Creperie...what Jack N' Jill were really up to

8738 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310)858-4900
Mon-Thu 11AM-10PM
Fri 11AM-11PM
Sat 9AM-11PM
Sun 9AM-9PM

The small strip of area just west of the Beverly Center on 3rd has some amazing little gems for dining. A while ago I went with Celeste to Michelia and had an amazing meal (lobster that was to die for). Alas, Michelia's is now gone and in it's place is Creperie by Jack N Jill's. While I shall miss Michelia's, it's replacement is delightful and yet another great option for the all ready assorted breakfasty places on 3rd.

The spring time fresh vibe at Creperie is perfect now the weather has been heating up and will continue to the further we get towards summer (God I love LA). First things first, get the coffee. So freaking good and for $3.50 for the large French press of their special blend you will not be disappointed. Though you can't really tell from eyeing it, the French press they give you gives you about 5 of their cups of coffee.

Being as this is a place that specializes in crepes you'd be foolish to not get some (though the burger they have is something that must be had next time I go there...along with a crepe). Shown here is their Baton Rouge crepe which is made up of blackened chicken, red onion, cilantro, cheese, all in a smoky Pinot Noir reduction. Typically wine reductions that are this rich either lose the original wine flavor or are nothing but the wine flavor. The balance here is perfection; you can truly taste the Pinot Noir and yet it's not overpowering at all nor is it that rich. Indeed it's very savory but it's an easy choice for those desiring boldness without going over the edge.

Their "Perfect Little Creperie Salad" is the bomb. I, as many of you know, don't really care so much for salads of any sort. It's not that I hate them or anything, I just don't find them all that wonderful in my palate. In other words I'm not craving too many green things at all. This little salad which came as a side with our crepe is just like it say..."perfect". Fresh butter lettuce, candied pecans, roma tomatoes, mushrooms, shaved carrots, with their citrus vinaigrette was so dang good. This is honestly a salad I could have with just about any meal. Simply delicious.

The hearty eater in me had to have a main course since I'm not actually from LA (those of you from LA take that comment as you want). Their pulled pork sandwich was rich but in a good way since you don't really get tired of the sauce which was slightly tangy bbq with a hint of smokiness that glued all the pork fibers together. Amazing but I must admit I had food envy when I saw their burger delivered at the table next to me (should have snapped a shot but someone might have thought I was taking a pic of Adam Sandler who was in the same direction as that table).

A nice thing about crepes is you can get them hearty or sweet; giving yourself a dessert. The Gentilly (shown above) was a great introduction to a simple sweet crepe done well. Made with apricot preserves, cream cheese and honey it was a perfect ending for the already scrumptious meal we had. At times, I was a little apprehensive that there might not be enough cream cheese to balance out the preserves but it only happened in a couple of bites. No easy feat to pull that off.

I see myself coming here way more often since it's not on the immediate brunch stomping ground of 3rd st (Toast, Joan's, etc.) and for the fact that it's a little something different. Sure the parking can be weird (they do have valet if you don't mind waiting next to celebs or the or the other option of walking a couple of blocks for street parking) but the dining experience of quality, interesting food with quality service is always what's called for on this stretch of road. If there was anything I could have wanted to replace Michelia's when they left, it's the Creperie.

Free Refills: Don't know...get the coffee...it goes with everything they serve!
Entree Price Ranges: $9 to $14 for everything but the grill and rotisserie selections which range from $15 to $25...get a crepe ;)

Diner Week: Wendy's Place...love from the other side of LAX

107 W. Grand Ave.
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310)322-3942
Tue-Fri 6AM-2PM
Sat-Sun 7AM-1PM
Mon Closed
CASH ONLY

Breakfast by LAX can pretty much suck all around. Unless you find the few gems that are tucked away within a few minutes distance by street from the airport. George's is one such place that comes to mind if you're coming from the North side the airport. But, if you're coming from the south side, THE go to place for breakfast is Wendy's Place in El Segundo.

