The Apple Pan
| The Apple Pan |
The Apple Pan |
| Restaurant information |
| Established |
1947 |
| Dress code |
Casual |
| City |
Los Angeles |
| State |
California |
| Country |
United States |
The Apple Pan is a restaurant located at 10801 West Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles. It opened in 1947 and is locally famous for its hamburgers and apple pies served with vanilla ice cream. It consists of a single, U-shaped counter surrounding the central food preparation area. Closed on Mondays, The Apple Pan is open until 1 a.m. on weekends and midnight on weekdays. The Zagat Survey features The Apple Pan in various Top Lists including Burgers Tops and Best Buys.[1][2][3]
In addition to being one of Los Angeles’ oldest continuing operating restaurants, The Apple Pan is notable as the basis for the popular Johnny Rockets chain of restaurants. Rockets founder Ronn Teitlebaum claimed he used The Apple Pan as a model for his successful 1940s-themed franchise,[4] copying the menu, presentation, counter seating and grilling area for the Johnny Rockets chain based on this original restaurant: a small two-sided menu with few items, hamburgers served wrapped in paper and on cardboard plates, hamburgers grilled-to-order in full view of the counter-seated customers.[5][6][7]
As the restaurant is near 20th Century Fox studios, celebrities occasionally dine there.
Popular meals include the Hickory Burger and the Steak Burger. The Hickory features a special Hickory sauce, while the Steak Burger comes with a trademark hamburger relish.[8] In addition to apple and pecan pies, various cream pies are available. Soft drinks are served in a can, which is poured by the customer into a white paper cone that fits inside a metallic holder.
References in popular culture
- In the episode "La Ronde" of Californication, Hank Moody mentions the Apple Pan as a cheap burger (the actual price is $6.75 for a hamburger [4]).
- Six Feet Under - In the first season episode "The New Person," Nate Fisher (Peter Krause) asks his sister Claire (Lauren Ambrose) if she wants to go to the Apple Pan to eat together.
- Former Loveline co-host, Stryker, frequently referenced The Apple Pan, and often tried to invite Dr. Drew to go with him, boasting they have the best tuna melt (though "tuna melt" is not on the menu, "tuna salad sandwich" is; however, tuna melts are available by special request).[9]
- On September 1, 2008, during the UCLA vs. University of Tennessee college football game, Todd Blackledge of ESPN featured The Apple Pan in his weekly segment, "Taste of the Town." [5]
- In James Ellroy's 1981 novel Brown's Requiem, Fritz Brown orders three cheeseburgers and two coffees to go from The Apple Pan.
- The Jonas Brothers regularly talk about the Apple Pan, especially in live web chats.
- David Sedaris discusses a trip to the Apple Pan in the story "A Can of Worms" from his book Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.
- Half of an episode of "Visiting... with Huell Howser" (#1616, titled "Survivors") is dedicated to the Apple Pan and its' history, and features an interview by Huell with the owners.
- On August 18, 2010, Johnny Fratto (son of infamous mobster Louis Fratto and pal of The Howard Stern Show regular, Eric the Midget) while ending his phone call to Howard Stern, remarked that the best hamburger in Los Angeles could be found at The Apple Pan. This comment came a day after members of the Stern crew devoted a show to comparing fast food burgers and fries, referred to as The Fast Food Show.
See also
- Johnny Rockets, contemporary restaurant built on The Apple Pan's model
References
External links