Cole's, Originators of the French Dip Reviews

Stopped in here for out interconnecting flight to Las Vegas, Took ages for tables to be cleared of empty plates. Barry our server was quite rude...even another customer who was sat at bar commented on how unhelpful he was being. Food wasn't bad but as usual overpriced.. always is at an airport! Just shame they don't have a good reason to have them high prices when service and cleanliness is poor!

⚠️ [RANT] My Terrible Experience at Cole’s French Dip — Los Angeles’ “Oldest Restaurant” I honestly went in with respect for the history. Cole’s is supposed to be a Los Angeles landmark — the oldest restaurant in the city. But what I experienced last night was beyond disappointing — it was disgusting. They only have about four items on the menu, so you’d think they’d nail the basics. Nope. The meat smelled terrible, had that processed, chemical-like taste, and absolutely no flavour. I couldn’t even finish it. The place felt dirty — tables sticky, plates unclean, and a general smell that tells you the kitchen hasn’t seen a deep clean in a long time. The staff looked like they didn’t care, and there was zero sense of service or pride. Honestly, the vibe was more like a dark dive bar for drunk regulars than a restaurant that cares about food or customers. Even the street taco cart across the street looked fresher, cleaner, and more inviting than anything that came out of Cole’s kitchen. It’s sad, because this place once had a name. Now it’s just running on nostalgia and ignorance. 💬 Final thought: If you care about what you eat, skip this place. Cole’s doesn’t deserve the reputation or even a single star anymore.

We came here when visiting LA last weekend. There were 5 in our party and we were seated right away, without a reservation. Not the best area of town, but it was fine. It feels like you're back in the 1940's with the Speakeasy in the back. (we sat near the door to it) Food was great! I had the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Sandwich was OOZING with yummy cheese, soup was so-so. Others in our party had pork sandwich, pastrami sandwich and steak sandwich. Everyone was happy with what they got! Also had the chocolate pie for dessert, yummy. Our server was great, very friendly and quite witty! This place is special in its own little way. Give it a try!

this is a wonderful old bar however it has been taken over by the young and trendy. If not drinking at happy hour, the beers are expensive compared to other bars. Food was uninteresting and overpriced.

We went to get a Phillippe Double Dip Sandwich (as seen on Man Vs Food) but it was packed so we decided against it. We then found Coles off Main Street next to our hotel and had a very similar sandwich there instead. It was very good, but messy in a fun way because you dip the sandwich yourself instead of it coming already dipped. It is very dark in the bar, which reminded me of the Pubs back in the UK and had good music on, but is was very nice and had a good atmosphere.

This is a historic restaurant downtown Los Angeles serving classic French Dip sandwiches. There is debate whether it is the original or if they goes to their rival just on the other side of downtown. The food is great and they serve classic cocktails, the happy hour process are decent and on Sundays you can get bottomless mimosas for $11! The place is a bit dark, but I think that adds to the charm.

Coles is an authentic old LA experience. They claim French dip originated here in 1908 and it's fair to say, they've perfected the recipe over the years. We tried both the beef and pastrami and preferred the latter but both were good. Accompanied by garlic fries, sweet potato fries and creamed spinach we ate our fill and more although somehow we found room for the Churrowaffle dessert, which was excellent. Cocktails (old fashioned, whisky sour) were good. Not much seems to have changed here since I heard 1920s but in this case, that's not a bad thing.

Great

I eat here recently with someone who resides in Los Angeles. The French Dip Sandwich was one of the better ones I've had. Salad was fresh. Drinks were great. Loved the ambiance -- relaxed and inviting. You could chat here for hours. Didn't go into the back bar but have heard good things.

I'm a huge French dip fan. Top 3 favorite foods. I've had phillipes a few times and was never impressed. Coles was better. Good service. Good food. I've had better but went with the beef dip and Swiss with garlic fries. Would go back.

My wife enjoyed the French Dip sandwich on 8/3 while I popped over for a chicken Caesar salad at the food truck nextdoor. Then we enjoyed drinks (beer and wine) while we waited for our delayed flight. The bartender (Fernando) was awesome. This is one of the few places serving food in T4 at present.

We were tired and hungry and glad to see two open seats here. We grabbed the seats and waited for our server...and waited...and waited. We finally caught her attention and asked for menus and then we waited more. This area has Cole's and several stand-in-line restaurants. I decided that if we needed food then I had to take action. I ordered two huge 8 ounce burgers at the nearby stand and in no time I took them back to the table. They were wonderful! We finally got some wine from our server. Afterwards, our server asked what we wanted. I said, "The check, please." 5 minutes later she came and again asked what we wanted. I still wanted the check. 5 minutes later we went through the process again and finally got our check. She finally got our check and she took our credit card. I watched as she put the card on the register (in a high traffic area) and then walked away. After a few minutes I went over and stood by the register to guard my card. From there I could see she was in a different part of the restaurant talking to someone. After a few minutes she came back, walked by me, and went on to serve others. I finally got her attention and finally checked out. Whew! I would give the burgers 5 stars and the service 1 star...hence, the 3 star rating.

I like this old school place that still delivers a classy atmosphere with delicious cocktails. The bar and eating area have a great vibe and there are some happy hour specials. The lamb and prime rib sandwiches we got to go were great -- didn't order the sides since the sandwich was my focus. Speakeasy: Definitely worth checking out! You will find the speakeasy through the door with the white sign (just ask). On Monday night, the seats filled up throughout the evening and we were pleasantly surprised when pianist, bass and drums showed up to play some nice light live music. The cocktails are awesome. We did four rounds of bartenders choice (the base and what you like) and each drink was scrumptious and exceeded our expectations. I really enjoyed my champagne based girly cocktails :) have fun!

On 24 Nov at LAX I was so humiliated by one of your bartenders, her name is Debra... I was trying to place an order and she totally ignored my presence while looking straight at me 2 feet away I am 6' 190 pounds, I was so embarrassed. She was so blatant other patrons were telling her that I was next can you help this guy please. Finally, the other bartender name Sarah saw what was going on and took control of the situation. She "Sarah" was very nice and attentive... Debra seemed overwhelmed and not nice... It was not many people at the bar it's obvious she was not comfortable or confident in what she was doing...

The old school OG! If in down town this is a must stop!!’nn French Dip is the real deal.... Whisky drinks are legit.

I like coles. the old school atmosphere is great. for those of you concerned w the french dip i think its great and far better than phillipes!

Last night at LAX, sat down at a table with dirty dishes; the woman seated next to me laughed and said, "don't expect it to be cleared anytime soon". I then saw the bedraggled waitress who apologized, saying she was just finishing her 8 hour shift and couldn't bus my table or take my order. Baffled, as the restaurant was brimming full, I asked if her replacement was there. She said there was no scheduled replacement and I would have to bus it myself and turn in my order at the bar. Taken aback though I was, I was also tired and hungry from a 6 hour flight from NYC, and so I did. There were stacks of dirty plates piled up next to all the menus. I added mine (actually, not mine: the dishes of the people who had sat at the table before me) to the pile. The bar server was hustling at mach speed, as she was the only one behind the bar. She could stop for a second and take my order, and she told me to come back in ten minutes to pick it up. When I was handed the food (by the cook who has brought it out), I then how to scrounge around the bar itself to find the silverware. Of course, I was now away from my table and the suitcase I'd left there. Not cool. The owners obviously know how few restaurants there are in Terminal 4, and therefore how little competition they face. So they clearly think it is ok to under-staff and over-extend the workers, and to provide poor service to the customers. Oh, wait, it wasn't poor service: it was no service. Shame on greedy owners. They should show more respect for both the workers and the customers.

