The Atkin Report: Pacific Dining Car, the kitchen is always open

By Hillary Atkin 

It’s Never Too Late for a Great Meal Downtown or by the Beach

August 10, 2011

“I’m sorry, the kitchen is closed” is a refrain that’s often heard in LA’s finer restaurants, as it is in cities across America that are not New York or Las Vegas.  And if you’ve ever slipped in just before closing time and experienced the barely- veiled exasperation of staff waiting to clean up and go home, that’s no picnic either.

Neither situation will ever confront you at either location of the Pacific Dining Car, a Southern California institution that is open 24 hours a day. So if you are feeling a USDA prime sirloin at midnight, PDC– not to be confused with another local institution, the Pacific Design Center–is the place.

The inception of the Dining Car goes back to the roaring 20s, and it’s been at the same downtown location since 1923. The Santa Monica branch on Wilshire Boulevard opened in 1990.

Both feature the sort of old-school period luxury where everyone from movie stars to hard-core foodies to hipsters and the nightlife crowd feel right at home.

Although the classic steakhouse menu doesn’t change much, there is a breath of fresh air in the kitchen with the recent hiring of executive Chef Michael Rosen, from previous perches at Reign, the dearly-departed Maple Drive and Les Anges and his own Zeke’s Smokehouse.

“After sitting down with Michael on a few separate occasions and talking about the company vision, his and mine, I felt confident that we were on the same page,” says PDC owner Wesley Idol, part of the fourth generation of family members that has owned the Dining Car. “Michael’s not only a phenomenal chef, he’s a businessman who understands what it takes to maintain a fine dining establishment and provide customers with excellent service.  As well, he understands all the hard work that goes into sustaining success in the restaurant industry.”

Just like everything else that’s been around for a while, it’s time for a bit of a makeover. There are now weekly specials, like free corkage every Wednesday, wine tastings Fridays, Date Night—where couples get a complimentary dessert– and happy hours Monday through Friday from 6PM-9PM, plus a variety of musical entertainment on Saturday nights.

The new late-night menu, starting at11 PM, features all your favorite steaks and sides, plus a selection of salads and the ever-popular chocolate chip pancakes, along with drink specials under $15.

Obviously, liquor laws have to be followed, so you won’t be able to drink past normal closing hours. But hey, nice try.

And speaking of pancakes, the Dining Car’s Sunday breakfast/brunch features a special deal for kids under 12 years old. They can build their own brunch by choosing an egg, turkey, bacon, and a side for $10. And we would be neglectful not to mention the friendly, professional service that accompanies every meal.

We’ll see you there, 24/7.

Pacific Dining Car, Santa Monica: 2700 Wilshire Blvd., (310) 453-4000

Downtown Los Angeles: 1310 W. 6^th Street, (213) 483-6000

www.pacificdiningcar.com

Follow Hillary on Twitter  @HillaryAtkin/the-atkin-report

Hollywood Today reviews Pacific Dining Car

Pacific Dinning Car: Looks To The Future

July 1st, 2011 · No Comments

PACIFIC DINING CAR AT 90 LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

By Michael Hepworth
Los Angeles, CA(Hollywood Today)7/1/11/—The venerable Pacific Dining Car steak house has been around since 1921 in Los Angeles and has a storied history of visits by the real power players in Los Angeles. Politicians, lawyers, business leaders, celebrities still come on a regular basis for the privacy and ambience, and it has also been the scene for many movies including Training Days and Street Kings more recently.

I was also able to wean some celebrity names of people who come fairly regularly when they are in town, and as expected they are some big ones like Johnny Depp, Jack Black,  Mayor Antonio Villaragosa and many more.


Much of the staff have been there for at least twenty years, and it is also open 24 hours of the day, serving a power breakfast that is popular with brokers, film crews, early morning risers and late night partygoers, although you will probably be looking at least $30 for a decent breakfast.
This is because the food is sourced from the best vendors possible, and a full meal with of at least four courses with drinks for two people will set you back around $300, although the portions as you would expect are generous. However saying that, you can start with the famous crab cakes made entirely of Blue crab meat that was so good that it didn’t feel like crab at all.

The Heirloom Tomato Salad with blue cheese and aged balsamic vinegar was also serious business and was close to being a main course just by itself.  The 18oz Rib Eye Steak was pretty impressive as well and was served with the House relish, cream corn and cream radishes. As succulent as you could wish for, although the Veal dish my companion tried was a little too swamped or submerged with a lot of extra stuff such as onions.
Wines selected for the main courses were the Decoy Cabernet with the steak and a Green Valley Pinot Noir with the veal.
The challenge now for the restaurant is now to attract younger patrons who will fill the shoes of regulars who are dying off or have retired to the Desert, hence the idea being muted around to bring in some kind of music on the weekends. In my mind that would break the old world silent vibe that is a delight to an old fashioned diner like myself. If you like crowded and noisy restaurants then this is not the place for you

Cocktails here are always doubles, and wines are served by the glass in an 8ozglass if you prefer it that way. It is also one of the few restaurants in Los Angeles to have a full time sommelier/maitre D, and Ehsan Mackani has that job and he is strictly a classic red wine man, and actually frowned when I selected a sauvignon blanc to go with the appetizers. He knows his wine, will answer all or any questions you may have and is not afraid to share his opinion and steer you in the right direction.

Since its founding in 1921 by Fred and Grace Cook, the Pacific Dining Car name has stood for quality. Now in its fourth generation of ownership, that tradition continues.
The Pacific Dining Car is proud to serve only the best U.S.D.A. Prime American Corn-Fed Beef. All steaks are aged on the premises to enhance their flavor and tenderness. Finally, the steaks are cut by our butcher, and then uniquely grilled under a specialized open flame, allowing the natural juices and flavor of the beef to unfold.
In addition to serving the best steaks in Los Angeles, our guests can choose from a wide selection of both traditional and contemporary dishes. All meals are prepared and served with the exacting attention to quality that has made the Pacific Dining Car famous.
Pacific Dining Car-1310 W.6^th St, Los Angeles
310-483-6000
www.pacificdiningcar.com
Reservations-Advised
Valet Parking
Dress Code-Not enforced