Philipe the Original

Ever wonder who had the great idea of dousing a roast beef sandwich in au jus and thus creating the oh-so-yummy French dip? Search no more! The story of the French dip starts in a two-story downtown LA restaurant with wooden benches and saw-dust covered floors. In 1918, owner Philipe accidentally dropped a French roll into a roasting pan still full of piping hot juices. A policeman in line said he'd still eat the sandwich and returned the next day for another. Philipe's is still making amazing French dipped sandwiches and have expanded their menu a bit. Several short lines form in front of the display case and servers dish out French dipps in beef, turkey, ham, pork, and lamb varieties, available with or without cheese and singlely- or doublely-dipped. My personal favorite is the traditional beef French dip with Swiss, double-dipped. If you are not into French dipped sandwiches I've heard that their chili and stew are also quite delicious and if your sweet tooth is jonesing, they offer about 12 different kinds of pie. One thing to consider before going to Philipes is take cash. They are cash only and while they do have an ATM, you're better off being prepared when you go in, but you shouldn't need more than $10 a person. Once you get your order, you may have to search high and low for a seat at the many picnic tables. One of the most charming things about Philipes is how down-to-Earth it feels, with a make-shift convenience shop in the corner offering candy and cigarettes, just like you would expect a restaurant from the early 1900's to have. Unlike so many restaurants in LA, Philipes does own a parking lot across the street. The parking attendants are always really nice, and the parking is free, so if you have a couple of spare bucks on your way out, I'm sure they'd be more than appreciative of your generosity.

http://www.philippes.com/