Just a great sandwich to sit down and enjoy a meal..inexpensive..I had the lamb and beef, my girl friend enjoyed the pork..we had a side of Mac and cheese,and pecan pie..all delicious, if I'm back in LA I would most definitely go back again!! Stay away from philiPpes they don't even compare. The meat here had flavor..philiPpes bland and cold

Walked to the location from the hotel. Service was great. The drinks were fabulous and had a variety to satisfy everyone in the party. They also serve the drinks with ice "cubes". I don't see that very often anymore. We started in the bar area and since our group continued to grow they easily accommodated us at a table in the dining room. I ordered a beef dip half sandwich and it was plenty for dinner. After that and a few drinks I am glad I walked back to the hotel. I would visit thus location if in the areas again.

An old, but very hip place: the hipsters and the seniors sit site by side and order sandwiches that come au ju not he side: Fresh turkey pastrami, etc. But i had hash which was absolutely great!!! The tater tots are very very crisp and if you don't mind a few thousand extra calories, indulge!!

On this trip I tried Coles and Philippe's, the two places that claim to have invented the French Dip. When I was in LA back in 2012 I only tried Philippe's. I'm glad I gave Cole's a try as I found the sandwich to be better here. I also tried their Chili which I think Philippe's does a better job with. Another reason to visit is that the restaurant was a location for a key scene on the show Mad Men where Don Draper takes Roger for a boozy lunch and tricks him into hiring him. Whereas Phillippe's is a counter service place this is more of a bar and grill.

Nice place to have a drink. They need to sort out the inside though as it instantly smells of toilets when you walk in! Quite off putting.

Stumbled across this place quite by accident but it was a great meal. The restaurant portion (in the back) was closed so me and a buddy sat at the bar and ordered our French Dip sandwiches. There were several different varieties of French Dip available, all served with perfectly toasted bread and a pickle and some mustard. Service was quick and the food was tasty. Had some cold beer too. Its within walking distance of most of DTLA and it's sort of a hidden treasure.

I'm a New Yorker, so I didn't expect any old-school taverny-type places in LA, but this reminded me so much of the White Horse. Great ceilings and woodwork, cool lighting and booths, and decent basic food. Not a place to go for fine dining, but definitely a place to go for a great atmosphere. And the best neon sign!

I really wanted to love this place. With its history and 1920's authentic interior the vibe is really great. Sat at the bar and enjoyed the salty bartenders banter. Ordered an old fashioned and their famous "french dip". Old fashioned was excellently made, however the french dip was uninspired and relatively tasteless. No where near Phillipes in quantity or quality. If you are in the area stop by just to see this landmark location, but don't order the french dip and expect anything other than ordinary.

I love this place, most people prefer Phillipes but I prefer here, Plus I can get a good beer here which you cant get at Phillipes

I love the simplicity and cool atmosphere of this spot. Great sandwich choices, full bar which I can't wait to try some evening. Great friendly service. Recommend highly.

Cole’s French Dip, the historic Downtown L.A. spot known for its signature sandwiches as well as its classic cocktails, is now open in Terminal 4, the West Coast hub for American Airlines. Cole’s is located near Gate 44 in the Departures Level Food Court. I was stuck in LAX for 7 hours for a forced layover and found Coles. What a fabulous discovery! I found a small two person table, and was able to order a drink and a turkey dip. The sandwich was filling and very, very good. The service was prompt and polite, better than typical airport service. MY table was directly under the AC vent, so I had to move it a little to be comfortable. I really appreciated that they just let me sit, read and eat over a several hour period and weren't hovering over me to leave right away. If I am every back in LAX for a layover, I will eat there again!

The pastrami and lamb sandwiches were delicious. The bartender was very accomdating. I would definitely go back.

We received excellent service from this very busy restaurant. There was quite a large bar area and table area too. People seemed genuinely confused where they could sit as there were a couple of other eateries in close proximity and there was a food van next to Cole’s. I had a couple of Cosmopolitans which were delicious and my daughter had a plate of garlic fries which were very tasty. We had great service and it was lovely just sitting at the table chatting with other travellers and people watching Recommend and caters for all ages. All the toilets are with in easy reach of the restaurant.

Food is ok here, bread on sandwiches is chewy. Pickles are too spicy. Worth trying just for the history, but I would go to Philippes for a real sandwich. Caesar salad is bland. Used to be much better before the new owner.

I could spend time in this review telling you about how great the sammich was, how crispy and spicy the sweet potato fries were mixed in with tater tots, or how perfect the bread was. Or - you can just give it a shot and be pleasantly surprised at how good a simple sandwich can be when done right. Just make sure you're all 21+ at night since I think that's the only time all-ages can't join in on the goodness.

A cool old bar in DTLA. Go for the experience, not the quality. It’s like rewinding 80 years. It is what it is. It is safe. Nice staff. Clean enough.

During our latest trip to LA last weekend, our Best friends took up on a stroll of Downtown LA and ended up having a few drinks at Coles. We had a cucumber drink (I forgot the name) ahich as DELICIOUS and refreshing... and then, our cool bartender Sean hooked me up with a Pims #5. It was OUT OF THIS WORLD YUMMY!! Atmosphere is super energetic and servers are nice and friendly.The place is nice and clean and I am defernitely coming back!

Some of the best food I've had. Loved this vintage bar. If you are a fan of mad men they filmed the bar scenes at Coles. Great spot. I had the beef French dip sandwich and the spicey sweet potatoe frys! Delicious. Will most definitely be going back when I'm in LA again.

My husband and I have been here before for breakfast and lunch. We like the food. We went with friends on a Saturday evening and it was soooo different! Maybe we are just too old for the crowd (in our 60's), but the noise level was very high. No, it wasn't music, just noise from conversations, etc. Also, the service was very very slow. We went to the bar in the back because we had heard good things about it. Well, again, we were disappointed. It was very loud and when we asked for a table for 8, the best they could do was seat us 6 and 2 and not even close together. We asked for 4 and 4 and the hostess, said "no", the best I can do is 6 and 2. So we weren't impressed with the service here either.

Great bar, fantastic french dip. Spicy horseradish sauce. This place is top notch. I used to LOVE that "other" french dip restaurant but this one take the cake. It is truly the dip you imagine. Good cocktails and great service. Plus you can pee where Mickey Cohen used to pee. If you are downtown this place is not something you should skip!

Our first visit to Cole's French Dip, a 100 plus year old bar/restaurant, with a choice of about six versions of the French dip. You can choose from Turkey (big hunk of breast meat), braised pork (kind of like pulled, but not so shredded), pastrami (didn't see it), prime beef (didn't see it), lamb (didn't see it) and finally, a "skinny dip" which is half order. I had the braised pork, with a side of Mac N 2 cheeses, which was awesome. I washed it down with an "old fashioned" whiskey cocktail, and we left that place very content. The place was shaped like an L. You walk in the door at the inside corner and if you go right, it's the bar, go left, it's the dining room. Great old school place in LA. I will be back.

Loved the vintage/retro decor & booths by the window 😊 also played great music! Had a couple drinks here late evening & the chilli garlic fries were amazing!!

