Eastside Goes Westside: Nostalgia Rules at Rae’s

Sometimes nostalgia makes food taste better—and Mid-Century Modern décor doesn’t hurt either. My friend Yolanda had been gunning for lunch at Rae’s Restaurant on Pico Blvd. for months now, and on a rainy Friday, I finally obliged. It’s a good thing I had my camera because Rae’s is the real deal. Plus, it was featured in the coolest movie ever, True Romance.

Like the décor, the menu at Rae’s is very 1950s greasy spoon. Breakfast is served all day with options like Bacon Tid Bit Waffles (bacon is crumbled into the batter) and the Hobo Breakfast, perhaps designed to soothe some scruffy tramp’s hangover with a meal of tomato juice, hotcakes, eggs, ham, bacon and sausage. You can also get old-timey sides like prunes, Bartlett pears, and applesauce with cinnamon and sugar.

Lunch choices include basic diner fare: salads, sandwiches, and burgers as well as “dinner” specials that are served from 11am on. Think liver and onions and chicken fried steak. After some deliberation—I was tempted to order a sundae—I opted for the BLT with avocado, a triple decker sandwich with crispy bacon aplenty. For my side, I went for Rae’s thick-cut steak fries, my favorite french fry species. Next time, I’ll ask for them extra crispy since these were admittedly a little limp.

My diner companion ordered the sizable Chef’s Salad. When it arrived we laughed a little about the American cheese but ultimately decided the house-made ranch dressing—most things at Rae’s are made from scratch—compensated for the transgression. The creamy dressing, served in a small bowl, also helped bring out the full potential of those fries.

-Valentina

P.S. The service is great and so are the prices (nothing over $10). And yes, you can get pie a la mode for dessert.

Rae’s Restaurant (MAP IT!)
2901 Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Open Daily