I love this place! Loved by just about everyone in the neighborhood and even the surrounding neighborhoods (I had friends who live in Manhattan Beach that told me they love this place when I mentioned I would be writing about it). The walls are covered with Norman Rockwell painting puzzles and there's a sweet sense of a place that has somehow withstood the changing times.

The breakfasts they serve up are as All American as the Rockwells on the walls. As far as chicken fried steak and eggs are concerned, their's are one of my favorites in the Southland. I would honestly rank it in my top five. The breading is light, the meat very tender and the gravy is just the right consistency so that you don't feel like you just ate a brick. The hash browns have just a hint of meat flavor from the grill and the eggs seal the deal.

By reading the posts so far, can you tell we love pancakes? There's are no exception with these cakes being spongy but firm. Somehow they're able to stay together even with gobs of syrup (yes I have a sweet tooth).

Parking is street parking. It's located in the "small towny" section of El Segundo that has a huge sign section showing the churches in the area (which were plenty). Somehow walking into this area you're taken back to a Mayberry like atmosphere complete with the the small diner that they call Wendy's to supply the right start for your All American day...or flight from LAX.

Free Refills: Yes. Oh and they have pretty decent coffee ;)
Entree Price Range: Breakfast $5 to $8 and lunch is $7 to $10

Diner Week: Tokyo 7-7 Coffee Shop

3839 Main St
Ste B
Culver City, CA 90232
(310)204-5728
Mon-Fri 7AM-3PM
Sat 8:30AM-2PM
CASH ONLY

Having the current status of being not as rich as I used to and figured I'd do a special week on the diners in LA. I have a tremendous love for diners being that on the East Coast they are places that are often stuck in time with cheap prices that rarely go up and a staff that'll often stay working there for as long as they live. The food, while rarely being mind blowing, is always consistent and you can count on a certain standard of coffee. Los Angeles really doesn't have too many of these places. I remember one of the last one's, "Tiny Island" on Wilshire, was torn down a few years ago. My heart sank, especially considering that nothing has replaced the spot. I think it's just an empty lot now. I've already written on some diners in LA that I feel are pretty stand out, but I wanted to focus on places a little off the beaten path and or maybe places that you have heard of but never seen.

A prime example of all I have just talked about is Tokyo 7-7 Coffee Shop in the alleys of Culver City. You won't find this place unless someone has told you where to go specifically. My best advice is to get on Main Street in Culver City and look for Bottle Rock wine bar. There you'll see an alley. Walk through the alley till you are in the heart of the intersecting alleys and you'll find Tokyo 7-7.

Though it's a very secretive spot, you'll find that the place is pretty busy pretty often. Don't worry though, the service is fast and at worst you'll only be waiting for a few of minutes. There's a center counter with about 14 tables surrounding it. It's got a certain charm to it that has been all but lost in our city with the ever changing "impress me now" attitude prone to LA.

The French toast is always rocking. Light grilled and pretty classic.

American breakfast with Portuguese sausage for flair. Their eggs are what eggs should be with very "familiar" home potatoes.

The pancakes were fluffy and chewable (some mass to them), the texture uncompromised by the butter and maple syrup.

The prices for breakfast make you wonder how they're making any money! Notice the early bird special!!!

Lunch is insanely cheap too even with Asian dishes on the menu!

One thing that made me smile was the cashier lady who was knocking it down with the abacus! Each bill that came in was calculated super fast with this thing. It reminded me that in school they had taught us how you could do just about any computation on an abacus that you could do on a calculator, you only had to know how to work the computations. She is most definitely a master.

This place is hidden from prying eyes, but has all the clientele it could ever need. They don't take card which is pretty unfortunate, BUT it's cheap enough that you might even have enough in pocket for your meal without having to make a special bank stop. Parking is a actually a whiz with the parking structures right next door that give (if I remember right) 2 free hours. Next time you're on the west side and aching for some breakfast find this alley and pull up a spot on the counter.

