These are my completely subjective lists for "bests" in a few categories I've invented for Los Angeles Metro. This is just basically for fun. Keep in mind I have no credentials or expertise in anything (other than being a Bohemian). These listings are so imprecise as to be virtually arbitrary (I know the selections are controversial). I'm likely to be constantly changing them (perhaps based on a simple complaint from an owner).  Obviously some truly excellent places are not listed just because there are so many, or I didn't think it out well.  The order of places is almost arbitrary - certainly with a margin of error of 3 places or so. Some I don't list in one category because I've given them enough attention in other areas.  Am I hedging my bets or what!

Keep scrolling down for more lists!

1. Musso and Frank Grill (Musso & Frank's);

2. La Dolce Vita Restaurant;

3. The Prince Korean Restaurant;

4. Smoke House Restaurant;

5. Buggy Whip Restaurant;

6. Thelen's Mermaid Restaurant (possibly endangered);

7. Rae's Coffee Shop;

8. Clifton's Cafeteria;

9. HMS Bounty bar and restaurant;

10. Snug Harbor Coffee Shop.

1. Bahooka's Restaurant;

2. Alpine Inn (endangered)/Clifton's Cafeteria (tie);

3. El Chavo Mexican Restaurant/Blue Room Bar (tie);

4. Encounter's Lounge;

5. Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles (Gower branch);

6. Valley Inn Restaurant;

7. Tiki Ti bar;

8. Clearman's North Woods Restaurant, San Gabriel;

9. Tonga Hut bar;

10. Tamarack Inn/Embers Lounge (tie).

1. Musso and Frank's Grill;

2. Patsy's Pizza (best pizza in Los Angeles);

3. Pacific Dining Car Restaurant;

4.  Miceli's Italian Restaurant;

5. The Derby Restaurant;

6. Taix French Restaurant;

7. The Apple Pan Restaurant;

8. Clearman's Steak 'n Stein Restaurant;

9. Pann's Coffee Shop;

10. The Bucket Restaurant.

1. Tamarack Inn;

2. Venice Room bar and restaurant (great place!);

3. Joe Jost's bar;

4. Billingsly's Restaurant and bar;

5. The Short Stop bar;

6. La Dolce Vita Restaurant:

7. The Polo Lounge (at least the staff and bartender);

8. Frolic Room bar;

9. HMS Bounty restaurant and bar;

10. Frank 'n Hanks bar.

1. Philippe's French Dipped Sandwiches (9 cent coffee! or is it 10 cents now);

2. Nick's Coffee Shop;

3. La Palma Chicken Pie restaurant;

4. HMS Bounty bar and restaurant;

5. Vince's Spaghetti Restaurant;

6. Venice Room bar and Restaurant;

7. Norm's Restaurants;

8. Rae's Coffee Shop;

9. Polo Lounge (for drinks when considering their free chips and

     dips and free parking in area);

10. Tamarack Inn bar and restaurant.

1. Encounter's Lounge/LAX Theme Building;

2. Hop Louie's Chinese Restaurant;

3. Astro Family Restaurant;

4. Pann's Coffee Shop;

5. Bob's Big Boy Restaurant - Burbank;

6. Norm's Restaurant - La Cienega;

7. Chip's Restaurant;

8. Goody's Restaurant;

9. Magic Lamp Restaurant;

10. Chili John's (well - interior and signage).

1. Musso and Frank Grill ("Musso and Frank's");

2. Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria;

3. Canter's Deli;

4. Patsy's Pizza (Farmer's Market - first pizza in Los Angeles);

5. Miceli's Italian Restaurant (Hollywood branch);

6. Chateau Marmont Hotel;

7. Original Pantry Cafe;

8. The Prince/Windsor Korean Restaurant;

9. Taix French Restaurant;

10. La Dolce Vita Restaurant;

1. Yamashiro's Japanese Restaurant (view);

2. La Dolce Vita Restaurant;

3. La Cave Restaurant (darkest of all!);

4. Miceli's Italian Restaurant (romantic);

5. La Fonda Mexican Restaurant and Mariachi Show (inspiring music);

6. Casa Vega Mexican Restaurant (dark);

7. Rainbow Bar and Grill (romantic);

8. Musso and Frank's (old fashioned romantic);

9. Valley Inn (dark and old fashioned bar);

10. Old Tony's (view)

1. Musso and Frank's Grill and bar;

2. La Dolce Vita Restaurant;

3. The Prince Korean Restaurant;

4. Miceli's Italian Restaurant (go in after a tough day feeling burnt out - leave happy and relaxed!);

5. Venice Room bar and Restaurant;

6. Canter's Deli;

7. Original Pantry Cafe;

8. HMS Bounty bar and restaurant;

9. Vince's Spaghetti Restaurant (Ontario branch);

10. Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria.

