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Cafe 50's
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Restaurants Diners American (Traditional), Diners [Edit]
11623 Santa Monica BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90025
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles
(310) 479-1955
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 7 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 7 am - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
342 reviews for Cafe 50's
Review Highlights
"Tried their sweet potato fries as well --- loved em."
(in 37 reviews)
"Plus, they have a few board games that customers can use."
(in 25 reviews)
"The shakes are indulgently satisfying."
(in 101 reviews)
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342 reviews in English
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Review from Jason T.
Ontario, CA
1/16/2012 1 photo
I'm not quite sure what is about the 50s that fascinates me. Could it be the music? The cars? Perhaps the fact that beef was practically its own food group? I'm going to say yes to all three.
My friends were headed out to Cafe 50s and since I was in the area (and starving), I decided to join them.
Let's be honest here. If you've been to one 50s themed restaurant, you've basically been to them all. You know there's going to be mini jukeboxes at the table to play 50s music and there's a 50% chance the waitresses will be wearing pink skirts.
Cafe 50s tries its best to stand out from all the others. It's safe to say they do a pretty fair job at that. Unlike other places, the restaurant is decorated with a lot of magazine covers and ads (from the 50s of course). It's almost like wallpaper.
I sat next to few tabloids on the wall that explained the marital problems Elizabeth Taylor was going through at the time. It was fun to see that things haven't really changed all that much. People always wanted to know what celebrities were up to. I also noticed a beer ad that featured Lucille Ball. It doesn't get much better than that.
Our waitress was energetic and fun, so an extra star for that. The food was standard though. I can't really say anything much about it.
The greatness here is the look and the service. I actually want to come back and sit at another table to see what else they have up on the wall. A real test of this place is if I want to come back after sitting at every possible booth. We'll just have to wait and see. -
Review from Rachel S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/9/2012
I wish there were half stars because I feel Cafe 50s deserves exactly 3.5 stars. Full disclosure, I've only ever eaten breakfast food from here. The corned beef hash was fatty and delicious, and I think they cook up a mean piece of bacon. The pancakes are a bit on the heavy side (Junior's are better), but I love the real maple syrup.
I'm still saving up my calories to try one of their insane list of milkshakes! -
Review from Jeffrey A.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2012
Came here twice....first time service was bad, what made it good was the food tho...second time service was better (cause it was early) and still love the food. But LOVE the 50s look and music.
Would we come here again, YEA why not -
Review from Marie G.
Los Angeles, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here with four friends on a Saturday afternoon. For being a random time in the afternoon, the place was fairly hoppin, and we were able to be seated after a few minutes of waiting in the awkward entrance by the front counter. The menu was pretty extensive and it took us a while to decide what to eat. The waitress was friendly but it took her a LONG time to get back to us on our order, and we had to ask for certain things multiple times because she forgot (straws & an extra milkshake order).
I ended up getting the Avocado BLT. It was pretty good, but definitely not the best sandwich I've ever had. My friend got an order of the sweet potato fries - those were really tasty. We ended up sharing a Brownie shake. It was alright.
At least the decor was cute! -
Review from Scott A.
Santa Monica, CA
12/30/2011
I remember the first time I went here was in middle school because we could walk to it. For some reason my mom was craving diner food, so we tried this place. After seeing all the mixed reviews I can see why.
The place is supposed to look old, so you can't knock it there. Some call it outdated, others may say it's nostalgic. Regulars seemed to know some of the workers and quickly grabbed to board games to play while eating. (I wondered if that meant the food might take long...)
Most of us got burgers. Nothing special. They looked alright and tasted OK, but the patties looked as thin as McDonalds. My wife got the Cobb Salad which was decent, but I think that was because it was swimming in dressing. A couple of ordered shakes that looked pretty good, but no comments were made and that's always a bad thing.
Overall the service was a bit slow, including the food which took a long time to make. It's not a place I'd go back to until they step it up. -
Review from William H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/29/2012
This place is unfriendly to your wallet, and the food is not too spectacular. I have tried many things on Cafe 50's menu because it is so close to where I live and convenient. I guess I do appreciate that this diner is very retro and fashioned with a bunch of diner antiques...
