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Restaurant Nostalgia

post #1 of 13
12/31/09 at 2:31pm
Thread Starter 
No, that's not the name of a retro-restaurant...it's my invitation to share thoughts/memories of some old restaurants that are now longer with us. How I miss the old Chasen's. It really was a part of LA's essence for many, many years (something like I imagine New York's Sardi's was in its prime). It's where I saw my first movie stars...not on parade but lunching with a comfort level that made them seem real and approachable (which I never tried to do).
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post #2 of 13
12/31/09 at 2:32pm
My grandparents ate at Chasen's three times a week from 1936 to 1976.
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post #3 of 13
12/31/09 at 2:35pm
Essex House in NYC.... when it was on it was great. Trio in Evanston, IL.
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post #4 of 13
12/31/09 at 2:43pm
I had a '70 Haut Brion at Chasen's once. That's the most expensive wine list wine I have ever had (I didn't pay, needless to say).

I miss Vanessi's (cheesy spectator demo cooking), Orsi's (cheesy Baked Alaska presentation), Ernie's (awful red velvet walls) and Jack's in its many incarnations, the last of which was probably the best.

I have some fond memories of the pre-Warner LeRoy Russian Tea Room.
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post #5 of 13
12/31/09 at 2:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manton View Post
I had a '70 Haut Brion at Chasen's once. That's the most expensive wine list wine I have ever had (I didn't pay, needless to say).

I miss Vanessi's (cheesy spectator demo cooking), Orsi's (cheesy Baked Alaska presentation), Ernie's (awful red velvet walls) and Jack's in its many incarnations, the last of which was probably the best.

I have some fond memories of the pre-Warner LeRoy Russian Tea Room.

how is that different from the current russian tea room?
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post #6 of 13
12/31/09 at 2:52pm
It's not the same. The food is very lame, above all. It looks the same, at least on the inside, but it's not the same. For a long time, some rich old widow owned it and ran it herself, and it was glorious. Most glorious if you were part of the "in crowd" of regulars, which of course I never was, but even for outsiders, it was an experience. LeRoy bought it and rennovated it, but when he reopened it the magic was gone.
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post #7 of 13
12/31/09 at 3:08pm
The Magic Pan
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post #8 of 13
12/31/09 at 3:14pm
Chanterelle (NYC) - sadly recently closed and where I learned to enjoy really, really good wine with spectacular food in the most relaxed of settings.

Madras Woodlands (way back, Manhattan location near the UN, not the current on on LI)- simple vegetarian Indian food with complex flavors in a room that came right out of the Raj. Haven't had anything to beat it since.

Florent (NYC) - best bistro in NYC with a vibe all its own.

Hamburger Harry's (NYC) - who knew hamburgers could be so interesting and be so done well?

Berghoff's (Chicago) - Pot Roast or Geschnetseltes with a stein of bock, followed by apple strudel....what more is there to say?
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post #9 of 13
12/31/09 at 6:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
Essex House in NYC.... when it was on it was great.

+1. Alain Ducasse was terrific! I always had great meals there including during its final week of operation.
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post #10 of 13
12/31/09 at 6:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by andyw View Post
Chanterelle (NYC) - sadly recently closed and where I learned to enjoy really, really good wine with spectacular food in the most relaxed of settings.

Sorry to hear this, didn't know it had closed. Had a great Christmas Eve dinner there a few years ago.
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post #11 of 13
12/31/09 at 11:33pm
Lutece laurant, café San martin, the Old '21" with Jack and Charlie krindler, the quilted giraffe, the magic pan, Trader Vics, San Domonico on CPS, so many - I hope La Veau Dor hangs on for a few more years -
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post #12 of 13
12/31/09 at 11:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
Trio in Evanston, IL.
There are a lot of very evil things I would do to have been able to eat there.
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post #13 of 13
1/1/10 at 12:38am
Something Different in Indianapolis. It was the city's best, IMO; I hated to see it go.
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