Thread: What restaurant in your area, now closed forever, do you miss the most?

I miss the original Cafe Figaro on Melrose (West Hollywood) across from the design center.
It must have closed around 8-10 years ago.

I miss its atmosphere and smell, but mostly I miss the Bean Soup with Lamb Shank,
the Stragiatella, pastas, cheese plate, great salads, the incredible bread, and many other dishes.

Prices were reasonable, the personable and sometimes outright goofy servers
were typically beautiful actor/actress/model types, but sans snobbery.

I saw a few stars there, chowing down over the years (80s to mid-90s), including Joni Mitchell
and her then husband-bassist-producer Larry Klein,
Tim Schmidt, and a few others I can't recall.

I only used to go there maybe 3-5 times a year, but it
was always a treat when I went.

Had some great dates there too.

I was shocked to see the place closed down forever
by the early 2000's.

There's someplace else now (another location) with the name
"Cafe Figaro", or maybe "Figaro's Cafe", but I don't believe it
has any association with the old place.

But Cafe Figaro lives on in my slightly-faded memories.

La Toque at Sunset and Crescent Heights. Ken Frank relocated the restaurant in Napa Valley.

I used to love Cafe Figaro too. Went there all the time in the 70s.

Farrells

Hama Sushi in Venice. I grew up going to that place and they had the best sushi, atmosphere, service...everything. It closed maybe 7 years ago and the owner, Toshi, opened a Hama in Hermosa but he ended up selling the space a few years ago.

I still miss that place a lot.

Plaza Guadalajara in Downey, best burrittos ever!!!!

Naugles. Pita Feast. The old pita stand on the UCLA campus (Oaxaca Pita FTW). Bambino's pizza in Woodland Hills. Some Chinese dump (can't remember the name) near Pierce College. The aforementioned Farrell's. Cowboy Sushi in Westwood. Bob's Big Boy (I know I can go to Burbank but that's not the point.) I'm sure I'll think of more as I get hungrier.

In the late 80s to early 90s, there was an outpost of Gino's East of Chicago Pizza on Wilshire & Bundy. Since it (and another in Manhattan Beach that was not quite as good) closed, I've been to all of the places in southern California claiming to serve Chicago deep dish, but none of them ever come close to measuring up to my tastes. Best of the choices, short of going to Chicago, is in the Bay Area.

Sigh...I want a slice of spinach, mushroom and pepperoni now...

LA:
Robatayaki. (Japanese, food grilled on skewers.)
Apple. (Japanese, specialized in Tonkatsu, Little Tokyo)

Hawaii:
The Third Floor. (French Fine Dining)
Kyo-Ya (Japanese Fine Dining)

San Diego:
-La Vache French Casual Bistro (French Bistro)
-Bite (small plate, CA Cuisine type food)

Sambo's