Best old fashioned cocktail I've ever had.... And I've had a lot! Garlic fries to die for. I've since recommended the place to at least 5 visitors

We always eat at Phillipe's when we are near there, as it is my hubby's favorite. Decided to try Cole's just to compare. Table service.. forget it. You have to stand at the bar to order and then find a table yourself. The food while okay, does not compare in quality to Phillipes, and it is almost twice as much in cost. Poor service and mediocre food equals we will not return.

My friend and I came to grab a drink at the bar before our flight. Deborah, the bartender, was the rudest person I’ve ever met in the service industry. Right as we sat down she was already annoyed we were there. My friend asked her if she could make a martini (if she had all the ingredients for it) and she got so offensive. I asked if I could have a vodka soda and she repeatedly said “hmmmm let me see if I can remember how to make a vodka soda hmmmm...” then she loudly said “it’s like these people have never been out before”. She was so rude to every single guest at the bar, talking down to them. Will not be back, even for a drink!!!!!!

We had the opportunity to stop by the restaurant when we were waiting for the plane to arrive. It was very good! Prices were high....but that's with LAS!

Full of characters place ;) Pickles to die for :) also interesting way to eat sandwiches ;) Good location, very friendly staff.

Actually went here with a few friends for a drink, at first we were disappointed they did not have fireball shots, but the bartender was amazing!! he made some hand crafted shots to taste similar. then recommended a 100 proof bourbon in a mule that tasted remarkable!! Great spot to get some drinks and the Lamb Dip was Excellent. Great spot to try out, get some drinks, fries and/or a meal!! Def try the Lamb Dip if your a fan!!

Coles claims to have invented the French dip sandwich. Maybe they did. In any case, their French dip was perhaps the best I have had. And, the garlic french fries are the stuff of dreams. The space is old school in a good way. The paneling looks original. We went with someone who knew my affinity for French dip sandwiches. We were not disappointed.

I feel like this place is a hidden gem. The French Dip is amazing and so is their artichoke dip and chips (so fresh and still hot when served). Plenty of beers on tap and they make a great stiff mixed drink. This place has a really cool old school bar vibe. Perfect place for meeting up with friends for a quick bite.

This place sucks. The bartenders fought the whole time. I was left without a drunk for over 20 minutes cause they were fighting. I asked for a piece of pie to go and they said no. I could go on and on. Def not the spirit of the real DT Coles.

Pretty cool bar/restaurant. Had dinner on Halloween weekend and all staff was dressed up, it was pretty cool. Food ok.

This is a great place for a French Dip sandwich, the rest of the menu is irrelevant (though it might be good...). The sandwich is great, and the "atomic mustard" (if you like it really strong) is the best I've tasted in America. Good selection of draft beers, an absolute necessity to wash down the mustard!

We discovered Cole's on a recent trip to LA and highly recommend it! Cole's had, hands down, the friendliest staff I think we've ever met as well as some of the best food of our entire trip. The roast beef dip is excellent, but the lamb dip with goat cheese is out of this world. Don't forget to order a pickled egg -- they're delicious! Is it fine dining? No. But it's cozy, comfortable, friendly, and you will enjoy some really, really good food.

Stumbled upon Coles by accident. We had hoped to eat at another nearby place but it was closed. Coles was a less than suitable substitute. The decor is the nicest part of this restaurant. The host was preoccupied with his cell phone and only looked up to seat us when it became obvious we weren't going to leave. I guess we weren't hipster enough. Our server was friendly, but not attentive. The menu is limited and the food can only be best described as filling. The so-called originator of the French Dip produces a bland product. The bread and meat are no better than what you could find at a local supermarket. The jus used tastes on par with beef broth from Campbell's. The salads are good, but not exceptional. The Dark Chocolate pie is actually very good. Bottom line, it is obvious that Coles is not a sandwich place. For a true original French Dip sandwich, I will stick with Philippes.

Ate here on our first (and only) night in LA on the recommendation of the Rough Guide. Funky place - allegedly the home/inventor of the French dip sandwich which we tried - wonderful. Excellent selection of craft beers.

Overpriced possers bar go to the King Eddy Saloon its less than half price and you meet real people and bartenders not actors waiting to be never discovered

It was ok.....fairly tasty, but nothing special. Atmosphere is a little dark and dingy. Bartender seemed bored, slightly annoyed, and not exactly friendly. Clearly has no idea how tipping works. Overall, average at best. Old school, classic places are cool.....but the experience needs to keep up with the times.

I have now tried French Dip at both LA destinations. Both offer delicious sandwiches but for a relaxing pleasant adult experience Cole's wins hand down. Cole's firstly is a bar, a dark wood leather boothed bar. I loved it as soon as I went in. If they would let you smoke cigars inside it would be perfect. I realized once I got here that I had in fact visited this place many years ago with my Swiss jeweler friend Felix. I didn't know what it was back then. I sat at the bar where one can get the full menu and the company of your bar stool buddies and the attractive barmaid. A whiskey sour to start, it was made with some derivation of Jim Beam and it was rough. My second I had made with Jameson. A much more refined drink altogether. Regarding the sandwiches .... yes sandwiches... they offer a variety which you can dip in aus jus. Beef, Turkey, Pork, and Pastrami. I started with the beef which was delicious. So delicious and filling I ordered the pork, to go, intending to try a mouthful of pork before I left I ended up eating half and struggling home full as a tick. And I must mention the French Fries. Absolutely amongst the best fries ever. Every bit as good as McDonald's. Bar buddies, I wasn't there long enough to make any new ones but had the pleasure of sitting by two regulars. A hipster kid, about 30 ish, and a pale faced old guy like myself. I wanted him to be a journalist, cause he looked like one. He was a friend of the hipster. My journalist recommended the pork sandwich. With years comes wisdom, it was delicious. Now that train travel to and from LA to SCV is a real possibility I hope to return here frequently for an afternoon cocktail.

Go and taste the real and unique French Dip! Best dinner in L.A. The place exudes all its history, decor, atmosphere, climate and food. Everything perfect!

This is the first place I stopped with friends for a drink in LA. My friend recommended me go here as they had some fun cocktails, specifically the slushie ones. We sat at the bar and our bartenders were very friendly and fun, talking to us and recommending drinks. It wasn't too busy when we were here as it was early in the afternoon but the place still had a nice atmosphere

I was a little skeptical by the limited menu, but what they do, they do well! The french dip that comes with the sandwiches really flavored things well and had you cleaning your entire plate!

I had never heard of Coles but was in downtown and looking for dinner. Love the design and vibe of the place...very old school and cool!!! Although i didnt sit in the back speakeasy bar , I went to go peak and it looked awesome!. Sat in a booth enjoying reading about the story of the place as well as looking at the pix on the wall. Ordered an original roast beef and creamed spinach! Delicious!!! If you love french dips and a 1930's feel this is the place for you. Had a very fun experience and great service. Highly recommend!

This is it while in DTLA! It has survived and is great! To me it is all about the bar! Get Leandro to make your drinks Friends are in at least once a week for outstanding drinks! Get the beef dip with the atomic pickles! Don't miss out! Parking is at the corner!

