Cafe 50's Reviews

4.4

149 of 9,994 Restaurants in Los Angeles


Reviews

Don't eat here if you have food allergies

By AdultingBoo |

Rude service, using allergens more than once. Only excuse from the same manager 3 separate times at night time. "We're busy". No apology or refund.

Great food. Great Service. Not so great parking.

By Thomas H |

Great food. Great Service. Not so great parking.

OMG Amazing.

By Mudsharks |

I've been to exclusive high end restaurants in Florida, Chicago, Vegas but I must say this place is the best! I love their egg white Father Knows Best omelette. I took my mother there and her pumpkin pancakes were outrageous , the owner Craig Martin even heats the syrup. Mr. Martin collects yearbook pages on the wall from UNI Hgh from the 50s and my mom found her brother and two best friends. HOW COOL.! If I've been really good I get to have the Eggs Benedict. If I'm ever in a situation where I have to chose my last meal I'm extremely happy they deliver.

An authentic diner

By heidi h |

A great place for breakfast. Went there two days in a row. The bilinzes were the best I had after my grandmas! Portions were huge, so you can share. The decoration and ambience were so much fun and the jute boxes at each table still work! The service was wonderful. Can't wait to go back.

AVERAGE

By Jess44600 |

Super nice decor, disgusting food: frozen and burnt steak. No taste (sanitized). Too bad, because the concept is great.

go for dessert - the shakes and hot fudge brownie sundaes are the best!

By c0rkd0rk |

go for dessert - the shakes and hot fudge brownie sundaes are the best!

Family friendly!

By Patti SB |

We were looking for a place to have breakfast and found this place. It was filled with a lot of memorabilia from the 50's. The staff was friendly and the food was good. Fun place to sit and have a good meal.

Authentic

By Tohamas |

Used to live in the area and went there regularly. Even every time I visit LA now, I have to eat there at least once. My favorite Diner in the US

Not Much To Look At, But Food is Good

By Gammill |

This place became Cafe 50's in 1984. It is a tiny place and does not have a lot of parking or seating. In fact the mens bathroom is in the back of the building and you have to go outside to get there. The food is good, and they have a pretty big menu of diner type foods. We had the Monte Christo sandwich, and it was very good.

The Sunny California Morning Vibe ...... miss it!!!!

By firenzeitalia96 |

I love to go for breakfast at the Saturdays when is packed... so WLA vibe makes that place especial!! I don't mind the wait to be served because you can reading about the Art Theaters down the Santa Monica Blvd or just enjoy the music and buzz of a Sunny Saturday morning!! pay for parking at the rear lot. $2.00 would save you a big parking ticket at the Blvd... I worked at the area for three years so I walk to this place and enjoy the stroll after a good hearty meal.... Come and visit !!!

I LOVED this place!! My...

By leastar4 |

I LOVED this place!! My boyfriend and I both love anything 50's and Cafe 50's certainly lived up to it's name. The interior is awesome as is the atmosphere. The food is great, and watch out for special they hold on separate days. The prices are average for the type of food offered. They even have board games to play at your table while you watch "I love Lucy" re-runs!!!!

Great Coffee Shop with A 1950's Vibe

By Ginger T |

I was searching for a decent coffee shop for breakfast and remember seeing this eatery many times, but never visited, because from the outside, I thought it would be very small or cramped inside. After I walked into the eatery, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was additional space in a connecting room. The staff was pleasant and attentive, the food was good, and 50's theme was really groovy! Needless to say: I really enjoyed myself at the eatery, so this is my new go to coffee shop, especially for breakfast.

If only I lived around the corner

By Dickie H |

This is a happy place. Bummer we only found it on our last day in Santa Monica or we would have returned. Good coffee, great service, fantastic food. Kim, Benny, appreciate the friendly service. And cheers to the kitchen — the scrambled eggs with chorizo and refried beans was full of flavor. I’ll get back here one day.

Amazing find and wonderful food

By DF934 |

Popped in for dinner before a show at the nearby theatre. The perfect US diner experience! So many fabulous artefacts, great atmosphere and really nice friendly staff. Food was excellent too! Best burgers of our holiday!

Really takes you back to the 50's

By Edward D |

Just like the diners in the 50's. Old fashioned juke box with small selector boxes in the booths. Extensive menu of the items from the 50's. Very busy at lunch time. I like to try old style corned beef hash wherever I go and tried it here. It was acceptable, but not the best I've ever had. Maybe a 7 1/2 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Kim and Benji are amazing !!!!!!!