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Review from Mike A.
Santa Monica, CA
1/6/2012
There's nothing I like more than standing on a sun-baked, shadeless sidewalk while waiting for a small table in a noisy, cramped diner. With an epic hangover. Yet that's what I often subject myself to when I come here. It's mostly worth it. The service is kinda meh, but the food is good. The weekend magicians are cheesy and entertaining, but then again, so is watching the Price is Right in your bed.
They have a tuna melt omelet that is worth it. It sounds kind of gross, and it won't impress any ladies nearby, but if you ever wanted a full protein version of a tuna sandwich, dig in boy. It's a winner. -
Review from Nonno C.
Arcadia, CA
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cafe 50's been here for a really long time, as reflected by the old pictures, vintage posters, and other memorabilia, but it doesn't seem rundown. My college roommates and I used to come down to this place for brunch or just swing by to pick up sweet potato fries and shakes to satisfy our cravings. The milkshake menu is extensive with both traditional flavours and unique offerings.
I was recently in the area with my SO and I insisted that we go revisit the diner for old times sake. It's just as good as I remembered it... -
Review from Ryan T.
11/20/2011
Full disclosure: I went with my grandparents who very much lived in the 50s.
I'm blown away by the popularity of this diner. I only went here since I recently moved near by but it seems that everyone has heard of it. Diners these days always strike me as the same - you go in knowing exactly what to expect. I guess that's the nostalgia of it all and it delivered perfectly. From the old cash register to the memorabilia on the wall. I think they managed to poke fun of themselves as you'll see a sign above the door as you exit that says, "welcome back to the future."
If you're going to order food here, you're most likely going to end up with a burger or a sandwich. Diner food was never designed for the health conscious so don't bother. I did notice a few veggie options which I know is a must for many of you west-siders. And like all diners, yes, they make a decent cup of joe.
Cafe 50s is a great place to drop by any time and like most restaurants on that strip - they're open until midnight or 1am (depending on the night).
I definitely plan to go back here - their milkshake selection is incredibly tempting and they are always having some sort of promotional offer to make the deal at that much sweeter! -
Review from Tanya D.
11/14/2011
Came here on a Sunday at 11 am while just up the street at Blick. We wanted to try out the Naan place down the street but I guess on Sundays it's bread only or something? I dunno, it was too early for me. I pass by the Cafe 50's location on Lincoln quite often and my friend I decided to give this one a whirl. With the busy breakfast/lunch rush we were seated immediately at the counter. Michael S. mentioned that this is what an authentic 50s diner would look like if it were preserved and not perfectly maintained - and that's the exact vibe. It's really just OK - call me crazy but I'd prefer a Ruby's diner to this just because Cafe 50's is super cluttered and has that old-school vibe that reminds me exactly why we've progressed in the last 60 years.
Granted, I didn't have a shake or a malt. I was feeling somewhat under the weather and didn't think a dairy and sugar bomb would be beneficial. Instead, I wanted to save all my energy for a Monte Cristo, which I saw they had on the menu. I asked for it without cheese, but nope! Their Monte Cristos come pre-made and I couldn't have one sans dairy. Terrific. I instead opted for a BLT with turkey bacon - all sandwiches come with a pickle and a side of coleslaw - there's a slight upcharge for fries or anything else. I was glad Cafe 50's wasn't too gung-ho about its authenticity and had turkey bacon, but why can't they be more relaxed about their MCs? Anyway, my associate had some kind of melt with Cajun fries - we both pretty much cleaned our plates although perhaps it was due to our hunger and not the yummiest meal we've ever had.
If you're in the mood for a shake or malt, I'd probably say try this place out. Although I did enjoy my turkeyBLT and coleslaw, I'd bet there's a better sandwich within a block or two of Cafe 50's (at least in Santa Monica). -
Review from Logan L.
West Los Angeles, CA
1/18/2012
I love their food!! ... I've been coming over here for a year now! like the way they have the place set up! and i just like their mexican burrito and their shakes are amazing!