1. Philippe's French Dipped Sandwiches (Free Parking plus right off Hwy 101);

2. Original Pantry Cafe (cheap and  free or cheap nearby

    parking - depending on time of day, Hwy 110, 10, 101 - open 24 hours);

3. Alpine Inn German Restaurant (free parking, right off Hwy 110 - endangered);

4. Miceli's Italian Restaurant (near 101 and validated parking nearby);

5. Nate 'n Al's Deli (free nearby parking);

6. Valley Inn Restaurant (ample parking in area, right off the 405);

7. Musso and Frank's (near 101 and validated somewhat reasonable

     parking in back);

8. Tamarack Inn (free parking, Hwy 605);

9. Polo Lounge (free parking if you don't use valet);

10. The Prince Korean Restaurant (cheap valet parking - not far from downtown).

1. Pacific Dining Car Restaurant;

2. Pann's Coffee Shop;

3. Original Pantry Cafe;

4. Snug Harbor Restaurant;

5. Philippe's French Dipped Sandwiches;

6. Norm's Restaurant;

7. Roscoe's Chicken 'n Waffles Restaurant (Gower location);

8. Dinah's Coffee Shop;

9. The Standard Hotel (Downtown);

10. Duke's Coffee Shop;

Blue Berry Pancakes - Pacific Dining Car (life is not complete until you have tried these!!!)

Sour Dough Bread - Musso and Frank / The Original Pantry Cafe

Insalata Caprese - Miceli's Italian Restaurant (best Caprese salad in the world!)

Pies - Clifton's Cafeteria

Dancing - Alpine Inn Restaurant

Hamburgers - Apple Pan/The Bucket/Tommy's

Kugel - Canter's Deli

Chili - Chili John's Restaurant

Flannel Cakes - Musso and Frank Grill

French Dip Sandwich - (I dare not say!)

Milk Shake - Beverly Hills Hotel Fountain Coffee Shop

Hot Turkey Sandwich - Musso and Frank's Grill (hands down!)

Rolls - Miceli's Italian Restaurant/Petrillo's Restaurant

Hot Dogs - Pink's (a little obvious)

Cobb Salad - Dresden Room Restaurant

Menudo - El Toreo Mexican Restaurant

Pork Chops - The HMS Bounty bar and restaurant (the thick kind)

Pizza - Patsy's Pizza (the first Pizza in Los Angeles historically)

Waffles - Roscoe's and Pann's

Biscuits - Philippe's French Dipped Sandwiches

Fried Chicken - The Prince Korean Restaurant

Oatmeal - The Standard Hotel

1. Bahooka's Ribs and Grog (if your kid doesn't love this place - it's time for a child psychologist! - share plates);

2. Encounter's Lounge (if you don't mind the prices);

3.  Clifton's Cafeteria (but the intensely urban environment walking to the place might require some explaining as to why some people suffer so. While you are at it, explain it to me!);

4. Patsy's Pizza (and the Farmer's Market/Grove area in general - you can't go wrong);

5. Beverly Hills Hotel Fountain Coffee Shop (especially for milk shakes!);

6. The Apple Pan (if you don't mind waiting for a seat);

7.  Formosa Cafe (as early as it opens, before it gets crowded - sit in the trolley car section);

8. Bob's Big Boy Restaurant (the oldest location in Burbank);

9. Grand Central Public Market (see warnings for Clifton's Cafeteria - try out the Mexican candies with chili powder inside and the Mexican sodas in exotic flavors);

10.  La Palma Chicken Pie Shop (I would think kids would love the chicken pies);

11.  McDonald's (only to see the oldest existing McDonalds in Downey);

12.  Pink's (if you can find a time when there's not a long line);

13. Watson Drugs & Soda Fountain (get them a root beer float);

14. Vince's Spaghetti  - (preferably the old Ontario branch - warning - they may never want to eat anywhere else);

15. Miceli's Italian Restaurant (Hollywood) - (Hey - it's got great pizza and singing waiters - they'll love it);

16. Musso and Frank's - (only for really mellow, "well behaved" kids during lunch - this is a quiet place - hopefully they still make the Tuna Sandwich with the face on it!)

1. Chinatown;

2. LA Confidential;

3. Blade Runner (well - sort of uses classic Los Angeles);

4. Double Indemnity (as pointed out by a reader of this site);

5. Bugsy;

6. The Long Goodbye (Elliot Gould);

7. Mulholland Drive;

8. The Doors;

9. The Two Jakes;

10. Criss Cross/D.O.A. (1950 Version - Clifton's and the Gaylord appear briefly) -tie;

Honorable Mention:  Kiss Me Deadly, Mulholland Falls, Hollywood and Vine.

TV:  HBO's Philip Marlow - Private Eye (Powers Boothe) - Excellent!

       Fallen Angels (very excellent!)

1. Derzu Uzala (Akira Kurosawa);

2. Chinatown;

3. Babette's Feast;

4. 2001;

5. Laura;

6. Scrooge (Albert Finney);

7. Oasis (Korean);

8. Far From Heaven;

9. Shower (Chinese film);

10. Mary Poppins (I rate movies on how much I enjoyed it upon first viewing).

BEST ALL TIME TV SHOWS (I didn't think this one out too much):

1. Rumpole of the Bailey;

2. Dragnet (Jack Webb is the ultimate personification of American culture);

3. The Prisoner;

4. You Bet Your Life;

5. Naked City;

6. Twilight Zone;

7. Psychic Detectives;

8. The Hills (I view this from an Anthropological perspective only - I'm not superficial!) By the way guys - could you at least once eat in classic restaurant and go to a classic bar - upscale can get boring (well I guess Don Antonio's counts - I like the Cave-like room);

9. American Idol (Come to think of it - I guess I am superficial);

10. Unsolved Mysteries.