LUXE - Cafe Rodeo - What did we expect on Rodeo Drive?

Luxe Rodeo Drive
The Cafe Rodeo
360 N. Rodeo Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310-273-0300

Happy Hours: 4:00-7:30

Food - 8
Prices - 3
Service - 6
Bonus +2 for free parking around the corner
Total - 19

First, I should start by saying when one goes to Beverly Hills, one should expect everything to be a little pricier. I mean, this is the most famous zip code in the world, so of course, the Happy Hour will not be the same bargain we've come to know and love elsewhere, right? EXCEPT -- McCormick and Schmick's, just three blocks down, has an awesome Happy Hour with far better people watching and seriously killer prices, so c'mon Cafe Rodeo!

The food at the Luxe was good -- some great and some just okay -- but when the Ahi Tasters are $7 and you get two grape-sized wads of chopped ahi, it doesn't matter how good they are, that is a new definition of the term "taster." The truffle fries were killer good, but also pretty chintzy for $7, ditto for the very tasty $7 fish taco (which even our waitress referred to as, "really snack-sized"). On the opposite end was the overcooked fried chicken, the "carnitas" taco, which was actually pork belly that was really just a glob of pork fat, and the tiny and very overcooked (despite being ordered medium rare) "Filet Mignon" sliders, which were about as close to filet mignon as the ahi taster was to toro.

I stupidly ordered a margarita despite three martinis on the menu being only $3.60 (what can I say -- I had a hankering), and besides being $12, it was also the worst margarita I've ever had -- and that includes countless frat parties. Okay, I went to college in San Antonio, Texas, so my standards are high and folks there know a thing or two about margaritas, but this was so bad, I pressed them to tell me what was in it and it was (drum roll please...) tequila, sweet & sour and a squeeze of lime. That's it. No Triple Sec, no margarita mix, just basically a tequila sour, that really just tasted like watery tequila on the rocks. I had the bartender pour it into a tall glass and top it off with sweet & sour, so it was at least drinkable, but be warned -- this is not their specialty.

Here's what makes me so sad about this one, though -- a reader sent me a pic that she took of the menu not that long ago, and it was incredibly cheap. All of the apps were $3.60 during happy hour (and they looked delish), and there were a lot more drinks and beer for the same price. I understand that the economy is bad, but this is a radical departure from what one would consider a real happy hour. C'mon Luxe! Go back to the pricing of three months ago.

Some upsides -- there is a small sidewalk area with tables where one could enjoy dining outside and people watching, if you don't mind sitting in the entrance to the hotel with all its busy-ness, the crowd seemed young and fun, with people at the bar actually chatting it up with each other, and (God bless Beverly Hills for this), there is a parking garage a block and a half away (on Brighton, west of Rodeo) with free parking for two hours if you arrive before 6:00.

This would be an amazing Happy Hour if the Luxe would go back to its $3.60 drinks and food menu, and it probably would have gotten our highest rating, yet. But for two people who shared six tiny appetizers (and left hungry), had one margarita and two waters, the total was $57 before tip, $67 after, which for a happy hour, well...sucks.

Next up -- Rush Street in Culver City.
Fingers crossed for HH food & drinks as good as their lunch.
Also, please keep those cards and letters (ahem...suggestions) coming.
As you can see, we do eventually get around to checking them all out.