Musso & Frank Grill
American restaurant · Hollywood ·
Classic American fare & martinis in red booths since 1919
Classic American fare & martinis in red booths since 1919
"In L.A. Taco’s interviews with Jumbo’s Clown Room dancers about their favorite dishes, the eight-ounce filet mignon here earns a shout as a favorite." - Rebecca Roland
"A green sign off Hollywood Boulevard and Cherokee Avenue signals your arrival at a 105-year-old time capsule where flattering light, red leather banquettes, and old-Hollywood spirit meet steaks, strong drinks, and gossip. Since 1919, locals and industry types have packed the room, and with a prime rib in front of you it feels plausible that Marilyn Monroe or Charlie Chaplin could slide into the booth across the way. Start with the rib-eye or prime rib, cooked over an indoor charcoal grill that’s been burning since 1927, and don’t skip green peppercorn sauce and a side of creamed spinach; balance the salt and smoke with a wedge salad, the mid-century stuffed celery piped with Roquefort mousse, or the seafood chiffonade salad tossed in citrusy dressing and piled with shrimp, lobster, and crab. The martini is mandatory, delivered theatrically in a beautiful glass with a chilled sidecar—gin or vodka, olives or twist, your call. Pageantry matters here: uniformed waiters and bartenders in white or red jackets, their tenure embroidered on their cuffs, move with intent as they drop baked escargot, crab Louie, filet of sand dabs, and an expertly cooked prime rib. Walk in past the retro car-filled parking lot, glimpses of the loud kitchen, and slightly faded chandeliers, sconces, and 1930s art, and settle in for old-school Hollywood charm; if a newbie gripes about peeling wallpaper or a lack of new dishes, a perfectly stirred martini tends to quiet the din. It’s best for dressing up (or not) for birthdays, celebrating promotions with free-flowing alcohol and high-cholesterol foods—maybe an ice cream sundae—or showing your parents a cool side of Hollywood, plus celebrity-spotting without bouncers, lines, or influencers. Pro tip: ask about Club 1919, a low-key membership tied to your phone number that rewards periodic discounts once you hit certain spend thresholds—handy if you’re returning or planning to drop $500 with a group." - Hilary Pollack
"Most people come to LA with the intention of experiencing some sort of classic, Rat Pack-era Hollywood atmosphere, and end up looking in all the wrong places. Go to Musso & Frank. The Hollywood Blvd. steakhouse is one of the oldest restaurants in the city and while it’s definitely filled with tourists, nothing beats cruising up to the bar and drinking a few of their lethal martinis. Most of the bartenders have been working there for decades and will probably tell you some insane story about a dead celebrity while they’re midway through a heavy pour. You don’t walk out of Musso & Frank, you stumble." - brant cox
"Smack dab in the middle of Hollywood, Musso & Frank’s is as much a cultural touchstone as it is a restaurant and bar. The interior has barely changed since 1919, and its old Tinseltown reputation is what makes it so special. In the early days, its clientele were writers; the Screen Writers Guild was across the street back then, as was the famed bookstore Stanley Rose. Over the years, the restaurant has drawn everyone from Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald to George Clooney and Brad Pitt." - Celeste Moure
"Nothing beats cruising up to the bar and drinking a few lethal martinis when it’s pouring outside. And if you’re looking for a classic Hollywood atmosphere to do it in, go to Musso & Frank. This Hollywood Blvd. steakhouse is one of the oldest restaurants in the city and most of the bartenders have been working here for decades. If you’re lucky, one of them will tell you some insane story about a dead celebrity while they’re midway through a heavy pour." - nikko duren