Square One

I'd passed this place so many times on my way back and forth to Hollywood. But after finally reading a tempting little description in the LA weekly I had to try it. We were up early on a Saturday morning and made our way west on Fountain Ave. Located just across from the Scientology Center (yikes) Square One is a little slice of heaven. Everything here is so very good. And most everything here is sourced locally. The infamous Nueske bacon was thick and tasty with a deep smoky flavor and my over easy eggs were tasty. Mrs. Marvin had the skillet prepared eggs with Chorizo and cheese that arrived steaming hot and still in the pan. Spicy and wonderful, matching nicely with Gruyere cheese. And my favorite part, they have great coffee from Intelligentsia. At 3 bucks for a bottomless cup it's a bargain for sure. And the freshly squeezed orange juice was perfect. Also there are a variety of fresh fruits and jams. We tried the vanilla pear which was unusual and tasty.
Friendly and attentive staff make this our new fave spot for a quiet morning meal. A must for breakfast in my opinion. They serve lunch too but who can wait?

Sanamluang

This is a Thai late night all time favorite. Sanamluang is found at Kingsley on Hollywood Blvd. I'm usually passing by this place on my way home late at night. And since they're open 'til 4am that suits me just fine. Frequented by Thai locals and those in the know. Noodles are an easy call here. Try the General's Noodle soup big enough to share or any of the other more mysterious varieties. Their great Pad Thai hits the spot every time. Shrimp cake is a good starter with sweet&hot sauce for dipping. And Pad Prik King, spicy green beans and shrimp with rice. Or feeling really hungry and had a few? Try the pork belly with Chinese broccoli served over steamed rice. Yes. Chewy and crunchy stir fried bits of deliciousness paired nicely with slight bitterness of Chinese broccoli. Perfect at 2 am or 2pm. Along with an iced coffee or tea this is a reasonable meal anytime of day or night.

Empress Pavillion

Now, I'll admit it. This is one of the first places I'd ever had Dim Sum. So it certainly holds a place in my heart.
Anyway, Empress Pavillion is a loud and thriving heartbeat of a restaurant. Get off the 110 at Hill and you're there. Find a spot in the lot, get a number and prepare to wait a bit. If you happen to get here after 11:30 or so you may be turned away. Very popular with folks after church on the weekends. I often see tables with three generations represented. With lazy susans for getting those dishes to everyone around the biggest of tables. And then there's the dozen or more carts pushed by women who will tell you what they have. Sometimes in Chinese sometimes in English or maybe both. It can get a little crazy. But that's half the fun. Getting a bunch of little dishes to share and trying new things. We always get the Chinese broccoli served with a savory oyster sauce. Probably good for you but I don't care. Har Gow, Shu Mai, steamed pork buns and a good variety of vegetable and seafood dumplings. I usually skip the fried stuff here but there's that too. Don't forget to try the spare rib rice with a bit of Chinese sausage. Or just the pork spare rib by itself. Steamed with a bit of black bean and chile. Almost every time we go, I try something I've never had before. Just recently it was shrimp dumplings with shark fin. The time before that whole prawns, head and all. Yum. Can't find a favorite item? Ask one of the jacketed waiters or go find it on foot if you dare. Just be sure to bring your card to be stamped in the appropriate area. One of my all time favorites.

Los Feliz Cafe (Eatz Cafe) at The Los Feliz Golf Course

Even if you don't play golf you can enjoy Eatz Cafe. Located at the Los Feliz Golf Course on Los Feliz Blvd. Eatz is frequented by golfers and non golfers alike. Enjoy a meal outside accompanied by the gentle plunking of the putting area. And watch as golfers young and old finish up at the ninth green. I find it rather relaxing here. No pressure, no scene, no frills. I often go here before or after a round of golf. Or for a late breakfast or lunch any day of the week. Good cheap burgers, ham and cheese and omelettes etc. And the breakfast sandwich is a no brainer. But be sure to ask for no mayonnaise unless that's how you like it. Go figure. Dog and kid friendly too. This place recently changed ownership but the menu remains virtually unchanged. The only exception is they now have a better selection of beers. Cheers and Fore!

Fred 62

We've been going to this place for a few years now. Fred 62 is open 24/7 365 days a year. And there have been a few times I have thankfully gone here when I knew my alternatives were few and far between. If you've never been there it's a diner. But not just any old greasy spoon. Their large menu features all the classic diner faves and much more. Good burgers, shakes, pancakes, omelettes and everything in between. I usually enjoy the New Amsterdam breakfast sandwich with eggs, bacon and hash browns all on a buttery bun. Along with a few cups of their decent coffee. It's a cheap and delicious cure for what ails you. Or if hair of the dog is what's needed, they've got decent selection of beer and wine and champagne for you Mimosa drinkers. And they offer more than a few Asian dishes that are surprisingly good. Udon or Soba? Yep. Thai noodles too. Thai Cobb is a nice riff on the Cobb salad with a Thai twist. Great and gooey "Mac Daddy & Cheese" with bits of jalapeno served piping hot. There's pretty much something for everyone here. Grab a seat at the counter if you're alone or in a hurry with your dining companion. Or be prepared for a short but worthwhile wait on the weekend.

Intelligentsia

OK, after reading this was one of the few places doing the Clover extraction per cup. We had to try it as I am a full on twitchy coffee fanatic. We were going to be driving through Silverlake anyway that morning. There was a looong line out the door but we decided to go for it anyway. Thankfully, the line moved rather quickly and we got our order and grabbed a seat outside. This place was good but Mrs. Marvin was not quite sold on her 6 dollar cup of Autumn blend. She felt the blend was just too complicated and overly complex for her palate and not really what she'd hoped for(Not to mention a bit overpriced.) I tried it and liked it but perhaps that's just how it is with blends. No regular mocha as they were out of chocolate. How does that even happen? I dunno. Anyway, I had a nice iced Americano that was good to last icy drop. No pastries this time but maybe the next. Good but a bit far for my daily dose of Java. I'll keep going to Kaldi in my neighborhood but I'll be tempted to stop here any time of day I'm passing through Silverlake.

The Bowery

The Bowery is a smallish Bar & Bistro pretty much right across from the Palladium in Hollywood. In my opinion they have the best burger around. Which is a bold statement I clearly realize. (Don't write me about Father's Office either. The burgers are very, very good. But no ketchup? C'mon.) This tasty sirloin burger comes served on an English muffin with a choice of Gruyere, Roquefort, Cheddar, St Andre', grilled onions and sauteed mushrooms. And arrives juicy and cooked to order. We sometimes get two different combinations and then cut them in half and share. Bacon & cheddar and Gruyere with mushroom are our favorite combinations. Or if I'm not feeling like a burger, I'll get the Steamed Mussels (Moules Frites) with leeks, garlic, white wine and Saffron. Served with their thin and crispy hand-cut fries. They also make a nice dry martini. Other standouts for me are the Steak Frites with choice of Roquefort or Red wine sauce and the Classic Caesar salad. Old School and delicious. Sure, it's loud sometimes. But this is a starting point for the evening out. Nice to go there before a concert or whatever you've got planned. Consider going before 8 to avoid a crowd and enjoy a slightly more quiet atmosphere.