Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
129
1043 Westwood Blvd. (btw. Kinross and Weyburn sts.), Westwood.
&
310/208-0444.
www.tanino.com.
Reservations recommended. Main courses $11-$36. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11am-3pm and 5-11pm; Sat
5-11pm; Sun 4:30-10pm. Valet parking $7.
INEXPENSIVE
The Apple Pan
DINER There are no tables—just a U-shape counter—at this
classic American burger shack and hugely popular L.A. landmark. Open since 1947, the
Apple P an is a diner that looks—and acts—the par t. I t's famous for juicy burgers,
grumpy ser vice, and an authentic frills-fr ee atmospher e. The hickor y burger is best,
though the tuna sandwich also has its shar e of fans. H am, egg-salad, and S wiss-cheese
sandwiches round out the menu. D efinitely order fries, and if y ou're in the mood, the
house-baked apple pie. Expect to wait a bit during the lunch r ush (don't worry, the line
moves pretty fast).
10801 Pico Blvd. (east of Westwood Blvd.), Los Angeles.
&
310/475-3585.
Most menu items under $6.
No credit cards. Tues-Thurs and Sun 11am-midnight; Fri-Sat 11am-1am. Free parking.
Nate 'n Al Delicatessen
DELI/BREAKFAST If you want to know where old-
money rich-and-famous types go for comfor t food, look no fur ther. Despite its location
in the center of B everly Hills's “Golden Triangle,” Nate 'n Al has r emained unchanged
since 1945, fr om the N augahyde booths to the motherly waitr esses, who tr eat you the
same whether you're a house-account celebrity regular or just a visitor stopping in for an
overstuffed pastrami on rye, beef brisket, or short ribs. The too-salty chicken soup keeps
Nate 'n Al from being the best L.A. deli (actually, I'd be hard-pressed to choose any one
deli as the city's best), but staples such as chopped liv er, dense potato pancakes, blintzes,
borscht, and well-dilled pickles more than make up for it.
Tip:
This is a little-known and
low-rent hot spot for celebrity spying.
414 N. Beverly Dr. (at Brighton Way), Beverly Hills.
&
310/274-0101.
Main courses $8-$16. AE, DISC, MC,
V. Daily 7am-9pm. Free parking with validation.
6
Versailles
Value
CARIBBEAN/CUBAN Outfitted with Formica tabletops and
looking something like an ethnic IHOP, Versailles feels much like any number of restau-
rants in M iami that cater to the C uban community. The menu r eads like a v eritable
survey of Havana-style cookery and includes specialties such as “M oors and Christians”
(flavorful black beans with white rice),
ropa vieja
(a stringy beef ste w), and fried whole
fish (usually sea bass). Anybody who's eaten here will tell you the same thing: “Order the
shredded r oast por k.” Tossed with the r estaurant's trademar k garlic-citr us sauce, it 's
highly addictiv e. E qually fetching is the garlic chicken—succulent, slo w r oasted, and
smothered in onions and garlic-citrus sauce. Almost everything is served with black beans
and rice; wine and beer ar e av ailable. B ecause meals ar e good, bountiful, and cheap ,
there's often a wait.
1415 S. La Cienega Blvd. (south of Pico Blvd.), Los Angeles.
&
310/289-0392.
Main courses $5-$13. AE,
MC, V. Daily 11am-10pm. Free parking.
4
HOLLYWOOD & WEST HOLLYWOOD
EXPENSIVE
Animal
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN If you're a vegetarian, just move on.
A stone 's thr own fr om the 24-hour Canter 's D elicatessen in the hear t of the F airfax
