El Adobe Cafe

10/30/09

Hidden Gem

by Michael Fran at Citysearch

Well judging by the reviews it's not so hidden, but you can easily miss this place driving past Paramount on Melrose. The portions are epic. Chips, salsa, soup, salad and entree. Is the lentil soup necessary? No. Is it good. Yes. The combos are good and the quesadilla is a great small option for those looking for less.

• Pros: Super friendly servers.
• Cons: Small booths inside. Opt for the patio.

07/18/09

Great place!

by Gunwacko at Citysearch

I have been going to Lucy's for nearly 30 years and love it. The food is about B+ and their Margaritas are A+ ! The knuckleheads who posted bad reviews are simply going there to be "star-struck" hoping to see someone famous and when they don't, they pick on the service. ANY good restaurant has bad days and are frequenty busy. Famous people have and do eat there which is part of the draw of the looky-loos hoping to see someone. I did meet Timothy Leary in 1983 there, some of the KMET jocks in the bar..lol, but I never went there to "see" anyone. If you love mexican food and you're in Hollywood, go experience the atmosphere and food. Try not to go at 7pm on a Friday or Saturday night or you will wait for an hour to be seated- at least.

• Pros: Margaritas!
• Cons: The wait on the weekend

03/20/09

Absolutely& By Far the Worst Dining Experience of MY LIFE!!

by CoCo at Citysearch

I went here for the first time on a lunch date with my mom. She was hesitant about coming here in the 1st place because she has gone here a few times before & never had anything good to say about it but none the less she went along.

First off, i asked if they had "flavored" margaritas & the waiter arrogantly stepped back, gave me a dirty look & said very much like he was put out "no! we only have original, strawberry & Cadillac" (which is not a flavor to the common person). He made me feel completely stupid & caught me off guard but I let it go.

I then proceeded to order a lunch special of the beef enchiladas & then he stopped & asked me "if I knew how this works" like there is some kind of ordering process or like I didnt know what I was ordering &/or what it came with.

RUDE, RUDE, RUDE!!

If your not a celebrity or someone who throws $, they treat you like dirt. They are arrogant & full of hot air & dont' know how to talk to people!!!!

I ordered a marg & he had the nerve to card me after it was brought to me...the drink was weak & the food is mediocre at best & it was like something served at a prison commisary.

Ive been a SoCal resident my whole life & this by far has to be the worst place in L.A - THEY ARE ALL HYPE!!!!!!! I dont give a damn what celebrity goes there, just because you have a bank account bigger then mine doesnt mean you know a thing about good food &/or experience.

• Pros: nice patio seating during the day
• Cons: rude, arrogant, over priced, bad food, weak drinks

02/20/09

Great Margaritas and tasty food, Bad service!

by kevina11 at Citysearch

We love going to Lucy's despite the bad service and always getting stuck with Erwin who overcharges and the profoundly apologizes for his mistakes.

Margaritas are great, food is tasty, pricey but not worth the hassle getting stuck with the bad waiter in the bar room.

Would love to be able to pick our waiter.

01/10/09

NO to Lucy's

by Stella3333 at Citysearch

First off, the owner is a b itch RUDE, RUDE, RUDE! She treats the staff like dirt and could care less if you are a repeat customer. She often tells customers to leave and not come back. The Marg's are good but the prices are outrageous. You better check your bill coz they OFTEN overcharge. Cash tips only, she charges the servers if you use a credit card. NOT worth the unhappiness you feel when you should be having fun. Go to Pueblo Viejo 4 doors down. NO to Lucy's

• Pros: Nice Patio
• Cons: Horrible Atmosphere

10/13/08

Laidback, Simple Mexican Food, Charming patios, Gracious owner

by luckycourt at Citysearch

I have been going to Lucy's off and on since I was 5 years old, which means I have been going for a quarter of a century. The restaurant has changed a bit, with the addition of another room and an attached, enclosed patio to the side, as well as an outdoor fire pit surrounded by a waterfall at the rear entrance. Frank (the original owner) has passed, and with him, some of the patronage of rock stars, movie stars, business men, politicians, etc... but Lucy (his wife) is still around and always greats the customers with a smile and gives both me and my parents big hugs. The food has not changed in 25 years, though the prices have, but I wouldn't expect them to stay the same after all this time. The prices may seem high at first, until you realize that it includes chips, salsa, soup, salad, rice and beans. Once you share an appetizer and have an entree, you will walk out stuffed and satisfied. The guacamole is creamy goodness, I like the quesadilla with it, and you can't go wrong with the tacos here. I usually advise my friends if they want a burrito, to not order anything else because it is HUGE and will be more than enough on it's own. All in all, while the place and prices may have changed, my love for it hasn't. My father still raves about the salad dressing, and I threw my 30th birthday party here (or the dinner portion of the party) and my friends all loved the food, the ambiance, and the margheritas. I don't drink tequila so I couldn't advise you about them. They still only take cash for tips, which I hate, but it's a minor inconvenience. Go if you want a laidback evening and simple mexican food. Nothing is too spicy unless you put the hot salsa on it. You can also ask for the mild salsa too when you sit and they will bring that out if you can't take the spicy temp of the usual salsa. After writing this, I am craving my usual din there, and I am actually going tonight : )

