GAF&BC
We’re talking here about a small chain called The Great American Food & Beverage Company. There were a couple of these around Los Angeles in the early seventies…one in Westwood, one in Santa Monica and maybe others. The two things I remember about them are that the portions were huge to the point of being impractical — you’d haul home about 80% of your entree and live off it for days — and that the servers would take turns performing with a small live band. Once, I ordered a hamburger and they brought me this footstool-sized mass of meat and bun surrounded by enough fries to stock a McDonald’s for a month.
But I was sans ketchup, and when I turned to ask our waiter for some, I found him up on a platform, performing what turned out to be the world’s longest version of “Rubberband Man.” I think he did about ninety choruses while I failed to flag down any other employee and my burger cooled to tepid. Finally, long after I’d given up any chance of having the hamburger the way I liked it and had begun to eat it dry, the waiter noted the omission, hopped down from stage and fetched me a bottle of Heinz while still performing “Rubberband Man.” It was one of those moments when you almost feel like you ought to tip.
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The Great American Food and Beverage Company offered a show-stopping item on the menu known as “The Feast,” which was a ridiculously abundant display of food, served by two waiters who carried it out on a wooden plank that was about 15 feet long. The Feast was intended to be enjoyed by a party of several. GAF&BC sported a palpable 1970′s vibe that probably wouldn’t fly today.
I frequented the Great American Food & Beverage Co. in Hollywood and the one in Santa Monica every couple of months during the early 80′s. Our most memorable occasion happened at the Santa Monica location. We walked in and sat down in the bar to wait for a table. I ordered a beer for myself and an iced tea for my girlfriend (now wife). The bartender assumed we wanted a Long Island iced tea, and whipped up the best rendition of a fake iced tea I have ever tasted. My girlfriend finished most of the drink before realizing she was blitzed, and must be drinking something stronger than tea.
Since that night, we have searched the world over, but have never found a Long Island iced tea that came close to the one served to us back in 1983.
Down from San Francisco for the weekend, I went to the Santa Monica Blvd. location in West Hollywood for dinner with friends. They dared me to get up and play (a waiter lent me his guitar), and I was offered a job. I took it, and worked there for a year: May 1974-May ’75, and what a trip it was. I played guitar and sang when I wasn’t busy with the serving aspect and, for the most part, had a pretty good time. Met many fine people, a few of whom were famous, and a few who were famous and not very fine. I probably would’ve stayed longer, but didn’t get along with the manager, plus I was ready to leave LA (not my kind of town).
If anyone reading this is interested in more, drop me a line.
Just a general comment about all these old restaurants. The unexpected moments both good and bad, the wrinkles in the experiences at them, nowadays are all smoothed over by the internet, by Yelp, by any place online where pictures, videos, writings, and way too much information is exposed. In many ways things were better when we knew less. Today’s Yelp reviews should be held in moderation for at least 30 years.
Went to dinner with some college friends on the nite Nixon resigned The place went crazy when the showed the news conference
Great place!
The West Hollywood one was on Santa Monica & La Cienega. I loved this place as a kid and used to order the stuffed zucchini… imagine a 10 year-old jonesing for stuffed zucchini! I still haven’t had one as good! Other restaurants I loved to go to around there were Café Figaro on Melrose, Yellow Submarine on Santa Monica & Harper, and The Old World on the Sunset Strip.
I worked at the Santa Monica G.A. from 1978 through 1982. It was a blast to work there. Lots of behind the scenes shenanigans that I won’t go into here – suffice it to say it was a trip to play and sing there.
I love the stuffed zucchini at the Old World Restaurant in Beverly Hills. I would give anything to figure out how to make it now. I haven’t been in BH since the late 70′s so I doubt the place is even there anymore. Any one have a clue how they made it?