Free Refills: No, but the price makes it about what you'd pay anywhere for a soda with a refill if you buy 2 servings of soda.
Entree Price ranges: Breakfast is $1.70 to $5!!! and lunch is $2.50 to $5!!!

Dolce Isola...even the simple things from The Ivy are to die for!

2869 S. Robertson Blvd
Culver City, CA 90034.
(310)776-7070
Mon-Sat 7:30AM-6PM
Sun closed

A recent addition to the Culver City empire of restaurants is the Ivy's Bakery store front by the name of Dolce Isola. Being that The Ivy is such a place of note and that just the mention of it conjures up pictures of celebrities hob nobbing on the front patio. It's no wonder that this place shouldn't become a hit amongst common folk such as myself, as well as the rich and famous.

The focus of Dolce Isola is first and foremost as a bakery so you'll find fresh breads and cakes to delight the eyes as well as your taste buds. But don't be fooled, their sandwich selection is something very special... and be sure to check if they have a special sandwich of the day!

Both our sandwiches are what I've always imagined the perfect picnic sandwiches to be. The Dolce club consisted of fresh roasted free range turkey, baby lettuce, tomato, avocado, bacon and their mayo must have infused with a HINT of horseradish. All items were very fresh and the bread was a firm, toasty crispness on the outside and soft on the inside. In short AMAZING. I would grab this in a heart beat if I ever couldn't decide what to get. It was simple, but even perfection can be simple.

Celeste enjoyed their caprese sandwich, made up of fresh tomato, fresh mozzarella di bufala(aka-REAL mozarella which is made from water buffalo milk), basil, light dijon mustard and a little olive oil. With the crunchy softness of the bread, the flavors of each item came together beautifully. Also, it was refreshing to taste fresh soft mozzarella from water buffalo milk, such a difference...if only more people knew.

Here are just SOME of their baked items, additionally there were several more platters out in the open to tempt you. Celeste got a Latte to go with our selections, and I wouldn't normally mention her coffee (sorry no picture) , but she and I found it to be pretty spactacular, and she LOVED the foam (which is really saying something, cause normally she finds it tasteless and an annoying barrier between her and her drink) .

We chose the carrot cake, which if I remember correctly was the Capri cupcake of the day, a dense, double cupcake sized bit of goodness. I myself am always hard pressed when it comes to cake as I'm not such a cake guy, but this was exceptional. The cream cheese frosting was SUUUPER creamy..."like buttah". As for Mitzi's Earthquake cookie, I barely have a clue about what's inside of it. I know that eartquake cookies are made from the same basic dry ingredients as Devil's food cake, and they have a sugar coating that when they're done cracks and reminds you of the ground after an earthquake. What Mitzi's recipe calls for I don't know, but these things were killer. It seemed like a little bit of toffee as well as walnuts were tossed in but don't quote me on it instead just buy one figure it out...they're only 75 cents a cookie.

Here's their array of gelato and sorbet which makes for a great finish for any meal here.

We got a small cup of their Pecan praline and while not the best in town it's most certainly up there for smoothness and creaminess. This was very nice in that it wasn't too rich and the pralines were crushed very small, and the base vanilla flavor it was mixed into was just perfect. Indeed a perfect way to cap off this great Saturday afternoon kick back meal.

With their hours, this is a great way to bring something special home to a loved one or yourself on a weeknight, a means to arrange a perfect picnic, or have a nice low key meal on location. A big plus is that you can order many baked goods including bread, cakes that can serve intimate or huge parties (this screams weddings) as well as their to-die-for jams, chutneys and sauces. My one sadness with them is that they're not open on Sundays and they close at 6PM on the other days. I mean Sundays would be ideal for this place as they'd make a killing. Other than that, I find this place to be a new hotspot for me whenever we can make it. And make sure to hop on in because, for many, this could be the closest you will ever get The Ivy!

