Of the many great restaurants and cafes in West Hollywood, I thought that I would mention several of my favorites that have endured throughout the years, and that still provide tasty food, plentiful portions, and great service at inexpensive prices. Without alcohol, one can dine at any of these establishments for around $15.00/person or less.
Marix Tex Mex Cafe 1108 N. Flores St. W. Hollywood, 323-656-8800. This indoor-outdoor cafe, established in 1984, is glutted every evening with attractive upscale gays, both men and women, partying with both metro and straight professionals and industry types. The Cafe serves an inexpensive, tasty, Tex-Mex menu along with a range of dynamite Margaritas, (which are not inexpensive, but are delicious). Start with Super Peach Margaritas to accompany your free chips and fresh salsa. Yum! Then, for dinner, try sharing the Fajitas, (chicken, shrimp, or beef). They arrive sizzling on a hot cast-iron platter and are sure to draw attention. Warm tortillas, beans, rice, shredded white and yellow cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and a second variety of fresh, spicy salsa arrive with them. For dessert, if you really want to turn heads, order the Apple Pie Ala Mode, which also shows up at your table sizzling and sputtering on a cast-iron platter. The dieters will loathe you. Reservations not accepted. Go early if you’re in a hurry!
French Quarter Market Place 7985 Santa Monica Blvd. W. Hollywood, 323-654-0898. I am sure that my foodie friends will gasp and clutch the pearls at me mentioning this establishment, as it is not the most trendy place in town. They might be turned off by the restaurant’s Disneyland-ish, gaudy French theme (which has only gotten wilder with time). However, this massive indoor-outdoor behemoth which opened in 1979 and seats well in excess of 200 patrons, has probably served more good meals in its lifetime to a greater variety of people than any other place in the city. Because this busy restaurant serves cheap, plentiful meals from breakfast through dinner and far into the night, it is a three-meal-a-day favorite of the local seniors, starving artists, singles who prefer not to cook, and budget-minded anybodies, in addition to those who just love to people-watch. The attentive staff can provide beer and wine if requested. The menu is massive, and everything is good. Try the Tuna Melt for lunch with Raspberry Iced Tea. Reservations not accepted. Off-hours are best for immediate seating.
Bossa Nova Brazilian Cuisine 685 N. Robertson, W. Hollywood 310-657-5070. This small, mostly-outdoor restaurant took the space vacated by the Abbey when it moved to larger quarters across the street in 1997, and soon became so busy that they now also rent outdoor space in the evenings from the cleaners next door. Because of this, in certain areas of the restaurant the staff cannot serve beer and wine, as the liquor license only covers the original restaurant premesis. If you want to drink alcohol, ask the host/hostess where to sit. The clientèle is mostly young and gay with a good smattering of young and not-so-gay, and some not-so-young and possibly either. The restaurant serves a tasty varied Brazilian menu (in very small print – bring reading glasses if you need them), with creative appetizers like deep-fried Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Chunks in a Gorgonzola Cream Sauce, innovative main courses, fried plantains, and very good salads. And then there is the menu page full of pastas. I fell into a huge plate of Penne Carbonara last Wednesday and almost didn’t come out. Extraordinary! The leftovers were just as good the next day for lunch. Warning! If you are watching your cholesterol/waistline, steer clear of the wrapped chicken appetizer and the pasta page. Reservations not accepted. Go early if you’re in a hurry!
Cafe D’ Etoile 8941 1/2 Santa Monica Blvd. W. Hollywood, 310-278-1011. This small, intimate cafe has been one of my very favorites for the past almost-thirty years. It is not cheap, more like moderately priced, but there are a couple of things on the excellent menu that deserve honorable mention. For around $10.00, the Calamari Appetizer is probably the best that I have ever eaten. It comes mounded on a plate, huge, a meal in itself. The Smoked Salmon Appetizer is also delicious, and quite ample. On nights that I am not famished, I order one or the other to complement my martini. On nights that I am famished, and looking for the best burger in town, I order the Cheeseburger with Bacon for around $9.00. This colossal hamburger is cooked the way you like it and served with a slice of raw onion, pickle slices, and field greens instead of iceberg lettuce. Field greens? They work! Accompanying the burger is a mound of pommes frites (skinny fries). The restaurant provides Dijon mustard and catchup, but if you wheedle, you can get cheap yellow mustard also. I wheedle, and it absolutely makes the burger! Reservations strongly suggested. The regular menu is delicious also. You can eat at the bar if you wish.
I hope that if you haven’t tried these places, that you will. There are many more fine eating establishments in West Hollywood. If you know of any that you would like to critique, please let me know.
