How many times did you, as a kid, sit in the red leather booths at Hamburger Hamlet with your grandparents, your parents, cousins, or just your immediate family munching on those zucchini zircles
or gobbling down those fried chicken wings that came in a bowl with apricot dipping sauce? As a high schooler, the Hamburger Hamlet in Woodland Hills (Topanga Canyon and Ventura Boulevard next to the old Art Theatre) was my friends' (Mort,
T.S., Bomber- no wonder we didn't have dates with nicknames like those) favorite dinner hangout. Oh how we waited all week for, that Oak-Planked hamburger, and that Prison Chili, the Lobster Bisque, and the Onion Soup Fondue, not to mention the garlic
bread.When Ron and I were young adults living in Brentwood, just walked across the street to HH on San Vicente. There we'd order Coffee Milkshakes, "Those" Potatoes," The Morgan sandwich, and of course, the #9 burger, with everything on it. After we had
kids and moved to Calabasas we enjoyed the Hamlet in Agoura for a short time before it closed. Our girls were lucky enough to eat classics like The Stella Nelson (half a sanwich and a cup of soup), cornbread, and the Ultimate Hot Fudge Cake. Though
less enamoured with HH than we were, nonetheless our kids still took weekly trip there for dinner. Imagine my devastation when I learned that one by one all of the Hamburger Hamlets were closing. The place that was known for "simply marvelous food and
drinks" was no longer to be. No Hamlet in Pasadena (betcha didn't even know that one existed) Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Woodland Hills, Agoura, Sunset Boulevard, and now even on Van Nuys. My world was cosing in around me! But on September 13th, 2014 eveything
changed. Harry and Marilyn Lewis' legend lives on. Thanks to Killer Shrimp's Kevin Michaels and Brett Dougherty, the Van Nuys Boulevard location is open again sporting the vintage menu along with some new (who cares?) items. And what's even better news? This
is apparently just the beginning. Michaels and Dougherty plan to open more Hamlets throughout the city! My world is complete! So last night, to celebrate we had Onion Soup Fondue Bowl ($7), Those Potatoes ($6) with extra sour cream, the #9, with everything
on it ($10) zucchini zircles with apricot sauce, ($8) a big slab of chocolate cake and a hot fudge sundae. ($8) Our server, Rigoberto loved sharing the memories with us. For under $50, I'd say that was almost 1970's prices too! To
quote William Shakepeare in Henry the IV, Part 1: Act 2, Scene 1 "He hath eaten me out of house and home; he hath put all my substance into that fat belly of his." We kind of felt like this when we waddled out of the Hamlet last night.
Make memories while you can! Hamburger Hamlet 4419 Van Nuys Boulevard Sherman Oaks (818) 784-1183 Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m. Fri-Sat 8:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. Sunday 9:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Recommended Dishes: Those potatoes, all burgers, fried chicken wings, french fries, onion soup fondue, lobster bisque, chocolate cake, coffee milkshakes, zucchini zircles.