Chew on this: Hamburger Hamlet
By Caitlin Scofield
April 11, 2010 9:35 p.m.
On the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Doheny Drive in West Hollywood, the Hamburger Hamlet is nestled quaintly in between the Sunset Medical Tower and an apartment complex home to some of the world’s most renowned musical stars like Elton John and Cher. As I entered the restaurant I was immediately enticed by its upscale appeal paired with the down to earth attitude of the hostess as she greeted us when we arrived.
It was 9 p.m. when we arrived for dinner, and that was the beginning of their “Ladies Night” cocktail hour. The bar area of the restaurant attracted the majority of the people who arrived throughout the night, most likely because of the live piano music and affordable drink prices.
The Hamlet proved not only to be a place where young college students could grab dinner and a drink at a cheap price, but also where older guests could be entertained and pleased with the food and drink specials. Before I sat down at our burgundy-colored retro leather booth, I noticed the pianist pleasantly playing a familiar song in the corner of the restaurant.
The dimmed lights came from the golden brass antique metal light fixtures that hung from the ceiling throughout the restaurant. The tables and chairs were still in impressive condition and looked as if they had been there since the Hamburger Hamlet’s opening in 1950.
The newly introduced cocktail hour “Ladies Night” offered a glass of champagne, draft beer or house wine for $1. To compensate the men, the Hamburger Hamlet offers happy hour specials throughout the night. A friend of mine took the opportunity to try a glass of their red wine for $1 and enjoyed both its taste and price.
The menu offered an abundant amount of different dinner options to satisfy any craving at an affordable price. The Hamburger Hamlet offers a full list of appetizers. The one we shared was “Munchies Munchies Munchies,” a sampler platter of crispy calamari and shrimp, zucchini zircles, Asian pot stickers, and BBQ chicken quesadilla slices with a trio of sauces for $12.95.
The food was plentiful, it was served fast and fresh, and each of the samples was as tasty as we had envisioned and held us over until our main course arrived.
The Hamburger Hamlet is home to some of the most famous scenes in movies such as “The Godfather” and “Goodfellas.” The dining room’s old-school feel made for a perfect setting for shooting the scenes in both movies. Today, the Hamburger Hamlet is used regularly for shooting scenes for the popular HBO show “Entourage.”
For dinner, we ordered the California Market Salad for $13.95, which was presented in the shape of a square and served as a large portion even though it was ordered in half size. The salad included arugula, candied pecans, cashews, tomatoes, dried cranberries, chicken, avocado, red onion and goat cheese in a toasted cashew vinaigrette.
I found it appropriate to order a burger, because the restaurant is famous for its variety of burgers on the menu. The Marilyn Burger, $10.95, named after one of the founders of the restaurant, sounded different from anything I’d ever tried before, and when it arrived at the table, my prediction was confirmed.
The burger was huge and included avocado, jack cheese, tomato, lettuce and onion with a side of fries. The burger was juicy, but the bread could’ve been a little bit softer, making it easier to bite into and eat as a whole. The vegetables served alongside were fresh and satisfying, making it understandable as to why it was the owner’s favorite burger.
The Spicy Cajun Shrimp Pasta, $16.95, came served in a large bowl, plenty for two to share, with a generous amount of jumbo spicy shrimp mixed with garlic and herb pomodoro sauce on angel hair pasta and topped with fresh tomato and Parmesan cheese.
The shrimp was perfectly seasoned with just enough Cajun pepper to satisfy an appetite for one who wants something spicy, but not too spicy. The Fish and Chips for $15.95 came served on a large plate with four large crispy filets paired with a traditional side of coleslaw, tartar sauce and fries.
Overall, Hamburger Hamlet has an old-school Hollywood feel, and it is conveniently located close to UCLA where anyone can have a fulfilling meal at an affordable price.
““ Caitlin Scofield
E-mail Scofield at [email protected].