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Review from Yuna L.
West Los Angeles, CA
1/16/2012
The food is just OK. I am not particularly impressed by their burgers, but their soups and fries - especially, garlic and cheddar fries - are pretty nice.
I also like the old-school ambience.
One thing I should mention is about service, especially when you wanna take some food to go. Whenever I go there with my friend and dine-in, waiters and waitresses were very nice and friendly. However, when I go there by myself (I live very nearby this location. I went there by myself twice) to make to-go orders, I was never paid attention by anyone working in the store. I basically stood there in the store for more than five minutes and no one approached me until I actually go talk to the cashier to make some order. It is very awkward and weird to just stand up there. It is weird cuz waiters and waitresses still looked at me, but did not say or do anyting. Maybe they are just too busy serving the tables they are responsible for and getting tips?
The exactly same thing happened to me twice.
Summary - It is a okay place to dine-in. The food is OK although not great, and I like the ambience. But they would not pay any attention to you nor would they try to serve you if you walk-in by yourself. -
Review from maria p.
11/12/2011
I went here since it's super close and I like supporting businesses in the hood.
I had heard the southern fried chicken was damn good but I was full from a burrito at lunch so I opted for the Calico cobb salad. Now this is a salad, the decaying excuse for a diner down the street should take note!
It was a good size mixed greens salad with lots of delicious bleu cheese crumbles, crispy bacon (flavorful even if it was probably made earlier), tomatoes, and precisely sliced egg where the yolk was a perfect circle either to be enjoyed or put aside. Perhaps an infomercial type slicer for those. The salad comes with turkey but I asked for that to be omitted. Not a fan of turkey really.
I also got a milkshake, dreamsicle. It was tasty and big. Had to take the rest home.
My waitress was friendly and when she disappeared for awhile maybe to do sidework another waitress brought me water without asking and made sure I was happy.
The decor is great for kids with fun candy and games to buy, and tons of memorabilia, framed photos of celebs, and even cards glued to the ceiling. It's very kitschy yes and a fun neighborhood place to grab breakfast (served all day), lunch, or an easy dinner.
Even though it was 10 pm they were still friendly as if they'd just opened and there was music playing in the background. Ask your server about the dining club card, which is a good deal for locals.
I'll be sure and bring my proverbial poodle skirt back to this fun and low key restaurant! -
Review from Phil S.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
The shakes here are so worth stopping by for.
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Review from Emily R.
West Los Angeles, CA
12/17/2011
Monte Cristo- YES PLEASE. There is nothing else in the world that cane put a smile on my face quite like this sandwhich, batter dipped and deep fried. Seriously heavenly. And artery clogging. Probably heavenly because it'll send you to heaven... but in the end it'll be worth it. Just make sure you get a milk shake before you get there!
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Review from Aisha M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/8/2011
Awesome food I am obsessed with the Monte Cristo Sandwich. I love supporting the local businesses in my area. Huge variety of Milkshakes, salads (Cobb Salad 4 Stars), sandwiches. The service varies, I have had impeccable service that deserved and received a 20 tip and some service that did not deserve a tip. The atmosphere is exactly what you are looking for in a kitschy fun dinner.
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Review from Stefani T.
Redondo Beach, CA
10/12/2011
I didn't know what to expect actually. It's not a large restaurant - cozy, especially in the room with the counter. It's one of those places where time stands still...jukebox, phone booth, memorabilia, servers dressed old school. On the counter and each table are mini jukeboxes, too. Nice first impression.
We ordered 4 milkshakes:
Chocolate Truffle, completely disgusting. Chocolate overpowered by coffee and strawberry syrups
Elvis shake (vanilla, banana and PB). Simple and good
Oreo cookie. More like vanilla with specks of cookie
Chocolate. Best one of the lot - who knew? I guess simpler is better.
For food we had the following:
Avocado omelette plate, minus the sour cream - huge and fresh. Even though I couldn't finish it, it didn't leave me feeling sick after.