Free Refills: No
Menu: I'll do better than give you a range. Here's the menu from the day we went.

Industry Cafe & Jazz...Ethiopian Culture meets American Culture

6039 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 202-6633
Sun-Thurs 11AM-Midnight
Fri-Sat 11AM-1:30AM

Being a musician, and more importantly a bassist, who plays both electric and upright, I find that it becomes an everyday occurence to see myself gravitating to people who share a love of the same things. Since upright bass is synonomous with Jazz, it's no coincidence that I've been to plenty of jazz clubs here in LA including all of the prominent ones that the big players get featured at.

In Culver City there's the blink-and-you'll-miss-it restaurant called Industry Cafe and Jazz that features great jazz, great Ethiopian food (as well as some soul food bites). The beauty of the place is that it's open pretty late. I find it to be a beautiful marriage of great cultures. It's been said that Jazz is the only true musical heritage we have. It was born here in America and is every bit American as the hard working people that it was birthed from.

I won't go into huge details here, but I'll tell you in a nutshell that the food is wonderful and is served by people who aim to please. The types of food are standard Ethiopian fare but don't let that fool you if you've never had Ethiopian. There's much to be said about their incredible culture and even more so their food! Rich in spices and textures, it's a foodie's delight!

Here's one of their standard but very well done meals all on injera (wouldn't really be Ethiopian without it). Shown are the collard greens on the left, salad on the right, lentils and chick peas on the top and bottom, and in the center are their lamb tibbs and chicken tibbs. The meats were super tender and mouth wateringly savory.

Just wanted to show you a little bit of a closer shot of the lamb tibbs. Why? Cause I wanted to give it an honorable mention amongst all the lamb tibbs I've had including in all of Little Ethiopia (where there happened to be a festival this past weekend...had to make a mention of it as it was an unexpected treat to walk through).

As for the jazz, you can't go wrong in LA and they get some great players popping in to throw it down. They also have poetry and some special events that support the community. Parking is street parking, and luckily if you go for dinner (after 6) all parking is free. Treat yourself to some culture soon...ours and theirs!

PS. I'll be back again soon to write up about the soul food if it's happenin'.

Free refills: No
Entree Price Range: $8-$11 for the Combos, $9 and below for everything else

Cheebo's...In honor of our current sky

7533 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323)850-7070
Mon-Thu 8AM-11PM
Fri-Sat 8AM-12PM

The sky still has it's fresh layer of orange thanks to the fires that have crisped the south land. All that orange has reminded me of our very own Cheebo restaurant here in Hollywood. If you've ever been patrolling down Sunset you'll know that is quickly one of the most memorable places on the strip thanks to it's orange artsy exterior.

Inside your eyes are treated to pop art laden walls while your butts are treated to "getting-to- know-all-about-your-nearest-neighbor" seating. And though the seating is sometimes tight it's always been a friendly environment...maybe Cheebo's attracts all the right people.

While perusing their menu you'll notice it's quite eclectic and for the most part healthy. They strive to use organic, all natural, nitrate and hormone free products, but this doesn't mean flavorless. In fact, most of their plates exude a natural in your face experience. Take their Cheeborrito for instance. While possibly one of the simplest items on their menu, they have paid attention to make sure the the bacon is chopped and spread evenly throughout. They give you 3 extra items of your choice to accompany the eggs, hash browns, bacon and salsa already inside the tortilla.

I'm not going to mention everything on their menu though most of it I could easily write about. I will however make mention of two often bought items. One being the Porkwich. Their description of it is "slow roasted organic pork, pickles, roasted onion, manchego cheese, tarragon may on ciabatta". My description, "pork holiness nestled between artisanal bread". This is one of the "slamminest" (non BBQ) pork sandwiches on the West side. By the way, I love the chips that come with this plate (as well as many of their other plates), they're freshly made and never too salty.

