My wife and I have been going to the pantry for over 20 years and the portions at breakfast were hefty. Not any more. The thick bacon got thin, potatoe servings are 1/2 of what they used to be and... More

My wife and I have been going to the pantry for over 20 years and the portions at breakfast were hefty. Not any more. The thick bacon got thin, potatoe servings are 1/2 of what they used to be and they use small (no longer jumbo) eggs. The bargain is gone and people will catch on. Pros: good coffee Cons: small portions
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After having heard so much about this place I went there today. Waited in line for 45 minutes. While waiting thought to myself "hey it must be good if there is a line." Boy was I wrong. First... More

After having heard so much about this place I went there today. Waited in line for 45 minutes. While waiting thought to myself "hey it must be good if there is a line." Boy was I wrong. First it was very difficult to read the menus on the wall because of the table position. Yup, they got no menus other than the faded chalk writings on the wall. I tried the so called country fried steak. My friend got the eggs, french toast, and sausage. I find it hard to come up with a word to properly describe the nauseating material served to us. Nothing was edible. Not even the peas which were stale and overcooked. Other than the horrible horrible food it took us 30 minutes to finally convince someone to give us the check so that we could leave the dive. DON'T GO, DON'T GO, DON'T GO. . Pros: None Cons: Food, Service, Cleanliness
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The food isnt spectacular but its simple and good. People line up to get into this place and It is also very popular because it never closes. Just a quick tip - cash only!

The food isnt spectacular but its simple and good. People line up to get into this place and It is also very popular because it never closes. Just a quick tip - cash only!
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this is not a restaurant where everything on the menu is good, however if you are looking for an authentic melt-in-your-mouth steak, this is the place. and the atmosphere is certainly of a style... More

this is not a restaurant where everything on the menu is good, however if you are looking for an authentic melt-in-your-mouth steak, this is the place. and the atmosphere is certainly of a style that may not appeal to all, but i find it charming and nostalgic with the gruff and elderly waiters, the formica tables and the lack of pretense. stick to steak and potatoes and you won't be disappointed. Pros: delicious steak, an iconic establishment Cons: don't order anything else off the menu
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We wouldn't recommend this place to anybody. After years of hearing what a good place this is to eat, we finally got a chance to try it. What a disappointment! We both ordered breakfasts, and both... More

We wouldn't recommend this place to anybody. After years of hearing what a good place this is to eat, we finally got a chance to try it. What a disappointment! We both ordered breakfasts, and both were lacking a key ingredient in any good food. Flavor! Save yourself the trip and if you must eat at a "diner" go down the street to Denny's! Save yourself from the overpriced, blah-no flavor food! Pros: Late night availability. Cons: Nasty, flavorless food!
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I waited 45 minutes to get in to a busy restaraunt. The inside was gross, and the worst part the food was disgusting!! I can eat from weird catering trucks, I ate grasshopers when i took a trip to... More

I waited 45 minutes to get in to a busy restaraunt. The inside was gross, and the worst part the food was disgusting!! I can eat from weird catering trucks, I ate grasshopers when i took a trip to the pyramids, but this food was beyond nasty. It just was not good. the waiter was in a hurry, the food was not done well. I know its busy but man. it was nasty. i had a stomach ache for a while. dont go there do not go there. it is a shame some people say it's a gem in downtown and that it is la history, it's just nasty. I'm from L.A and I'd rather go to a taco stand for an authentic L.A experience! Pros: Its in Downtown Cons: Food, service, taste, ambience, just everything
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Owned by ex-Mayor Richard Riordan, it is open 24 hours a day and has not closed since 1924. The doors don't even have locks! Breakfast, lunch or dinner will more than fill your tank for a very... More

Owned by ex-Mayor Richard Riordan, it is open 24 hours a day and has not closed since 1924. The doors don't even have locks! Breakfast, lunch or dinner will more than fill your tank for a very reasonable charge. For dinner, the steaks are juicy and come with steamed veggies and potatoes. The eclectic crowd leans more toward the working stiff, but everyone is welcome here.
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FOOD- you get a lot of food, so if you are hungry and don't care about good taste/quality - go here. Loads of grease on most foods, the coffee is tasteless. IF you eat here, stick to the salads... More

FOOD- you get a lot of food, so if you are hungry and don't care about good taste/quality - go here. Loads of grease on most foods, the coffee is tasteless. IF you eat here, stick to the salads and soup - they are o.k. SERVICE-they are only o.k. - PARKING- got to pay across the street - only $1.00 which is a good deal around here. Don't use their restroom - filthy. You might want to try Filipe's over on Alameda - better quality food, free parking, you pick up the food up front and take it to your table, food taste is a little better. Pros: Fun Place, Lots of Food, $1 parking Cons: Food is greasy & not very good, prices are low. Filthy & Smelly Restrooms
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Ok if you're planning on going to this historical cafe in downtown L.A. you have to go knowing it's like stepping into the past. The service is great and most servers/waiters have been there more... More

Ok if you're planning on going to this historical cafe in downtown L.A. you have to go knowing it's like stepping into the past. The service is great and most servers/waiters have been there more than 20 years. The food is very American, in that it's huge portions and very much a variety of comfort food. I highly recommend this place to take out-of-town guests since it's such a unique experience. It may not be the cleanest place or prettiest but give it credit for being open since the 1920's and never being closing. The chicken fried steak is a MUST have for any time of day. Have fun!
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The portions here seemed hearty all around, but I wasn't impressed by the variety of dishes. The chalkboard menus weren't offering much meatless, and though the bacon and egg breakfast sounded like... More

The portions here seemed hearty all around, but I wasn't impressed by the variety of dishes. The chalkboard menus weren't offering much meatless, and though the bacon and egg breakfast sounded like it had a lot of what I wanted it was close to $9 when I went in around 9pm; figuring out what about it was going to be $9-good and if it would still be worth it with no meat just didn't happen. Considering that the french toast was my second choice, I came out pretty satisfied; though next time I'm feeling diner food I'll probably try to get to Fred's 62 before the Pantry again. Pros: rich, filling food Cons: not many veggies on those board-menus
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