Huevos Rancheros. Must not mind ghetto Mexican grub to enjoy this one. Very heavy, canned food - beans, sauce, soupy rice. Not for us, gracias
Blueberry and Banana Pancakes. Good and plenty
Veggie burger with sweet potato fries. Another tasty selection
Gripes about the place:
We came on Sunday for their table magic. We were there over two hours and the one guy who showed up never left the section he started in by the phone booth. That's why we went in the first place!
The jukeboxes didn't work except one on the counter. We never heard the music play, so we wasted a few quarters.
Staff is hurried but service is slow. Water never refilled, never asked about the food or shakes, even when taking away the full truffle shake, like "does this taste like shit?" "Can I get you something else?" "Would you like your bill an hour ago?"
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 2 stars
Value: 2.5 stars
This place has potential, but it was hit and miss. You just have to know what you want and what to expect from this place. -
Review from Danielle S.
Los Angeles, CA
12/19/2011
After swearing off Cafe 50's have been won back over by the stellar service. The food is very, very good and one of the few breakfasts in town that doesn't leave you with heartburn afterward. Weekend breakfast menu is worth any wait you'll have to endure. Grits!
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Review from Rizzy L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/8/2011
I love 50s Diners, but as you might expect, the food is just OK here. What will keep me from going back was the owner following me to my car to ask me for more money. He said had rung me up incorrectly, and despite leaving a generous tip that covered more than what he said I still owed, he wanted me to pay more so that the waitress would still have a big tip. Had they asked me while I was still seated that might have made sense, but to follow me to my car (and believe me, I was walking slow and was slow to leave so it would have been very easy to stop me in the restaurant) was creepy and poor customer service. I will NEVER go back to this place again.
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Review from Nick P.
Mountain View, CA
12/22/2011
Classic diner food. Great atmosphere. The children loved it. Pumpkin pie milk shake was amazing.
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Review from Sofie P.
8/15/2011
I have been wanting to try the burgers here for some time, so in a fit of hunger I waltzed in.
I always have a smile, and if I see Grumpy Smurfs I will try to get a smile or laugh out of them, but no need here.
I walked up to the counter and everyone that works here seemed so, well, happy.
The waitresses wear the old fashioned waitress uniforms, not so cute, you know the kind you see in Hemet, when you stop in a coffee shop.
Everything here buzzes 1950's.
There are old black and white photos of movie stars. When I asked one the waitress' if those movie stars actually came here, she said, No we bought the photos on Ebay.
Ok, fair enough.
Also the jukebox is waiting to played, there are prints to buy in the corner, check these out. I bought four, one of them proudly says, TONIGHT ITS ME, with a sexy Susan Hayward looking lady in a cocktail dress. Love it.
FOOD FOR THE WEARY SOUL;
I ordered the basic burger and fries, yes you got it fries.
The burger was really good, sort of old school, just the way it should be, with ice berg lettuce, tomato lots o' mayo and mustard, served on big white bun!
Excellent in a 50's way.
Now let me tell ya about the fries.
So good, just think Mc Donalds, but so much fresher
Really good.
THE SPECIALS:
Here are a few for August:
Weds August 17 and 31, KIDS EAT FREE WITH ADULT MEAL PURCHASE
Mon. August 22 and 29 50% off burgers and Omelettes!
Every Tuesday, BUY ONE SANDWICH GET ONE FREE
Great place.
Happy times.Listed in: Take Delight in these Bites!, An American Classic
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Review from Ivy K.
Santa Monica, CA
8/3/2011
I had a Groupon for Cafe 50's so I decided to use it yesterday to take my girl friend Carla on a lunch date! The Groupon was for 2 deluxe milkshakes and $20 worth of food.
Street parking was easy and plentiful, we both found spots quickly and walked into the cute 50's style diner. We picked out a big, comfy red booth to sit in and decided to order:
- An Elvis shake (peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, bananas, YUM)
- A strawberry cheesecake shake (YUM)
Both were AWESOME. The shakes were DEFINITELY the highlight of the entire meal!
Food-wise, we ordered:
- A reuben sandwich with a side of onion rings (DO NOT ORDER THE ONION RINGS HERE, THEY ARE BLAND AND TASTELESS!!!)