The other favorite is their pizza. The crust is soft on the inside and a little less soft on the outside, the cheese is smooth with lots of "string" character, the toppings are very fresh, and it's consistently like this. It comes out on a wood plank and is good enough for one (with an appetite) or two people (if you're eating light) . Their pizza is by far above average but obviously more artisanal and therefore wasn't on my pizza week postings. That's not to say it isn't absolutely fabulous and worth ever cent you pay for it, it's just not your traditional pie (to some it's even better than tradition) . Pictured above is their Alfredo Slab, a white pizza with ricotta, ham, spinach and mushrooms. It's one of Celeste's favorites and I think has been ordered by someone in our party almost every time we've been. Now if you're going for take out, you may want to to order their famous "slab" which is a 3 foot slab of pizza that can be sectioned off for toppings.

This is just a sampling of the many glorious items they have to offer and though I only mentioned day time meals they will blow your socks off as well when it comes to dinner. I really do wish I could name off all the plates that are special, but I think you'll just have to go and discover for yourself. Oh man, before I forget, they have a killer Arnold Palmer...it's seriously my favorite. It's fresh lemonade and not your typical tea to boot!

Parking can be weird depending on when you're there. It's a safe bet to park on the street around the place but just pay attention to the signs...it is West Hollywood after all. The staff are pretty on it and though the place has some serious hustle and bustle to accompany the noise level, it's generally a pleasant experience always. When you do decide to go, try and grab a spot on their patio on a sunny day, it always reminds me about how nice it is to enjoy Hollywood.

PS. celebs go here...often... & FREE WIFI.

Free Drink Refills: Yes
Entree Price Range: Breakfast/lunch $7 to $20 and dinner is $10 to $24 with one special plate (28 day dry aged Prime all natural NY strip) setting you back $35

BIG PS. I have a winner for the ticket give away, thanks to all of you who gave it a shot. Keep checking the site for more opportunities (sometimes they're not the subject of the post) and BIG HINT, I'll have another REALLY REALLY soon.

"One Hit Wonders" edition of What's To Eat LA

I just passed 100 posts which to me is the one of the greatest things I've ever accomplished. You would think performing in front of 40,000 people was but this was much harder. With that I lead into the One Hit Wonder catalog. Don't you just love my amazing segues? These items came on my list as items that are notches above the rest but which I really can't say everything on their menu is great if not anything else at all.

The Restaurant at The Standard
8300 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90069
(323)650-9090
Open 24/7

Besides the fact that they're open 24/7, the overwhelming reason I would give you to go to the hotel's restaurant inside The Standard is their Pigs in a Blanket. They wrap medium sized fluffy pancakes around larger medium sized juicy pork sausages, ladel on their heavenly warm berry compote (raspberries, blackberries and blueberries) , and serve it with what had to be freshly whipped cream (and maple syrup if you ask, although after tasting the dish, you probably won't want or need it) . Get this gourmet breakfast for $13 with their great bottomless cup of coffee.


Milano Freezer
7217 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323)930-7872
Mon-Sat 11:30AM-10:30PM
Sun 11:30AM-9:30PM

9182 W Olympic Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 246-1946
Mon-Sat 11AM-10PM
Sun 11AM-9PM


What you see above is the "real yogurt" we enjoy far more than ****berry (aka - all of the variations) . At Milano freezer, we do the married couple thing and grab a medium of their creamy goodness of Original flavored frozen yogurt with three toppings which never has the typical hole in the center and ALWAYS packs a motherload of the freshest fruit we have yet to find at any frozen yogurt shop at both of their locations. Our toppings this time around were mango, kiwi and carob chips for a lower end of the market price of $4.95.

This will probably be the only time you hear me mention of frozen yogurt cause I'd like to stay out of the yogurt wars.

Cheers and have a wonderful weekend!