By MrCurrylover1 |

Ok so been to LA twice and each time we have gone to Cafe 50 for breakfast/Lunch. Kim is amazing she makes you feel that you’re welcome and stepping back in time to a traditional diner back in the 50’s/60’s. The food choice is fantastic and great value for money for LA. We loved it so much that we went 3 out of our 5 times during our stay in LA. You have to go once, it’s a must stop and worth the drive even if you’re staying a distance away. Parking outside for $2 per hour and convenient. Kim you made our trip and experience and you didn’t disappoint, this was our second trip to LA and about our 7th visit here!!!!! Kim has 30 years experience working there and didn’t disappoint. Benji was always asking us if ok and made us feel welcome, what a great team!!!!!

Funky fun place

By BatGuano30 |

Great little diner, perfect decor, and yummy chorizo and egg breakfast. Added plus, grits. Get 'em plain ask for the butter on the side.

Great family diner

By MelvinPusfinger |

We stopped in here for dinner on a Friday night. The place has a great ambience. The walls are covered with 50s memorabilia, including movie posters. As for the food, we had no complaints and everything was very tasty. We recommend the turkey burger and fries. The grilled chicken salad is also very good. And there are plenty of good options for kids, including chicken strips and chicken, corn dogs. Our waitress was very attentive and courteous. All in all, a very good dining experience, and very family friendly. The Oreo milkshake for dessert is also a very good choice.

A fun family experience

By CMac511 |

My husband and I recently moved to West LA and were sent an invitation from this establishment. We decided to give them a try. It's an adorable restaurant with 50's them everywhere. Even the waitresses dress the part. There are cute red and white booths to dine in and memorabilia everywhere you look. It's worth it just to see the old fashioned tube tv that is playing old black and white westerns in the corner! The waitresses were friendly and welcoming and the food was delicious. It's typical cafe food but has nice large portions.

Great!

By Marleenvdb |

We went here for breakfast. Great service and nice food! I would definitely recommand going here for a the real american experience.

Proper dinner

By Rossi91 |

We want to go there for a small snack. Big mistake! The dishes are very big and so delicious. I can recommend the banana split.

Real American Dinner

By Tomás Brasil |

Typical American atmosphere from the 50s. Friendly service and traditional American cuisine. Delicious Hamburgers and fries, and Tuna Melt. Informal and elegant at the same time! I recommend!

Great diner in West L.A.

By Steve B |

It’s not just the decor that is great here, the food was really good, and the service too. The walls and ceiling are plastered with 50s Americana with 50s music playing in the background and a retro TV on the wall. The food was great, juicy burger and excellent pancakes. Service was excellent too and the owner was really friendly, Haring time for a chat with our group. Definitely we will be making a return visit when we are in LA again.

Fun & Funky

By pkcoz |

Found this cute diner recently while visiting in this area. They offer breakfast classics and local favorites on the menu. Will be sure to come back and enjoy this diner again.

Fantastic Diner

By IaninPerthshire |

We had left the Getty Center and this place showed as being relatively close by. The serving staff were really friendly and helpful. The food itself was delicious, generously portioned and fairly priced. It felt like a real community place where locals would come to eat and chill..... not necessarily tourists like us. It was all the better for it though and for an hour, we felt like - and were treated like - Angelenos

Went for breakfast

By Ross D |

Would highly reccomend for a real 50s diner experience in the area. Wonderful decor and a huge menu choice. Wish I could try more!

Food was very good, price a little to much

By Yasemin Y |

We searched a restaurant around 11 pm and found this one. The restaurant was decorated very very sweet for me as a tourist it looks like a real american restaurant. We had a sandwich and a salat the total price was 37 dollar. Was a little to much for me.

We had an excellent breakfast with sweet potato pancakes, Yum! Terrific service!!

By BobNGoleta |

We had an excellent breakfast with sweet potato pancakes, Yum! Terrific service!!

I love that they have Connect Four.

By anamanae |

I love that they have Connect Four.

meh

By Dan W |

meh

Bit portions!

By Samsonjh |

Visited here yesterday for breakfast, Very friendly staff and food was great! Has the feel of the sort of place you'd find Jack Reacher sitting in the corner eating a slice of pie.

