LAT reviews San Fernando Valley retro watering holes!

As you may know, in the interest of public service, this blog occassionally reviews local bars.  Now, the LAT has done so for you, too!  Check out Friday's "The Enabler" feature by Jessica Gelt, entitled Soaking up retro vibe at the Valley's classic bars.  As the Enabler states, "the Valley is home to a number of blissfully unmolested lounges from the 1940s, '50s and '60s." 

North Hollywood's Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge bar rocks

I bring this info to you merely as a public service, of course. For research purposes on North Hollywood neighborhoods only, colleague Sharon and I attended happy hour at the Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge on Victory in North Hollywood. We were chaperoned/chauffered by my husband Steve (that's him in the pic with a tiki). We had a great time, even though we were at least 20 years older than any of the hipsters there. It has tiki hut decorating down, a dance floor, cool jukebox, friendly bartender, and a non-pretentious vibe. Best of all, happy hour drink specials -- even the fancy tropical drinks -- were only $4 to $5!

Studio City's Oyster House

If you live in or travel through Studio City, chances are that you've seen the Oyster House on Moorpark. If you haven't been there, you may have been put off by the kinda-seedy-tavern look of the place. Don't be. We went there last night and had a great time. Yes, it's about as un-Entourage of an L.A. dining experience as you can have. And forget the NYC "raw bar" experience. And it is also a neighborhood watering hole. But the food was really good, prices were extremely reasonable, and the service was terrific -- when was the last time that all of the wait staff in a restaurant came over to thank you for stopping in? It was packed with a very convivial crowd too. And then there were the complimentary shots of homemade peach schnapps...