Prior to living in the U.S. of A., the idea of “brunch” was as foreign and nonexistent as a sobered up Amy Winehouse. So after learning about the whole “brunch” concept and the big deal some restaurants make about it (especially on weekends), I became obsessed. While some establishments serve “brunch” all day long, most of them such as “The Grill” have it only for the earlier part of the day; “brunch” at “The Grill on Hollywood” however is most definitely worth getting up early for. If you live in the greater L.A. area you know the drive to Hollywood can be a bit tedious and jam-packed with traffic- well, not so much on Sunday mornings.
Focus!
“The Grill on Hollywood” is located inside the Hollywood & Highland shopping center, which is a heavy tourist spot. It is definitely the place to be for shopaholics since it consists of many floors filled with stores. There are also several eateries, both sit-down restaurants and fast food joints. This can make it extremely easy to get distracted and run off track, especially since “The Grill” is located almost at the top floor of the building.
Looks don’t always lie
If there is a pleasant place to eat to calm you down after a long week or a stressful and busy night out, it’s “The Grill”. Sure, it’s located in the heart of Hollywood where crowds of people take over the streets at all times, but “The Grill on Hollywood” is surprisingly quiet, and it has an old Hollywood vibe that is quite comforting. For starters, it’s a nice-looking place, a bit glamoured out, reminiscent of a 30’s era steakhouse, with servers wearing those buttoned-to-the-neck white coats and all.
The service is unexpectedly good. When eating out in Hollywood, especially in the midst of it all, it is almost predictable that you will come across some questionable and sometimes bogus service. Not at “The Grill”, the servers are genuinely nice and make sure you have a pleasant time during your stay at their restaurant.
¿Cómo quiere sus huevos?
Aside from their regular menu, on Sunday mornings at “The Grill” you get a special “brunch” menu which includes a diverse selection of omelets and eggs in all shapes forms and styles. Their scrambles are the most popular selections so my partner in crime and I decided to check out what the buzz was all about. We decided to go for the “Protein Scramble”, the “Spanish Scramble”, and since there was a long day ahead of us, we decided we could split the “Penne Pesto Pasta w/Chicken”.
While we were waiting for our food, our server brought to our table some straight-out-of-the-oven cinnamon rolls, which where fluffy and with just the right amount of sweet in them. We washed them down with some mimosas- it’s never too early to start drinking in Hollywood- gotta love Tinseltown!
Like, whoa…
For some odd reason we assumed the portions were going to be rather small and didn’t even bother asking our server about how big or small they were, so when our plates arrived we were in awe.
Our “brunch” dishes where not huge, but the portions were big enough to satisfy you half way through your meal. We felt so silly having ordered that extra pasta dish.
Both of us ordered garlic mashed potatoes as a side companion to our scrambles and it turned out to be a good choice. Mashed potatoes are such a common side dish that chefs hardly ever put much effort in preparing them- not at “The Grill”. They can easily take the title for “best mashed potatoes in town”- their garlic flavor, potato skin, bacon bits, and hints of broccoli will take you to culinary paradise.
The “Spanish Scramble” is their take on huevos rancheros- just like the ones mom would make but with an American flare to them.
The “Protein Scramble” on the other hand was an assortment of ingredients that might seem an odd combination: sausage, bok choy and a bunch of other unidentifiable but oh so tasty condiments, make this scramble the perfect breakfast, lunch, or brunch anyone can have.
Even though we were pretty much stuffed half way through our plates, I had to stop eating the scramble; however, I found myself incapable of keeping the fork away from the mashed potatoes.
Since we had ordered the pasta dish, we had no other option but to dig in. It was a sacrifice we were both willing to make. Too bad we were too full to really enjoy it because the pasta was cooked al dente; the sauce was exquisite, and the chicken juicy and flavorful.
“The Grill on Hollywood” proves to be a great “brunch” joint, and judging from the pasta dish, it is also a great place for dinner. So whether you decide to stop by for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, you’re in for a heck of a meal.
The Grill on Hollywood6801 Hollywood Blvd # 407
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 856-5530