Asked for a glass of water and was turned downed because she was “too busy”. Hope they have better servers than her

Came here with my son for a late lunch during happy hour. Plenty choices under $10; I had the Big Dipper and my son one of the sliders. Choice of meats which great - we both had pork which was excellent. This place hasn't changed much since 1908 so in trendy California, this is so refreshing. No avocado/bean sprout/kale/gluten free (*) on the menu here - just great pub food. Reminds me of nice neighborhood bars which used to be a staple. If you you don't enjoy such a locale or menu by all means don't go, but there is a reason this place has been here for 109 years! * With a diabetic wife I have all respect for those with celiac disease. I also don't object to any who chose to go gluten free as those who chose to avoid added or excess sugars. It's just that this have become an overbearing fad when you look at choices for gluten free vs low or sugar free on restaurant menus. After all there are multiples of diabetics to those with a proper celiac diagnosis.

Tried to go to my usual haunt for a french dip sandwich but the line was too long. Decided to try Coles given their claim they invented the sandwich to begin with. The place was easy to find, parking was available with public valet lots nearby. The service was good and the bartender did make nice cocktails. We had martini's, solid. The food itself was just mediocre, it is nowhere the flavor of the other place downtown, lacked the freshness and the roll and au jus was just not up to snuff. They did have great very spicy pickles though which were enjoyable. Chili cheese fries were not worth the calories. They may have invented the french dip sandwich in 1908 but they haven't improved it. The place needs a makeover.

I went to this restaurant in downtown LA with my husband and daughters, for suggestion of my daughters who lives in the city. She was right... the place is charming and it has great sandwiches which are to be accompanied by a French dip and what they call the atomic mustard. The mustard is called like that because it' suppose to be really strong. I'm not that much into strong mustard on my sandwiches, but my husband, who is an expert on that, said the mustard was great. They sell pots of the mustard, but unfortunately for my husband, they didn't have a single one to sell the night we visit the restaurant.

Took a while to get any service. Was in at around 5:15pm and it was fairly empty. Plus I sat at the bar. Crowd picked up rather quickly. Limited selection of beers but good happy hour prices on wells and Schlitz (if that's your bag). Really cool atmosphere definately feels like you stepped back in time. The French Dip was actually pretty good. Not one of the best I have ever had but ranks in the top five for sure. I had the beef Big Dipper with Swiss and the Garlic Fries. BTW the fries were excellent. Although an overall good experience I was expecting more.

Had an evening meal here on Tuesday happy hour. Great food and drink reasonable prices. Good atmosphere loved dunking a beef baguette in gravy.

I've recently been taking my family to some of the "classic" places to eat in Los Angeles and Cole's was next. I've been there several times over the years and it remains pretty much the same. The French Dip sandwiches are simple and quite good but not spectacular. The beer is cold and goes quite well with the food. Enjoy.

Went in for the first time to try the famous French dip sandwich. The atmosphere was great. We had an excellent margarita. The French Dip was just okay. Also ordered a lamb sandwich. It was extremely salty and not as much meat as we expected. Our order was takeout, maybe that made a difference. Service was fast, efficient and friendly. Definitely prefer Philippe's. Would definitely go back for drinks though.

Went to Philippe and then tried this one, this wadvthe better of the French dip sandwich the garlic spicy fries where the highlight of it all recommend a meal.

I saw this place on food network about a week before going to LA. It was great!! Nice old school bar and restaurant, but the French dip sandwich was the truth! If you like hot spicy food get the horseradish and a side of atomic pickles... Great!!!!

Awful rude staff who don’t know how to make drinks and when they make them wrong are nothing but rude. Ordered a Hendricks (Gin) and tonic and was given soda water, they took this back said it was tonic again it was soda water. Changed to an “easier” drink for them to make a vodka sprite again got Vodka and soda water. Approached the bar as server was headed home as it appeared either their post mix was out of gas as not one one bubble in any of these drinks or they just don’t know what tonic or sprite is. The rude bar man “Roberto” proceeded to tell me it was fine and if I had an issue I should raise it with my server.... as my server was about to leave he got me a vodka orange as surely they can’t mess than up!! Roberto wasn’t interested in helping at all. Needs to work on his people skills if he works behind a bar. I’m pretty sure those who drink G & T know what they should taste like ! Charging a premium for drinks you think they should get them right and if not at least fix it without being so rude.. Didn’t bother to eat here after the drinks experience didn’t want to risk the wrong food coming out. Plenty of other places to spend your money at LAX I’m sure with much better service !

Love coles! The difference between Coles and Philippes is that Philippes pre dip your sandwich so they can be a bit soggy where coles gives you the au jus on the side. Philippes stays with the old style and Coles stays modern. They've changed their bread a couple of times and they continue to change their menu and prices. They have a speak easy bar hidden in the back, so stop in before or after your meal. If they have the strawberry rhubarb pie on the menu (spring time) must try! pickles and mustard are super spicy so beware. Street or near by parking lot available. Brunch is phenomenal!

In town visiting LA and stopped into Cole's to try one of the original French Dip sandwiches. It was really good and we had a nice lunch! I loved the history of the restaurant and building. The general vibe of the place was really cool. Really enjoyed!

Go just for the ambiance but then stay for the sandwich! Great French dips & really great cocktails. The bartender was friendly and made stellar drinks. It was busy but the food came fast.

We came here after reading the reviews on this place and it did not disappoint. The guy taking the orders was extremely friendly. There was an overall friendly vibe. The inside reminded me of a 1940's LA where gangsters would hang out. The food was okay. I really enjoyed the spicy sweet potato fries and the hot French mustard.

Cole's does not disappoint as an historic downtown L.A. experience. The decor seems very authentic, inc. black-and-white hexagonal tiles, red pressed-tin ceiling, and photographs dating back to its 1908 founding. As it's the origin of French-Dipped Sandwiches, we had to try different varieties and all enjoyed them. Pickles and mustard are quite spicy, even the fries have "hot pockets," but servers warn you. The best part of our visit was an after-dinner drink in the back room speak-easy, with its hushed tones and creative mixology. We'll be back!

Walked in off the street not knowing the significance of this historic place but however still was not sure about the menu or what we were about to order. Food was alright nothing I'd go back too.

We came here for a bite to eat with friends. The place has great old school charm and was great! The drinks were prepared with panache and the french dips were terrific - garlic frys were great and the banana cream pie with caramel for dessert a great way to end the meal.

I have long been a Phillipe's fan, but discovered Coles while wandering downtown. The neon sign outfront is classic, and its assertion that they are the "originators" of the dipped sandwich was unexpected. Nonetheless, the dipped sandwiches were spectacular. The Pork sandwich in particular seemed juicier and allaround more flavorful than Phillipe's (sorry to say it, as I have been to Phillipe's about a hundred times). Beyond this, the place has really great "saloon" vibe, and a killer hideaway bar open in the evening.

Not at all how it used to be, a mere bar now, pool table replacing the fine booths that used to line the wall. We walked in, turned around and left.

I had the pastrami French Dip and it was very very good. They were clueless on how to make an Old Fashioned. Varnish (bar attached to restaurant) made their Old Fashioned different, but again clueless on how to make it. The drinks are so potent they will knock your socks off. Famous bar so fun to visit. No, did not see Don Draper.

Ate at their location at LAX Terminal 4. Apparently they are the creators of the beef dip sandwich so of course we had to try that. It was very good but pricey considering it didn't even come with fries. Maybe that's just because it's at the airport though. They were all out of pecan pie which was disappointing. Overall, it was a good experience.

Cool little bar, is a grab place to grab some food and chill out within a busy bar. Also a good place to start the night.

