ll also add other menu items, like a dark chocolate-covered pretzel further down the road.
Inside, the San Fernando Valley’s Heavy Handed is quite a hangout with TVs all around and enough seating for 75 people. The sliding patio door will be wide open on warm days. The artwork should be some of the most Instagrammable in the Southland. Look for the Willy Wonka-esque art that depicts ice cream cones jumping off a diving board into a chocolate river.
Eight beers are on tap, and 18 are available in a can. Options on tap include IPAs, sours, lagers, and a Dank And Infused pilsner. Speaking of dank, Gordon and Miller are getting into the cannabis game with their own brand, which is sold at Erba in Sawtelle as of April 19, 2024.
Heavy Handed Studio City is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 11838 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA, 91604.