Great discovery

By eric g |

Great for discovering a world of the 50s, and above all a good restaurant I admit to having been surprised by the Monte Carlos surprise to discover The milkshakes are great

Santa Monica must-see and do

By SusieD |

The owner has an extensive collection of retro items all over both sides of the café. The server - a darling, blonde girl with tresses in 50s look - was friendly and vivacious. Her outfit reflected the era, too. The photo of her behind the counter looks liked a model for an ad; sorry I don't upload. Oh, and breakfast was excellent and reasonably priced. My hub and I (60s) didn't want to spend $20+ each for eggs at our beachfront hotel. We'll never forget our experience here.

Sign up for their club so you get coupons via email!

By Shaena K |

Sign up for their club so you get coupons via email!

Great breakfast!

By Beth R |

The best restaurant!! Everyone was SOOOO NICE and the food was awesome! We stopped for breakfast on our way to drive the Pacific Coast Hwy.

Great food, awesome retro atmosphere

By Vitor M |

Food is very good, we had an omelet an French toast, both were delicious. Service was good, very friendly, but not the fastest in the world, so don't go there if you have to be elsewhere soon.

Good Service, traditional American fare

By T0mmyBahama |

Burgers, milkshakes, traditional American dinners and a great breakfast menu. Look for the good value "Blue Plate Specials" and don't miss turning the menu completely over and checking out the back for the daily specials, which are good value and could otherwise be easily missed.

Good food and the shakes...

By Raymond F |

Good food and the shakes look amazing, though I haven't had one yet.

Happy Days

By Byron R |

This is a genuine Happy Days spot. There are posters and advertisements covering the walls. Yup even cigarette advertisements reminiscent of the 50's! there are tables and booths with Formica tops and vinyl seats. Waitress was great and she was hopping. She recommended the blintzes and said they were a favorite. She was right the dish will be my choice when I return. Servings are ample and I would recommend splitting the blintzes and other dishes as well. Coffee was piping hot and refilled often.

MMMMMmmmmmm!!!

By keentoholiday |

A- Mazing! You must go. We had Snickers Bar Icecream shakes and they were unbelievable! 32 different shakes on the menu. Great selection of sandwiches, bugers and breakfast bits. Great service and cute uniforms, felt like we were in Happy Days or Grease! Parking no probs, around back of restaurant.

It is just worth a visit to read the walls and meet their staff

By annemariejl |

I love this place. one because we went in their for a takeaway tea had a look at the menu which had garlic chips and cheese. this is a great irish tradition after the pub that no where else in the world had discovered. Now it wasn't exactly what we have but they gave me the additional ingredients I needed to make it and it was fantastic. The staff are really very nice here not in that false american restaurant staff way that means you have to give me a tip if I smile and be false at you which I truly hate. These people are really genuinely nice and even tried my concoction. They have really good milkshakes too. BLT was really good too. I love these diners that they have in the states but I love this one the most

A gem in Santa Monica!

By Hoosier75 |

Wow! What a surprise! We were returning to our hotel, looking for a place for dinner and zipping past all the big national names when we spotted Cafe 50's on Santa Monica Blvd. Great food, excellent service and a very cool 50s vibe. Even our teenage son loved the 50s feel. I was thrilled to find they served breakfast all day. They also deliver so we picked up a menu on the way out. We've already decided to try it again before we leave town. Easy to miss, but so glad we found it.

just perfect

By GVC2012 |

My brother and sister-in-law took us there during our first visit in LA and everything was just perfect. The detail of the decor, the kindness of the staff, the comfort of the booths and, above all, the absolutely delicious food! We arrived on Saturday right before noon and were greeted by the attentive staff and guided to a nice booth. The place is decorated with hundreds of posters of movies, series and ads from the 50s, some of which are hilarious these days. The food? It was so hard to choose from the menu! I just coulnd't make up my mind and finaly decided to try the "smoked salmon benedict' and did not regret my smart choice. OMG! So, the place is amazing, the staff couldn't be kinder and the food is just delicious. Who could ask for more?

Great Grub

By TAMAN1951 |

Went in for a quick bite and was pleasantly surprised. Onion rings were great and portion was substantial. Wife had burger with chili. Burger was perfect and chili is home made and flavorful. Meatloaf was delicious and mostly meat not filler. Full of flavor. Sautéed vegetables were excellent. Wonderful service. Most reasonable prices. Good find. Thanks to Trip Advisor.

