Located at the foot of the Hollywood Hills on Franklin Avenue, Birds is perched in the middle of a unique block between Tamarind and Bronson Streets, where Hollywood wannabes and stars alike flock to the sunny sidewalk cafes to hang out, talk industry, and see-or-be seen.
Bird's diverse and delicious menu is a one of the draws that keeps the locals landing. The featured entrée is rotisserie chicken, glazed in an original marinade and served with your choice of sides (steamed veggies, BBQ beans, roasted potatoes, cole slaw, Spanish rice, etc.). But if you're not a big eater, they also have lighter fare in the form of California fusion "roll-up" sandwiches, chicken tacos, and their famous curly Q fries. Beef lovers will enjoy the old-fashioned burgers and sloppy joes. For even lighter eaters, salads come in half order sizes, (Caesar, Chinese Chicken, Mediterranean, etc.) and even these are meal-size portions.
While the other restaurants and shops on this block exude a young Hollywood vibe, Birds is hip retro: it's name an homage to Alfred Hitchcock's famous horror film "The Birds," with decor that features giant photos and posters of the suspense master showing off his whimsical reserve and portly charm. Like the cinematic world of Hitchcock, the atmosphere inside Birds is dark, but only in terms of the lighting. The music is upbeat and the friendly wait staff provides excellent service.
After dining at Birds, there is plenty to see or do in just one short block. The Daily Planet newsstand and novelty shop, the Bourgeois Pig Café, the Tamarind Theatre (featuring the Upright Citizens Brigade), Harmony Gallery, and Counterpoint Records and Books are among the cool places here to check out.
Whether you want the "comfort food" of a full on BBQ chicken meal, or fresh lavash "roll-up" sandwiches with a California spin, Birds of Hollywood offers an affordable selection for a variety of tastes, in a breezy, off-the-beaten path locale.
"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.
Located on the second floor of the Pinz Sports Complex in Studio City, Guy's North is a 10,000 square foot nightclub / lounge that caters to the Valley crowd. The Guy’s North location if pretty new…it celebrated its grand opening on January of 2006 and was only the second Guy’s location in Los Angeles (the original Guy’s Bar is located on Beverly Blvd across from the Beverly Center).
Dancing & More
The dance floor is about average…not too big, but not too small either. There is plenty of room to move and it doesn’t feel too crowded. There is also ample seating to lounge at around the dance floor; the couches are comfy and offer the perfect opportunity to cool down after some spirited dancing.
If you’re a smoker, there is a pretty large outdoor patio facing Ventura Blvd; the only downside is that you can’t bring your drinks out there.
Cost
Cover charge for Guy’s North is $10/person and on most nights, you shouldn’t have a problem getting in. On certain evenings, ladies can get in at no charge as long as you arrive before 10:30pm.
Drink prices are pretty much what you would expect from most Los Angeles Bars and Clubs – expect to shell out about $6 for a beer and $8 for a mixed drink.
Dress Code
Guy’s North isn’t too strict on the dress code, or at least it wasn’t on the night I was there. The ladies were dressed up (which is usually the case), but quite a few of the men were wearing plain t-shirts and one guy was even wearing a velour Puma track suit.
Additional Info: The Arsenal is a fun neighborhood lounge/bar in West Los Angeles. There is no dress code and you must be 21 to enter. They offer valet parking but you can probably find a spot along Pico Blvd or a side street.
If you’re looking for a chill place to get some drinks, head on over to Temple Bar. This eclectic Asian and urban themed bar sets the perfect chill mood for a fun (but not too wild and crazy) night out. The great thing about Temple Bar is that you have options to set your own tone and feel for the night. The main bar room is where you can just chill and sip on some apple martinis. There are booth tables lined up all against the wall where you can sit and relax. Get comfy, no worries because there are friendly waiters who will be glad to take your order at the table.
After a few drinks, you might get the feel to boogie down on the dance floor. That’s where the second room comes into the play, the dance room. This floor offers live music and performances by in-house / local DJs and other artists. Monday is jazz and electronica, Tuesday is more for the Indie Rock crowd, Wednesday is Hip Hop, Thursday is Latin, Reggae, and African beats, and the weekends are Hip Hop and soul.
If you build up an appetite after dancing, order some food. Their menu consists of delicious finger foods, salads, pasta, skewers, burgers, and desserts.
The cover charge is about $10 and drinks will run around $10 each as well. If you get there early enough, you might get lucky and win a free parking spot in the back.
Where: Basque, 1707 N. Vine St, Hollywood, CA 90028
Music: DJ Coolwhip
Cost: Cover is usually $20/person
Additional Info: Head out to Basque in Hollywood this Friday night for some great music and dancing. As always, you need to be 21 to enter and you should dress to impress.
Where: Facade, 6356 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
Music: DJ Echo
Cost: Cover is usually $20/person
Additional Info: This Sunday it's all about high society at Facade Hollywood. There will also be a runway fashion show presented by Azzure Denim. To get on the guest list, visit Superstars VIP.
Where: The Highlands, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
Music: DJ Rectangle
Cost: Cover is usually $20/person
Additional Info: Come celebrate Cinco De Mayo at The Highlands, located on the 4th Floor of the Hollywood & Highland Entertainment Complex. You must be 21 to enter and you should dress to impress. For guest list and bottle service, call 323-461-9800.