Fun place and busy scene. Had the trifecta of French do sandwiches...turkey, pastrami, and roast beef. All three were great and went down nicely on a basket of fries and refreshing adult beverage. Was there about 8:30 and it was fast becoming the loud bar scene. Will definetley go back, a little earlier, and stay longer.

Cole's, Originators, is an iconic dining spot known for its signature dish. The vintage decor and nostalgic ambiance offer a unique dining experience. The French Dip sandwiches are juicy and flavorful, with a savory au jus dip. the restaurant can get crowded during peak hours, leading to longer wait times. Some customers may find the menu limited beyond the French Dip sandwich. enthusiasts and those seeking a taste of culinary history.

Enjoy a roast beef dip, or any other meat sandwiches, from the menu...Visit the menu on line...The garlic fries, mustard, and pickle are not for the mild crowd...Worth the visit, if only just to say you were there. Friendly and helpful staff

Outstanding dips ! An old institution in LA that is worth checking out . If you didn't get enough of it in the city the LAX terminal 4 has one as well.

We had really looked forward to trying Cole’s after reading about its history and its French Dip sandwiches. We have previously tried Philippe’s and had enjoyed the experience. Cole’s was dark, dirty, and had terrible food. The beef was tough, had no flavor and was on bread that was very stale. The greasy aus jus finished out the poor experience. On a positive note, the waitress was very sweet and tried really hard. There was a bouncer however at the door that was less than pleasant. Overall, save your time and money.

Fabulous Happy Hour at Coles. Great French Dip Sandwiches (they were invented there in the 1900s) Happy Hour is medium sized sandwich with fries or excellent tater tots. Yum!!! For $6.00!!

We've been to Coles once visiting LA and had a great experience. It's an old fashioned style place with a very warm atmosphere. All wood and old style decor inside makes you feel very comfortable even if the restaurant is crowded. To avoid the long line (it is definitely better to book your table) we sat at the bar and enjoyed the very pleasant conversation with the bartender. The french dip sandwiches (we had the pork ones) were delicious and the spicy sweet potato fries crispy and tasteful. Both food and experience thanks to the atmosphere are perfect!

This restaurant has been around since the turn of the century (1900’s). It’s where they developed the French dip sandwich and it is delicious. The bar is beautiful, and there’s a speakeasy in the back that is beyond adorable. The bar staff however, is less than friendly and you might feel like you’re putting them out by being there and ordering food. Also, parking is difficult.

There are limited choices for food in the AA Terminal at LAX and with just over an hour before boarding a long flight, I decided to indulge in a Cole's French Dip. I wish I had not. Things began with a sticky, wobbly table and went downhill fast when I asked my Server, who took her time in coming over, to wipe the table. A request for iced tea was met with "We no have" so I settled for a $4.95 Diet Coke, which was never refilled. The french dip arrived on soggy bread with too much bleu cheese and way too much fat. I normally would have sent it back but I was running short of time. The check came and it was $25 for a barely edible sandwich and 1 soft drink. I nwill never eat here again.

A stone’s throw from skid row and challenging parking notwithstanding, this retro saloon claims centennial French dip bragging rights; delicious sliced beef ensconced in a fresh roll, atomic pickle awaits, au jus on the side, and the tasty tater tots complete the iconic meal; a real throw-back in time, rustic atmosphere adds charmed allure.

This place has been here for over 100 years and it has been recently renovated. Tiled floors and lots of wood and leather...when one enters the place, it feels like many of those small restaurants that are in theatre district of New York City. French dip sandwiches (which were delicious!) are their specialty and that is all that can be found on the menu except for an assortment of fries. Beer and drinks also seem to be their specialty. Unfortunately, the place is situated in downtown Los Angeles, where parking is atrocious. And to get to the restaurant by foot, means walking through an area that many people consider dirty and rundown...I felt very unsafe.

So I was visiting a couple of Lawyer Buddies that said we should have lunch here. Lawyers usually know the law, but not food. Legal files in hand we walked 6 blocks. They obviously knew the way. We ordered the steak French dip it was amazing, fries the bomb. Then dessert. Oh Man. So good. Pies Pies and More Pies. Worth the trip and the walk...

What makes me endeared to the place is its olde world charm. It's been said that it's one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles. I have no reason to disagree with that. Anyhow, what other reviewers wrote are very much on the ball. There's a sense of anticipation as you walk down the stairs from the ground floor. Once you open the doors, you are immediately transported to the yesteryears. The bar is on the right hand side whilst the dining section is on the left. It's famous for its French dip sandwiches and rightfully so. It comes in two sizes and believe me, it's plenty even for the half size. The potato salad has a lot of flavour and it's got a kick to it, which is fabulous. Service is found wanting as the waitress is nowhere to be found most of the time. My order is actually brought to me by kitchen hand, which says a lot about the kitchen wanting to be sure that customers are served hot and not cold meals. I guess that it's my luck on the day. This shouldn't deter you from visiting Coles because it's definitely worth your while to do so, at least once in a lifetime! Commendable visit

Just ate here with a friend for the first time and I really enjoyed it! They make a really good pork dip sandwich with some yummy spicy garlic fries. I actually ate at Philippe’s last year so it’s been a while for me to give a proper comparison between the two French dip sandwich restaurants but a few differences I’ve noticed is the bread and the way the au jus is served. The bread doesn’t crumple the way Philippe’s bread does and au jus is served on the side for you to dip in rather than having slices of bread dipped for you like at Philippe’s. Between which one I like better, it’s hard to say since they’re both different, maybe Philippe’s slightly more but I do like that Cole’s serves fries and ketchup on the side. Be sure to not go past Los Angeles Street or you’ll find yourself in the notorious Skid Row area (I could see some tents in the distance as I was walking over to the restaurant). Other than that, you should be good to go parking wise and ready to grab a nice bite to eat in this historic eatery.

We are not drinkers, but we recently moved into downtown, knew this place was famous, and decided to experience it as a restaurant, not for the bar scene. We have been several times and it's very good for a slightly different twist on sandwich-type fair. To me, the french-dip was boring but my wife loves it. I prefer the pork and pastrami. The cole slaw side is ridiculousy priced, but once you taste it, you forget the cost. The salads and deserts are nothing special, walk over to Artisan House or Big Man Bakes for dessert after. The waiters are warm and sincere. Not gourmet, just solid and consistently good.

The menu is a bit confusing at first but, nothing on it is bad at all and the garlic fries are OUTSTANDING. Old fashions are the kicker and services is a bit slow but, it's expected with how many customers they get. 4/5!

this is an incredible place to visit, the bar in back a must but the food is just ok.

This is the best PICKLE I have ever eaten... sweet, spicy, vinegary... YUM! My son LOVED the garlic fries, but the french dip was just average and the cole slaw tasted like plain shredded cabbage, it was so dry .

Great atmo. Priceless hidden bar in the back that used to be a speakeasy.

Went for lunch to avoid the crowd at night. Good food, full bar selections available. Restaurant is filled with historic LA photographs and is an early 20th Century decor. French Dip sandwich was good, lots of variety from which to choose.

These guys supposedly invented the French Dip (my favorite sandwich). I was so expecting awesome and got a sandwich that was so so. Chilis probably makes a better French Dip. Maybe my expectations were too high. Bar and bartender were cool.

