I have a friend who has one of those jobs where she always ends up putting in tons of OT. We kept trying to get together for happy hour and it was a real challenge if we really wanted to get a good deal because happy hour ends at most places by seven or eight at the latest. She wasn’t getting off 'til eight, nine or even ten. The solution to our dilemma ended up being Callender’s Grill.
Everybody’s heard of Marie Callender’s, right? You know, the place with the pies? Well, that franchise has a flagship restaurant right here in Los Angeles, over by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It’s called Callender’s Grill. This baby first opened in 1985 and it’s still going strong.
The place really has that “Cheers” type feeling to it. Everyone seems to be having a good ole time. The bartenders, led by Jess and Jimmy, are super friendly, as is the entire staff. Happy hour is Monday through Saturday, starting at 3pm and going straight through 'til closing; and all day on Sundays. And a humdinger of a happy hour it is.
The happy hour drink prices are $2 off all wines, beers and specialty cocktails. They’ve got imported and domestic beers on tap. The domestics come in at $3.50, with the imported being slightly more. You can’t beat that deal! They’ve got some nice brews too, including Ranger Ale and Stella Artois.
As for the wines, the menu includes decent labels like Coppola, Kendall Jackson, La Crema, Kings Estate and Rosemount. The price depends on the label; but, they are all $2 off for happy hour.
Wednesday is for wine lovers. On “Wine Wednesdays” for lunch and dinner, you can get any bottle of wine for half price. Cheers!
The happy hour food menu is superb. My favorite is “The Works” pizza with no sausage. These delicious pizzas are only $6 and there are several other kinds as well. They are really large enough for two people, which makes the savings even better! No fi fi portions here. They’ve also got sliders (beef and chicken), quesadillas, fish tacos and nachos for $6 apiece.
If you want to go up in price just a tad, you can get a delicious rare ahi tuna dish for $9 or jumbo coconut shrimp for $8.
Take note that, if you wish to avail yourself of happy hour prices, you need to sit either at the bar or at the cozy booths and tables surrounding the bar.
One last perk worth mentioning about Callender’s happy hour really completes the experience. The interior of the restaurant invokes plush 1940’s Los Angeles on the Miracle Mile – named such because it was a mile stretch of the finest department stores in the city at that time. Although Callender’s wasn’t built then, it feels like it was.
The lovely piano stylings of crooner Philip Williams complete the ambiance. Philip plays live Wednesday through Sunday, starting at 7:30. It is a real treat. The work week ends on Friday and the fellas show up with brass instruments to join Philip for a night of hot jazz. I’ve heard some serious tunage in that place on a Friday.
This place is just the perfect happy hour in my view, with good affordable food and drinks, comfortable seating, a relaxed and festive atmosphere and the nicest waiters and bartenders around.
And, of course, at the end of it all, you can always have a slice of that famous pie.
NEED TO KNOW:
Callender’s Grill
5773 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles 90036
Phone: 323-937-7952
Hours:
Mon-Thu 11am - 10pm
Fri-Sat 11am - 11pm
Sun 10am - 10pm
Parking validated for $3 in the Museum Square lot. There is also metered parking and some free street parking on nearby side streets.
(Jennifer Caldwell is a an actress and an active member of SAG-AFTRA, serving on several committees. She is a published author of short stories and news articles and is a featured contributor to CityWatch. Her column at www.RecessionCafe.wordpress.com is dishing up good deals, recipes and food for thought. Jennifer can be reached at [email protected]. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifercald - Twitter: @CheckingTheGate)
(Photo above: Jess and Jimmy will set you up right at Callenders happy hour!)
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 66
Pub: Aug 17, 2012