Very Good Food, Service, Fun Atmosphere

By pony_girl86 |

My fiance and I have dined here a few times. The service has always been very good, and the food is great. The food is reasonably priced (averages about $10/meal), and they sometimes have Groupons. There is a lot of fun art and things to read on the walls. They also have specials for the particular days, and there is a tableside magician there on Sundays I think from 11-2. Fun, good place to eat! The menu boasts a good variety, too.

Classic American Diner

By SabanurKirac |

Classic 50's cafe! Loved the ambiance! Great menu! Great people! Pancakes are the best things to eat! Coffee mugs were a little dirty but still loved the place

Great food, Friendly service

By Heather L |

If you want to go to a place that takes you back in time....this is the place to go. This was my second trip back to LA and this diner is our first last night stop to eat! The food is fantastic! My bf and I have never gotten a bad meal here. The staff is very friendly and the service is excellent. Be sure to make this a place to stop for some food!

Blintzes are fantastic

By OrieMG |

We were looking for a breakfast spot for out last meal while visiting LA and came across this restaurant. The atmosphere is filled with a variety of paraphernalia and has a very authentic look. They offer a broad breakfast menu and a variety of malt shakes. The menu advertises that they have the best blintzes - it does not lie! It is a very tasty meal served with sour cream and blueberry sauce on the side.

Ok

By BBBBTravel |

Had the avocado omelet which was a bit of a tasteless mess. Disappointed in that. Variety of shakes was interesting. Price was pretty good.

Funtastic diner. Best hamburger!

By Colesterol |

This is a great diner, with all the ambience you should expect from a place like this. Service is fast and efficient. The hamburgers are the best I have tried in LA. I recommend the blue cheese bacon hamburger.

Our first proper diner

By MostlyMikeJones |

Our first proper diner loved it. The milkshakes are awesome and the corned beef hash and eggs superb. I just wish we had something similar at home.

Nostalgic and Great Food!

By Larry F |

We heard about this place by word of mouth. What luck! This is a charming restaurant or diner that is reminiscent of the 1950’s. Lots of memorabilia on the walls and ceilings. Great menu and friendly service that focused on following all recommended Covid protocols with a smile. They checked fir vaccination status and everyone including staff wore masks unless you are seated and eating. The food was delicious and ample. We enjoyed sandwiches, cole slaw, burgers, fries, onion rings and specialty milk shakes. We will definitely be back. These challenging times for restaurants make their business a hard slog uphill…you can help by being a cooperative patron and customer.

great food and service

By avivmera m |

Good food , large portions and great service. Price is a little on the higher end... but taste makes you forget it.

Just What I Wanted

By windsorcottage |

Although Guadalajara, Mexico offers just about every type of food, we also have VIPS and IHOP, we do not have authentic American styled breakfasts with well done crispy bacon, crispy hashbrowns, steaming black coffee and sourdough toast, well we do, but it does not taste the same and we certainly do not have the 1950´s style decor, nor the bustling wait staff along with an open dinner styled kitchen. This breakfast was something I had craved for way too long, I was not the slightest dissappointed, in fact I was totally satisfied. The only thing is that I am not used to paying US prices, but this is not a complaint.

Good food BAD SERVICE

By Leslie B |

I just ate there with my bf and got the worst service I've ever had!! Everything she did was wrong. She should change job careers.

Poor pick

By vero1918 |

Don't try their turkey special. It does NOT taste like thanksgiving food. Really disappointed. I thought I had found a gem.

A Delicious Time Machine!

By Wendy B |

We absolutely loved our visit to Café 50s in West LA—it’s like stepping into a time machine straight to the heart of the 1950s which my husband and I both kind of remember as we grew up in that period. The décor is packed with fascinating memorabilia, including lots of items that brought back the era - Howdy Doody, Elvis, Marilyn, Martin and Lewis, and hundreds of museum-quality items. Plus, spotting vintage 1950's photos from my own high school was an unexpected and delightful surprise that made the experience even more personal. The staff and service was warm and professional, and the food hit the spot. It made us feel so comfortable with its red booths and big tables and more. We shared the fried chicken—crispy, flavorful, and served with creamy mashed potatoes and perfectly cooked vegetables—as well as a hearty chili omelette that was packed with flavor. Generous portions meant we had lots of tasty leftovers to take home, too. Enjoyed their official publication, The Cafe 50s News, as well, the Last Diner on Route 66. An extra bonus? They’re open until midnight! That’s a rare and much-appreciated option in this area. We were so impressed that we signed up for their VIP club and now proudly carry our laminated membership card. Already looking forward to our next visit! highly recommended!!! Definitely check it out!