- A tuna melt (also bland, sadness)
The food was lackluster and disappointing. I couldn't believe how BAD the onion rings were... Absolutely tasteless, way too much batter and just plain... bad. If I'm going to be eating something deep fried, it'd better taste at least decent... Such a let-down!! And an additional $2.95 at that. Totally NOT worth it.
Service was friendly, the atmosphere was nice, and the shakes were terrific! The food itself was weak as I should have expected from reading the other Yelp reviews.
Shakes - 5 stars
Service - 4.5 stars
Food - 2 stars
I might come back here sometime for a shake, but definitely NOT for the food, and ESPECIALLY NOT for the onion rings! -
Review from Soo H.
9/16/2011
This place is cheesy and kitschy and I've honestly never had their food but their milkshakes are AMAZING.
Whenever I have one, I'm reminded of that scene in Pulp Fiction where they discuss the merits of a $5 milkshake, but trust me, these are worth it! They are, indeed, a "damn good milkshake."
If you ever need a serious milkshake fix, this is your place. -
Review from Peter N.
9/13/2011
FOOD: they are fairly solid in the breakfast menu, but not quite as strong for lunch/dinner. The pancakes and waffles are decent.
SERVICE: is usually good and friendly. They are open late and have a good customer rewards program if you're a regular.
LOCATION/AMBIANCE: it's a small/medium restaurant with a counter if you want to get something quick or are eating alone. The 50's music and decor work to set the mood. The place is fairly clean. Parking has to be on the street or the city lot in the back, but can be difficult to find at times.
VALUE: they are average-priced for a diner in L.A. -
Review from Natalie G.
Los Angeles, CA
11/12/2011
HORRIBLE MANAGER: JOSE
HORRIBLE WAITRESS: MEGAN
NICE BUS BOY: MIGUEL
Went there for the first time today with a couple friends because we had a Munch On Me discount (similar to groupon).
We walk in and no one is there to take our name down. Then finally the guy behind the bar yells across the restaurant to tell us to write our name on a clipboard. At first I though this would be a very cute dinner/ family restaurant experience. i was wrong.
Next, they seat us at a booth only to return two minutes later to take the booth from us and give it to another party who they had skipped over. That wasn't even a big problem, there was more to come.
When the waitress comes buy I let her know that we have a coupon, just to make sure there aren't any restrictions or anything. She hadn't had a customer use the coupon before, so she went to talk to the manager. When he came over, he had NO IDEA what I was talking about and he was super rude about it. He shushed me at one point! RUDE!
So now we're starving and this guy is giving us attitude about something their their store created. It was so frustrating. After he talks to his boss and finally confirms that it is an actual deal (even though I had showed him the email when we first sat down), They over charge us for the meal we had already paid for through Munch On Me.... THEN THE WAITRESS CIRCLES THE "SUGGESTED TIP" SECTION!!!!!! BIG NO NO!!!! She should realize that that is going to piss off customers and make them want to tip less.
Food was good, but I've had better. CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKED! -
Review from Melissa W.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 11/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm going to upgrade their rating by one star. Apparently the third time is the charm at Cafe 50's. I was coerced by a friend to give it another try the other night after a Kings game (the kings won...in case you were curious). This time the service was pretty good. I got a ham and cheese and mushroom omelet with their home fries (without peppers) and this was the first time out of 3 visits that my order was 100% correct. It's a good thing because I am now willing to visit again...since it is a favorite late night spot for my friend. I'm going to keep it at 3 stars for now...and see how the next visit goes.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/12/2011
I can see the attraction to Cafe 50's. It's atmosphere is a little funky and a throw back to just… Read more »
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Review from Susan D.
8/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place has cool local flavor. It's a 50's style diner (obviously) that serves up some tasty comfort and breakfast foods. I was impressed with the fun decor but a lil less than impressed with the overall experience. Don't order the biscuits if you're from the Midwest but the blueberry banana pancakes are good. haha
If I was in the area again, I might go back and try something else but, I wouldn't make a special trip for it.
Might see ya there. -
Review from Jennifer W.
