The Apple Pan — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Here's the thing.

This used to be (yes, Owners and Management - you purchased a famous restaurant capitalizing on its golden reputation... so you screw things up ... that's on you) a fantastic joint. The kind of burger counter joint you'd see in classic films from the 50's... (heck it was built in 1947!)

It managed to maintain it's quality of food, fair pricing for awesome portions, and you left feeling full, happy, and jazzed that the gentlemen behind the counter and behind the grill were doing their utmost to make it a classy, comforting experience.

I'll move past the obvious swiftly to get to the heart of this review: YES the pricing has gone up a bit. YES the portions are all a bit smaller. YES they still make a good burger and fries and...

NOW here's the part that hurts to write:

THE STAFF... SUCKS. At least the folk there tonight when we walked in at 10:05 PM. The 'server' behind the counter was a young man with stubble, who clearly DID NOT LIKE WORKING THERE. At least, he didn't tonight. First he was in a debate with 2 customers about something in sports... then he whipped out his Iphone (YESSSSS - while on the job, behind the counter - he's holding his cell phone and not bothering to wash his hands when he puts it away to grab burgers and fries to hand to customers!)

After about 5 minutes, he saunters up to me (NOTE there were only 3 folk in his section: me, and the 2 guys he was having a debate with) to take my order. I ask him how he's doing. Instead of sounding like someone on the job, he remarks he's 'just gettin through the job'. Awesome. I order, and he eventually brings me my Diet Coke. First he goes back to his Iphone for a sec, then stops to chat with the 2 guys about sports again, THEN gets my drink.

And then... seriously: HE WAS DONE. The folk working behind the grill notice my food isn't being brought out to me once they place it where my server is supposed to scoop it and deliver it to me... SO THEY BRING IT TO ME. One brings me fries. Another brings me my sandwich.

My 'server' is too busy staring at his Iphone, so I ask one of the gents behind the grill (the cooks, mind you) to please bring me some napkins - because my server didn't even bother to bring me NAPKINS or utensils.

Eventually, HALF WAY thru my meal, when he goes to cash out another customer, he barely acknowledges me and asks 'How is everything' but does't wait for an answer.

OWNERSHIP - WTH???!! THIS is who you're paying to server folk at this venerable landmark???

And then... the heartbreak of the evening. The pie. The LEGENDARY REP of this place - its heartbeat. Sordidly overpriced and WOW are they on the cheap with ingredients. I mean - seriously???? The crust was hardly there - practically paper thin - NOT what it used to be. Skimping on the recipe. AND THE SLICE I WAS GIVEN??! HALFFFFFFFFF. HALF of what it used to be. I'm not making this up for effect. It was this sad little piece of what once was a legendary banana creme pie. HARDLY any whipped cream (it used to be a whole LAYER). I'm sorry but - NEVER AGAIN. House of Pies isn't awesome but it's a helluva better than this cr**. The filling tasted metallic. The bananas were BROWNING (ie NOT FRESH).

My understanding is that the Owner of the Lakers purchased this iconic establishment back in 2017 or so. Clearly, all the money kinda is staying on overpriced basketball seating and marketing the Lakers. They're going to stingy-out the loyal customers and alienate new ones if they keep hiring deadbeats who could care less you're there spending $30 for a sandwich, fries, and a coke.

Recommendation: Fatburgers and Tomy's (5 minutes down the street) is less expensive, more convenient, and at least the folk behind the counters act like they're happy to be employed / like...

We are going to break down why I am giving the The Apple Pan a 2 star.

I have lived in Los Angeles for for 40 years and have seen this place many times in my commute but never thought of trying it until I seen it on the Food Network. The burger and hickory sauce made it a must try, plus they had apple pie...I was sold.

2 days later I found myself in line ready to order. Customer service was excellent, the host was friendly and gave the proper description of each burger they had to offer. Within the promised 10 minutes my order number was called. The friendly food runner handed me my double hickory burger with a slice of apple pie ala mode. Customer service was a 5 all day, but we are here talking about the food.

The presentation was perfect and well put together, good enough for a picture. Two beef patties, fresh crispy lettuce, fresh tomato, pickles, single slice of tillamook cheddar cheese, topped with a heaping dose of hickory sauce. Upon the first bite I was hit with the smokiness of the hickory flavor, thought "whoa this is good". But then two chews in I realized oh no...THIS MEAT IS NOT SEASONED AT ALL! I see how they are relying on the flavors of the sauce (seasoned great) and chesse but the burger pattiest take all that away. It soon tasted like hot nothing in my mouth. So that you know I'm not overreacting, I found a pack of salt and pepper in my bag, and I didn't have any fries. I ending up leaving 1/4 of my burger discarded, only finishing the bread soaked with the hickory sauce.

Now I move on the the pie. I wanted to try the pie without the added condiments (pie filling sauce, and vanilla ice cream) first, that way I could taste it without any help. First off the pie can not be warmed up, it is only served at room temperature. The crust was very bland and lacking the buttery flavor of a real pie crust. The apples, although they looked flavorful, was a 2 out of 10 on the sweetness scale. I said this can't be happen...it's called "The Apple Pan". The apple sauce drizzle that comes on the side, to be poured over the pie, was just the same. I dipped my spoon in it, just to taste and immediately put the top back on. I poured the ice cream on top thinking it would save the day, but sadly it didn't. I manged to scrape only the ice cream off which was the best part of the sad piece of pie below. The rest was not worth the calories and ended up in the trash. It was a sunken cost and I was okay with that. Speaking of cost my total with a fiji bottle of water was $29 dollars.

I saved my whole day of eating for this meal just to go home and eat a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch as my sweet tooth was not satisfied. The T.V. brought my there but the flavor...

I grew up on the Westside and have been going to the Apple Pan since the early 70s. The first time was when my best friend and her mom took me there. I remember standing behind the U-shaped counter, waiting for seats to open up so we could sit down. I ordered the hickory burger and it was delicious! With the first bite, I could taste both the juicy burger and the sweet, yet tangy hickory sauce. It had the perfect blend of meat and sauce, a thick slice of Tillamook cheddar cheese and condiments on a bun that tasted freshly baked. Throughout the years, I continued to order the hickory burger and I was never disappointed. It always was juicy and delicious from the first bite.

Of course, I often saved room for dessert. Through the window on the back wall, I remember always seeing the domed-crusted apple pies on the shelves next to the ovens where they baked the pies. I usually ordered a slice of apple pie with a scoop of rich and creamy Danish vanilla ice cream. It was the best apple pie on the planet!

I have continued to enjoy the food at the Apple Pan through the years…until last night. Although I moved out of the area a few years ago, I have eaten there twice during the pandemic and I made the hour and a half trek there last night. I ordered my usual, the hickory burger with cheese and fries. I took several bites of lettuce before I could even see the burger, and even though I could see it, I couldn’t taste the meat —or the cheese, or the sauce — at all. It tasted like a lettuce sandwich and I only ate half. This was not the hickory burger that I ate and loved for decades!

I also ordered fries and they were tasteless, even after repeatedly shaking salt on them and dipping them in gobs of ketchup so I ate a few and took the rest home.

With plenty of room for dessert, I ordered a slice of apple pie with vanilla ice cream. The pie did not look or taste like it has for many years. No longer domed, the top crust was flat and thick, and the vanilla ice cream tasted ordinary.

The Apple Pan’s motto has always been, and still is, “Quality Forever!” Although the name remains the same, the food has changed and it is no longer worth the long drive (or even a short one), to go to The Apple Pan. Aside from being extremely disappointed last night, I did not experience a delicious meal or the quality that the Apple Pan has stood for, for...