What a gem!

By azkrys |

My daughter and I randomly pulled up trip advisor to find a place to have breakfast- we saw the pictures and said let’s do it! So glad we did :) The people are so friendly, the decor and vibe are wonderful and the food was great! She had French toast and loved it. I had biscuits, gravy, and turkey sausage and it was delicious nostalgia. Do not pass this place up!

Very Disappointed

By aematt |

I've lived in this neighborhood 25 years. This place used to be good, now the salad was wilted, tiny bit of coleslaw was terrible and the Turkey burger was DRY had to ask twice for Dijon mustard. Waitress was nice but forgot my friends drink order & never asked I wanted a refill of Ice tea. Place smelled musty, could probably use a good cleaning. Don't waste your time or money.

Spectacular food and attention and good price!

By Carolina1961_11 |

in this tipical diner you will find all you want to eat, fresh and well served at very good price, just what we wanted. I would come again and again

Great fun 50s style cafe

By Elaine K |

Loved the decor and 50 s music juke box . The food is very good and a great price . Found it by accident but so pleased we did .I didn't gave one but the shakes look amazing.

So Much Fun

By Dianna B |

Like a trip back to the fifties. Great decorations. It smelled great as we walked in the door. The service was great. We both got patti melts and they were wonderful. We highly recommend it and will definately stop by again.

Great diner

By Global616377 |

We really like Café 50. We mainly go there for breakfast. We tend to have an omelet or the breakfast burrito—both excellent. Overall, the food is good and the portions are quite large. Their prices are better than most places in the area. Like others have mentioned, the staff is so friendly and their service is excellent. There is pay parking in the back which is a help in West LA.

Fun place, good food

By follylover |

A retro diner with friendly service and good food. We had burgers, sweet potato fries, a BLT with avocado (this is California, after all), all tasy. I thought the egg cream needed more syrup, the black and tan sundae was so good. Lots of stuff to look at on the walls and ceiling, vintage music.

Totally cool

By waller1234 |

This place is so cool. They have movie posters slathered to the wall and ceiling. Some my family looked up and found them on Netflix service.

Fun place, good food

By Banuwati |

We happened upon this place by happenstance as we the restaurant next door was closed on Mondays. Lucky we were, as we stepped back in time to this delightful, old-style diner... Think 1950-60. Malts, shakes (about 30 flavors) but we opted for root beer float. Yum! Add an order on scrumptious onion rings, a cheeseburger and corned beef hash and eggs (they serve breakfast all day) and it made for a fun, nostalgic lunch. Prices are a bit high but probably normal for LA. Go for the whole experience. We sat at the counter...even more fun.

Good Food, So So Service

By Ronald M |

We were staying at a hotel a couple of blocks from Cafe 50's. It 's really cool place to see, lots of old picture posters on the wall .. looks like a throw back diner from the 50's. The food was average, and there only seemed to be 2 people working and the service was terribly slow. My wife ordered her food (pancakes) but had to flag someone down for syrup. They walked past our table 2 times, before we flagged them down again to remind them that she was waiting to eat. Won't rate the food as being outstanding, personally I thought it was just OK. Same thing you could get at any other diner. Aside from the cool names they give the food, and the look of the place .. it's just a diner.

Love this place

By Robert S |

I adore Cafe 50's. I'm a fan of the era so was naturally drawn to it. I've been several times and am never disappointed. The decor is fabulous, very faithful to the 1950s era. The menu is themed of course and the food is excellent. The staff are very attentive and even the music is terrific. I wish the male restrooms weren't situated in the kitchen but that's my only minor complaint.

Good comfort food

By CCR |

I had an omelet and my friend had a burger with fries. All good. We sat outside and enjoyed watching people pass by. I'd definitely eat there again.

Child friendly!

By Eric v |

Very nice and child friendly diner. Children even get a helium balloon. Unfortunately their fryer broke down so they could not serve corn dogs or chicken strips. We enjoy d our burgers and our deserts were great!

