Restaurant: Taix
Location: 1911 W. Sunset Blvd. (Echo Park)
Type of restaurant: French
We stipulated: As you know, I'm always looking for historic, classic L.A. haunts to check out -- and if there's food or beverage there, even better. Taix has intrigued me for years, but believe it or not, I had never stepped inside until finally, friends of ours invited us to join them for dinner.
They stipulated: For its 85th anniversary, Taix was offering a special "traditional roast chicken dinner" (what Taix is famous for) through the month of August from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Perfect for the kids too.
What we ordered: Several orders of the "traditional roast chicken dinner," which included soup du jour, for just $8.95. Also: Escargots de Bourgogne ($13.95) and calamari ($11.95). Dessert: Mousse au chocolat noir ($5.95) and creme brulee ($5.95).
High point: The experience, including our waiter, 77-year-old Bernard Inchauspe, an institution at Taix (and, it turns out, a nearby neighbor of ours). Bernard's been with Taix since arriving in this country from France in 1962! Imagine that. He's been welcoming customers at the restaurant since the Kennedy administration. (Read more about him here.)
Low point: The escargots was great -- and the kids loved it, believe it or not -- but you can skip the calamari.
Overall impression: "Offering good food at a good value" is their motto at Taix, and has been since they first opened downtown in 1927 (when the roast chicken dinner was 50 cents). That's still true today, and the restaurant (current location opened in 1962) alone is worth a visit. According to Taix, the third-generation owner "continues to ensure the character of the restaurant remains unchanged, and contnues to make it a destination for both the long-time customers and the current Hipsters that are reinventing the Downtown and Echo Park areas of Los Angeles." I love that (a) they so readily acknowledge the hipster onslaught in Echo Park, and (b) they capitalize "Hipster."
Chance we'll go back: We'll be back.
2 comments:
I've loved Taix's food my whole life! My Grandparents used to love the downtown Taix near Union Station...it was much like the Pantry...long tables, family style service.
The Echo Park Taix is sooo civilized. Also, due to all of that carpeting, drapery and upholstery you can hear others talk! Always excellent for those of us with old rock 'n roll ears!
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