Floppy New York Slices At a Westside Sports Bar?

What: New York-style Slices and Pies at popular westside bar.

Where: The Nickel Mine (11363 Santa Monica Blvd, West LA).

Why: One of LA's worst problems: the food at our sports bars BLOWS. Okay, there are certainly **worse** problems, but it can be infuriating at times trying to seek out solid grub while catching a game. I went to college in Boston. I didn't get most of the cable channels, so I oft had to sojourn with friends at local joints to watch ANY game of ANY importance. No matter the griminess of the establishment, the food was (almost) always consistently good. 

LA? Not so much. It just doesn't seem that important to Southland sports bars.

That's why I feel it's my duty to point out (hell, bestow medals upon...) bars that serve halfway decent food. The sort of food that won't make you wondering the whole basketball game where the fuck you plan to eat afterward. That's Nickel Mine. They do a couple salads, but really the primary focus is New York-style, floppy, yet stern pizza. Even the red sauce is just so sweet. They keep it simple with only two options: cheese and pepperoni. Via slice or whole pie.

Although they don't offer a Happy Hour discount on food (which, by the way, Nickel Mine, you totally should; even a dollar or so off a slice or a whole pie would go a long way...), here's the hack I recommend: go during Happy Hour -- offered 5-8pm Sunday through Friday -- and grab two slices and either a draft beer/wine/well cocktail for... only $10. Nowadays, with ever escalating pizza pricepoints, that serves as one of LA's best deals. Plus it's a very convivial space, almost always packed with a few rowdy post-office rendezvous, so you get your NY pizza and atmosphere.