VERY COOL

By Clarachampion |

I always go there ! I live 2 blocks away, the food is delicious, the waitresses super nice. Awesome service and decoration aswell !

Great Diner

By Twila E |

Took my 92-year old mom for lunch a few days ago. The staff was very friendly. The menu was extensive and the service attentive. Our hamburger and fries were very tasty (but undoubtedly not good for the waistline). The atmosphere really made me feel like we were back in the 50's, complete with pictures on the wall, old-fashioned candy, and an attitude of caring about the customers satisfaction. We will definitely return. Cafe 50's is a gem.

Great food and venue

By GHUK29 |

Went in here after seeing the place driving by. We were definitely not disappointed that we decided to stop and eat. The food was absolutely brilliant as were the staff. The quality was very good and not too expensive. The place is really well decorated in authentic 50s style. Will go back again.

Horridburgers

By aresverde |

Help! This is the worst meat I've ever tasted in a restaurant supposedly notable for its burgers. The meat tasted musty and chewed like shoe leather. I had to rinse my mouth out after the meal to get rid of the after taste. The bun and toppings were fine. Service was good. Old rock n roll and pop songs on juke box were super. But junky meat? And I should have known better as 2 months ago I had the same experience. Thinking this was an aberration I foolishly returned. Never again.

Fun, friendly and great decor

By Terri L |

They waitress was fast, friendly and helpful. The decor is top notch for a 50's style diner. All the movie posters - B movie monster flicks included - were quite entertaining and fun to read during dinner. Today's teens do NOT get the jokes, but that's okay. Food was good an plentiful and the price was great.

Good breakfast

By kenbalog |

Breakfast was good, average, service was very good. Portion size was very large. Like that they offer real maple syrup, even though it is extra it's worth it

Kawaiiiiiiiiiii!

By maoyamada |

Everything is so kawaii! The uniform of servers, the design of the restaurant, and food & beverage... Sooooo fancy and cute :D I wanted to stay there for a longer time!

Fun atmosphere

By Shirley M |

The chicken fried steak was good and the shakes are great. Monte Cristo sandwich was ok, but the burgers looked better. 50's music playing and there is a fun newsletter to read at your table. Lots of stuff to look at on the walls. Interesting, fun place.

A Fun Place with Good Food

By filtex |

Took refugee from the traffic while on a sight seeing trip. A great way to wait out the traffic! The food, especially the milk shakes, were good and reasonably priced. In addition to 50's music, the place has great 50's decor, to include movie posters, photos, information, etc. The high light was talking to a couple at the next booth who were regulars. The lady's high school year book was in a display case and her high school group photo on the wall. We really had a good time.

Great food!

By Piritta H |

Food was good, generous portions. Unbelievable amount of milkshake flavors! Friendly staff. We were just wandering around looking for a place to eat and found this. We were overwhelmed and surprised! Lovely place!

3.5

By Francine C |

3.5

Fun atmosphere, just average food

By Emma D |

Great atmosphere, worth a visit. Milkshakes were yum, burgers ordinary. Chilli cheeseburger bun was soggy and burgers ordered M/WD were just on M. Chilli dip on side was more like bolognese. Monday night is half price burgers, worked out to bad not bad value.

Good Diner

By James P |

If you want good old American comfort food, this is not a bad place to get it. My favorite sandwiches are their avocado BLT and their Tuna Tom Jack (tomato and melted jack cheese). Ice cream fountain items are better than average. Their soups and salads need some re-inventing.

Wonderful diner!

By rgmDurham |

Great food at this terrific diner-inspired restaurant. Fun Hollywood memorabilia everywhere you look, oldies music playing and very good food. I had the turkey dinner and was pleasantly surprised at how fresh everything was - the mixed veggies included asparagus which was great. Of course ice-cream treats rule, and the milk-shake I got did not disappoint. Fun place to get a decently priced meal.

Must visit!

By Matteo |

Great atmosphere I feel like I'm in the 50s! A lot of vintage pieces from the 50s and the music is so cool!

The place is a trip!

