This the 1951 menu for Ciro’s nightclub on Sunset Blvd. Look at those prices! This is where Frank Sinatra famously punched columnist Lee Mortimer after Mortimer hurled a racial slur at him in 1947. Ciro’s closed in 1957 and eventually became The Comedy Store. Anyone remember Earl’s Car Cafe in Alhambra? Continue reading USC Friday Column Supplement

Did you think I forgot? Art’s Chili Dogs Stand, Los Angeles (1939, closed) Damon’s Steakhouse, Glendale (1937) Fosselman’s Ice Cream Co., Alhambra (1919) Bay Cities Italian Deli, Santa Monica (1925) Katella Grill, Orange (1993) It closes Sunday. Ricci’s Italian Restaurant, Bellflower (1940) Western Bagel, Van Nuys (1947) El Adobe, San Juan Capistrano (1948) HMS Bounty, Los Angeles (1947) The Ranch House, Ojai, 1956 Continue reading USC Saturday Buzz: Restaurant Talk

RESTAURANTS OF THE WEEK George Petrelli’s Steak House, Culver City, 1931 They also serve hamburgers. Gary’s Bric Ramp, Burbank (Closed) They used to have signs saying no cell phone calls allowed. And if someone used their phone, they would tell them to hang up. I went here once because it was a location for The Rockford Files. Talk of the Town, Pasadena (Closed) This was … Continue reading USC Friday Column Supplement: Restaurant Edition

The Oscars are tonight, so here are some USC winners/connections to the award. Former USC quarterback Cotton Warburton won an Oscar in 1965 for film editing for “Mary Poppins.” Warburton was also nominated in 1954 for “Crazylegs.” He was an All-American in 1933 and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975. Aaron Rosenberg was also an All-American in 1933 and nominated for … Continue reading USC And The Oscars

Let’s take my mind off USC basketball. Who remembers Woody and Eddy’s in San Marino? It was on the Huntington Drive and San Gabriel Blvd. In 1957, a deputy and robber were killed in a shootout there. How about Johnnie’s Pastrami (1952) in Culver City? It’s still there. Chronis Famous Sandwich Ship (1945) in East Los Angeles Tony’s on the Pier (1952) in Redondo Beach. … Continue reading Time For A Restaurant Break

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and we’ve been discussing classic restaurants, so here are two places to mention. Tam O’Shanter was founded in 1922 and is on 2980 Los Feliz Blvd. in Los Angeles. It’s technically a Scottish restaurant but let’s not get picky and it celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. Tom Bergin’s opened in 1936 and has been at 840 S. Fairfax Ave. in Los Angeles … Continue reading St. Patrick’s Day Restaurant Forum