Beverly Hills, CA
Great burgers and breakfast, but the milkshakes are really what this place is all about. The different flavors are each unique yet equally delicious. The place itself is decorated with all kinds of objects from the 1950's and is a fun place to go.
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Review from Nico L.
Los Angeles, CA
8/13/2011
Not a bad place to check out, especially if you like good comfort food such as Mac n cheese or southern style fried chicken.
I came here with a friend after I twisted my ankle while playing basketball and my friend backed into a police cruiser... We were both feeling under the weather so we figured, what the hell, let's get some Mac and cheese
and eat the day away.
When we arrived we were seated quickly and ordered their Mac and cheese bites along with their southern fried chicken.
The food: the Mac and cheese bites were ok, but at the time they were exactly what we needed. The chicken was cooked well but my friends chicken was more on the dry side. This however didn't take away from the overall visit and we still had enough food after to take home to go.
3 stars -
Review from Jen R.
Updated - 8/6/2011
Third visit in the the last two weeks, every time the service has been outstanding, and the food, likewise. Our waitresses have been Savannah, Michelle, and we can't recall our first. They've all been really good. This is one of the few restaurants we look forward to patronizing in this stretch of road in L.A.
Updated rating from four stars to five.Listed in: MSG-Free!, C Is For Coffee That's Good…, Diner Tour of America
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/31/2011
Sweetheart dined in and brought home an order for me.
He said the meatloaf was "outstanding", mashed… Read more »
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Review from Tina L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/18/2011
Good All-American food! (what a misnomer that is...)
Seriously though... for hamburgers and milkshakes and nostalgia (blegh), it's a good spot. A little pricey but that's okay. Good food. The only downside is the wait-time for both seating AND your food... not to mention your check!
I recommend the milkshakes though. From the Seasonal Egg Nog to the variety of chocolate and other flavors they have in regular stock. -
Review from Flora W.
Los Angeles, CA
7/14/2011
Listen here Cafe 50's. My co-worker and I have been ordering lunch from you for a few years now and I like your food. But I will tell you when you messed up my order.
1) I know you're busy but an hour and a half for delivery is pushing it
2) I ordered 2 diet cokes, not one, TWO! Do not mess with women and their diet sodas.
3) Where the EFF is my tomato for the sandwich?! All I have now is two slices of bread, grilled chicken and one piece of lettuce.
4) My sweet potato fries are complete soft and not crispy.
5) Don't offer coleslaw for delivery if we're going to get it WARM.
Do not fail me again or I will stop ordering from you. -
Review from Siqi Z.
6/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Shakes. I love milk shakes and Cafe 50s is one of my favorite places to get a shake. My favorites are cappuccino, pineapple/banana, strawberry cheescake, and chocolate/truffle. They aren't cheap, but they are good.
Sign up for the frequent eaters card at Cafe 50s if you come here often. I get coupons in the mail and a free meal for my birthday. The restaurant isn't the newest/cleanest, but I guess that is why they call it Cafe 50s.
The food here is pretty basic American. Lots of sandwiches, burgers, at salads. I almost always get a breakfast like the 3 eggs with sausage. It doesn't really matter since I'm there for the shakes. -
Review from Matthew R.
Santa Monica, CA
8/4/2011
I drove past this place a couple times, and I'm a sucker for 50's diners; they are just "cool"... It looked pretty rad from the outside, so one day I stopped in for a burger and a shake to see what's doing.
The aesthetic appeal and 50's decor is dead-on, I mean there is a working phone booth right when you walk in, a jukebox with vinyl in it, and there was an authentic old-school Coca-Cola Fountain, shake machine, and 50's movie posters, magazine advertisements, and framed pictures of famous patrons from the bygone era scattered throughout. The place is small, but has 2 sections, I took a seat at the counter and thought twice about ordering a Pepsi-Free, but didn't.
Waitresses all wear matching uniforms like I would imagine they wore in the 50's, but I can't clarify this since I didn't arrive on this Earth until almost 3 decades later...
