Grad dining choices abound at Original Farmers Market
It’s that time of year again, when neighborhood families are dabbing at tears and cheering for their not-so-young ones. Commencement season is here. Luckily, great local eateries abound at the Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax — a place for families to gather and celebrate their graduates.
The Farmers Market has been an upbeat place for Angelenos since 1934. It’s an historic landmark that out-of-towners love to experience and locals love to frequent. As you walk into the market, you’re met with an eclectic array of cuisine options for upscale sit-down service or casual grab-and-go food.
Du-Par’s Restaurant, operated by Frances Tario, is known for the hotcakes that “Esquire” magazine named “best hotcakes in America” and for its other fresh homestyle food. The diner has lots of seating and is a great place for casual family gatherings.
Market Tavern, whose motto is “Eat & Drink & Rock & Roll,” is a lively British-Californian gastropub with a huge patio. There’s live music every Friday night, often featuring one of the pub’s owners, renowned musician Gary Twinn. Market Tavern offers innovative and traditional food, craft beers and handcrafted cocktails.
WEST PATIO at the Farmers Market features vendors of foods from Italy, China and New Orleans and other parts of the U.S.A.
Recently named one of the top French bistros in Los Angeles, Monsieur Marcel Bistro is a quaintly upscale taste of France at the eastern end of the market. This is a wonderful spot for the family to partake of a full meal together or to simply sip some drinks while nibbling tasty cheese or charcuterie from one of Marcel’s signature boards.
Marmalade Cafe has a cheerful vibe and offers indoor / outdoor seating as well as private dining rooms. Enjoy fresh, high-quality California cuisine in a prime people-watching location right across Gilmore Lane from The Grove.
A new Mexican restaurant at the market, El Granjero Cantina, wakes up the senses with its bold, bright, hand-painted murals and flavorful, vegetable-forward cuisine. Right on the Market Plaza, El Granjero Cantina’s freshly made margaritas and sangria make it a great place to toast your graduate.
Luckily for families whose members have a wide variety of tastes, the market offers a plethora of grab-and-go options. With ample seating sprinkled throughout the market, all family members can venture out, find what their taste buds’ desire, and rendezvous to eat and celebrate together.
FARMERS MARKET east patio is surrounded by eateries.
Magee’s Kitchen is family-owned and a true original — it has been part of the market since 1934. It’s known for its roast or corned beef and greets requests for samples with an enthusiastic “Yes!”
At Pasta Corner, you’ll salivate over fresh, homemade pasta dishes that are “100 percent authentic from a secret family recipe.”
From the smallest shop in the market, seafood lovers can find flavorful, traditional sushi at Sushi a Go Go.
For those with a craving for pizza, the first stand-alone pizzeria in Los Angeles, Patsy D’Amore’s Pizza, is a must. A brick oven brought over from Catalina Island bakes the pizza, and Patsy’s goes the extra mile by also offering salads and traditional Neapolitan lasagna and spaghetti.
Family-owned China Depot has been a staple of the market for decades. It offers authentic Chinese food made from scratch using some of grandpa’s secret recipes.
For a tasty treat, Local Ice serves handcrafted ice cream and Italian ice that is made right on the premises. The owners strive to support fellow market vendors by using Magee’s nuts and Du-par’s apple pie in some of their flavors. There’s even a classic soda fountain to help those who graduated long ago reminisce about earlier years.
Welcoming, upbeat and definitely full of flavor, the Farmers Market exudes a family vibe. You might find it’s the perfect place to celebrate your graduate. Here’s to the class of 2022!
–By Casey Russell
Category: Entertainment