Tribute to Burger Stand Week on What's To Eat LA: Irv's Burgers (a small ode)

8289 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323)650-2456
Mon-Fri 7:30AM-8PM
Sat 8AM-7PM
Sun Closed
CASH ONLY

To wrap up my week we have our, beloved of many, hamburger stand called Irv's Burgers. Many know the story, and for those of you that don't you can click on their page and read about the drama they've gone through in the past to now have come out (mostly) on top. To make a long story short though, Irv's was about to be turned into a coffee shop and people gathered in one voice to rescue this little underdog. Letters were written and emails were sent and Irv's got saved. Why would people really care all that much about a burger stand? Why would people actually be compelled to do something when it's just a little hut that makes burgers and fries?

This woman. Her name is Sonia Hong (owner of Irv's) and people like her don't exist. She may be one of the only people in LA that I know that expresses genuine non-stop cheerfulness. Does she have glum days? Possibly. But, I would never know it cause whenever I see her she reminds me that the potential for people to be incredibly full of love is possible. She is a bit of happiness personified. When you show up you'll notice that she talks to everyone as if she knows them and has known them for years (often she does), calling them by name, and the one's that she doesn't know by name she still treats like family...with enthusiastic sweetness and meekness. She is one of the few people that understands that a huge part about what makes people come back is "you". No other business can get another Sonia cause there's only one of her, and she is Irv's.

As for the burgers she puts together, she is a master. The kind of person who can walk away and talk and come back right on time to flip it. She just knows...cause she's been doing it that long. Notice the plate. They all come like that. When you taste it you realize it really was just for me. Also, an odd fact is that she uses the picture to identify the person who ordered it (yes that's what I look like in case you're wondering...at least on that day) . A customized burger that always knocks you down. The patty was put together fresh, as well as fresh ingredients for everything else, but really that's the most I can say about it. The mystery of Irv's is shocking, cause there's no real understanding of "why" it tastes so good by the looks of it. She has some kind of magic going on that makes her simple burgers taste so good...almost too good for how simple they are. Maybe they're done better by some magical means, like maybe the laws of physics cease to exist in her kitchen. Bottom line is that people come back for this amazing burger and to be around her. It is a testament to her and to the burgers that are so beloved that she had enough people rally to her aid when she needed it most.

There's an actual eating area that's covered (which rocks now that we're about to start getting some rain) and parking is street parking which can sometimes be menacing in West Hollywood but it's well worth it. Or if you don't feel like going out, you'll be shocked to know that they deliver. They are THE ONLY burger stand I know that delivers. Bless them for this.

To many people reading this, this is old news but to those who don't know or have never heard of Irv's please go on down and be amazed. You'll not only feel at home, but you'll be at home having a burger that is a thing of terrifying deliciousness. Sonia, if you're reading this, may you live to be 100 and have Irv's to show for it the entire time.

Free Refills: No
Entree Price Range: Burgers run from $2.91 to $4.58 but just get the #1 combo for $5.08

Tribute to Burger Stand Week on What's To Eat LA: The Original Marty's

10558 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 836-6944
Daily 7AM-6PM
CASH ONLY

When did LA turn into a health mecca? Why is it that Angelenos started converting to being healthy and giving up eating what they liked? Was it propaganda from movies and the stars that are made to look like perfection personified? Was it the fact that the news told them obesity would hit you no matter what you do cause America is just full of fat people? I doubt it. I think it slowly crept into people consciouses when fine dining told us to eat less and less. Thank you Californian cuisine. In LA we have a life of excess but eat less portions (and healthier) to accommodate that lifestyle. Slightly backwards, but it's just the way it is. There is still one untouched category that we Californians celebrate, and that's the burger. The burger by definition guarantees a little bit of weight gain and the bigger and greasier it is, (often) the better it is. Marty's has a burger that made them famous ("the combo") and is not for the weak of heart. It's a burger and hot dog with chili all in between one bun. You know what? It just hit me...the only people still alive are the healthy ones and they open businesses that cater to their needs. Sadly though this explains why havens like Marty's are a dying breed. Thankfully there are still plenty of people that succumb to it's goodness.

