Cafe 50's Diner - West LA — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Atmosphere is everything at Café 50's. The owners went to great pains to decorate the place appropriately--including satellite stations at every table for the juke box, of course, large movie and music posters of the period and a wall dedicated to 50's record album sleeves, many of which I am familiar with which, sadly, gives you an idea of what a dinosaur I am--the service is excellent from people who obviously enjoy their jobs and the prices are... well, they are not outrageous at least (and those of us considered "frequent diners"--which we are for some reason, even though we've only been there a couple times--receive numerous discount coupons via email and snail mail, as well as vouchers for free treats when our birthdays roll around). As for the food... I had the steak and eggs and the New York steak was perfectly cooked and tastier than others I have had (face it: the New York cut is not exactly filet mignon and I believe it comes from a part of the cow suspiciously close to its anus). I don't care for their cottage fries style hash browns, but they serve the shredded variety also and they appealed to me. The eggs were perfect and I was completely satisfied. My wife ordered the eggs Benedict, however, with much different results. The eggs were fine, the muffins were not exactly toasted but rather just heated up, and instead of Hollandaise sauce, they used cheese sauce like any other cheap, low-class diner, basically destroying the eggs. On the bright side, a roving prestidigitationist stopped by our table twice to entertain us (for free; he even insisted the we not tip him but rather hoped that we would tell the owner how much he entertained us, and we did).

We have yet to order one of the multitudinous shakes, but we got a free sample of a coffee flavored shake on our last visit and I made a mental note to order one in the future--once I lose about 75 lbs., that is.

We have eaten here twice, and I rate the food at 3 1/2 stars out of five, the service a solid 5 and the ambiance at 4 1/2. It's definitely worth dropping by if you're in the...

Café 50s on Santa Monica Blvd is a blast from the past in the best way. The decor is full on retro jukeboxes at every booth, vintage movie posters, neon lights, and that classic red vinyl diner vibe that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a time machine. It’s fun, kitschy, and actually really well maintained, which adds to the charm.

The menu is massive, and I mean massive. You’ll find everything from omelets and pancakes to burgers, melts, and over the top milkshakes. I went for the bacon cheeseburger and fries, and it hit the spot. Fries were hot and crispy, burger was juicy, and everything came out looking just like a diner meal should. The milkshake menu is wild, dozens of flavors.

Service was friendly and welcoming, although it did get a little slow once the place filled up. It’s not fast food, so be patient, especially on weekends or during the lunch rush. Still, the staff was attentive, and they kept checking in once the food came out.

Prices are fair for the area, especially considering the portions and the experience. It’s definitely a place you go for both the food and the atmosphere. This isn’t some ironic hipster diner, it feels like the real deal, like someone actually cares about preserving that 1950s feel.

The only reason I’m giving it 4 instead of 5 stars is that some of the food could use a bit more seasoning, and the wait time might turn some people off if they’re in a rush. But if you’re looking to slow down, soak in some nostalgia, and enjoy a fun meal, this place delivers. The Vanilla Coke is out of this world too.

Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area, especially for the shakes and the vibe. Great spot to bring kids, dates, or even just grab a solo bite while taking a break from the...

We came in very late and the online reviews said the time was “very busy.” It, indeed, was... There were only a few tables left to sit inside or outside with. It did not; however, hinder us being greeted and sat right down immediately. Our server was Louis. And although he was buzzing most of the tables he never forgot to stop and ask us if we wanted refills or how the food was. The food was unbelievable! I really didn’t expect some thing that good… I thought maybe something like Katz & jammers or “Crazy Otto‘s” (which are GREAT fifties cafes around my local town)… No way! The portions were similar but the food was absolutely effing amazing!!!! We ordered the country fried steak and eggs breakfast with biscuits and gravy, and the avocado and grilled spinach omelette. Both platters came with diced potatoes seemingly fried with onions and orange bell peppers… Which was an amazing twist! The potatoes alone were worth going back for! The food was absolutely beyond on par! We also ordered a large drink… Warning their large drinks are 32 ounces and they are freaking huge! When we left they sent us off with a large take-away cup for a refill!! Super kind friendly and professional, no bad remarks at all.!!! If it says it’s really busy, give the guy some time… Trust me he will be around every 5 to 8 minutes asking how it’s going. During that time… Should you have to wait for any amount… Check out the walls and ceilings! They are covered in more 50s nostalgia than I’ve seen in four different grandparents homes! Amazingly friendly and courteous service by Louis and Definite love to the chefs What AMAZING food!! We WILL be back!!! 😋😁😁😁😁😁🤩🤩

Oh yeah.. I don’t get promoted or paid for these reviews...we travel and I’m Super Picky and...