• Pros: Ambience, Parking, Margherita's, Food, Laidback
• Cons: Cash tips only

09/10/08

Going 'home' to Lucy's: still remarkable

by CharlotteAguilar at Citysearch

I can't believe some of what I'm reading here. Clearly, a group of angry, retaliatory people had a bad experience and are ganging up to destroy the reputation of what is still an incredible L.A. institution. Lucy's was my "hangout" from when I discovered it in 1973 until I moved from L.A. in 1987. I took dozens and friends and family there, marked happy and sad times with margaritas and platters of simple, well-prepared Mexican food. Virtually everyone I took there became regulars, too. Just last month, I returned and brought my teenage son with me. Except for the sad absence of the beloved Frank "Pancho" Casado, everything was the same. The margaritas were creamy and potent (I've never tasted anything like them -- deceptively drinkable, then wham!), the quesadillas and guacamole were still no-frills and tasty, and the enchiladas verdes, barbecue tacos and tostadas, salad dressing and chili colorado were absolutely delicious. Hadn't changed in 35 years. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but the meals include soup, salad, rice and beans. The burritos are enormous, easily worth the price. And it was comforting to see Oscar and Lucy still strolling the tables. We ended up going twice, using a credit card and -- gee, no troubles. There were big tables full of people who seemed to be regulars, seemingly unconcerned about the kinds of practices alleged here. There was nowhere near the energy or excitement of Lucy's heyday ? no movie or rock stars, politicos or TV personalities ? but it's still a charming place with excellent drinks and food and attentive service. I've had cravings since we went home!

• Pros: Great food and margaritas, served fast. Absolutely consistent. A true legend.
• Cons: Lacks the energy of its heyday.

06/20/08

Great Food, bad management and criminal named Edwin.

by justintimeforyou at Citysearch

This is a great place to hang out with friends and spot celebrities now and then.

Great food, great drinks and a horrible waiter named Edwin who rips people off on their bills and over-charges for no reason at all.

Watch out Edwin is back he'll overcharge you and offer you illigal narcotics!!!!!!!!!!

• Pros: great atmosphere
• Cons: narcotics distribution

04/07/08

Family Tradition Vibe

by DavidHiggins at Citysearch

We have been going for ten years, and are apart of the family at Lucys. Lucy always comes to our table for a visit, and our favorite waiter Oscar always brings the usual!!! There is a vibe about Lucys that is hard to describe. Perhaps it is the history of actors, monks, rock stars, and businessmen that provides such an ecclectic mix of energy. I love the tacos, enchiladas, and beans. The lemonade (house margaritas) will knock your socks off... ask for the pico de gallo with your chips ~ it ROCKS! We Love Lucys!!!!

• Pros: Great Vibe, Killer Margaritas, consistent quality, Fun Crowd!
• Cons: Busy place, parking sometimes difficult

01/01/08

WORST DINING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!!!

by hymnalayan at Citysearch

My girlfriend and I ate at Lucy's for the first time last night. We went with another couple, both couples sharing a meal platter and two pitchers of margarita. When the bill came it was non-itemized and they charged us NINETY DOLLARS and six cents for two meals that on the menu were $12, plus the two pitchers which should've came to somewhere around $45. The bill was stamped "Cash Tip Only" but when I checked my bank account the next morning Lucy's had charged me 108.06 - EIGHTEEN dollars more than the original bill. So on top of our generous $20 cash tip (it was New Years Eve), the actual tip ended up being $38, which was almost HALF of the already outrageously high original bill. Don't EVER eat here, this place is criminal- and the so called "famous salad dressing" is melted butter with garlic salt. This was the worst dining experience of my life, bar none. If for some ridiculous reason you still decide to eat here- PAY CASH and ask for an itemized receipt before the bill comes.

• Cons: over-charged on bill, over-charged when ran credit card, food average at best