Cole's: Cocktails, French Dip & Bourbon Pecan Pie

This week's Free Lunch took us to one of Los Angeles' oldest restaurants, Cole's. Originally known as Cole's P.E. Buffet, it was established by entrepreneur Harry Cole in 1908. This downtown landmark is located at the base of the historic Pacific Electric Building, so it was very fitting that our guests Alie Ward & Georgia Hardstark opted to get there by Metro. It also allowed them to enjoy a couple of cocktails without having to worry about the drive later.

Cole's bar is called the Red Car, which pays homage to its roots in transportation. However, the restaurant's main claim to fame is the French Dip sandwich, which they invented (or was it Philippe's?). Alie & Georgia are inventors as well: their McNuggetini video let them quit their day jobs to host a series on Food2.

The ladies sat at the bar and started out with a couple of cocktails—Old Fashioned and Pancho's Smoking Gun—followed by the requisite French Dips (they shared lamb and beef), served with a couple of sides: mac 'n' two cheeses, spicy garlic sweet potato fries and bacon potato salad.

Even though Alie & Georgia didn't agree on which sandwich was better, the lamb or the beef, they loved the drinks and dessert equally. They settled on Cole's famous bourbon pecan pie alongside two more signature drinks, the Ginger Rogers and the Garibaldi.

Cole's
118 East Sixth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(323) 257-8980
colesfrenchdip.com