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A Special Kind of Los Angeles Restaurant

This site is devoted to a special kind of eatery. They go by many names—grandpa restaurants, time machines or, simply, classics. They are the Googies, steakhouses, coffee shops and snack shacks that make Los Angeles a true foodie’s paradise.

Some of these restaurants have been around since the ’50s or earlier—a virtual eternity in Los Angeles years. And those that have renovated over the years have done so tastefully, with an appreciation for their original splendor.

Having said that, this site doesn’t limit its coverage by age. Time and time again, new restaurants emerge that embody the true spirit of foodie destinations. These deserve to be recognized here at Los Angeles Foodie.

If you’re looking for reviews of The Cheesecake Factory, Outback Steakhouse or El Torito, you’re in the wrong place. Also absent is coverage of places like Spago, Water Grill and Nobu. Although all these restaurants play a noteworthy role in the vast spectrum of this city’s culinary canon, they lack the deep-seeded nostalgia sought by the true Los Angeles foodie. Instead, this site serves as a gateway to information about restaurants whose wait staffs are as old as a Perry Como LP and whose décor is unintentionally tacky.

Cole’s PE Buffet in downtown Los Angeles