Los Feliz -- Vermont between Hollywood and Franklin

[Stan]

Hounds are probably aware of the hipster zone in Los Feliz on Vermont between Hollywood and Franklin. It's got a movie theater, bookstore, coffee shops, record stores -- and restaurants. Has anyone had good or bad experiences with any of the restaurants that they can share? Here for your convenience is a complete list of the restaurants, roughly north to south:

Electric Lotus (Indian)
House of Pies
Palermo (Italian)
Fred 62 (retro diner)
Mo's Place
Mako (Japanese)
Figaro Cafe (French)
Armitage
Dresden
Capriccio (Italian)
Hollywood Hills
Mama Mia (Italian)
Attaya (Thai)
Vermont

Okay, that's the list. Some of them don't look super-promising: Armitage looks like it's been abandoned for forty years though the door was open the other day, Palermo and Mama Mia look like standard old-school Italian places, and Dresden just doesn't work as a restaurant name for me. Fred 62 is a little too tragically hip for me right this moment. But hey, I'm willing to have an open mind.

And others do look interesting. I think people have commented here on Electric Lotus in the past. Mako is a tiny Japanese place right next to the movie theater without a sign out front -- you could easily mistake it for the breakfast grill that it probably was in 1954. Vermont is ostentatious; it could be great or a rip-off. Figaro is a really striking reproduction of an old French cafe with a bakery next door; the piece of salmon that I had there was pretty ordinary, but I'm prepared to believe that it's indispensable for its simple things, just for the atmosphere.

Anyway, please do tell me where to eat and not eat in this particular district. Thanks!

[Patty]

OK, I'll take a crack. Il Capriccio - yes, definitely. Bring your own wine, owners are very nice, not the best Italian ever but a huge cut above Palermo and reasonably priced. I like Electric Lotus just fine even though some complain about the noise and/or music level, reliable Indian with a cool atmosphere. Vermont is good if you want to go more upscale, the food is quite nice but it seems to lack focus somehow -- it's not quite sure what kind of restaurant it wants to be. The lounge area is nice too. I haven't had good experiences recently at the Hollywood Hills Coffee Shop. The service is glacially slow and while some of the food is competent, they somehow managed to ruin scrambled eggs and hash browns -- how hard could it be? Skip Fred 62 unless you want equally bad service and attitude to boot, at least the waiter at Hollywood Hills is friendly about ignoring you. I used to go to Mako 15 years ago when you could get a full Japanese dinner for $3.50 -- but I think it's probably skippable. Good luck!

[Jean]

Two of my party of four once got severe food poisoning at Electric Lotus.

Chi Dynasty is generally OK Chinese but has one of our all-time favorite appetizers -- minced chicken in lettuce leaves. I know you can get this elsewhere, but no one makes it as well.

We like the homemade poptarts at Fred 62 and some of the salads are fine.

[Scooter Pie]

Amen about the attitude at Fred 62 -- and the customers are just about as obnoxious as the waitstaff. About a month ago, I was there with a friend. We were seated outside, to escape the blasting music inside. On either side of us was a table of two -- and no kidding, at BOTH tables, the individuals were having separate cell phone conversations. Two loud cell phone conversations to my left, two to my right. It was absolutely insufferable, so we retreated to the House of Pies....

[David Kahn]

IMHO, really good scrambled eggs and hash browns are a not insignificant culinary accomplishment. Most of the breakfast places around town (even the good ones like Ammo) tend to overcook their eggs so that they are done in the kitchen but arrive at the table overdone rather than creamy. (They need to be slightly undercooked in the pan if they are going to be just right on the plate.) Campanile is a notable exception, and is the only place I've tried that consistently serves scrambled eggs that are perfectly cooked. And good hash browns, that are crisp, hot, and not over or undercooked or greasy -- I have unfortunately not come across too many places that can manage this on anything more than an occasional basis.

[fat kitty]

i live in this neighborhood, but i rarely eat at the places on vermont. we love going there for movies n books. i had high hopes for fred 62, but it has mostly been a disappointment. house of pies is very reliable for a slice and sometimes really hits the spot when you have a craving for pie, but i hv never had real food there. we hv enjoyed vermont a few times n had exceptionally good service there, but that was a couple of years ago, when it first opened.

instead we eat on hillhurst ave, the next main drag to the east. there you wl find farfalla (the orig location, i believe) which is very good italian (much better than the other locations they've opened -- good for take out, too). mexico city has great margaritas and enchiladas (can be a scene, but fun). san sui has great "combo dinners" w/ lots of fresh and tasty options. tub tim has pretty good thai food (although hollywood blvd is loaded w/ thai options and tub tim is not the best). and the french place on the corner (name escapes me) is good for breakfast and pastries.

whatever you do, avoid luisa's (the dennys of italian food).

good luck!