We ordered ourselves the french dip sandwich while waiting for a table at the Varnish bar (located/attached to the back of Coles). My sandwich was so so good that I often get cravings for it :( I'll be sure to drop in when back in LA

Coles.... the inventor of the French Dip sandwich. Amazing happy hour. Fabulous spicy pickles and super spicy mustard. The spicy tater tots are Awesome!!!

Wow! Delicious food for airport and I don't think it would have been any different if I went to their brick and mortar (except maybe for the price of food!). Enjoyed their pastrami dip ($11) grilled cheese (comes Swiss and cheddar mixed ...opted for no Swiss) and tomato soup (nice and thick!) ($10) a side of 2 cheese MacNcheese ($5) and a 20oz Stella ($11). I couldn't finish the Mac as I was STUFFED but my friend loved his pastrami dip. Crazy busy at the bar but they accommodated us in the eating area with no issue! There is a Sammy pizza place, kogi BBQ, burger bar ( the burgers and BLT's I saw others eating looked really yummy), organic food stop, pastry place and a sit down restaurant as well...but when I saw the wait staff walk by with a French dip I was hooked. Service was fast and food was hot upon arrival. My sammich was cheesy and the soup was too hot to eat too fast (good for me so I could enjoy it longer!). My friends pastrami dip was hot and the au jus was perfect ( not overly salty) and we got an order of fries by accident so we told them to charge us and we enjoyed them as well!! Glad we chose to eat here and not at the other places! Must remember if ever I am at this terminal again!

Just the right amount of dark, spot-on classic cocktails (we had old fashioned and Manhattan), AMAZING caesar salad.

I stumbled upon Cole's after rejecting the Clifton Cafeteria and looking for the Nickle Diner. Was lucky enough to get a seat at the bar for happy hour on Friday evening. Nice collection of craft beer on tap and a nice happy hour bar menu. I had the tasty half pastrami french dip with spicy garlic tots (for only $5) along with a very nice Hef (for only $5). What a find in LA's world of $10 beers. The bartender was fast. The food came quickly and was hot. The bar patrons were congenial. There's no loud music playing. I felt so lucky!

Cole's has a great friendly atmosphere. The sandwiches were great and if hot mustard is your thing Cole's has got a winner! The garlic fries were very tasty. I tried the Bourbon Pecan Pie and it was delicious.

The bartender at our hotel bar recommended this place, so happy she did. We all had to try the half order of their original French Dip, well three of us did, the fella who eats a bit like a rabid dog ordered that, then a another to eat on the way down the street back to the hotel ??? Seriously. It's dark in this old place, but clean, with snappy waitresses. French fries also were tasty. One thing you can't miss it their SpeakEasy. Yeah, you go through a door in the back of the restaurant into a dimly lit room full of tables. They have a three hundred pound block of ice there that they use to shave off for cocktails, we had good Manhattans, which apparently have become the chic drink here of late. Appeared to be a great date place. Cheers, Salida1048

I'm not an Angeleno, and therefore do not have a dog in the Phillippe's/Coles fight. All I can say is the that the French Dip at Cole's was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Love the "speakeasy" ambience, as well. Next time I'm in town, I'm doing a side-by-side of Coles/Philippe's, just for my own personal edification.

Found parking down town Los Angeles, so stopted in here for a drink and a bite. Had heard so many good things about this place had to check it out. Could not get in the hidden speakeasy in the back, as it did not open till 7:00pm, but did checked it out latter, nothing special just a small dark room with a bar. Ordered the half French dip sandwich with Au Jus and Chips, big disappointment, the meat was boiled to death and tasteless, as for the Au Jus dip it was just flavorless light brown water. From the size of the chips I thought that I had been given a child’s portion. My friend ordered three sliders but only two had any kind of filling and we had to ask the bar staff to go and look for filling for the last one. The only thing with favour was the hot mustard sauce. At the price they charge it should have been better. It was Friday night and the staff seemed to be changing over but that’s no excuse. Will never visit this place again. Tip: Just go for a drink and skip the rest.

Stopped in Cole's at LAX terminal 46B on recent trip thru area. I was pleasantly surprised with my Pastrami Dip-- almost as good as Slyman's in Cleveland. It's in airport so not cheap but the Dip and a local IPA sure made my trip go smoother!

Home of the French Dip sandwich. They have a fabulous happy hour special with food and cocktails. They have great tater tots and potato salad. Of course the dip sandwichs are awesome.

So much has been said about the French dip; I thought it was totally average. The bar was very cool, though.

Enjoyed our experience at Cole's. A decent variety of sandwhiches and sides. I prefer if a place does a small number of item but does them well which is certainly the case here. Draft craft beers to suit everyones taste. cool atmosphere, nice and comfortable setting.

Nothing special here. Pastrami dip was fair. Pretty bland. Same with the garlic fries. Had much better at many other restaurants. Service was adequate but again, nothing remarkable. In a city with as many eateries as LA, you can do way better and get much more bang for your buck.

Decent sandwich, it's the stripped down version of what nowadays can get out of control in terms of French Dips. Enjoyed the Garic fries and Mac and cheese. I would go back if I was in the area. My vote would have to go to Philipes if voting overall experience. But on food alone it would be Coles.

I love this place. The food is great with great prices. When you step inside, it's like going back in time in New York City or Chicago. I had another destination in mind but stop here first and I was glad I did. Looking forward to going back soon. Along with your sandwich, you might try their dry fried pickles.

My husband and I were visiting LA for the weekend & we had heard about a restaurant to visit downtown, since we are big tequila drinkers. We arrived early and that restaurant wasn’t open yet, so, we ended up in Cole’s to get a drink to wait. We are so glad we did!!! We sat at the bar, where the service was great! We liked the atmosphere & reading about the history of this restaurant. We ordered Palomas, which were expertly made with fresh ingredients. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to order any food, but, we will definitely be back to visit to sit and eat....(we did return later to check out Varnish 😊).

One of the oldest bars in Downtown LA, Coles had a speak easy upstairs during prohibition. Unbelievable Beef Dips and Pastrami sandwiches at the bar. Very friendly staff. Been here twice and both times there were a number of bar employees from local bars stopping here after work. You know it is good if the pros make it their place

I have been to the other “originator” of the French dip and was sorely disappointed. I was a bit hesitant at trying this place but my daughter was to excited about it not to say yes. I am so glad I did! Their beef French dip was delicious with the most tender meat. Great au jus too! Love the atmosphere and the staff were super friendly.

Garlic fries and prime rib dip, what more need I say! Atmosphere great! food great! service great! The only negative was the ice made my drink taste funny.

I came to Cole's with friends on a visit to LA. The interior is dark but the decor is very interesting. We had a booth at the side of the restaurant with a view of the 'secret bar'. Service was good at times but at points it was hard to get the attention of the waitress as she chatted to other staff. Our food was great, we all had sandwiches and sides. The garlic fries were very overpowering but other side were good. The desserts were very good too with the pecan pie being our favourite. If I was in LA again I would come back here.

Had the bitter bee cocktail and tried the alcoholic gelato at the bar before heading to Varnish, the speakeasy in the back to continue the party. Great drinks at Coles. Can't speak on the French dip since I wasn't there for food.

