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Showing posts with label Mid-City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mid-City. Show all posts

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Hollywood Pies



Hollywood Pies
6116 1/2 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles
323-337-3212

November 9, 1989 is recognized as the day the Berlin Wall came down!  Today is the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall!  This couldn't have happened without President Reagan, in June of 1987, telling those commie bastards to "TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!!! "  About two years later, the Berlin Wall came down and those commie bastards lost the Cold War!! USA!!  USA!! USA!!


Los Angeles has the largest section of the Berlin Wall, outside of Germany, across from LACMA and hosted by the Wende Museum.



What does the Berlin Wall have to do with Hollywood Pies?  Nothing really, expect that the Berlin Wall display is about a mile away from Hollywood Pies.  But, on such a historic occasion, people should remember the fall of the wall!!

When Hollywood Pies first opened up in 2011, they were making their pizzas in a rented kitchen and selling them through the back door, near the Beverly Center.  I went back to Hollywood Pies a few more times times at their Beverly Center location.  Then they moved to another similar setup on Boylston.   A third move saw them in West LA or the Culver City area, and finally they opened a sit down restaurant on Pico, in the Mid City area.  Then sadly, sometime within the past year, their Pico location closed. 

Two weeks ago, a friend told me he had Hollywood Pies for dinner the night before, and loved the pizza.  I thought he was joking or something.  But, sure enough I checked and Hollywood Pies Pico location is open!!  So, I finally go to Hollywood Pies sit down restaurant!

Hollywood Pies is on a very busy street, Pico, and the restaurant is small and easy to miss when driving.  There are four tables (two tables for four and four tables for two ) and a couple more seats outside.  You order at the counter and they bring your pizza to your table.  Call ahead, since a deep dish takes about 35 minutes to bake.  They are currently open from 1-9 pm on Sundays.  Other days they open at 4pm.  They are closed on Mondays.




Small Italian Garden ($16)-Whole milk mozzarella, sweet red peppers, baby bella mushrooms and onions.  I added spinach, which they did not charge me for.  A very nice thing for them to do!  The crust was the same, light, flaky and buttery.  Two toppings, spinach and onions, were loaded up.  But, the mushrooms and red peppers were few and far in between.  I would have preferred more mushrooms, but all the toppings were fresh.

Now, the sauce has changed.  It's more mild, lacking the boldness of their other sauce.  It's almost as though there wasn't any sauce.  Overall still a damn good deep dish pizza, but not something I would go rushing back for.

Service is ok.  The kid who took my order was pretty friendly and helpful when taking my order.  But, when my pizza was done, he just handed me the pizza.  No, thank you or come again.  And it wasn't like it was busy, I was the only customer there.

While I'm glad to know that Hollywood Pies has reopened, and you can actually dine in, I was disappointed that the sauce is different.  I won't rush back but will go back again.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Sandwich Island-Closed


Sandwich Island
3333 S Hoover St
Los Angeles
213-748-7650

I plan to eat at 5 of the 6 Tasty Cold Cut Subs under $5 that were profiled in the LA Weekly Story. I will never go to that overpriced soda shop ever again. I already went to Vince's Market and Lanza Brothers Market. So, while near USC, I stopped in at Sandwich Island, which is located in the University Village Food Court.

Sandwich Island is a no frills sandwich place.  You walk up to the counter, pick your sandwich and they make your sandwich right there for you.  Prices are about $5 for the small sandwich, and the sandwiches are huge!  I was surprised that even though USC students are still on Christmas break, driving around their new Lexus and wearing their new $400 jeans, Sandwich Island was pretty busy. 


Turkey breast on wheat roll, mayo, lettuce and tomatoes; $4.80.  The amount of turkey is huge as you can see in the picture.  The turkey is decent quality turkey that you will find at any local supermarket deli counter.  The veggies are fresh and the roll is soft and has a nice chewy texture.   Overall the sandwich is good, not the best, but well worth the price.

Service is great.  The Chinese lady who owns Sandwich Island, is very nice and helpful.  LA Weekly wrote she is Korean, but I guess all Asians look alike?  Nice reporting LA Weekly.  The sandwiches were made quickly, even though there was a good sized line. 

If you're expecting the greatest sandwich you ever had, don't come to Sandwich Island.  But, if you want a good sandwich at a good price, Sandwich Island is your place to go.