Service: Fast, although not friendly, I felt like the waitress was annoyed and I was rushed. The manager on duty, got into a brief argument with one of the wait-staff while I was there, which was not only unprofessional, but made me slightly uncomfortable... I thought the guy was going to pull the old "YOU ARE FIRED, GET OUT", but it quickly calmed down... ridiculous --- take it in the back guys...
Food: They have an AMAZING selection of authentic shakes, I went with the chocolate chip cookie shake, it was great. Burger was not impressive at all (meaning it was small), fries were... well, fries, but they were good, thick-cut.
Other: They deliver, which is pretty sweet, although I'm not sure they cover Santa Monica where I live, I doubt it. They have fun specials and deals on their website, and while you wait, when you are not looking around at the decor, you can read the Cafe 50's Newsletter which is full of very fun facts from past and present, it was an interesting read, and was a great way to pass the time. Up front when you check out, there is a little bin full of 50's style kid's toys which are kind of fun.
Bottom line: If they made a better burger, I might have given them 4-Stars. If you like little diners like this, then you will probably enjoy Cafe 50's... I will probably go back. I hear the breakfast is great; I'm thinking that's the next step... The question is, if I drive over there and pay to park on the street, will I get a seat, or will I have to wait in line like everywhere else I go in LA. If I have to wait one minute, I'm going to raise holy hell like Biff in Back to the Future.
In summation: "Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out that he'd melt my brain". -
Review from Lynlea M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/29/2011
I went there alone-I'm new to the area and live walking distance. Friday night, not crowded at all. Waited 15 minutes to be seated at a completely empty bar area. Ordered a beer so I wouldn't look like a lame loser.
Literally right after I placed my food order, some regular came in and plopped himself right next to me. Let me remind you, the counter was COMPLETELY empty at the time. The waitresses knew his name, he knew theirs. But he obviously was annoying because they didn't try to carry on any sort of conversation with him. So guess who had to endure it? That's right, me.
I don't know about you, but I was 2 years old in 1992, but I had to relive all the newsworthy stories he had of that year. He especially liked to talk about his twin daughters. All I did was give a head nod, but this bia couldn't take a hint. This then turned my anger towards the waitresses who wouldn't help me out or save me AT ALL. I couldn't even get them to look at me for my check-this dude frightened them that much. At least comp me one of my beers I had to drink in order to even get through this meal.
Didn't know if I wanted to go out after dinner before I went. This experience confirmed my fate of that night to my bed. If I go there again, I would probably be inclined to give them more stars. But I'll tell you one thing, I won't be sitting at the counter again. -
Review from Manoa H.
6/7/2011
The Skinny:
Pros: Fun 50s vintage/rockabilly/dive-y diner ambiance; PJ Wednesdays (come in button-up PJs and eat for free!); hot, fresh diner food (read: breakfast all day!) till midnight/1am; irreproachably delicious malts; boardgames and cocktails to go with those fries if it strikes your fancy!
Cons: Overpriced (but what WLA restaurant isn't?), forgettable, mediocre food (except for the milkshakes), high noise level (especially on the counter side of the restaurant, where there's an open grill and open entrance to the constantly clattering kitchen), only 2 power plugs (for you laptop-toting loungers), surly service from the owners when they're around (but some might think that adds to the charm).
Meal of choice: Patty Melt (because something has to be seriously wrong for you to screw that up, plus it comes with a pickle spear! yum!), Sweet Potato Fries with (their super addicting) Ranch, Oreo Shake. And maybe a Bloody Mary if it's been a particularly rough day at work.
The Long of It:
I'm not going to lie. The five years I spent in and after college living in the West LA area, I probably spent a quarter of it at Cafe 50's. I was a card-carrying member of their rewards program. I racked up enough points (read: spent way too much money) to get a free entree every other week. Cafe 50's was like my no-good, money-sucking ex boyfriend I just couldn't let go of. Every time I went, it was as if I believed I could somehow will it to be better. Maybe today, if I take him out to dinner one more time, he'll realize how much I love him and love me back. But of course, like all no-good boyfriends, nothing ever changed.
