(213) 972-9279
877 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles,
CA
90017
34.044
-118.2635
Neighborhoods: Downtown, South Park, Central LA
What People Are Saying About Original Pantry Cafe
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short – The decor is straight out of a noir novel--bleak lighting, Formica tables, turn-of-the-century photos of downtown, and a high-security cashier's cage. Busy at every hour, ancient waiters cater to an endless stream of ravenous nightcrawlers and lunching City Hall suits. Full steak dinners with a squirt of the cafe's signature sauce--plus all the fixings--are bargain-priced. Hearty breakfasts of omelettes, ham and buckwheat pancakes are also legendary.
11/14/09
the pantry has changed
by pels
My wife and I have been going to the pantry for over 20 years and the portions at breakfast were hefty. Not any more. The thick bacon got thin, potatoe servings are 1/2 of what they used to be and they use small (no longer jumbo) eggs. The bargain is gone and people will catch on.
- Pros: good coffee
- Cons: small portions
01/29/09
Nauseatingly Bad
by siamak
After having heard so much about this place I went there today. Waited in line for 45 minutes. While waiting thought to myself "hey it must be good if there is a line." Boy was I wrong. First it was very difficult to read the menus on the wall because of the table position. Yup, they got no menus other than the faded chalk writings on the wall. I tried the so called country fried steak. My friend got the eggs, french toast, and sausage. I find it hard to come up with a word to properly describe the nauseating material served to us. Nothing was edible. Not even the peas which were stale and overcooked. Other than the horrible horrible food it took us 30 minutes to finally convince someone to give us the check so that we could leave the dive. DON'T GO, DON'T GO, DON'T GO. .
- Pros: None
- Cons: Food, Service, Cleanliness
08/30/08
the breakfasts are overrated but the steak is not
by catandjim
this is not a restaurant where everything on the menu is good, however if you are looking for an authentic melt-in-your-mouth steak, this is the place. and the atmosphere is certainly of a style that may not appeal to all, but i find it charming and nostalgic with the gruff and elderly waiters, the formica tables and the lack of pretense. stick to steak and potatoes and you won't be disappointed.
- Pros: delicious steak, an iconic establishment
- Cons: don't order anything else off the menu
The Details on Original Pantry Cafe
Know Before You Go:
The line for breakfast can get long. If your patience wears thin, walk around the corner to the Original Pantry Bakery. You'll be seated fast, and it serves the exact same food.
When to Go:
Eggs are served around the clock; full breakfasts are not.
The Extras:
The restaurant is open for traditional dinners on both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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