5 Old Hollywood Restaurants I wish I could time travel to…
I spy Lauren Bacall at Hollywood’s Mocambo Nightclub
Los Angeles is full of the ghosts of classic Hollywood and the “things that aren’t here anymore” - I often wish I could time travel back to various times and places in its history. And as many great restaurants as we have now, reading and hearing stories from some of these classic Hollywood haunts has me salivating…and not necessarily for the food (although I’m sure that was amazing too)!
Mocambo
Mocambo nightclub always sounds SO GLAMOROUS to me. Let’s start with the list of celebrities that you could encounter on any given night: Ava Gardner, Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, Clark Gable….and the entertainment! Some of the acts I’d most love to have seen are Desi Arnaz and his orchestra, Eartha Kitt, and Frank Sinatra. Even if you somehow plugged in an “off-night” into your DeLorean, you still could get a peek at the tiki-themed decor featuring palm trees lining the walkway and an exotic aviary featuring birds from the Amazon jungle. Top that off with a yummy steak dinner followed by cherries jubilee? Sign me up!
Thelma Todd’s Sidewalk Cafe
Before the gifted comedic actress met her untimely end in 1935, Thelma Todd had achieved a respectable Hollywood career and opened a cafe in the Pacific Palisades as her “something to fall back on” plan if her movie work ever dried up. I’d love to visit, because first off, I love seafood more than anything. Second, I love a good mystery. Were gangsters involved in Todd’s death (ruled accidental carobon monoxide poisoning after she was found dead in her car parked in her garage)? I wonder if you could get a feel for what really happened by spending an evening in the cafe while Todd was working? Would you spot a few gangsters? I’d love to find out.
Sardi’s Cafe
Located near the Hollywood and Vine intersection from 1933 to 1945, restaurateur Eddie Brandstatter (famous for Hollywood’s earlier Monmartre and Embassy Club), Sardi’s Cafe was the home of the radio show Breakfast at Sardi’s. Hosted by Tom Breneman, who covered cab fare for the first fifty ladies on the first week, Breneman covered Hollywood star gossip and then walked around the cafe interviewing various ladies in attendance. You can bet I would have been one of those “first fifty”!
Greenblatt’s Deli and Fine Wines
Ok, so these last two are places I’ve actually been to, but no longer exist. Greenblatt’s Deli and Fine Wines was on Sunset Boulevard near Chateau Marmont. This particular location would have been fun to visit during the era of Schwabs and the Garden of Allah (two other locations that no longer exist) for celebrity watching. Wouldn’t it be fun to know what was on the grocery list of your favorite classic star? I’d also like to time travel back to relive the day when I tagged along on a friend’s business lunch at Greenblatt’s with legendary drummer Sheila E, who ordered only champagne and caviar for lunch. AT A DELI.
Pacific Dining Car
Another place I’ve been (only once) and would love to relive is the Pacific Dining Car in downtown Los Angeles. Dating from 1921, the restaurant, which featured a redesigned railroad dining car, was frequented by film stars, professionals, tourists, and gangsters. I had my favorite Thanksgiving dinner ever there in 2009, and loved the food and cocktails. I also love anything to do with trains, and a good theme, and the “dining car” vibe was perfectly executed here.
There are so many more to add to this list! My friend George Geary wrote a great book including all these locations called L.A.’s Landmark Restaurants, that you can buy (online or in-person) at the Larry Edmunds Bookshop. And if you’re a part of the Old Hollywood Back Room membership, you’ll get to hear from George live on Zoom this Thursday, March 9th at 7PM.
Let me know in the comments which old Hollywood restaurants you’d love to visit!