By HowdyDoody4 |

The last diner on Route 66 is a trip —literally, figuratively, and gastronomically. Just a few miles from the terminus at the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, Café 50’s is the last diner on the quintessential American highway. And the owners, staff, ambiance, and menu live and breathe a bygone era when (at least for us in "flyover" country) California was thought of as a State of Mind. To their credit, management requires proof of vaccination to eat inside, and the wait staff all wear masks in addition to classic '50s ice cream parlor dresses and shirts. And it's obvious they love working there; they don't just take your order but chat you up about your day and food choices. They're delightful. The food is what you expect from a diner: comfort food, well-made and reasonably priced, with breakfast served all day. Growing up in the '50s, I expected the usual malts and shakes. But there's the "Sputnik Turkey & Swiss Melt" sandwich, the "Leave it to Beaver omelette," "California Burger," and blueberry pancakes. In addition, there is what we think of as "typical" of California: Avocado and spinach omelette, the "Healthy Fresh Sandwich," and "Deviled Eggs." We settled on a typical diner breakfast that included two eggs, breakfast potatoes, turkey sausages, and whole-wheat toast; all washed down with freshly made coffee. Excellent! While waiting for our food to arrive, I scanned the small jukebox mounted on the wall in our booth (filled with '50s rock 'n' roll classics that also blared from speakers throughout) and then got up and walk around the dining room trying to absorb the overwhelming collection of '50s memorabilia displayed floor to ceiling and the ceiling. Words can't describe the array of items, including many consumer brands that no longer exist and Saturday afternoon B movie posters. It's a trip for the stomach and the mind. I love this place!

Good breakfast spot!

By TXRanney76 |

This place is definitely a 50's throwback, just like it's name. It's a great diner loaded with 50's memorabilia. The food here is really good and the portions are very good size. I've tried numerous items on the menu and have never been disappointed! Waitstaff has always been friendly and helpful!

Absolutely LOVED this place

By Hokiechip |

Ran across this place by accident and are SO very glad we did. Loved the 50s theme and the food was outstanding- be sure to save room for the chocolate cake. Service was very friendly but not very attentive which is why the rating is only a 4.

Great Atmosphere & Diner food

By Reneetravels2 |

This is a true diner. The memorabilia will transport you back to the 50's & 60's, as will the music. plenty of seating. We all had different burgers. They come with coleslaw (dad and I could have eaten more it was so good). Very creamy. On Mondays they have a special for dinner 50% off burgers with the purchase of a drink. There are 42 different kinds of milkshakes. We got a chocolate shake & it was delicious. I got onion rings with my meal & they looked beer battered. I highly recommend them if you are a fan of onion rings. My family got fries. They have a large menu, so lots of choices. A variety of drinks as well. They offer Chocolate Cokes, Green Rivers, Cherry Coke, Rootbeer Floats, just to name a few. The service is top notch. We entered through the back of the restaurant because it was close to where we parked in the lot around back. The restrooms are tiny, but well maintained. They offer delivery. If you are in the area make sure to stop in.

Like being in a movie

By Maria Cristina I |

The 1950s theme of the restaurant is developed down to the smallest detail, from the furniture to the paintings, photos and memorabilia present in the restaurant. We had a real American breakfast with excellent pancakes. The friendly service is not like fast food, but it is worth enjoying a nice breakfast here! There is paid parking (not expensive) at the back of the restaurant. Honest prices

Would recommend!

By Sarah B |

Visit here if you want an authenticAmerican retro diner experience! You won't be disappointed! All the atmosphere and amazing food, superb choice on the menu and friendly staff!

Super Good Food, Fun Place, Great Service

By elizabethlascheid |

We love Cafe 50's. It is located in WLA and close to the 405 Fwy. It can get busy and I don't think they take reservations, but the line, if any moves fast and you will be glad you waited. Parking for the most part is on the street. Mind the signs. You will find a spot, we always do. It is just fun. They have toys for the kids and often have a magician there going from table to table (if you want) doing fun tricks. My grandson just loves this place. He gets a toy and plays with that while having one of their great milkshakes. They serve all classic American. Their breakfast is great and their burgers are super tasty. They have blueberry blintzes, grits, and real maple syrup for those great pancakes and waffles. Cafe 50's has booths and a counter. It is decorated with movie posters, adverts from the 50's. They have a classic Seeburg Jukebox, and I think it about 25 cents for a few songs. But there is always music playing. The service is fast and very friendly. We love it. It is packed with locals but tourist friendly and super kid friendly. Have a great time. This area of WLA is very safe, day or night.