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Dive Bar Dominator Crawford’s Expands to the San Fernando Valley Next

The former Sardo’s in Burbank gets new life

Crawford’s Bar
Yelp
Farley Elliott is the Senior Editor at Eater LA and the author of Los Angeles Street Food: A History From Tamaleros to Taco Trucks. He covers restaurants in every form, from breaking news to the culture, people, and history that surrounds LA's dining landscape.

The fine folks behind Crawford’s Bar will expand, this time taking up residence in the former Sardo’s space in Burbank under the name Crawford’s Pass. That should be good news for fans of the long-running former dive bar Sardo’s, as the low-key aesthetic of Crawford’s should keep the casual vibes of the building going strong.

For the uninitiated, Sardo’s was a longstanding karaoke hang popular with Valley types hoping to eschew fancy mixology and $10 draft craft beers. Unfortunately rising costs and a downturn in business led Sardo’s to close earlier this summer, with ownership penning a heartfelt goodbye letter to fans.

Now comes Matthew Dittman, Dave Abrams, Michael Blackman, and Dustin Lancaster, college buddies and business partners who worked together to bring the original Crawford’s to life in Westlake. Whereas that bar on Beverly Boulevard keeps a small locals-only vibe with its deep red booths and pool table, this new Burbank rendition will walk the line between local watering hole and all-inclusive Valley bar destination. The addition of a full line of alcohol will help (instead of just beer and wine), and of course keeping those famous boiled peanuts and fried chicken.

ABC signage is up now in the window, with an opening still a few months away. In the meantime, Dustin Lancaster is keeping plenty busy with projects in Chinatown and the Arts District.

Crawford’s Pass
259 N. Pass Ave.
Burbank, CA