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The Larchmont Grill
5750 Melrose Ave.
Hollywood, CA

Lunchtime in Hollywood. Oh so many choices. One of the newest on zee list is The Larchmont Grill, tucked in an old charming house just east of Vine on Melrose. I was thrilled to see this place zing to life, and just as equally excited to try the upscale American goods.

Parking is a breeze; there’s a teeny tiny lot and loads of street spaces, since this isn’t a heavily commercial area. Inside, the place looks oh-so California chic. There’s ample indoor and outdoor patio seating, with a cool green, polished motif. Elegant and comfy. I opted for a table right on the edge of the patio - a little bit of both worlds.

The lunch menu is really basic - sandwich and salads with a few pasta and entree options. Nothing exciting here, but if it’s good it’s good, righto? My companion and I enjoyed the prompt and non-evasive service, but not the acoustics; even with only a couple of other tables here, the place seemed excessively loud. Maybe the patrons were to blame? We found it tough to carry on our business yammering, which was certainly a negative.

Larchmont also commits a grave crime in my book - puny little soda glasses, and extra charges on refills. Gah! I loathe such stinginess. If you’re going to stiff me for additional drinks, at least make the first one worth my while.

The food arrived fast and furiously, and we dug in. Here’s the report:

Drinks:

Just sodas. Really small, expensive ones.

Entrees:

Spicy Jumbo Shrimp Salad
– With mango, avocado, and a lime vinaigrette
Since the shrimp were neither jumbo nor spicy, this was a major let down. The dressing lacked punch as well, and the only really lovely part of this dish was the well-ripened avocado. A boring, small, insubstantial salad.

Chopped Salad Sandwich
- Turkey, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato & Avocado on Ciabatta, served with french fries
Not a bad offering, truly - although a wee heavy on the mayo. While this sandwich won’t change lives, it will curb a hefty appetite. The fries weren’t much to cheer about, however - overcooked and unseasoned.

Damage for 3 sodas and 2 entrees was about $28, before tip (way too much cash for the quality and portions).

RESTAURANT REPORT CARD - Larchmont Grill, Visit 1

Ambiance - B
Service - B-
Food (Taste) - C-
Food (Presentation) - C-
Wine/Drinks - N/A (just had non-alchies)
Value - C-
Vibe/Energy/Scene - C+

Overall Experience - C

Final word - it’s a no. Just not enough bang for the buck, and although the decor is scrumptious, the food is not.

By PoetKitty (see more of her posts). You can find more of PoetKitty's writing at her own website OMG Food!