John O'Groats

07/23/09

Some of the best food in LA

by BBELA at Citysearch

John O’ Groats is simply lovely. (Said in a Scottish accent)

So, I go out to lunch only about once or twice a week. Yes, I actually bring my lunch to work the other days. Usually some bland salad or soup or something extremely healthy. How else can I avoid becoming as big as a house?

I usually go out with “Nancy” of “Sid and Nancy” and “Grace Slick.” I usually have referred to Grace Slick as A.V. in the past, but, as she’s a bit crazy (in a good way) I think I’ve found a better name for her.

“One pill makes you smaller…”

SO. I ordered the Vegetarian Hash and Cilantro Potato Pancakes.

Good and Yum.

Who in their right mind does not like a potato pancake?? I don’t think I even want to know. I certainly wouldn’t want to become friends with them, nor would I recomend them for jobs or bank loans.

Anyway, the pancakes are basically delicious fried cilantro-infused mashed potato patties which are MILES above your typical dry as a bone latkes.

The vegetarian hash was just sauteed vegetables. I was hoping for a bit more. But I still enjoy sauteed vegetables, so here’s what I did:

Smashed the entire plate up into one big delicious potatoey pile of sloppy goodness.

Then, it became the perfect dish.

Oh! I also added the obligatory ketchup and hot sauce on top! Consider yourself lucky I did not capture the final product in a photo, as it no longer appeared edible.

Breakfast is what this place is famous for. In fact, while we were waiting for a table, some lady (who had a little too much face work done) asked me what she should order and I told her “Get the Huevos O’ Groats and a better surgeon!”

Let’s see…what else… the service is great, everyone here is so freaking nice.

If you want the opposite, go to Factor’s Deli on Pico where the woman with the grey mullet will literally roll her eyes and sigh deeply if you’re not ready to order when she is!

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• Cons: none

03/08/09

Yum Yum Yum

by danettenet at Citysearch

After passing by many times, we finally walked down to have breakfast. We were seated immediately, the service was fast and super friendly and I can't even tell you how delicious the food was. I'm not a fan of bacon, but that was the thickest, most deliciously cooked bacon I've ever had. Even though I did't wait (I got there around 9ish) I would certainly have waited and still been extremely satisfied!

• Pros: Great food, great service, great everything
• Cons: I got too full to keep eating

10/11/08

Best Service in Town

by rsyb at Citysearch

Last weekend I was in the neighborhood and stopped by. They have the friendliest staff imaginable in this city! We had our dog with us so we called ahead to see if they had outside seating, and though though they didn't they pulled one of their inside tables to the patio. Not only did they do that, but they had a bowl of water for the dog waiting at the table. The waitress was extremely attentive, and the manager (possibly owner) was also super friendly! The food was great (especially the biscuits) and came out quickly. I highly recommend this place to anyone in the area.

• Pros: Friendly staff, great food, inexpensive
• Cons: none

10/28/07

Beware: OVERRATED!!!

by visa at Citysearch

This place is so hype. Hype hype hype...I can't say it enough. It's fine..nothing specatucular and certainly nothing to wait in line for. The service was awful--so awful I questioned leaving a tip--and this is coming from a former server. Eggs, average. Pancakes, average. The only thing above average was the biscuit-- delicious. If you really want to wait in a ridiculously long line: try Uncle Bills in Manhattan beach--it's a breakfast worth waiting for. Trust me.

• Pros: Biscuits
• Cons: Terrible service and long line

10/05/07

A place where everybody knows your name

by yoquierocomida at Citysearch

I first went to John O'Groats with a co-worker who swears by their buttermilk bisquits, gormet pancakes and coffee. When I walked in we were greeted with a warm welcome and the owner knowing it was mine and another co-workers first time sat us immediately and brought out samples of the lemon pancakes, bisquits and pumpkin pancakes. The lemon pancakes were tart and sweet and delicious. The second time I went in I got a Chinese chicken salad and it was both fresh and flavorful. The chicken was grilled and not greasy. All of my requests, "please put this on the side and please go easy on the wonton chips and peanuts," were followed to the T. The portion sizes are large and every time I've been in there the service was amazing. The atomsphere is definately family oriented and I love that it seems like every diner in the place is known and appreciated.

• Pros: service! bisquits! pancakes! need I say more?
• Cons: Street parking

09/12/07

Don't Bother

by luv2eatwell at Citysearch

This place for you if you like your meals nutritionally challenged, in a noisy chaotic environment and often with poor service. Experiencing temporarily memory loss and seeing people waiting on the sidewalk, I decided to try this neighborhood "favorite" again. . .to my dismay. Only the convenient location and the fact that most waiting customers choose to wait outside on the busy boulevard can explain why this deservedly cheap eatery continues to draw customers. When you too are no longer willing to eat "comfort food" that no nutritionist would approve of in an environment not conducive to enjoying your meal, a little effort to find and eat at several of the better eateries in the neighborhood will be well rewarded.

01/20/07

Just Average

by joan_mutter at Citysearch

There is always the longest line up for this place. Having eaten there a few times, I have to wonder why. They do have a special during the week, which is cheap, but that shouldn't be enough to have such a following. The biscuits are good, but everything else is pretty ordinary.

I'm giving Average because it's clean, and they have good service. While the food isn't anything all that it's still fresh and it's quality

11/24/06

Very Child Friendly

by poppies77 at Citysearch

The staff here knows how to make a family feel welcome; ample seating, attentive and quick servers, and kid-friendly food make for a nice experience. The menu is filled with breakfast perfection, just make sure you don't mind a little wait for seating.

11/23/06

big portions. awesome for breakfast

by davidsreview at Citysearch

Simply a very good and very popular restaurant. Breakfast is the sweet spot. Big, thick strips of bacon--wow!. Fun to eat at the counter. Expect a wait on weekends or if you're in a larger group. Nice touch to put coffee outside the door for those waiting. The host/proprietor (can't remember his name) is very welcoming.

10/18/06

There's Breakfast & then there is John O'Groats

by ifly at Citysearch

Los Angeles is vicously and ferouciously competitive when it comes to Restaurants. 9 out of 10 restaurants in Los Angeles fail in 3 years or less.

Even fewer survive, and at the pinacle are the restaurants that thrive. John O'Groats has endured the test of time. In a city that offers more eating options than sand on the beach, John O'Groats product is so good customers are willing to wait in line.

No matter what any other review says, the market has spoken. Customers lining up and willing to wait, Multi year Zagat award winner, going on 20+ years of success.

Excellent food, consistency, warm hospitable service.

Go in an experience it for yourself.

• Pros: Great Food consistently
• Cons: The wait...but worth it!