Pacific Dining Car - SM; breakfast

[aliris]

Can anyone tell me the approximate price of this place for breakfast?

I'm still rueful of a trip years and years ago downtown where my family and I tried to go to PDC on David Kahn's recommendation, only when it came time to eat it was no longer breakfast time. We were seated with two little kids for dinner and *wow* the price just made us have to back out! I was embarrassed but the hostess couldn't have been nicer: she understood exactly what had happened I think.

Years later and I've still never been; Mr Kahn explained that breakfast at PDC is not just an earlier meal served there!

So ... I'm wondering whether we can even afford breakfast: any idea what an approximate price would be please?

Thanks!

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Pacific Dining Car
1310 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017

[SilverlakeGirl]

Prices are on the Menu Pages:

http://losangeles.menupages.com/resta...

I think breakfast is reasonable. Breakfast menu is at the bottom of the page. Do without alcoholic beverages [although I am partial to the Gin Fizz] and no fresh squeezed juices [do that at home].

A good deal. Very reasonable IMO.

I posted my favorite branch downtown. The SM location is on the same website.

[monku]

That's an old menu and it's the Late Night Menu 11pm-6am and the prices are different.

http://www.pacificdiningcar.com/late_...

[aliris]

Thanks, all -- it helps to have this ballpark estimate. Their online menu doesn't list any prices.

We ended up going to Snug Harbor, where I'd wanted to go for ages too. It was great! Not gourmet, no doubt about as far from PDC as you can get ... except in price perhaps. There we ended up spending almost $40 for two with tax and tip too! Really, breakfast out has gotten very expensive everywhere (except Rutt's). Which is why I wondered about PDC. Frankly, another $10 for miraculous service and ambience really would be a reasonable splurge at some point.

FWIW Snug Harbor's eggs benedist was very delicious too; perfect eggs and no doubt the rest of the ingredients would be inferior to PDC's but really very enjoyable all the same. Again, why a little bit extra might be worth it, but for less cash and a fine experience, Snug Harbor worked too and I can recommend it. I think perhaps if expectations are high, as is the case in some other postings on CH, then it might not work. But for what it is, really an old diner -- they serve baked grapefruit after all -- it was lovely.

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Snug Harbor
2323 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

[wienermobile]

I also really like Sung Harbor. Good food and a trip back in time. Glad to hear it's still great.

[Servorg]

"...except in price perhaps. There we ended up spending almost $40 for two with tax and tip too! Really, breakfast out has gotten very expensive everywhere (except Rutt's)."

Hey, who do they think they are, Junior's Deli? ;-D>

We've taken to eating Sunday breakfast at Pepy's Galley in the Mar Vista bowling alley. Usually we end up spending about $19 plus tip.

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Pepy's Galley
12125 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

[aliris]

You know, I think there's something about the familiar that's easy to despise. We live literally steps from the MVBowling alley and I just can't get anyone to go there. Periodically over the years I feel "oh, it just can't be that bad, look at how many people go there..." and I drag everyone along. Groans, complaints, whines and I invariably feel like I need a bath after eating there. To me, it's just disgusting. I know, still, I must be wrong: what do you order there? Even with no kitchen as our family has endured from nearly a year now, I still can't get anyone to go there.... (me included though if there were enthusiasm I'd go along for the ride..., um walk).

I will admit, though, that last time we did go there, many months ago, I did notice it was inexpensive. Maybe I should concentrate on that....

[Servorg]

I like the grilled polish sausage breakfast with potatoes and an English muffin (they have the best English muffins) and the red chunky (salsa rojo) on the side or, if I see their house made corned beef hash I get that. My wife loves their "monster" burger (which is their double patty burger) with fries (and a side of the salsa rojo) or the California omelet, with an English muffin and the red chunky salsa.

[WildSwede]

Servorg, I was looking at Pepy's menu and it says they have chicken fried steak. Have you ever had it?

[Servorg]

I did and I posted about it. Terrible. It left me in a food funk! ;-D> I want to get down to San Pedro and try it at the Pacific Diner and I also need to try the version at the Kettle in Manhattan Beach one of these early am breakfast jaunts.

ADD: Found the post about the CFS at Pepy's: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7184...

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Pacific Diner
3821 S Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731

[WildSwede]

Thanks! I must have missed it. I need to try the one at Pacific Diner and will add The Kettle to my list. Between the two of us, and monku, we have to be able to find good CFS somewhere! ;-)
Thanks again!
<edit> - I was just looking at the Kettle's menu, is their version that you speak of the chicken breast? I did not see CFS mentioned. Thanks again, again!

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Pacific Diner
3821 S Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731

[Servorg]

For some reason The Kettle took it off the menu, but they still make it (still in their "ordering system") and it's $9.75. I had it once when I lived in MB in the 1970's, but I can't recall anything about it (or that entire decade for that matter).

[WildSwede]

LOL!
I was looking for menus for Pacific Diner and noticed that the Omelette and Waffle shop (also in Pedro) was mentioned a couple of times. The top link below is their CFS (O&W), the second is their Eggs Benedict and the third is their biscuits and gravy (crazy!). Yum!

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/udlRwNdRomyfk7XmNEkBTA?select=St5dGuVzO692FAnUfBvBZg.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/udlRwNdRomyfk7XmNEkBTA?select=-VUOitjODumqSHoRa7I6_g
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/udlRwNdRomyfk7XmNEkBTA?select=njKmigfG-Asv1t4AmKolNA

<edit> here is a pic of Pacific Diner's biscuits and gravy:
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/tsyHFm...