This doesn't alter the fact that we had our good times. And I'm sure droves of others will continue to be seduced by the garish 50s paraphernalia plastering every corner of their walls and ceiling. I don't know about you, but I know I personally enjoyed having voluptuous, nearly naked ladies in pinup calendars and pulpy movie posters coyly gazing into my eyes as I worked through burgers. Or having the opportunity to buy and puff on candy cigarettes while surrounded by half a dozen ads featuring handsome young doctors assuring me that Camels/Marlboros/Lucky Strike cigarettes were THEIR number one choice. And who can deny the pleasure of being served by waitresses in cheery red shirt dresses and bowling shirt-clad waiters while you treat the rest of the clientele to your favorite 50s tunes via your leftover roll of laundry quarters and the mini jukeboxes installed at each table?
Sure, it's a little weird that they have an in-house magician who will perform at your table certain nights of the week on request. And I agree, the whole show-up-in-pjs-that-button-all-the-way-down-and-we 'll-feed-you-for-free-while-we-get-our-jollies-on- every-month thing is vaguely sinister. But you don't go to Cafe 50's for an authentic taste of gourmet diner America. You don't even go to restage your swanky Mad Men-esque version of Nighthawks. You go for the goofy fun of it--and possibly because you're craving a burger at 12am and you don't feel like fast food. And you have money to burn.Listed in: Best of West LA
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Review from Emily M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What better way to end a healthy sushi dinner then by walking over to cafe 50's for some pie. This place reminds me of the Peach Pit...where's Nat?? I had some hot chocolate and a slice of pumpkin pie and my boyfriend had some type of berry pie. SO GOOD. The waitress was very friendly had good at recommending things pie-related. I will definitely be back.
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Review from Spencer K.
Los Angeles, CA
8/2/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Hey! Hey! A diner that I can appreciate. I stopped by over the weekend and had a great time eating good ol' American diner food! I loved it! It's like a blast from the past coming in here.
I got the chicken fried steak and eggs. They know how to make chicken fried steak.
I feel like I should return to try out some more of their stuff. It's a shame that there aren't that many of these kinds of places anymore. -
Review from Anson G.
Honolulu, HI
8/2/2011
Bottom Line: a great and seemingly authentic american diner experience.
Cafe 50's looks like you have been transported into an old movie, and the service and food appears to be up to par. The place is decorated with posters from the period, and they even have a real juke box with VINYL in it. I don't know if it actually worked, but it was still really cool to see it.
Even their service is a blast from the past - meaning that they still were friendly, and genuinely tried to help their customers. It's something you don't see as often as you used to at diners like this (usually we get flat service from some kid making their way through college.)
The menu is extensive, and has offerings ranging from breakfast to burgers, fries, and shakes - diner food. I tried one of their omelettes, and their breakfast potatoes (despite being told that their hashed browns were more popular.)
The food was served hot and fast, and tasted great. The omelette I had was so generically good, that's what made it great. I usually notice when something as standard as an omelette isn't done right, that when nothing seems to be wrong, I consider it great!
Another thing that stood out to me was that nothing was greasy tasting. Diner food usually makes me feel like I am swallowing a teaspoonful of oil for every item I order, but this place was pleasantly much less greasy.
I highly recommend a stop here for a generically good american-style breakfast! -
Review from Jason M.
Los Angeles, CA
5/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a typical diner.
The GOOD:
The place is decorated in ads and toys and gizmos from waaaaayy back in the day...50's-60's era.
They have different boardgames you can play (Sorry! , Monopoli , Connect 4 ..etc).
The WEIRD:
They have a magician that may/may not come to your table and show magic tricks??
The BAD:
The food was just ok. My iced tea had a funny bitter after-taste as if they don't clean out the pot. I changed it for a glass of water.
My niece ordered the banana french toast and she had A PIECE of corn beef hash on her plate that belonged to someone else's order! (HUH?)
I see that they have a lot of promotions to keep customers coming back such as pajama night. Plus before we left, our waitress gave us an envelope that is to be opened on the next visit.....inside could be a certificate with a prize ranging from $50- to $200- to other stuff.
Im sorry ...nothing free will make me run back to this place.
