What makes this 24-hour hangout a landmark in its own right,
yet ultimately disappointing as a "diner" can be summed up in
its soundtrack. Hendrix and Nirvana usually don't fit at a restaurant,
and definitely not at a diner, but they fit at Fred62. As a
semi-retro restaurant for those who want the option of Blackstone
Chardonnay with their tofu omelet, Fred62 is just the ticket.
But to anyone who's banked time in heartland diners, beware:
expect to eat your food with a vague longing for home.
What's
really great about Fred62 is the idea of Fred62; the restaurant
is a diner retrofitted for LA. The classic Crest colored walls,
scattered with black and white photos of old celebrities,
are home to dishes like Punk Tarts (more on these later) and
Mac Daddy and Cheese. I can't think of a better place to eat
and people watch after seeing a show.
I'm
not really one for star gazing, and I don't really care about
chicken pot pie, but nothing beats fresh piping hot coffee
when matched with clientele that could have come out of The
Big Labowski or Mulholland Drive. (Incidentally,
it's also close to Griffith Observatory, so if you want to
see some actual stars, you can do that, too.) The few times
I've gone to Fred62, I've seen people whose styles range from
all black, to flower and shell accessories, to System of a
Down wear, to sideburns and the tan leather coat. I've even
seen a lone dude at the counter with an undoubtedly interesting
past. Mostly, though, the place crawls with couples, couples
of couples, and big groups of ironically dressed young adults.
As
for the menu, I first and foremost recommend the coffee. A
dollar seventy-five a cup plus endless refills is reason enough
for any college student to stop by. Freshly brewed, it's not
that much better than Folger's—but they keep it hot and
it's the cheapest way to buy yourself a possible star sighting.
I
also tried the hot chocolate on a rainy day. Much like Mitch
Hedburg's great line about pancakes, it's fun and all exciting
at first, but by the end you're sick of it. Once you spoon
off the ice cap of whipped cream and what's underneath cools
down, the chocolate is so polluted it leaves a filmy taste
in your mouth. A better bet is anything topped with ice cream.
I wasn't
aware that you could be snubbed in a diner.
A couple
scoops of cinnamon vanilla is great with any number of late
nite eats. For enormous plates of sweet, go for the Ice Cream
Sundae Waffle or the Punk Tart, both stupendously amazing creations
with enough whipped cream and ice cream to topple a whole army
of even the most devout Atkins dieters. On one, crisp waffle
melts into cinnamon ice cream and whipped cream, good even after
the ice cream starts to melt. On the other, a blown up homemade
version of the toaster strudel, one can cut into fresh flaky
pastry and a mountain of pumpkin or raspberry filling, topped
by a thick layer of icing, too. (Sorry—no sprinkles.) Either
will feed a table of hungry college students.
As for
food food, it's generally satisfying and filling, with kicky
names attached to dishes that are slightly off the beaten
path. The Cali California omelet and the La La Salad are obviously
plates you couldn't order with a straight face anywhere else
but LA. For slightly less obtrusive and more IHOPish food,
the Chicken Pot Pie and the Strawberry Shortcake Pancake are
good choices to hit, too. Finally, for the meat eaters who
are interested, you can't really go wrong with a burger—and
of course, this wouldn't be LA unless you could get avocado
on the side.
Speaking
of being on the side, before going to Fred62, I wasn't aware
that you could be snubbed in a diner. When I showed up with
a big crowd of 'SC students who were clearly from 'SC, we
got served as quickly as one would expect. But when I showed
up unlabeled and alone (doing research for this article! I
swear!) the waiters with coffee pots conveniently didn't meet
my gaze.
Which
brings me to my next point: I like a friendlier diner. For
LA late nite eats, Fred62, with its take-it-or leave it attitude,
makes for a great destination. But as a native Houstonian,
I can't help but compare the place to House
of Pies*, the 35 year old Texas diner where policemen
order "the usual" and wait staff call you "Hon".
No famous people there, but it's got the best pecan pie a
la mode that 2am money can buy.
I guess
I kind of like my diners on the hokier side. But if you want
cool and you want it late, go to Fred62.
* Not
to be confused with the House of Pies that's just down the
street from Fred62, paling in comparison to what I consider
the real thing. Unlike Houston's authentic sixties decor,
this family restaurant looks like a recently built Holiday
Inn. In addition, its pecan pie has a twice warm, factory
made crust topped by a syndicated tasting scoop of vanilla.