[Juji]

I've had the CFS at the Kettle several times. Most of the time it's been very good, but sometimes it's been just ok. But it is definitely worth a try.

[Servorg]

Thanks for sharing. I somehow end up having the stuffed french toast every time. I gotta branch out more...

[Juji]

I also like their banana pancakes, crab cake benedict and country benedict. That apple chicken sausage is yummy.

[WildSwede]

Thank you!
Noticed that the link above for the CFS at Omelette & Waffle Shop did not show. If you click on the link below it and scroll down, you can see the pic of the CFS 2nd row from the bottom, 2nd pic from the right.

[Servorg]

Back about 30 minutes ago from devouring the CFS at The Kettle in Manhattan Beach. Very credible and satisfying example. Grading the over all plate I'd give it a solid B (only grading it down for the fact that the potatoes could have used a bit more "crust" this AM). But the CSF is very good. Good seasoning to the batter. Right "cubed steak" with nary a hint of anything but tender beef, and the crust was a gorgeous golden brown. Classic white gravy and two eggs cooked to a perfect over medium and whole wheat toast.

Not on the menu, but the waitress didn't even blink and simply wrote it down and brought me my coffee and water. The price has gone up to $9.95, but this is a BIG plate of food (that I modestly finished... ;-D>) that leaves you completely full.

The Kettle is now my default CFS location until I find something better (which to this point I haven't come close to doing).

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Kettle
1138 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

[WildSwede]

Thanks Servorg! The Kettle is next on my list - maybe next weekend! Thanks again!

[bigredd]

PDC is a great breakfast but is expensive. When coffee is $5 and OJ is $8 it starts to add up quick. Everything is prepared well and the blueberry pancakes are great. I guess someone has to pay for the linen napkins and comfy chairs and booths.

[lil mikey]

Of course it depends on what you order, but I would budget $30 per person.

[Servorg]

With tip I normally get out for $25, but then again I don't drink OJ or any alcoholic drinks when I eat there, just coffee and water.

[WildSwede]

I have vague memories of someone mentioning they do Country Fried Steak here. I was thinking of going yesterday for breakfast, but when I was looking at the menu, there was no mention of it. Do you know if they offer it at all? And it so, when? Thanks!
Either way, I ended up at Millie's on Sunset for CFS (first time there).

[Servorg]

In all the times I've had breakfast at the SM location (6 or 7 times over the last 3 years) I can't recall ever seeing a CFS on the menu. Anyone else have any info on the elusive CFS at the PDC?

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Pacific Dining Car
2700 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

[monku]

I went to Millie's for CFS the first time last week and it was a dreadful waste of $13.50.

[WildSwede]

It's weird. I have been thinking about posting about my meal at Millie's, but cannot seem to do it because I know it will sound very odd. Either way, I am going to write my thoughts here. I got there around 2-ish on Sunday. Decided while turning around in the 99 cents store parking lot that if there was a space in front, I would go, if not, then I would go to La Parrilla and have a vat of their delicious veggie soup and some of their charro beans with freshly made, delicious tortillas. There were no spots when I was driving by but after I turned around, there was one between them and Madame Matisse (I love this place, too). So I parked. When I walked up, the people who were in the outside table closest to MM were leaving. All other tables were taken, so I asked if I could sit there. I sat. I placed my order for green iced tea and the Country Fried Steak. They offer it made with either beef or chicken. I asked the waitress which one most people order and she immediately said "chicken" (I am guessing maybe because most the patrons seemed to be pretty health conscious or not beef eaters) and also told me that she orders that (had never had the beef). I decided to go traditional since I am on a quest to find a great CFS.
The plate appeared. Okay. The beef was ultra-thin. The breading almost non-existent. The gravy had no flavor when I tasted it by itself - neither did the beef. I do not think the meat or breading were seasoned at all. It is served with rosemary roasted red potatoes and 2 eggs and one of the most delicious biscuits I have ever had.
The potatoes were fabulous and the egg yolks had the most brilliant orange color to them (you can tell this place sources items from top-notch places). I ordered my eggs sunny side up.
Okay, here is where it gets weird. Once I put salt, pepper and Cholula on the CFS and eggs and the flavors from the potatoes and eggs got all mixed together, it was really, really good. I am not sure if they put rosemary in the gravy, but if that flavor came from the potatoes, it was so delicious. I ended up eating every last bit and sopping up the leftover gravy and yolk with the biscuit.
I am not sure I will need to go again, but all in all, with everything into consideration, I found it a very satisfying meal. $13.50 was a little high, too.

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Madame Matisse
3536 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

[monku]

Someone raved about the CFS at the Blue Star Cafe(owner was from Millie's) and it was exactly like the one I had at Millie's. Complained to the owner by e-mail and he apologized and in told me to come back for a comped CFS. Never took him up on his generous offer.
BTW prices at Millie's include sales tax. And yes the muffin, eggs and potatoes at Millie's were good, the CFS a disappointment.

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Blue Star
2200 E 15th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

[WildSwede]

You should try to take Blue Star's owner up on his offer and see what he would (may) do differently. If you are in the area.

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Blue Star
2200 E 15th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

[monku]

How could it be different?
It was the same exact crappy CFS I got at Millie's. I was shocked it was exactly the same.

[WildSwede]

You had a complaint and he offered another. Maybe there is something different there.

[Steve Green]

WildSwede: I think your experience illustrates how important plain old salt and pepper can be.

[WildSwede]

SO important.