Since I've been in LA, I've gone to mostly clubs and lounge-y type places. Fun, but not a lot of warmth. This place reminds me of home (just outside of Chicago). The Backstage is old-school (in a good way), unpretentious and friendly. The staff is not typical 'seen it all, done it all' LA types. They seem like regular people who care about doing their job well and making you feel comfortable. The food is bar food plus. I don't know exactly where the 'plus' comes from, but everything I've tried here is better than at other places. The prices are low, the drinks are strong, and the room is very warm and comfortable. Nice mix of people, liking each other and having a good time. I wish the real world could be a little more like this place. There was a birthday party there the other night and the people seemed to be having more fun than a bunch of kids at Chucky Cheese.
Pros: Friendly staff and crowd, great food, strong drinks, low prices
Cons: Wish I lived a little closer
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