Reviews & Ratings for 101 Coffee Shop

09/05/10

Terrible food in a dimly lit atmosphere

by Masonmindell

The funny waiter keeping my son laughing was not enough to make up for undercooked green beans (the waiter hopefully exlaimed "They're al dente!"), lumpy, flavorless mashed potatoes with inedible over cooked meatloaf and tepid, bland lentil soup (I've had better from a can). The atmosphere may be mid- century modern but it feels more like an uninviting cafeteria in a the lobby of a flea bag hotel. My wife said I ordered the wrong thing but a quick look around the place and I could see other underwhelmed patrons looking wanly at their bad looking sandwiches and over dressed salads. Style mid century or otherwise does not an eatery make.

01/06/10

Try the Barbecued Chicken

by Richard Coanda

The barbecued chicken came with the best mashed potatoes and gravy I've had in 50 years, along with an enormous salad and decent coffee, and the chicken proved outstanding. A flatiron steak by comparison seemed rather ordinary. Eggs benedict were good. Muffins you can buy at the cash register are heavenly. Cappaccinos are okay. Service was usually swift. Good ambience too. I like it.

• Pros: Great mashed potatoes and gravy
• Cons: A disappointing waffle once

04/02/09

Love this place

by StephieMM85

I have always loved this place for a good late night bite, and though it is usually pretty packed on weekend nights, I love thsi place. I really hate diners that try to look all 50s. Boring. You know it's no good when Denny's starts remodeling trying to look like a 50s diner. But this place is so 60s/70s it's hilarious. The rock wall reminds me of my grandma's house and how she refused to update the look of her house. But my favorite thing about this place...The Fried Green Tomato Salad.

Loves it!

• Pros: Good Food, Great Late night place
• Cons: Busy

03/09/09

worst service in LA

by th0mkat

Three times the charm, as they say.

Well, each of the three times I have been here I have been an horrible experience with the waiting staff.

Let me say , the busboys were working there asses off, even pointing out to the servers they had customers.

Maybe the charm of this place is to the late night rockers and the history on the wall.

If you're on your way home from a late night of partying, maybe you don't notice the lousy service.

Don't stop here for breakfast in the morning if you are expecting more than cold eggs after 40 minutes.

The wait staff I have encountered could have cared less if I ever came back again.

My experience was so horrid with one young man that I stiffed him entirely, something I never do.

On another occasion, I watched two little chickies talking so profusely about how much their weekend "sucked" that they never had a word for me or any of their other customers.

You might as well go to Jerry's Diner for over priced diner fare, or Canter's for waitress abuse.

Later? I don't think so.

03/07/09

very good cup of joe!

by kidobandido

I have to say I've been to a lot of "diners"/coffee shops around the country and I was really impressed by their cup of coffee, just a cup of black.

Service was attentive but they had that kind of attitude "i'm here to help you, but not really serve you", not very upbeat.

I hope I get to eat something next time.

01/06/09

A Hollywood Experience that I will continue to share...

by foodloverfatnhappy

This Restaurant is amazing! Forget all of the nay-sayers...I love this place! It has the denny's/steak'n'shake/coffee shop feel however it is a step up! It is much nicer than denny's and steak'n'shake! First the entrance...If you come in the first entrance through the hotel there are all of these autographed pictures and what not and my friends usually enjoy that and spend a good 10 minutes looking at all of them! The seating is usually quick however at crunch hours it may be longer. The food is great! I discovered sweet potato fries here and found them at many other restaurants but these are AMAZING! I also love their Mikey Fitz for breakfast and Turkey Burger for Lunch/Dinner...Honestly the only two things I have had...Because they are terrific! It is also often frequented by celebrities...and films have filmed there so it has some gumption to it as well! All around It is a great restaurant the only downfall that I would have to suggest is the service...but again it is usually very busy! So give 'em a break! Hope this helps!! GO THERE!!!

• Pros: The Food and the Ambience
• Cons: Parking and sometimes the service

11/08/08

The Best Diner in the L.A. Area! My favorite for years running...

by phunkychica13

Before we moved to L.A. and lived in San Diego, we would have to stop at the 101 anytime we were passing through, or visiting friends here. Once someone introduced us, it became one of our favorite restaurants in L.A. (as far as casual, comfort food goes). Our favorites include the black bean taquitos, the homemade mac-n-cheese is huge success among our children and fellow adults alike, the fried chicken specials, the huevos rancheros...oh forget it - we like it all! I've never had anything bad here. The milkshakes are deeeelish. Sometimes it's packed so you'll have a little wait. But that happens anywhere. Often it's not more than a few minutes. And the service is always impeccable. Super-friendly staff that are hustling for many more tables than just ours. Both being veterans of the service industry, my husband and I are really easy, patient and understanding customers. I've seen some complaints about the service in other comments, and I can't help but wonder if they're just high-maintenance customers who don't tend to frequent establishments that aren't solely concerned about customer service. As I said before, I've never had anything but wonderful service with a smile. It's just one of those places where the emphasis is on the giant-sized portions of amazingly yummy homecooked food...not kissing every customer's behind while ushering the food from kitchen to table. Keep in mind it's a diner - so you will find grease. Mmmmm....wonderful grease. If you're looking for non-greasy greasy-spoon food, I don't know what you're doing at a diner!

• Pros: Interesting ambience and crowd; Ridiculously delicious grub
• Cons: Sometimes it's super-packed and you have a cue, and expect to not be waited on hand and foot

09/29/08

A place to see and be seen (and eat!)

by hempist

I eat here every couple of months and it's good. They have a delicious chai latte ($3.50) that I order every time. 101 Cafe has standard coffee shop food like sandwiches and breakfast served all day. They also have a few pasta dishes and salads. Everything I've eaten here (or nibbled off my friend's plates) has been good. It's not a gourmet restaurant! I think some of these reviews are harsh, who expects non greasy french fries and real maple syrup at a coffee shop? Give me a break! I do agree the service is slow and they never give drink refiills but so what? This is a place where people go after the bar for munchies and coffee. Just relax, people watch, enjoy the CD jukebox, and chill.

• Pros: trendy and fun
• Cons: parking is really tough

08/05/08

great local spot

by pilfsnarcher

Not sure where these "horrendous service" reviews are coming from. I go to the 101 about 2-3 times a month and the servers are always total sweethearts (although it does get really busy at times). For a diner, the food is good, healthy (if you want) and the price is right. It's a great neighborhood spot and a great place for eastsiders to meet Valley-ites since it's right off the 101.

03/05/08

super extra mediocre

by melever

there is a hint of charm about the cafe, but it is butchered by the atrocious service, whereby the waitresses feel they have to go out of their way to be rude and negligent. For pancakes, there is a small vat that serves as a High Fructose Corn Syrup warmer. If you want real maple syrup, not corn syrup, the waitress will make you pay extra. Overall a fun joint, but for a dining experience