What a neat spot to go to, walking distance to much of DTLA. On Tuesday nights they have an "all day happy hour"--and I'd recommend going to check it out. The kitchen closes a bit early--sometimes around 10:15. The bar stays open a bit later and has pickled eggs but that's about it for food. Try the lamb dip with blue cheese! There's also a "speakeasy style" bar in the back behind the dining room. FYI: AT&T cell service is nonexistent once you walk down the stairs!

I enjoyed the "big dipper" French dip sandwich with their special mustard and a spicy pickle and an IPA beer. It's a unique atmosphere which consists of original white tile floor, red leather booths,and dark wood paneling. It's a remnant of pre-WWII LA. The only downside is that you need a token for use of the restroom, which can be a little disconcerting if you're in a hurry!

I never knew that I could fall in love with a sandwich. Well, I did. I fell in love with the beef and blue cheese. The place is the best! I paired my sandwich with the mac & cheese. Super tasty! My friend got the garlic fries and they were to die for!!! Just a heads up, the fries are really garlicky, but soooo spectacular! I will go to back to this restaurant again and again!!!

We went specifically to try the French dip and boy, we sure were not disappointed. We got the skinny beef dips, I got it with the goat cheese. I loved every bite. Try it with the mustard, but be warned, it's a horseradish mustard that has a kick a lot like wasabi! We selected the spicy garlic fries (yum), Cole's slaw (yum), and the tomato soup (double yum) as our sides. All were stars in their own right. But, the sandwich was the highlight: meat was tender, bread was soft, au jus was hot. We were there on a busy weekend day so there was a bit of a wait for our food once the order was in. But the service was extraordinary, so we tried the chocolate cream pie, even though we weren't at all hungry any more. What a great decision! The pie was a show stopper. I'd go back just for that. Same with each member of my family. Can't wait to go back. I'm thinking next week!

Cole's is a wonderful stop off the Red Line. We had a party of six and were seated right away. The pastrami sandwich was made with fresh made bread and was delicious. The waiter, Michael, was outstanding and made many wonderful recommendations. We thought the Genniss Beer Float sounded awful, so our waiter brought us a free sample. It wasn't bad. This restaurant is a historical site. It is listed as the oldest restaurant and bar in Los Angeles. This is a wonderful little find in LA.

Decided to check this place out becuz of the catchy title. Usually i goto phillippes near union station for my french dip fix. Anyways for those folks into turn of the century decor it fits the bill plenty of old fotos of LA in the 1920’s. I was there on a friday night and no seating at the long bar but still open tables in the dining area. The restaurant is running a monthly special different dips which was beef bulgogi for this month. The meat was shredded beef i was expecting slices of roast beef. I would say phillippes is a better values over this place for the price i paid

My first time eating at this location. Our party had beef, pastrami, turkey dip sandwiches. Everyone was well pleased with our meals. The staff was friendly and everyone worked together to ensure a great dining experience. Look forward to the next visit.

If you enjoy slumming, I guess there is a certain seedy thrill in pissing in the same urinal as Bukowski. The old-school cocktails are strong, the musty decor and lighting are creepy cool, and the happy hour prices on the drinks and sandwiches are a great deal. It's worth a trip to see LA's longest running restaurant, and it's nice seeing a classic spot survive as trendy renovations are turning downtown into a hipster ghetto. But while the French Dip claims to be the original, it's bland compared to Philippe's. Still it's nice to be able to wash it down with a cocktail at Cole's!

Their beef dip is delicious. Love their mustard horseradish. Sure the location is near the seedier part of LA but fries& half French dip sandwich for under $ 6 I'm in! Great Manhattan for the same price. Stopped in for their 100 year anniversary and went another time shortly after. Old school for sure with an interesting history. Just don't head south or you'll end up in Skid Row. Lots of white collar clientele.

Old school since 1908. Stepping into this bar restaurant is like walking into a time warp of vintage nostalgia. The hard drinks are served in the back through the old speak easy door or you can grab a micro brew at the front bar. The place is dark and comfortable with plenty of space and tables to hang out with friends.

Stopped in a Tuesday night around 630 and the place was fairly empty. Tables and bar were both available. Decided on bar area and while it was mostly self service ordering, the happy hour drink prices were a nice surprise. The grilled cheese with tomato soup was outstanding. And the classic French dip had a great au jus to hop with it. PS - Tater tots are < $1.50 with a drink at the bar. Nice and spicy hot mustard too. Overall, great ambience and worth returning.

I read about Cole's in a couple of guidebooks, so we stopped in for an early lunch on a Sunday. The atmosphere and ambiance was very interesting (in a good way). We didn't make it to the speakeasy. I ordered the regular prime rib dip, and it really was one of the best ones I've ever had. The meat was lean and tender (not all fatty like I've had at other places) and there was quite a bit of it. The fries were standard and overpriced, and the sandwich was filling enough that I didn't eat many anyway. My fiance ordered the breakfast one, which was good but a pretty typical breakfast sandwich. We'd eat there again when in the area. We didn't order drinks, but the bar looked to be pretty well-stocked. I like whiskey, and they had a pretty good selection that I'd delve into if we make it back. Ordering is a little weird. Someone handed us menus when we sat down, then we later found out we had to order at the bar. They brought the food to us, but I had to go to the bar to get our water refilled and ask for condiments and more coffee.

I've never eaten here, but the cocktails are amazing. Be sure to check out the back room, which has live jazz on Sunday nights. Great for a date or a night out with friends.

Came here for lunch with my visiting parents. The food was great but service was not really up to par, the counter was crazy busy and it didn't feel like they were staffed well enough to handle it. One person was also a bit rude to my mom- probably overwhelmed by the rush- but still left a sour taste. Decor is really cool and like I said food is great. Garlic fries would be my top recommendation!!

Passing through the airport (LAX) and saw whiskey sour was the first thing on the menu. Sounded perfect. Then I got the bill. $18.95 for a tiny drink. Then I noticed they didn’t have the price on the menu anywhere, probably because if they did they would never sell one. In my opinion that took away 4 stars from the quality of the actual product. Rip-off. Shame. Shame. Shame.

When entering the Cole's space in Terminal 4 of LAX, you're struck by the large, serious looking bar. I decided to have a cocktail with my dinner, and my Whisky Sour was superb, down to the beaten egg foam topped with a few drops of bitters. In an airport! The French Dip and cole slaw were excellent but the garlic fries stole the food show. This location of Cole's is airport-expensive, but is delicious enough to make me look forward to my next LAX layover.

We ate dinner here while on vacation as recommended by our son. We had the pastrami dip ( I had 1/2 which was plenty big) along with the tots. You can get the tots plain or with garlic and chipotle which I got. They were very good but very garlicky! My husband and I shared a piece of homemade banana pie with caramel- very good. We then shared a piece of chocolate pie, also good. I might add, we got there in time for happy hour prices😊. It’s a nice old restaurant.

I couldn't tell who's the first but I can tell you why I like this place over philipes... they accept plastic! Although they are an old style bar in an urban setting, they stay true to their roots and their food is off the charts! I've had their beef, pork and lamp dips. each one dipped in aju... just melts in the mouth and has these subtle flavors that please the pallete. sooo dang delicious. The ambiance is dark and cool. Like that mysterious kid in HS that rode a motorcycle to school... I've never had a bad meal here.

This is the home of French Dip Sandwiches. It is right downtown L.A. it's menu is about French Dipping your meat sandwich in au jus. Service was good and the server patiently helpful. The food is well presented and portions good. It was an enjoyable experience though not fancy. There was a good beverage selection and the meal was promptly prepared and served. Parking in the area is tight and a bit expensive. Consider public transport option. Coles is a "cool" thing to do in LA.

