Post & Beam’s John Cleveland Splurges on Oysters Rockefeller and Fried Chicken

Restaurant: Post & Beam
Name + Title: John Cleveland, Chef & Co-Owner

Resy: What’s your favorite dish from the Post & Beam takeout menu?

Cleveland: We got heavy into pizza this year. It’s my son’s favorite food to eat, and it works for us as a family. We probably eat at least a pizza a day. We’re also bringing back some of our other crowd favorites, like the jerk-marinated fried catfish and slow-braised short ribs. 

What’s a tip someone can do to amp up your takeout? 

Get something to drink with it. Since we’re full service, with a full liquor license, we made these combo specials like a pizza and a cocktail for $20. I also think you should consume everything as soon as you get it, even better if you pick it up here. Consume while hot.

Outside of your own restaurant, where are you getting takeout from these days?

We live in Inglewood, but we don’t get much takeout. But when we do, one of our favorites is Dulan’s Soul Food. We also like Grilled Fraiche, which started out as a food truck but now has a brick-and-mortar location. 

What’s your go-to order?

Definitely fried chicken at Dulan’s. With mashed potatoes and gravy, and collard greens. Yes!

What’s your favorite place for to-go cocktails and why?

I’ve been drinking our own!

What single restaurant dish would you walk miles for?

One of my most frequent spots is Harold & Belle’s, and our favorite dish is their étouffée. And the oysters Rockefeller. I would die for some of those oysters and a beer right now. 

What was your first meal out when restaurants reopened?

Well we also have a toddler, so that’s hard. But we did get a babysitter and went to The Lobster in Santa Monica. Govind [Armstrong, mentor and former chef of Post & Beam] was there. The view, the food. It was all so memorable. 

What do you miss most about restaurants being fully open?

I most miss being able to go to a bar and actually socialize. That’s the best about Post & Beam. We have this open kitchen with bar seats right there at the kitchen, and we used to serve oyster shots to the guests who sat at the bar, just as a little gesture. It’s little things like that. You can’t quite replicate it with takeout. I miss those touches of service. The service industry has taken quite a beating. If you’ve been in any part of service, any role, that whole environment is completely absent. Also: I miss the hugs.

Post & Beam is open for takeout and delivery Tuesday through Sunday for dinner. Order takeout and delivery here.