The new Cafe 50's on Vermont has been open for a close to a year now. It actually showed up on my GPS long before that. I drove by and just saw the abandoned Louisiana Fried Chicken restaurant that used to be there. "Stupid GPS!" I said while throwing it disappointedly out the window. A few weeks later when it actually appeared, painted exterior and ready to open, I was thrilled. My previous experiences with Cafe 50s had been decent and unspectacular, but this new location provided an option other than House of Pies for late night diner dining in the Hollywood area.
The interior is what you expect. Like the other locations, the walls provide you with ample eye-candy for 50's nostalgia.
I like that they definitely put a lot of thought into the placement of old ads and posters. Near the men's room there is a whole section dedicated to Rock Hudson and his "bachelor life."
There's also a calendar that covers history and their daily specials.
Sometimes the history and the specials result in some amusing juxtaposition.
"Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Richie Valens die in plane crash. Strawberry shakes $2.98!"
I've actually eaten there quite a bit, but sadly my pictures are from the one disappointing meal I had.
This is the Big Bopper scramble with a side of hash browns. The hash browns were not very good. I thought they were too greasy. The scramble was decent, if a little salty.
This is the 7 Grain Granola Almond Pancakes. They let me get these as my choice of bread which was very cool. These were really delicious. I recommend them.
I also decided to get a New York Egg Cream...which I need to stop doing. I don't like them. Some reason I think "Maybe, there's just something wrong with THIS particular one." I need to realize that although my brain likes the idea of chocolate syrup in soda water with milk, my taste buds think it is gross. Gross.
The service there is more often than not friendly and attentive. The one time I got lackluster service I was with a large group and our waitress (who I've had wait on me several times) was clearly having a rough day. If this had been my one and only time there I would have had a negative impression of the place. Multiple experiences allow me to give some leeway.
They have a great home made lemon-lime pie. Although, it does look odd when you get it. They don't add any coloring to the pie so it just comes out looking grayish brown--slightly unappetizing. Trust me, it is very good.
Food: Good.
Price: $7.95-$13.95
Service: Good.
Pie: Yes.
Cafe 50's
850 N. Vermont Ave
Los Angeles CA 90029
http://www.cafe50s.org
1 comment:
First time or two I saw egg cream on a menu I went for it, knowing it's a NY thing and relatively rare out here. It's like an ice cream soda without ice cream, served lukewarm. Disappointing.
Yet I'm not certain I'd entirely disabused myself of my curiosity about egg creams until you had the nerve to say you've been wrong about them too. I had to admit the truth: I don't like them either.
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