To Live And Dine In LA

Everyone always asks me...what are your favorite restaurants in LA.  Well, since I like it old school, I decided to present you with a list of my favorite classic Hollywood places...the places that your favorties stars dined before you were even born.  Let's support the classics so that they stay for another generation.  Plus it's always fun to know the history of places when you have that out of town guest.

1.  El Coyote

A Mexican institution since 1931, El Coyote's seriousluy strong margaritas and incredible staff is what has kept me coming here once a week for 25 years...and so many stars.

2.  Dan Tana's

The quintessential old school Hollywood hangout since 1964,  Where else in the world can you eat chicken parmesan and the same table the Eagles wrote Lyin' Eyes then grab a look at the cast photo of The Colby's with original owner Mr. Dan Tana.  NOWHERE.

Thsi pc of Dan Tana visiting the set of The Colbys hangs on the wall

3.  La Scala

They invented the Chop Salad.  DONE!!!

3.  Musso & Frank Grill

If you have to ask, you shouldn't even live in LA.  This is Hollywood’s oldest restaurant, around since 1919...that’s before sound and color were in movies yet, but studio executives were still making deals here. People like Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Gary Cooper, Marilyn Monroe, and Humphrey Bogart. F. Scott Fitzgerald, T.S. Elliot, John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, Raymond Chandler, Joseph Heller, Kurt Vonnegut, and Charles Bukowski ate here while Gossip columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons conducted celebrity interviews in the wood booths.

4.  Canter's Deli

Since 1931, this 24-hour Jewish deli (yea even though the 24 hour part is going away) has been serving the stars...Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller ate here, as did Jack Benny, Elizabeth Taylor, Sydney Poitier, Mel Brooks, Brooke Shields, Jacqueline Bisset, Catherine Oxenberg, John  Travolta, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Guns And Roses, Olivia Newton John, Muhammad Ali, Monty Hall, Rodney Dangerfield, Dick Van Dyke, Shelly Winters, Elizabeth Montgomery and Henry Winkler.. The Neil Simon movie, "I Ought to be in Pictures", with Walter Matthau and one of my favorite LA films, "Inside Monkey Zetterland" were filmed here. Even President Obama ate here recently.  CLASSIC

I also LOVE Nate 'n Al, but the parking there is tough, so I always end up going to Canter's

5.  The Polo Lounge

From Sinatra to Monroe all iconic stars of yesteryear have had lunch and dinner here, and I love the eggs benedict for Sunday brunch.  And it's so pretty, exactly what you think LA should look like.

6.  Paradise Cove Beach Cafe

Yea...the view.   During the late 50’s and early 60’s, Gidget, Sea Hunt, and Malibu Run were all filmed at this beach.  The Beach Cafe celebrates the spirit and honors the traditions of the Cove.  

7.  Spago

I once ate the smoked salmon pizza with Wolfgang Puck at the BEST table at the original Spago off of Sunset.  A date picked me up, and called the UNPUBLISHED number and got us in. When Puck himself sat at our table and ate with us, I almost DIED. When Spago launched in 1982, many of the elements of casual fine dining spaces that we take for granted today were uncommon or unknown, such as putting the chef forward as the face of the restaurant or bringing the kitchen out into the open. This new location is different, but this restaurant is what MADE California cuisine.  Over the years I have seen EVERY star at this place, and it just doens't disappoint.  

8.  Chez Jay

The inspiration for the Regal Begal from Three's Company.  Always guaranteed to meet a new friend here.

9.  Yamashiro

Since they redid it, it's not the same, but I have such amazing memories of eating and drinking here in the early 90's, celebrating birthdays here and enjoying the view.  It's still a great place to bring out of town guests visiting LA for the first time.

10.  Corky's Restaurant

One of the last LA diners that used to be on every corner.  Built in 1958 by architects Armet & Davis, this place has a '60's retro style with mint green booths, brick floors, and a geometric mod multi-colored booth dividers.  Before you track out to the valley, you might want to call first.  This place has film crews shooting inside there all the time.  I even noticed that How To Get Away With Murder was shot there last week.

Yes, there are other places I dine, and lots of other places I ❤️..but these are my go to's  To OG restaurants..I ❤️you.  xoxo