The cheeseburger that you see here is what I would define as "All American". Now I'm not talking about the dying burger joint known as All American Burger (thank you Fast Times at Ridgemont High) . I'm talking about a simple personification of chomping into a piece of cow that makes you thank God we can live in a country as great as ours where we can live and afford to eat meals like this. Where the little guy can open up this tiny little hut (some people's walk in closets are bigger) and can last a very very...very long time. The one guy I know who works there has been working there for like 20 years. How's the burger taste? Dang good. Don't you hate when food writers tell you something's good? That means nothing to you personally but what can I say...it's really darn good. The patties are grilled to perfection without any dryness whatsoever, the tomatoes are rockin and always fresh, and the buns are light but have some grip-able mass to them that doesn't fall apart after two bites. Here, they make a textbook burger that defines the word classic.

And another classic...the split grilled hot dog with diced onions, relish and mustard on a lightly grilled bun. I think the hot dog is one of the best food items you can get at stand that reflects the age and seasoned metal of an old grill. Juicy, smokey and just plain yummy.

This hut is a landmark and therefore won't be going anywhere anytime soon unless an act of God causes it to crumble. The parking is only street parking which kind of is a bummer but they're quick and worth the short wait. Honestly, this burger stand is one of the few the proud that will outlive us all probably but especially if you have too many of their combos.

Free Refills: No
Entree Price Range: Pretty darn cheap...too cheap to print...and I don't have a menu in front of me to quote it.

Rae's Restaurant...workingman's breakfast to soothe the soul

2901 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310)828-7937
Daily 5:30AM-10:30PM

When I was growing up on the East Coast we had (and they still do for that matter) diners that served up food that was super inexpensive and packed with people who know that diners should never cost a lot. These people weren't cheap but they knew that there's no reason to throw away hard earned money. Rae's Restaurant has been around since 1958 and has seemingly stuck to being a diner of the old school. God bless them for it.

You won't see too many places like Rae's left in LA. They're around but you have to really look hard for them. Sure you could say Norm's is like it, but they don't have the magic like Rae's. The magic isn't in the orange cushioned booths or the long counter with it's monochromatic blue chairs. It's more like the place is just a living entity that houses all the good that people have brought in with them over the years.


While they do offer lunch and dinner as well, breakfast is really what diners are all about and this one is no different. The breakfasts here shine (not just from grease) and have prices that would stun LA. Here's a snapshot of their Hobo Breakfast that has a ham steak, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 eggs and a 3 stack of hot cakes...and the staggering price? $6.25. If you think it looks good, it tastes even better. Their griddle is old and all the years of use have likely added to the killer taste of the meats and the consistency of the pancakes being what they are. It's a hearty breakfast for one or a lighter breakfast for 2 that will have you thinking about when's the next available time you want to go out for breakfast.

We grabbed some of their biscuits and gravy last time we went specifically cause I wanted to show you their simplistic and yet terrifying beauty. Behold. Oh and the price...$1.85.

Though we went for breakfast, we grabbed a shake, cause dang it...lactose intolerance is for wimps (and for people who can't smell). Their shakes are smoothe and tall with lots of chocolate but not on overkill thankfully (so many shakes are ruined tasting like melted chocolate syrup soup).

Their 2+2+2 (2 eggs, 2 bacon or sausage and 2 hot cakes) goes for $4.50. They have a Bacon Tid Bit Waffle that has bacon bits in it (fresh bacon bit from the grill...waste not want not I always say). Their lunch time burgers stack up well to most burger stands in LA. They are always packing people in, and though a line is never unusual to see, the turnaround is super fast. Heck, as far as diner's go, this is one place I'm proud to eat at.

Free Drink Refills: You bet
Entree Price Ranges: Breakfasts cost from $4 to $6.50, burger plates for lunch $3.25 to $6.25, dinner specials are $8 but they have steaks that only top out at $10.50 for filet mignon.

