612337 Wed Apr 15 15:21:32 -0700 2009 31 2 Los Angeles Area 0 4599257 I have not been in years. is it still the definitive burger that's all about the beef and should it still be labeled as one of the "Best of LA" or has it gone by the website, mimicing the old saying, where's the beef???? Wed Apr 15 15:21:32 -0700 2009 10866 kevin 1 4599356 Was there one on 8th and Western? The famous one was on 6th just west of Vermont. Great in its heyday but it was taken over and quality declined. I believe it is something else now. Wed Apr 15 15:55:35 -0700 2009 4599257 13794 SilverlakeGirl 2 4600195 you're right it's 6th street, my mistake. same one, so it's declined in quality? Wed Apr 15 22:27:58 -0700 2009 4599356 10866 kevin 3 4600247 I don't think it's there anymore. Wed Apr 15 23:22:47 -0700 2009 4600195 13794 SilverlakeGirl 4 4600455 Are you sure? I think it's still on 6th just west of Vermont (as far as I know). There was a second one that I used to go to back in the mid 80's at the SE corner of Crescent Hts / McCarthy Vista and Wilshire Blvd. in the little strip mall, (and if I am recalling correctly may be a Wahoo's Fish Taco place now). Thu Apr 16 05:28:03 -0700 2009 4600247 108169 Servorg 1 4600827 Google still shows them on 6th St. Haven't been there myself for over 7 years. Thu Apr 16 07:42:52 -0700 2009 4599257 12033 Hughlipton 1 4600831 Still in business on 6th, not very good anymore. Thu Apr 16 07:43:54 -0700 2009 4599257 12141 Adsvino 2 4601213 I last went there about three years ago. It's declined quite a bit, and imho is just coasting on its reputation. The burger managed to be both greasy and overcooked; the produce for toppings (which in its time were the best thing about a Cassell's burger) was soggy and limp, obviously cut the day before. It closes at 4 pm and all day Sunday and it's in a non-residential part of town; ironically I think that boosts its rep. Once this was without much question the best burger in L.A., but that time is long past. Thu Apr 16 09:25:16 -0700 2009 4600831 85884 maxzook 3 4601622 In a non-residential part of town??? There a hundreds of apartment and condo buildings in the immediate vicinity. It's in one of the most densely populated part of the city. I was there a couple years ago. I enjoyed it but never had the burger when the original owners were still around. It is korean-owned now. Thu Apr 16 11:08:03 -0700 2009 4601213 12984 love2eat 4 4601635 max, if you mean not many single family homes are there you are correct, it's mostly impartments and/or condos. Thu Apr 16 11:13:13 -0700 2009 4601622 10866 kevin 4 4603408 I've been going since I was a kid, I remember well when Mr. Cassell still presided over the place, before the misguided attempts at franchising, and I maintain the burgers are pretty much as good as they ever were: USDA Prime beef, ground fresh several times a day, cooked on the double-sided grill of Cassell's own invention. A 2/3 pound Cassell's burger, cooked rare, is a marvelous thing. It's a one-trick horse (maybe two if you count the ultra-mustardy potato salad), but the trick is great. The fries and onion rings and such are pretty bad, but the original management never offered them anyway. Thu Apr 16 22:47:37 -0700 2009 4601622 10702 condiment 5 4603495 I remember 20 years ago having to drive to the nearest McDonald's to get fries, but I haven't been to Cassell's in a long time. I need to make the stop and see why all the badmouthing. Fri Apr 17 00:31:58 -0700 2009 4603408 281830 Harry Nile 5 4606200 When Mr. Cassell ran it, Cassell's was THE place to go for hamburgers and he also made wonderful ham, tuna and egg salad sandwiches. When he retired, the quality went way down. I went back last year because I was hungry for a grilled ham and swiss on rye, just came out very greasy. Not at all like it was 25 years ago and that's so sad. Fri Apr 17 21:18:14 -0700 2009 4603408 191801 JosephEBacon 1 4601668 It can be good, but it is nothing special anymore. Some days it is fresher than others. Thu Apr 16 11:19:46 -0700 2009 4599257 25869 LuluTheMagnificent 1 4602008 I go to Cassell's on 6th about every four months. It's not as consistently good as it was under the old management but sometimes, it's as good as it ever was. And at it's worst, it's still better than any alternative I can think of for several miles around. Thu Apr 16 12:48:06 -0700 2009 4599257 12509 Hackenbush 2 4603174 "And at it's worst, it's still better than any alternative I can think of for several miles around." You betcha! And I'm sure fans of Taylor's, Papa Christo's, the Pacific Dining Car, Dino's, El Gran Burrito, Yuca's Fred 62, El Parian (not to mention the Korean restaurants in the area), would no doubt agree. Thu Apr 16 20:32:09 -0700 2009 4602008 11135 Briggs 3 4603402 Haven't been in a gazillion years, but always remember the potato salad. It was great. The burgers were forgettable, but, the potato salad was memorable. Has anyone tried the potato salad in recent years? Thu Apr 16 22:39:46 -0700 2009 4603174 67720 maudies5 3 4603508 If I'm in the mood for a hamburger, yes, it's better than any alternative I can think of for several miles around. Most of the places you mention don't serve burgers. Actually, Taylor's is pretty good but I don't think of it as in the same category. Part of the appeal of a place like Cassell's is that it's quick and simple. Taylor's takes a little more effort and time. And given my last few visits to Pacific Dining Car, if it was a choice of that or Wendy's, I'd pick Wendy's. The food is just as bad but it's a twentieth of the price. Fri Apr 17 01:20:01 -0700 2009 4603174 12509 Hackenbush 4 4603519 I'm curious, Hackenbush -- what did you have at PDC that justifies such a strong criticism? Are you talking about the hamburger steak? Fri Apr 17 01:51:53 -0700 2009 4603508 281830 Harry Nile 5 4604255 Pacific Dining Car worse than a Wendy's? Maybe if you're looking solely for a