(Feb. 9, 2011)

Polka is that restaurant that would never catch your attention. It is small and tucked away in a plaza by the border between Glendale and Eagle Rock. You would never guess that such a modest restaurant could cause such a big reaction.

The restaurant is small and only about ten tables are able to fit inside. That said, the wait could be especially long if you happen to have a big group, or if the restaurant is packed at the time. There is really no room for extra tables. It is by no means a fine dining restaurant. The walls are covered with signs and photographs, and even a memorable backwards clock — all of which are enough to keep you busy while waiting for your food.

The meal begins with an appetizer of cabbage soup, not the bread and butter that most of us may be used to. The menu consists of authentic Polish dishes that range from $12 to $20 depending on the dish and the meal, whether it be for lunch or dinner. While it may be more expensive than other restaurants its size, the quality of the food will make up for the inconvenience. You really are paying for the thorough preparation that is evident when the large portions of food arrive at the table.

The dishes were rich in starch and never lacking in potato — from potato stuffed Pierogis, which are Polish dumplings, to a richly flavored Gulasz beef stew with a side of potato dumplings. Polka serves a variety of dishes that are unified by their strong Polish authenticity. Just make sure that if you do eat there, you have time to wait, money to spend, and an appetite to satiate.            
-Kyla Crisostomo

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Located in the heart of Hollywood is Mel’s Drive In, a restaurant that greets its customers with a welcoming neon sign. Inside, Harry Potter greeted us on our right and a bright jukebox greeted us on our left. Pictures of Old Hollywood were nailed to the wall and although the restaurant was full of tables, my first thought was that it had a cozy atmosphere.

However, the calming mood quickly changed. When I asked the man up front if we could possibly change where we were sitting because my friend felt uncomfortable, he quickly waved me off and rudely replied that he was very busy and that his other sections were full. He pointed to the new seat and turned away, leaving me to awkwardly find which one he was even talking about.

I felt taken aback as I scanned the rows for the table that he had waved us to. Jukeboxes adorned the sides of the booths and for 25 cents, customers could have music played. However, with our luck, the only booth that happened to be available to us also featured a jukebox that didn’t work.

Their menu ranged from hot dogs and hamburgers to homemade turkey dinner, but I opted for something I had a sense of safety in: a cheeseburger. My friend continually kept saying that the food was going to take forever to be served, when in reality, it was surprisingly quick. Although it was a tad bit pricey and I ended up paying $16 just for a cheeseburger, fries, and Coke, the French fries made up for the gaping hole in my wallet.

Their crispy, yellow goodness mixed with the home-style ranch was my favorite part of the American meal. Next time, all I know is that I am most definitely ordering a malt shake to complete that Old Hollywood feel.               
-Nika Nabifar