Rub a dub dub, thanks for the...GRUB

911 N. Seward St.
Hollywood, CA 90038
(323)461-3663
Mon-Fri 11AM-3PM
Sat-Sun 9AM-2PM

Today's entry into the annals of What's To Eat LA is no stranger to awards or honorable mentions of many Los Angeles lists. Grub has the personality of a place that's supposed to be a hidden treasure, except everyone knows about it. Often appearing on many top breakfast and brunch spots, Grub is a place that has come to dominate in those categories. But why is the quaint Hollywood hotspot so well spoken of? It's in the details.

When you arrive you immediately notice the pleasant patio area with a few tables out to you right and some small steps to your left as you enter through the charming vine entranceway. You quickly realize that you've entered someone's bungalow style home that got converted into a restaurant.

One of their always charming staff seat you at a table and you peruse the very breakfast focused menu. The room is vibrant with light and it's all natural as they have a 3 out of four walls lined with windows, they don't have a single light on. You almost tend to forget that you're in Hollywood as this place is the antithesis of hollywood hustle, bustle and power brokers. This is a place to go if you want to get away from the city without leaving town.

When you glance over there menu you notice the disclaimer, if that's what you can call it, about how they take a little bit more time to get your food out cause they're putting extra care into it. At most places I might find this questionable. I mean a preemptive apology can seem like a cop out. But not here! You really do feel like their kitchen is only a couple of people and they're dedicating all their focused energy to bringing a smile to your face when you take that first bite.

On this last trip over there we ordered up two of their signature plates so you could get a visual sampling of how they hook up their customers. We ordered their "Mamacita's Breakfast Burrito" and their "Friggin' Amazin' French Toast". The breakfast burrito came out and my eyes bulged at the size of this thing. It was about two and half of my fists. It was filled with chorizo, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, roasted potatoes and topped with their salsa and sour cream. What I absolutley love about their burrito is the chorizo in it. I must admit that many times chorizo can be a bit over the top with either how spicy, how earthy or how sweet it can be. Not so with their chorizo; it's light but very meat forward. You can still taste the spices but it's not overkill. Same can be said for the amount of potatoes, there's a lot but not overkill, which can be a bit of letdown when most of your burrito is potatoes. Overall I'd give this thing a 9!

Celeste had the "Friggin' Amazin' French Toast", which after tasting, we realized must have gotten it's name from everyone's reaction to it. You have the option to have your french toast made with either raisin bread or a croissant! A croissant?!?! As if they didn't have enough fat in the first place?!?!? So, of course, we had to try the croissant. Per their style it was dipped in a cinnamon vanilla mix batter, and cooked just till the edges were toasty. Finally, it was served with raspberry butter, pecans, and maple syrup with a side of seasonal fruit. The first bite was the best kind of surprise, you forgot it was a croissant, but tasted every bit of toasty butteriness with the essence of vanilla finishing with a little tang from the raspberry butter. It really was a new creation all together. We have yet to taste anything like it. Let me know how the raisin bread version is if you try it!

We also scored a side of their chicken pesto sausage with onion and pepper. It was a fabulous side that complimented the French Toast perfectly. Not very greasy at all and exploding with smokey flavor. Not to detract but this would be great with some beer on it's own.

In the end you have to realize that this is plain and simply one of THE best breakfast/brunch spots in LA. There's very little to find even remotely bad with this place. The service and food quality is of such a high level you'd be a fool to not at least go in and try it. I've found that the ladies who run this place (Betty Fraser and Denise DeCarlo) have really hit it on the head with the answer to a fabulous a fabulous AM spot...love and attention to details.

Free Drink Refills: No
Entree Price Ranges: $8 to $16

On a side note: I may or may not be updating the site this coming week as I'm heading off to the wilderness of Arizona for a gig. So don't think I died or anything and please if you're in LA, please keep eating out ;)