['lil tartlette]

As if those places weren't enough, Hillhurst also has:
Puran (a better than decent neighborhood place for a meal) -- Home (more for breakfast/bunch than anything else) -- Vida (one of my fav. restaurants in town, really good food, tasty cocktails, outstanding t-bones) -- Mustard Seed Cafe (which has the best turkey burgers I've had in quite a while) -- La Boulangerie (sp?) (nice french neighborhood place with pastries & a solid brunch/lunch menu)

And I'm sure I'm forgetting a place or 2...

[nubi]

I think Yucca's is on Hillhurst also.

[2chez mike]

That whole area has gone downhill in the past seven years.

[Stan]

How so?

[Bostonjack]

No one ever mentions "Shin", the (relatively) new sushi bar that is in the original "Katsu" location on Hillhurst. Give the guy a chance! He's a very young man and his wife is his main wait person. But his sushi is terrific! His portions are relatively small -- this may be why he gets no press on chowhounds -- but his food is absolutely the freshest and his sauces are original and delicious. Give the guy a try!

[Sonia]

Went there when they opened--must have been about 3 years ago--the wait at Farfalla was too long... As I recall, the menu was pretty conservative--lots of rolls. I remember thinking it was pretty good but I was a only sushi novice then (not much more advanced now). The bill came to about $70-80 for two. I haven't been back since but only because I discovered Saito.

[Burger Boy]

That would be Hillhurst, not Vermont.And Fred 62 was originally George's, boy do i miss that coffee shop.

[kungfugirl6]

I went to Shin when I first moved to the neighborhood 3 years ago, and it was so awful I haven't been back. Is it under new ownership? Does anyone have a recent report?

[Farrell's Zoo]

Oh for the days of The Onyx, a true LA original. Average coffee, comprehensive tea selection, inconsistent homemade pastries and soups, pre-letter grade conditions but, a genuine creative and meeting space. Comfortable as an orthopedic mattress and -- best of all - open 'til the last customer leaves (between 3 an 4 a.m.). Sheesh, you'd think the dorks at Hollywood Hills would get a clue about late hours.

That said, I've never had a problem at Fred's 62 - service or otherwise. I just don't think the food's anything special. Electric Lotus is serviceable if bland. Vermont is enjoyable and elegant. House of Pies -- well, given my sn -- I'm a bit partial to things that have lasted that long. My folks use to bring me there as a kid. I just wish they'd bring back that really cool logo.

[John]

I've had at least a decade's worth of good experiences at Palermo. The ravioli, lasagna, spaghetti dishes -- I'd recommend everything on the menu, and if there's something you want in particular, they'll make it for you.

The interior of Palermo is uniquely attractive with pictures of movie stars on the walls in the waiting area. The lighting, lovely mural scenes of Italy, and red booths in the dining room make a person feel very relaxed and cozy.

Everything about this restaurant is casual, friendly, and loud. It's a real community treasure.

[Cool-a-Coo]

I had enjoyed Electric Lotus in the past, but fear that the Los Feliz obnoxiousness curse has struck. I went with a large group a couple of weeks ago to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. My sister had booked ahead and reserved one of the group rooms for the evening--or so she thought. Halfway through our meal, we were informed by our waiter that the restaurant had booked the room for another party at 9:30 (a half-hour away), so we were rushed through the remainder of our meal. We retreated to the House of Pies for dessert and gift-opening.

The food was still enjoyable, but I can get superior food at Akbar in Santa Monica without the attitude and without having to drive clear across town (I live on the Westside). If I want a trendoid/attitude Indian experience on the Westside, I'll go to Bombay Cafe (an old favorite that I hardly go to now, because I never feel "cool" enough).

It cannot be said enough times: FRED 62 IS AWFUL. That is all.

[local]

Don't ask me why, maybe it's the opium, because there is nothing truly exotic about them, but I am addicted to Palermo's sauteed mushrooms! Winey, lemony, salty, just good ol' yummy! For newer school Italian, definitely my favorite Friday night dining spot- Il Cappricio. Their arrabiata and puttanesca (when available) sauces and the Lobster and linguini "special" are on the mark(not to worry,
the lobster seems to make fairly regular appearances on the chalkboard). Food is simple, basic trattoria-style and the staff are fun, yet efficient! I just love the twins (go see for yourself. BYOB but no corkage fee ;-). vermont has nicely prepared fish and wine glasses that make you feel sinfully rich yet not too decadent.

[cablegal]

I think the problem w/ Fred's 62 is that every time you go there it feels like you're testing the place, cause people are constantly either ranting or raving about it. The food's about the same quality as any other diner, it's just got attitude and weird prices. I like Hywd Hills, or Home on Hillhurst for the diner thang because they're comfier.
Il Capricio is a great neighborhood Italian upscale place, but the little place a few doors south of there (by the mini mall with the Chabad) is a really great value and has a nice patio.
I tried Hillmont Steak house and that place was cool and fun and provides an awesome meat fest, but they will probably get kind of overblown when/if they get liquor license. Until then they charge corkage (which I think is a no-no if you don't have sell wine). Also, they don't ask how you want your meat cooked??!! So don't forget to specifiy or you'll get it well done.
ALso, for Italian food there's a great family owned restaurant on Hyperion south of Griffith Park on the west side of the street: Giannino I think?