Natalie Marrero
This environment is super chill and the food is comforting and delicious. I would eat here often and hang for a great chill vibe.
I did not have any drinks here but they had a good options at their bar for whiskey.
Highly recommend this place, especially if you like French dip!
Maribel
the French dip was fantastic and great! The hostess was nice and food was good simple menu and good drinks. I read that this place has been in the original spot forever! I highly must see place and eat food if you’re in downtown LA.
James Gomez
Great french dip. Amazing spicy garlic fries, do not get regular!
Two Pool tables are available, but the pool cues are damaged. Only one decent one out of the bunch.
Cool speakeasy bar in the back of the restaurant. Flip the switch to get in
Glenn DiResto
This place was very cool. It's an old bar from the early 1900's and is worth a stop in. The place is super vintage and reminds me of a few watering holes when i was younger. Of course, I needed to try the French Dip and it didn't disappoint. Washed that down with one of their Old Fashioned drinks. There are some old photos on the wall that are worth a look and a couple of billiards tables if you play. Give it a shot if you're downtown, but check the schedule for hours.
Gerardo Gomez
Old time bar feel. Classic drinks and a few beers on tap. Old fashioned made with Evan Williams muddled sugar not simple syrup ask for a fat ice cube they might grab it for you. Beef dip is why you’re here but grab the pastrami. Garlic tots are good enough for a second order.
Cristine
Located in a sketchy part of town, but this place is amazing! Step in the doors and you traveled to another place and time. Cozy and warm with stained glass windows and the cutest decor. The food here is amazing! Got the half pastrami French dip and the half prime roast beef French dip, both were delicious though prefer the pastrami one! The fries and tots were the best I've ever had. The spicy garlic tots were even better! The Atomic Pickle had a great kick to it and a great Old Fashioned was a wonderful compliment to complete the meal. I can see why this place has been around since 1908! It is simply phenomenal!
Rosemari Martinez
Food was delicious and that's a compliment from someone who hates pastrami usually. Sauce is perfect and not too over powering. Only downside is it felt like a female staff member wanted us to leave instead of ordering grub (maybe they were understaffed and didn't want to wait on a other table?) So it was unwelcoming initially.
Teresa Tims
Classic classic place and a don’t miss for foodies and history seekers andddd the speakeasy Varnish is located here!
The best beef dip and supposedly original 😻
David
one of the 2 main places in Los Angeles that lay claim to having invented French dip sandwiches! ( You can see my reviews for the other one!) This is Coles French dip sandwich restaurant In the downtown LA area. The main difference between Coles and other places that serve French dips Is that Coles uses prime beef for their dips, And that makes a big difference how the sandwich tastes overall. I would give the sandwich an 8.5 on a 10 scale, It's very tasty and has good flavor, One of the better ones I've had. The inside of this Place has a bar and some restaurant seating, But the overall vibe is a neighborhood bar feel. It was not too crowded when I went around 5 PM on Thursday. It's worth it to go there to try the French dip at least once. Biggest challenge for this area is finding parking, But there are several paylots here and there. Also there's Homeless in the area, But leave them alone and they'll leave you alone, I parked in a secure lot walked to the restaurant,ate, walked back to my car and left with no problems.
Rodrigo
Excellent bar that has a “Cheers” feel. The food seems like the main draw but as a downtown LA bar it’s pretty great.
The servers are awesome and the drinks are on point. It’s very low key and a good spot after a good night of partying but ending before midnight.
Eva PéEs
Great food and drinks, the staff is super friendly, prices are good.
Alex Salazar
French dip is great! Good to great Manhattans & Old Fashioneds ... sometimes service is excellent! other times you might have to put your empty drink & a couple $1's in front of the bartender to be served! werd...
Professor Provolone
If Cole's did catering, I'd get it for my birthday. I absolutely love this place. The drinks are always meticulously crafted by bartenders who know their spirits and cocktails, and the security always makes sure no nonsense goes on. I've always met the most interesting people here, and will always come here.
It's got a classic historic feel to it, because it is classic and historic. French dip was originated here BABY. Prohibition times were had HERE. TUNNELS UNDER THE DAMN BAR. I know it's haunted, but the staff keeps telling me no. Tbh I try thinking everything is haunted though lol
Varnish in the back is cool too!
Jamison Williams
The food is incredible! Especially the Prime Beef Dip and spicy garlic fries! My partner loved the grilled cheese and tomato soup! Byron was really kind and attentive. Even on a busy night, he made sure we felt welcome! Can't wait to come back next time we are in town!
Adam Neubauer
Sure, you can argue that Phillipe the Original did the French Dip first, but Cole’s is so much tastier and the atmosphere blows the Phillipe lunch-counter experience out of the water. It has history, and you can feel it. Great happy hour. My only complaint is that they’re not open for
lunch. At happy hour, get the Hamm’s and Grillef Cheese. Cheap and tasty. The crunchiest and most pillowy tater tots in town.
Francisco Arias
Really good late food place. Very basic menu, drinks available, and their pastrami dip is delicious, not overpriced. The tots were really good too, the chilli fries are heavy, but tasty, they are more like a meal than a side unless you are sharing.
Frank Paulin
Way over priced. I got two sandwiches for the same price at Philepe's. This is a dark dive bar with poor service. I got no napkins, and no refills on my tea. I never saw the server after receiving my sandwich.
Samantha Hidalgo
This place is amazing...food, drinks, and service. If you want to step away from the world we live in today and step back into time and feel the 1920s, then this is place. Everything about it is awesome!!!����
Shelley Blohm
I'd give it a five star but was too hot to enjoy our meal but will say Shauna was the most incredible server! It was hot from the moment it opened so they can't blame it on the weather... will go back but won't order food if it's that hot again...
Sylvia Maria Parrales
I like the Ambiance the staff was nice and the food was very good the one thing that was really bad was no air-conditioning and on a very hot day I was sitting there sweating and very uncomfortable. Even the staff was uncomfortable about how hot they were they really need to get some ceiling fans or get better AC.
Susan Teresa
We had pastrami dips, plus the bourbon pecan pie. Yummmmmmmy!!!
Kristin Sunshine Savage
Awesome restaurant. Staff was great.. And the food.. Unbelievably delicious. Their spicy garlic fries have me trying to figure em out to recreate but they will not be as good as theirs. An awesome history behind it all. Definitely a gem.
David Johnson
Love this place. Great food, beer, and atmosphere. You can't go wrong, it's been here for over 100 years!
Stephany Burns
Fantastic service, incredible pastrami French dip sandwich, and such a great place to take the whole family! We love you Cole's!
Benjamin Morris
Amazing atmosphere. Great sandwiches . If you live in LA and like french dips this is a must.
Teenamarie Cunningham
Say I love that I was there 40 years ago and the sandwiches are good the drinks are still good but the bartender they had working there Tuesday I just did not pay attention to me I had to concentrate my hand to get a drink not once not twice three times he rather gossip with the guys down at the other end saying the f word every 2 senses
Jonathan Jelkin
The best French dip in LA. Period. Excellent service. Excellent atmosphere. Excellent drinks!
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