Coles NAILS the French Dip! Amazing and perfect meal prior to stepping into The Varnish, awesome speakeasy hidden in the back! Great food paired with great drinks…Coles for the WIN!

I went to Cole’s while in LA for business with a group of 8. The menu consists of 5 different types of French Dip sandwiches (Pork, Beef, Pastrami, Turkey and Lamb) and plenty of side options. The Beef French dip was good but not the best I’ve ever had. Portions were good. The spicy garlic fries were the best side we tried, tots were also good as well as the atomic pickles. Good selection of beers in a cool old school environment.

Originally sat at the bar, but my son is 17 so we had to move to a table. The bartender was a serious woman and you got the sense she could handle that bar no matter how many people showed up! Our food was delivered to our table and everything was exactly as ordered! My son, the French Dip maven, declared it the best he'd ever had and was amazed how it came with the perfect amount of au jus! Highly recommend this. That all said, bring your platinum card, it's not cheap by any means. It was about $70 for sandwiches for two folks!

Sandwiches are good. Atmosphere is way better than Philippe down the street, but if you're looking for the best beef dip that's where I would go (Philippe's, that is)... I usually go for the drinks and stay for the food...

Our waiter was great, he was outgoing and helpful. We tried the pastrami dip and the beef dip sandwiches with a side of spicy garlic fries. Beef dip was pretty boring to not good. Flavors just didn’t click and had no seasoning. The pastrami was better but had a overbearing flavor that bordered on fake smoke and salt. The roll was good, fresh and soaked up au jus, au jus was piping hot as it should be. The fries were pretty good. Lots of garlic and although kissing a stranger after lunch was out of the question, the garlic had a nice toasted flavor. Not raw like so many garlic fries tend to be. Over all? Over priced and boring. I hate to waste an opportunity for a good meal....

OK, having tried most of the menu at both places, I give a slight edge to Cole's. I prefer actually dipping my own sandwich to having it dipped for me. I also thought the pork was better at Cole's. I also think that people really need to give both places a fair shot and decide for themselves. Because Philippe's has a lot going for it as well.

A buddy and I decided to compare the French dip sandwiches at Cole's and Philippe's. Cole's is the winner, hands down. It features better bread and more meat. And to top it off, the atmosphere at Cole's is fantastic. From the classic decor to the great bar, featuring a small, but good selection, of CA beers, and knowledgable, friendly bartenders. We will definitely return at night, when their speakeasy is open.

My wife are trying to dine at all of the remaining classic landmark LA restaurants before they are all gone. Coles is on the list and has delicious French Dip sandwiches. They claim as Philippe’s to have invented the French Dip. Now that I’ve eaten at Coles, I can make the comparison since I’ve eaten at Philippe’s. They are both delicious and I love them both. They are very different experiences. Coles is a old time saloon feeling with a great bar in the hollow of the former Pacific Electric building and the area is sketchy. Philippe’s is very close to Dodger Stadium and easily accessible by the Gold Line light rail. Philippe’s is more of a cafeteria atmosphere and you stand on line (crazy lines during game day) but it’s part of the experience to see the old time waitress uniforms with the paper hats carving your meat. You can ask for single, double or drowned in the au jus. Coles is sit down, order from a waiter. As I said they are both delicious and great. I can’t say whose is better so I say eat at both!

I've been here probably 3 times now that I've moved to DTLA. We always sit at the bar and order our food and drinks in any pub we visit. The food is good, the ambience is great. I've never sat at a waitered table so I can't speak of the totality of service, but at the bar...WTH. The bartender seems more focused on his personal discussions with bar sitters that he knows. Way way way too much time spent waiting for him to finally mosey down the other end and actually pay attention to the ones that just want to give Cole's their business. Walk in, sit and wait for 10 minutes before he even acknowledges you are there. The place isn't even busy! I know several bartenders in this immediate area that would smoke him 100 ways to Sunday as far as bartending goes. This place could do sooooo much more business if they got a professional bartender in to do real hustle work. Worth a visit just don't sit at the bar.

Well of course you're going to get the French Dip. It was invented here, after all. And you should, because it is fantastic. The room has a wonderful old speakeasy ambience to it. I'm not sure if all of the servers are as amazing as ours was, but he could not have been better. We told him we were on a tight schedule (had timed SkySlide tickets) and he offered to bring the check with the food to make sure we weren't late. The food was out in minutes. The spicy garlic fries were a bit heavy on the salt and cayenne. They would have done better letting the garlic speak for itself. But that's nitpicking. Definitely worth seeking out this landmark when you're in LA.

The LAX operation was a bit of mess the day of our flight. After waiting for a server for quite some time, we ended up ordering at the bar. The barman was pleasant and ordering wasn't difficult. The food wasn't good though. Both the beef dip and turkey dip were dry, and the bread wasn't fresh. The potato salad was the best part of the meal, and it was only average. Our $40 bill didn't make anything taste better..... Next time. I will try another place at LAX.

There's not much more to say other than the food leaves a craving unlike no other. The French Dip sandwich will be the best you've ever had. More than just the French Dip, Cole's is located in a decent little section of the Historic District, just a super quick Uber from the livelier areas of DTLA. Must Have: Cole's Atomic Pickle, Tots, and any Pie. Just order it all.

Hubby and I stopped here during happy hour to meet a friend. I ordered a Moscow Mule. I've had better, so I won't praise the drinks. However, I have to admit that I fell in love with the Lamb sandwich there vs. at Phillipe's. Understand that Phillipe's lamb sandwich was very delicious and I did have to wait a minute to get it due to the long lines, but Cole's has 1 advantage. Cole's offers their sandwiches "protein style" (wrapped in lettuce without the bread). For some, this may be a deal breaker but I've worked too hard on my weight-loss to mess it up early on my trip. Believe me when I write that this style of eating ruins nothing for the flavor of the sandwich. If anything, it enhanced it and made it go down even easier as a late evening meal. I will be back for more at Cole's. Garlic Sweet Potato Fries were also the star here. Sweet, garlicky, buttery and highly addictive. Just make sure you don't have to talk to anyone after eating them.

There is a legendary debate of who created the French Dip - Coles or Philippe’s. Both claim that they are the birthplace of this great sandwich. In my opinion, while both are truly great, Coles has my vote. It really depends on your preference as both has its unique experience. Both are a throwback dining experience. Philippe’s is the Dodger crowd, where on game days, the line goes out the door. You get to see the servers in 1940’s uniform (down to the paper hats) carving your meat and you choose single dip (dunked in the meat drippings that the beef is cooked in), double dipped (dunked twice), or “wet” (dipped until the roll is completely sopping wet”. Tables are communal seating. Coles is more upscale, with booths and tables devoted to the parties seated to eat. The feel is completely old school saloon with classic cocktails, original 40’ bar and original lighting. It’s a historic speakeasy that has not lost any of its spirit and charm. The French dip is served regular menu ordering but is soooo good. In my opinion, the true star is the French dipped lamb. It’s top destination old school LA joint that has to be on any serious classic LA diner’s bucket list.

Today I stopped at Cole's again for lunch. I had the "best" pastrami dip sandwich with goat cheese, and a side of slaw. I can't wait to go back there again. Try the Bloody Mary also known as the alcohol salad.