09/13/06

THE best hangout in Fairfax

by sfbbqueen

I can't understand the bad reviews about Authentic. I absolutely love, love this place! I've been a fan ever since I moved from San Francisco 6 months ago. The food is consistently good, the staff couldn't be nicer and the bar/lounge area is adorable. I've tried many other places in the area but always come back to Authentic for its reliable service, hip yet neighborhood-y atmosphere and yummy food, especially their marinated steak tacos. Mmmmm, good.... And the bartenders rock!

01/13/06

bland lunch

by margie2265

came here with a friend during the day, when it was pretty empty. the menu seemed to lack anything of interest for me. if you're into things with brie and other cheeses and papaya, i guess you'll find something you'll enjoy. we ordered a few appetizers and shared, but the papaya quesadilla left my taste buds bored and me hungry for some other place to go eat. and although we were the only ones in there, it took a while for the food to come out. there are so many other, better places for lunch, i won't be back.

• Cons: boring menu

09/30/05

Go for the bar not for the food

by radiancelee

this place is cool to have a drink, they play good music and have a cute little bar lounge area. it's a little trendy and the food menu is comprised of run on sentences. appetizers are decent and could be described as good "bar food"; however main dishes are nothing to write home about. parking is difficult in this area, but possible in the residential area parallel to beverly blvd.

• Pros: caipirinha, atmosphere, service
• Cons: expensive drinks, food is just ok, parking difficult

Trendy neighborhood eatery packs 'em in with multiethnic specialties and affordable prices.

by Contributor

In Short
Bistro tables are filled for three meals a day at this earthy, art-deco structure. An expansive Pan-Asian, Southwest menu is tailor-made for fussy diners. Patrons compare notes on everything from Santa Fe salad to Brie, papaya and chili quesadillas. Popular orders include wood-grilled chicken with mole, spicy tortilla soup and jerk Caribbean shrimp. A weekend brunch menu offers in-demand dishes such as chilaquiles (scrambled eggs, cheese, chilies and tortillas) and grilled chicken salad.

03/06/03

Mixed bag

by remke44

Authentic's quesedilla, fish tacos, tortilla-encrusted chicken, and salads are excellent. Some of the other menu items are pretty bland and uncreative, however. Overall, a good place to when you're not sure what type of food you want and you don't want to spend too much money. Drinks are good despite their lack of liquor license.

• Pros: Lively ambiance, Great quesedilla
• Cons: Some bland dishes, No liquor license

01/06/03

Tantalizing Chicken Enchiladas

by amora

I recommmend the chicken enchiladas with their mild spiced up sauce and flavorful cheese. Do not get the yucatan chicken sandwich which was dry.

01/05/03

The most Authentic one of all

by TheKittyKat

I absolutely LOVE this place! The food is super delicious, you can live on their salads alone! Despite the fact that the restaurant is usually very crowded, the waiters always make you feel as though you're the only one there. Oh, and I have seen everyone from Cameron Diaz to Melissa Etheridge in there. All of the LA flair without the LA attitude!

• Pros: Great waiters, delicious food, nice ambiance
• Cons: overcrowded, a bit pricy

12/15/02

Did not like it

by hkygrl

I didn't really like this place. The food was okay but it's really cramped and the presentation is so elaborate it didn't fit the environment.

• Pros: good meatloaf
• Cons: crowded

09/05/02

Inauthentic Service

by whats4dinner

Authentic Cafe used to be a reliable favorite, but I've been really disappointed the last 3 times I've been there. The food is not bad, but the service is HORRIBLE. Our waiter was visibly disappointed when we ordered iced teas, rather than "real" drinks. And thus he never once returned to refill our glasses. I had to flag down a busboy for some water as my dining companion was choking on dry chicken. The service was "tag team" style -- we were poorly served by no less than 4 different people. On top of the lousy restaurant service, we waited almost 10 minutes for the valet to retrieve our car -- which reeked of BO (a'la "Seinfeld"). It would have been funny if it hadn't been so horrible.

08/20/02

GREAT RESTUARANT

by dodaughtry

One of my favoreite places in L.A. The Tortilla Soup here is the best! Don't be suprised if you run into some of your favorite CBS stars while dining here, as Television City is a block away.

• Pros: Great food
• Cons: Parking