Rate-A-Restaurant, #49 in a series

Restaurant: Phillippe The Original

Location: 1001 N. Alameda St. Los Angeles CA. 90012

Type of restaurant: French-dipped sandwiches

They stipulated: Make sure you know how to order. Stand in line, order one of the dipped sandwiches, place your money on the tray in front of the counterperson.

What we ordered: Turkey dip sandwiches; side of cole slaw; root beer; lemonade (Maria)

High point: Phillipe's remains the perfect spot when you're downtown and looking for a simple, quick and comfortably tasty way to fill your belly. (And, if you slather the hot mustard on your sandwich, a way to clear your sinuses). Maria's 60 cent lemonade was an excellent deal. Be sure to order the cole slaw and slather it on your sandwich. Liberally add some hot mustard. Yum!

Oh, and free parking. Lots of it. In downtown (!)

Low point: We got there at around 9:30 this time... but we've just missed it in the past. Philippe's closes at 10; sure would be nice if it stayed open longer on the weekends.

Overall impression: Can't believe we've never done a Rate-A-Restaurant on Philippe's, so consider this long over due. Maria and I were downtown to stop by Claude's birthday party in his new digs at the Gas Company Lofts. Cool place, great views... and plenty of great food choices nearby. Looking for a quick bite to eat on the way home, we dopped by Philippe's, the old reliable.

Chance we will go back: Why live in Los Angeles if you don't pay homage to what makes this city great? Philippe's is one of L.A.'s treasures.