For more than a century, The Musso & Frank Grill has been a cornerstone of Hollywood’s dining scene. Opened in 1919, this legendary restaurant has hosted actors, writers, and industry elites. From Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe to Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, Musso & Frank has been a living piece of Hollywood history.
Despite the ever-changing Los Angeles restaurant scene, it remains an enduring favorite. According to fourth-generation owner Mark Echeverria, the restaurant continues to draw a loyal crowd: “Last year, 145,000 customers came through the restaurant. That’s over two full turns of the restaurant every night we’re open for dinner.”
With its famous red leather booths, impeccably dressed servers, and classic menu, Musso & Frank stands as a testament to old-school Hollywood elegance.
A Legacy That Began in 1919
Musso & Frank opened the same year the Treaty of Versailles ended World War I. Originally called Frank’s Cafe, it became The Musso & Frank Grill when founder Frank Toulet partnered with Joseph Musso. In 1927, the restaurant moved to its current location under new owners Joseph Carissimi and John Mosso.
Chef Jean Rue joined in the 1920s, and his menu remains today. From grilled lamb kidneys with bacon to lobster thermidor, Rue combined French, Italian, and American flavors.
“Hollywood at the time was this melting pot of cultures coming to be part of the movie industry,” Echeverria explains. “Chef Rue saw the opportunity to give people from around the world a taste of home.”
The Back Room: A Haven for Hollywood’s Elite
As Hollywood boomed, Musso & Frank became a natural gathering spot for the film industry. Its location near historic theaters such as The Egyptian and El Capitan made it a hotspot for entertainment insiders.
In the 1930s, the restaurant introduced The Back Room, a private space for Hollywood’s elite. Orson Welles reportedly drafted Citizen Kane in a booth, while John Steinbeck, T.S. Eliot, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald were regulars.
When The Back Room closed, its booths, chandeliers, and original 1934 bar were relocated to what is now the “New Room.” “My great-grandfather wanted to make sure that back room still existed,” Echeverria says.
A Timeless Celebrity Favorite
Over the decades, Musso & Frank’s clientele evolved with Hollywood. Legends such as Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, Frank Sinatra, and Steve McQueen dined here. More recently, modern stars such as George Clooney and Brad Pitt continue to visit.
Echeverria explains the restaurant’s widespread appeal: “One of our long-term servers, who worked with us for 49 years, put it best: ‘We treat regular people like celebrities, and celebrities like regular people.’”
The restaurant has also been featured in many films and TV shows, including Swingers, Chaplin, Ocean’s Eleven, and Mad Men. In 2019, it served as the backdrop for Leonardo DiCaprio’s opening scene in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.
Steaks, Martinis, and Hollywood Nostalgia
Musso & Frank continues serving its legendary dishes. Last year alone, the restaurant plated 64,000 steaks. Beyond the food, the restaurant preserves its rich history. It still has a phone booth from the 1930s, now a popular Instagram spot. According to Echeverria, it was the first public telephone in Hollywood—possibly in all of Los Angeles.
Certain details remain untouched. “We still have our original wallpaper in the old room. You can see that it’s faded, with little cracks, but Humphrey Bogart’s cigar smoke is still in that wallpaper,” Echeverria confirms. “People ask if we’ll ever replace it, but the answer is ‘No way.’”
Echevarria notes that the booths also bear history: “There are plenty of tiny little nicks and cracks at the end of the booths, from people’s rings or watches hitting them. We touch up the booths, of course, but we’ll never sand them down.”
Still Growing After a Century
Even after 106 years, The Musso & Frank Grill continues to evolve. In 2021, the restaurant expanded with private dining rooms. The move proved the hotspot’s enduring popularity.
For those who step into Musso & Frank, it’s more than just a meal—it’s a journey through Hollywood’s storied history. With its red-jacketed servers, legendary steaks, and ice-cold martinis, the restaurant remains a cherished piece of Los Angeles culture.
The Musso & Frank Grill, 6667 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 5-11 p.m., Sunday, 4-10 p.m.
