Corky's Coffee Shop, a '60s Classic, Returns

If you're feeling antsy with TV's Mad Men still on hiatus from last season, and you want that authentic "1960s experience" in Sherman Oaks, a trip to the newly refashioned Corky's Restaurant should do the trick.

The "new" renovated Corky's is located at 5043 Van Nuys Blvd.

Originally opened as Stanley Burke's Coffee Shop in 1958, Corky's is a classic coffee shop designed by famed architects Armet and Davis, who designed, among other restaurants of the era, the famous Bob's Big Boy in Toluca Lake in 1949.

When it changed to in the early '60s, it quickly became a hot spot on the now famous Van Nuys Boulevard strip, especially since it was open 24 hours. Corky's stayed in business for more than 25 years before the Lamplighter restaurant took over. The Lamplighter lasted until last year, when Corky's Restaurant returned with a retro-style sign out front to announce its authenticity.

Singer Billy Joel once named Corky's as a spot he played, in the piano bar (the lounge back then was called the Corker and today has been rechristened the Cork) during the early 1970s. Joel also played at the Grand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, where he claimed many of the characters from his famous "Piano Man" song originated.

Corky's also is a favorite dining spot of Frank Sinatra Jr., who has been a regular there for many years. Now, if Corky's Restaurant is good enough for the Chairman of the Board's son, I trust I can have a decent grilled-cheese there myself!

On a recent visit to Corky's, I was impressed by the excellent service, the cool retro decor and the perfect veggie omelet I had. The toast was hot and the orange juice was fresh, not from concentrate.

In this era of corporate-owned food chains (think Applebee's) and less than healthy fast-food options, it's a pleasure to see a nice sit-down restaurant like Corky's back in action in its original, now classic, space and offering a lot of healthy fare on its menu, such as soy burgers and a soy chicken burger. Also, the potato leek soup and broasted chicken are excellent.

"I used to stop at Corky's back in the 1970s on long bike rides for refreshments," said David Cohen, a former Encino resident and Corky's fan. "I am so happy it's open again. I live in Pittsburgh now, but when I visit Los Angeles for business, I always make a trip to Corky's restaurant. It brings back a lot of happy memories."

It should be noted that many of the classic Van Nuys Boulevard dining establishments of the 1960s era are long gone, including Otto's Pink Pig and Ho Toy's Chinese Restaurant.