Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

Sunday I took my husband, daughter and her friend shopping. After checking out the racks and snatching up some deals at the Warehouse Sale at the Convention Center and a visit to China town, by 2pm all of us were ready for some refueling.

Neither my husband or I had been into Philippe’s in over a decade. Neither of the kids had been either so we decided a trek into this 100-year-old landmark and home of the original French Dip sandwich was in order.

Thank God some things don’t change. Same sawdust on the floors and the same long, burgundy Formica-topped counter/tables. It was the same crusty atmosphere (except for the flat screen TV w/ a dodger game playing) and most importantly, it was the same really good food. The counter service was lighting fast and with a smiling happy face from a woman who may have been there last time I was.

But on top of all the nostalgia, local history and old-fashioned good food was the delight in the prices. Beef French dip sandwiched are $5.35, Lemonades are 70 cents each, kosher pickles are 95 cents each (made there). My Ice tea was only 60 cents. Everything was really good, especially their famous spicy mustard (we bought a jar) and the girls enjoyed chowing down an original French Dip sandwich in a landmark eatery after a day of bargain shopping. Perfect!

Philippe’s
1001 N Alameda St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213.628.3781
www.philippes.com

OY! I broke down and went back to school shopping.
It was great!

I took my daughter and her friend to the Von Dutch Originals Parking Lot Sale this last weekend to hunt for Back to School stuff for her fashionista crew. It was really busy but yielded several really good buys so the girls could look great on their first day back at school.

With prices starting at a dollar and only the couture line at $20 or more… it was like watching girls go crazy in a candy store. My daughter tore thru boxes pulling out shoes @ $15, tops @ $5-$10. Jackets at $10-$20 Skirts at $5-$10.

Such fun, such energy! Watching their editing process alone was worth the visit. I just sat back and giggled as my daughter taught her friend how to bargain shop at a sale.

My daughter, Shae walked away with a styling signature Von Dutch skirt and top, her girlfriend came away with two fashion tops… one blouse and one tee. The grand total $20.

I took them out to lunch to celebrate their frugal savvy shopping!

PS We gave the heads up on this fabulous sale to all the peeps on our mailing list. To join the mailing list and be kept up to date,  click here

What the hell has happened at Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain?

It was no longer charming, or old fashioned or affordable now, but a giant rip off.

As a final farewell to summer we drove my daughter and her girlfriend over to this South Pasadena landmark. I thought an old-fashion Root Beer float would be fun for the girls. Outside of the kids Root Beer float ($3.95) the kids also got one kids hamburger ($5.50), one kids grilled cheese ($4.50), one kids soda ($1.50) and the adults split a tuna sandwich ($8.50) and 2 cokes at $2.95 each.

We stop in to this place about twice a year for the last 10 years the ambience and nostalgia, usually sitting at the fountain for a float. This time we had a corner table.

After we had been there 10 minutes, I had to ask for a menu. Since I was with chatting it up with a girl friend, I didn’t scrutinize the menu.

Regardless of my lack of scrutiny, a kids meal at most restaurants usually includes a drink. I expected a Root Beer float in a glass with a serious scoop of ice cream. What we got was a small McDonalds kids size plastic cup with a teeny tiny scoop of ice cream. My daughter’s friend finished the ice cream in two bites. At $3.95 it was way too small a serving and all floats should be served in a float glass.
The $8.50 tuna sandwich was a laugh. The bread was from a sandwich loaf like Van De Kamps served with one tomato and one piece of lettuce. The kids hamburger was like a McDonalds kids hamburger in size with no fries or drink included. I do expect more. How about a pickle or a plate?

The food here sucked, was overpriced and barren of any thoughtful presentation or content. We had to ask for the bill, ask for an extra plate since we were splitting the sandwich. The waiter never came back to see how we were doing. What should have been a bill for about $22 was $32.
But the issues that made me raise my voice and ask for the manager was the soda drinks. This is what people come here for, not the service or mediocre overpriced sandwiches. I ordered a soda fountain coke. What I got was an oversized thin plastic cup (like you’d buy for a BBQ party at Smart & Final - not a plastic restaurant glass) for $2.95. It should have been served in a coke fountain glass.

Is the management here so incredibly stupid or greedy that they think people come here for the food? Hello! They come here for the old-fashioned soda fountain. That means serving sodas in fountain glassware and a little service.

Of course the manager was on her break so the poor help got an earful. I didn’t lower my voice either… I was that ticked off. That was the worst dam service with overpriced boring food I have had anywhere. I won’t be back …ever.