Hipnerd is confused. It's not a "Marie Callender's" he works near: it's Callender's. Most Marie Callender's restaurants are glorified coffee shops: the one near the Los Angeles Museum of Art is high-end. The only thing it has in common with the pie shops it dominates is, well—its fabulous selection of pies.

Mmmm, pie: I can dish it out, and I can take it.

Since this incredible, luxurious restaurant is near Publisher's Row, I've eaten there about a million billion times. With, like, every single person on the planet.

I met UBL there for lunch one in 1999: he had way too many glasses of Pino Grigio. The man cannot hold his booze. Though, you know—he did put the fear of God into the Western World, so one has to give him credit for that.

Gin and tonics at Callender's: officially, they contain about an ounce of gin. In practice, it's more like an ounce and a quarter. Do let the bartender know if you weigh little more than a hundred pounds: it's critical information. Especially if you like to have three of 'em. Do the math.

There's a grand piano there, and—as at Nordstrom—sometimes someone plays it to lull you into a sense that you aren't spending too much money. Of course, you are.

Take a stand, though: either get the salad with pear slices and gorgonzola cheese, or have yourself the kind of chicken pot pie they eat in heaven. 'Cause with any luck, that's a few years away.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 09:47 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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