101 Coffee Shop

11/08/2008 Posted by phunkychica13

Before we moved to L.A. and lived in San Diego, we would have to stop at the 101 anytime we were passing through, or visiting friends here. Once someone introduced us, it became one of our favorite restaurants in L.A. (as far as casual, comfort food goes). Our favorites include the black bean taquitos, the homemade mac-n-cheese is huge success among our children and fellow adults alike, the fried chicken specials, the huevos rancheros...oh forget it - we like it all! I've never had anything bad here. The milkshakes are deeeelish. Sometimes it's packed so you'll have a little wait. But that happens anywhere. Often it's not more than a few minutes. And the service is always impeccable. Super-friendly staff that are hustling for many more tables than just ours. Both being veterans of the service industry, my husband and I are really easy, patient and understanding customers. I've seen some complaints about the service in other comments, and I can't help but wonder if they're just high-maintenance customers who don't tend to frequent establishments that aren't solely concerned about customer service. As I said before, I've never had anything but wonderful service with a smile. It's just one of those places where the emphasis is on the giant-sized portions of amazingly yummy homecooked food...not kissing every customer's behind while ushering the food from kitchen to table. Keep in mind it's a diner - so you will find grease. Mmmmm....wonderful grease. If you're looking for non-greasy greasy-spoon food, I don't know what you're doing at a diner!

Pros: Interesting ambience and crowd; Ridiculously delicious grub

Cons: Sometimes it's super-packed and you have a cue, and expect to not be waited on hand and foot

09/29/2008 Posted by hempist

I eat here every couple of months and it's good. They have a delicious chai latte ($3.50) that I order every time. 101 Cafe has standard coffee shop food like sandwiches and breakfast served all day. They also have a few pasta dishes and salads. Everything I've eaten here (or nibbled off my friend's plates) has been good. It's not a gourmet restaurant! I think some of these reviews are harsh, who expects non greasy french fries and real maple syrup at a coffee shop? Give me a break! I do agree the service is slow and they never give drink refiills but so what? This is a place where people go after the bar for munchies and coffee. Just relax, people watch, enjoy the CD jukebox, and chill.

Pros: trendy and fun

Cons: parking is really tough

08/05/2008 Posted by pilfsnarcher

Not sure where these "horrendous service" reviews are coming from. I go to the 101 about 2-3 times a month and the servers are always total sweethearts (although it does get really busy at times). For a diner, the food is good, healthy (if you want) and the price is right. It's a great neighborhood spot and a great place for eastsiders to meet Valley-ites since it's right off the 101.

03/05/2008 Posted by melever

there is a hint of charm about the cafe, but it is butchered by the atrocious service, whereby the waitresses feel they have to go out of their way to be rude and negligent. For pancakes, there is a small vat that serves as a High Fructose Corn Syrup warmer. If you want real maple syrup, not corn syrup, the waitress will make you pay extra. Overall a fun joint, but for a dining experience

02/24/2008 Posted by Sebwho

We ate at this place this past weekend. The service was horrendous! This waiter (bearded young guy) gave us attitude the whole time. He miscalculated our bill and even gave us a hard time for ordering mashed potatoes instead of fries. The food was decent but this waiter was way out of line. We will avoid this place at all costs due to this horrendous service.

Pros: none

Cons: service

02/06/2008 Posted by caligari

Excellent pancakes served all day, very good meatloaf, good mac & cheese and vanilla cokes. Reasonable prices, great atmosphere/decor.

Pros: It's a standby

Cons: It's a little hip

09/22/2007 Posted by hollydiner

Wanting to satisfy my good friend in from London with a delicious Hollywood-style brunch I mistakenly thought Cafe 101 could fit the bill. His eyes were moisting over as he hungrily perused the menu while we queued on Saturday lunch time. After a 15 minute wait we were shown to a table so dark and far removed from the hubbub of the dining room we feared our waitress would need a flashlight to find us. A booth was soon secured back by the counter. The waitress was perky, efficient but over-worked. Busboys picked up the slack. Our table ordered breakfast burrito, huevos rancheros, burger, eggs and hotcakes (Mikey Fitz) with sides of onion rings and sweet potato fries. The expensive drinks were delivered promptly - but the Starbucks prices were cheeky. After 5 minutes the sides arrived and they were spectacular in both quantity and tastiness. The onion rings were a festival of freshly deep fried onion in crispy batter - however the watered down Ranch dressing disappointed, failing to adhere to the fries or rings. That's 75c each tiny bowl thank you very much. My husband's t-shirt looked like a painter's radio. A further ten minutes and our entrees appeared. The burrito bore an uncanny resemblance to a full hot water bottle slathered in irradiated goo. My friend greedily split open the bulging whoopee cushion only to be met my two sad ingredients: a dessert spoon of black beans and between 6-10 over-cooked eggs. A sorry attempt at a breakfast burrito -unrelated to something I routinely consume with delight at 6am from a catering truck at work on set. Onto the eggs and pancakes ordered by my 13 year old son - wolfed down with relish, but hardly a customer difficult to please, I only wish we'd been in Denny's and spent 1.99 instead of $6.95. The burger seemed average apart from the price - $7.75 - and my husband didn't complain. The Huevos Rancheros were school dinner quality - not 'Hollywood's finest' as they term themselves on the bill. STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE.

Pros: Onion Rings

Cons: Everything else

09/08/2007 Posted by chavahamlet

We have just had the worst breakfast of our lives at the 101 Coffee Shop. We got home just in time to be sick. We had a bad experience there about a month ago, but gave it another chance today. Mistake. This place used to be good, but now it's awful. Dirty tables, floor. Slow service. Cold, badly cooked food. Nothing works here anymore. Pity. Would give this place no stars if that was an option. It's that bad.

Pros: It's local

Cons: The food is rubbish.

07/12/2007 Posted by nrabinov

If you are just done with dancing in Hollywood and Mel's Diner seems like a likely choice, try heading over to 101 for some great late night grub.

04/06/2007 Posted by nnjohn

I happened to be staying at the hotel and thought I would give the place a try. There were four of us. First, we had to grab our own menus. After about 10 minutes the waitress came and took our order. It took 20 minutes to get our drinks (drink slow, you will never see a refill). The food took 40 minutes to get. Club sandwich, 2 salads, 1 burger. One salad was incorrect but we never saw the waitress again so that we could send it back. I shared my Club (it was pretty big). My sandwich was good, but the fries were cold. I could see the orders under the lights from where we sat. My sandwich was under the lights for 10 minutes before it was delivered. The food overall was good, but the service absolutely horrific. We had to go find the waitress to get our bill. I wanted to tip, but couldn't bring myself to do it. If your time is valuable and you want service, this place is not for you.