Classic LA restaurant

[hdalsy]

For my brother's birthday this year, instead of going to the hip newest place, he wants to go old school and try something that's been around a long time. We're thinking along the lines of The Palm, Gladstones, Dan Tanas, Benihana....just something fun and maybe almost forgotten. Any ideas?

[Bradbury]

A couple thoughts:

1) This being LA and not, say, Boston, how old does something have to be before it's "old school"? Because Chinois on Main is pretty much a time warp back to 1986 ... same dishes, same decor, same clientele, unfortunately not same prices. A few more glass bricks and Nagel prints and it could be a well-Botoxed Duran Duran video...

2) For *truly* old school, a good rule of thumb is that they serve at least 3 or 4 dishes in which the noun precedes the adjective: Steak Diane, Oysters Rockefeller, Lobster Thermidor, Cherries Jubilee, Bananas Foster, etc.

[sparkareno]

Bradbury---hilarious post---and so true.

[SeaCook]

Ah Bradbury !

Steak Diane, Oyster Rockafeller, Cherries Jubilee, you have made me nostaglic for Chasen's. An old school classic that is no more. It was my family's special occassion restaurant.

[sparkareno]

When I think classic LA, Lawry's comes to mind. And what's more fun than a spinning salad?

[Tom P]

Musso's, Taylors, Dan Tana's or Dal Rae - can't go wrong with what you are looking for with anyone of them. Well, can't go wrong period.

Not Gladstones, please... too chainy feel.

[mc michael]

How about a little of both the old and the new? Josie's feels old decor-wise, but tastes newer.

[ozhead]

Saddle Peak Lodge. Great for a birthday, as long as you go in with a hang-the-expense attitude.

[vinosnob]

Musso & Frank - cocktails and steaks; hard to beat for the old school atmosphere

Dan Tana's - great vibe, martinis, veal parm, steaks ($$$)

La Dolce Vita - old school Italian, very solid food and gracious service; sit in Sinatra's booth if you can

Dal Rae
Pacific Dining Car (downtown)
Taix
Cicada
Cole's / The Varnish
Taylor's

[mc michael]

Not Taix, please.

[vinosnob]

because?

[mc michael]

The food is dull. Musso is much better.

[carter]

Musso is also twice the price.
Taix has a filet mignon special on Monday night that is hard to beat for $17.95, plus of course the requisite martini, or alternatively their decent wine list selections. Recently had a Babcock Pinot Noir for around $35 the bottle.
Cannot imagine the Dal Rae providing any more excitement than Taix, nor for that matter Taylor's, yet they are also considerably more expensive, and the Dal Rae might be a bit out of the way for poster, meaning Pico Rivera.
But as to Benihana, they are in nearly every major city in America, so I cannot imagine wanting to come to LA specifically for it.

[maxzook]

Taix isn't that bad. The problem is, it isn't that good either.

[JPomer]

Third...or fourth...Musso. Have the lamb chops, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and a Martini

[Professor Salt]

Saddle Peak Lodge, if you're willing to drop some coin

[Servorg]

Too me that would mean either Taylor's on 8th Street in Korea town or the Dal Rae.

-----
Taylor's Steakhouse
3361 West 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Dal Rae
9023 E. Washington Blvd., Pico Rivera, CA 90660

[wienermobile]

Gladstones is expensive and terrible. Something you might like to try is Papa Cristo's Thursday night Big Fat Greek Dinner Party. Really old school. It's fun and belly dancing is included. It's $24 per person and that includes tax and tip. Reservation are a must.
http://papacristos.com/index1.html

[SeaCook]

Musso & Frank?

[maxzook]

Second Musso's, although with the recent popularity of downtown Hollywood it's hardly forgotten.