quick, greasy, fast-food run. Seriously, PDC is not an exceptional steakhouse but it's much much much better than decent. And the petite prime steak and eggs in the wee morning hours hits the spot like none other. Their other Prime Steaks on a mesquite grill are nothing to throw stones at either. Fri Apr 17 08:52:09 -0700 2009 4603519 10866 kevin 5 4604383 I have tried both Pacific Dining Cars (the one downtown and the one in Santa Monica) a total of maybe twelve times over the years. The last six or seven times were all unpleasant experiences where I felt my party was overcharged for very bad food and very bad service. I wrote in a post here about four years ago of an experience I had at the Santa Monica one that caused me to vow never to go to one again. Late last year, I wound up at the downtown one again because an old friend was in town and others had decided that's where we'd all meet and eat. It was the same thing. A Sizzler quality steak was served to me. I'd asked for Medium. They gave me a super well done steak that was almost inedible. When I complained, they insisted it was Medium and that they wouldn't give me another. I wasn't paying that evening but the pricetag really bothered me. I will pay dearly for a good meal but this was not a good meal. If you want to read of my earlier experience, it's in a thread here called "Pacific Dining Car Santa Monica." I don't seem to be able to paste in a direct link. Fri Apr 17 09:36:59 -0700 2009 4603519 12509 Hackenbush 6 4604473 'last six or seven times were all unpleasant experiences ' After one, or two at the most, why would you keep going back when there are so many other viable options at this price point? Fri Apr 17 10:00:04 -0700 2009 4604383 13745 LesThePress 7 4605647 I went to Pacific Dining Car a few times and had good experiences. Then I had a bad experience. Okay, that can happen anywhere. You don't scratch a place off your list over one bad meal. Then I had another bad experience. I didn't go back for a while. Then a few years later, a date wanted to go there. I figured, "Well, maybe it's gotten better." It hadn't. Then a few months later, I had a lunch interview for a job. The person who was going to hire me wanted to meet at the Pacific Dining Car. I went. Good interview. Bad meal. Now that I think of it, maybe it was only four or five bad meals, not six or seven. Recently, an old friend was in town and a dinner of the old gang was arranged. They picked the Pacific Dining Car so I had to go there if I wanted to be with my friends. I don't plan on ever going back. But I have a date next week with a very beautiful woman and if she says she's always wanted to go to the Pacific Dining Car and that eating steak in a place that looks like a train puts her into a romantic mood, I may eat there again. Fri Apr 17 16:12:23 -0700 2009 4604473 12509 Hackenbush 8 4606166 Ah, the things we'll do for a hot chick. The utter lengths we'll go to. Fri Apr 17 20:54:09 -0700 2009 4605647 10866 kevin 6 4604591 I only go for breakfast, and only to Santa Monica, but I have always had excellent meals (which includes the steak they serve for breakfast) and the service is attentive and friendly. Fri Apr 17 10:38:30 -0700 2009 4604383 108169 Servorg 7 4605374 you mean the petite steak and eggs, right? if so, i've tried it and it is delicious and loads cheaper more rather more reasonable than the rest of the menu (at $15.95). Fri Apr 17 14:35:43 -0700 2009 4604591 10866 kevin 8 4605646 That's the one. Really, when I'm in the mood for a "Mercedes" class breakfast PDC is my first choice. Fri Apr 17 16:12:03 -0700 2009 4605374 108169 Servorg 9 4605715 The crab cakes benedict are a mind blower. I can't imagine how inexpesive they can be for breakfast and how expensive they can be for dinner. I have been going therre for close to 60 years and I will continue to go for the memories it brings back. I remember Mrs. Cook (owner) would show up every morning and make the steak sauce and the cobblers. In the bar there is a gone fishing sign and I do remember when they would close, I believe it was August, for the whole month. Maybe the momorabilia is more imporatant but at least as important as the meal itself. Fri Apr 17 16:47:48 -0700 2009 4605646 12033 Hughlipton 4 4606382 I specifically made a point of including Taylor's, Yuca's and Fred 62, all of whom have partisans about their burgers. But in your defense of Cassell's you're now changing the rules. If it's quick and simple, then McDonald's should be at the top of your list. So what's the criteria? A great burger, or an ok burger that's quick & simple? (BTW - I didn't include any restaurants in Downtown L.A. which also has its share of more than terrific burgers, and is in your couple of miles radius). Sat Apr 18 02:06:17 -0700 2009 4603508 11135 Briggs 5 4607033 My criteria is a great burger without a lot of cost and ceremony. Cassell's is not and doesn't pretend to be the kind of place you take friends to have a leisurely meal or a business meeting. It's just a place you stop when you want to eat a hamburger. Yes, McDonald's is cheap and fast. I don't think you can get a great burger there and neither do you. I haven't been to Yuca's. I have been to Fred 62 and I prefer the burgers I've had at Cassell's. You seem very bothered by the fact that I like the hamburgers at Cassell's. I'm writing about my tastes and my experiences, which is all we can do on this forum. Sat Apr 18 11:15:02 -0700 2009 4606382 12509 Hackenbush 1 4604446 They definitely still have the beef. Great, huge burgers that are timeless. The best burger spot i've tried out here Fri Apr 17 09:52:33 -0700 2009 4599257 278036 BD11 2 4606334 Did the new owners have an idea of how good it used to be? The rumor was that Mr. Cassell raised his own cattle, in Colorado! I'm going to check it out, next chance I get! Anybody remember the hours? Fri Apr 17 23:37:33 -0700 2009 4604446 112862 flowerofhighrank