If you absolutely must go to the trendy Sunset Strip, then I suggest going to the Trocadero Lounge.
The Scene
The Trocadero, or the "Troc" as some locals like to call it, is a pretty cool spot for a Friday or Saturday night. This dimly lit lounge is cozy and the crowd is pretty tolerable (for the Hollywood type). The drinks are expensive however; not as expensive as other spots on the strip, but still not cheap. I ordered 2 vodka tonics with a beer and the bill was about 20 bucks.
They have outdoor seating in case you're a smoker or enjoy people watching. The food is awesome too. I recommend a burger and fries. On a scale of 1 to 10, ll give the Troc an 8. Good food, the people are ok, but the atmosphere is what keeps me coming back. My favorite is sitting outside and watching all the drunks walk by.
Parking
The parking is terrible. The bar is smack dab in the middle of the strip. Parking is meter only and you'll get towed after midnight on the weekends. Your best bet would probably be valet (which is reasonably priced) or taking a taxi.
One more thing, you gotta ask for Kim. She is the only cool waitress in the place. She's always smiling and will treat you well!
Raffallo's Pizza is by far the best I've tasted on the West Coast. Philadelphia's pizza beats them all but this ain't Philly baby.
Raffallo's has amazing sandwiches too. To be completely honest, I never went there for the food. I mean don't get me wrong, the food rocks. There is this waitress who works there that I had a HUGE crush on. She had beautiful long brown hair, nice tan skin and I was taller then her. This is very important because I'm only 5'9. Can you see a trend here? Hey, I'm in my late 20's, what else am I going to think about?
I went to Raffallo's with my 2-year old niece. She's a cutie. Yes, I'm one of those guys who will use my brother's kid to pick up women. Whatever works right? Anyway, I went back, asked her out and she said "No". It's a little depressing but I ordered a large pie that lifted my spirits. After that day I was too embarrassed to go back. I only order delivery now. Speaking of which, their delivery service is top notch and VERY quick, usually under a half an hour.
I actually sent her a card. YES! I'm a huge geek. Maybe she'll read this, call the site and ask for my phone number? Probably not...but it sure won't keep me from ordering that fantastic pizza.
If you go, I recommend getting the Raffallo's Super Sub. It's awesome and very filling. I can't even finish the Super Sub myself and I eat like a horse. Raffallo's is also a great for Football Sunday. GO EAGLES!
The parking situation can be a little tough. There are only about 5 total spots so delivery is the way to go.
The Studio Suite isn't much of a first date spot but it is by far THE BEST LITTLE DIVE BAR IN LOS ANGELES. Yes! I love it baby, as Dick Vitale would say. The drinks are cheap as hell and the music rocks. Actually, since I mentioned music, there is a band that goes by the name of "The Kenzos" who are unbelievable.
These guys are one of the most revolutionary bands I've heard in a long time. The sound is similar to Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots and Jane's Addiction all wrapped in one tasty burrito. The lead singer, Joe, is crazy on stage, the bass player will crack jokes between songs and the drummer is awesome. Together these guys are an unbelievable talent. I rarely go to a bar to see a band but for these guys I'll make an exception. The Kenzos are the Studio Suites most popular band.
The parking situation is perfect. It's free! You'll always see the bands hanging out front smoking, drinking and having a great time. The types of people you'll find at Studio Suite aren't your typical "Hollywood Crowd," everyone is down to earth and very welcoming. There are pool tables in the back and the place is packed for football Sunday. The food isn't that great…but what bar food is?
Check out the Studio Suite on a Saturday night. This is the best night to go. You'll even see me there cheering on the Kenzos.
"Man o man" this place rocks! I love the Cheebo on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. This is the perfect spot for a first date...or any other type of date for that matter. I recently took a girl here for our first meeting. I actually met her on-line. Big mistake! We'll get to that later though.
The atmosphere of Cheebo reminded me of the show "Cheers". A quiet neighborhood bar where everyone meets for happy hour to plan out the rest of the night. Every time someone walked in, the bartender, Pat from Texas, addressed that person by name. It reminded me of my hometown, Philadelphia. As for attire, you can role out of bed in your PJ's or dress like Don Johnson from Miami Vice, both equally accepted.
The place is reasonably priced and you can feel very confident that you won't kill your wallet. Trust me, I’m a busboy, I can barely afford dollar store tuna. The bartender was awesome and hooked me up with 3 free beers and he gave my date a free glass of wine. She eventually dumped me for a muscle bound, 6'4, 230 pound gargantuan body builder with a fake tan.
As for online dating, screw that! It's a waste of time, well mine anyway, but I ended up having the last laugh. I'll tell you about that later. Cheebo on the other hand is awesome - I highly recommend going there. I give this place a perfect 10. As for my date, well we'll just give her a negative 10.
