Musso & Frank Grill: Hollywood’s Oldest Restaurant and Timeless Icon
Explore the legendary Musso & Frank Grill's enduring legacy, Hollywood history, and culinary allure spanning over a century.
The Musso & Frank Grill, nestled on Hollywood Boulevard, is more than a restaurant—it is a living testament to Los Angeles history and cinematic glamour. Since opening its doors in 1919, Musso & Frank has welcomed film legends, literary giants, and generations of Angelenos into its red leather booths and over its mahogany bar. As the city has grown and transformed, this classic grill has remained steadfast, a redoubt of Old Hollywood style and enduring hospitality.
A Century in the Making: The Founding of a Legend
Musso & Frank’s story began when entrepreneur Frank Toulet opened a modest eatery called Frank’s Café at 6669 Hollywood Blvd, then little more than a dusty road stretching across a budding town . In 1923, French chef Jean Rue joined the team, and restaurant operator Joseph Musso partnered with Toulet. Their combined vision set a new standard for excellence and culinary creativity. Soon after, the name changed to Musso & Frank’s Grill, cementing the collaboration that continues in reputation to this day .
- Opened: September 27, 1919
- Founders: Frank Toulet and Joseph Musso
- Original Chef: Jean Rue, famed for his French-inspired menu
- Location: 6667-9 Hollywood Boulevard, still its home today
In 1927, the restaurant was sold to Italian immigrants Joseph Carissimi and John Mosso. The family of John Mosso remains at the helm, carrying on a legacy unique in Hollywood. Through all these years, the core menu and classic interior have remained largely unchanged, radiating nostalgia and authenticity .
Hollywood’s Living Room: The Storied Clientele and Celebrity Mystique
If the booths could talk, Musso & Frank would script centuries of Hollywood tales. In the silent era, celebrities including Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks made the grill their gathering place . According to legend, Chaplin would race Fairbanks on horseback down Hollywood Boulevard—the loser buying lunch! Chaplin’s table by the front window is now known as the Chaplin booth, the most requested seat in the restaurant .
Over the years, the restaurant became a club-house for generations of movie stars and artists seeking refuge from the flashbulbs and pressures of stardom. Regulars have included:
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Humphrey Bogart
- Marilyn Monroe
- Steve McQueen
- Ernest Hemingway
- T.S. Eliot
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Raymond Chandler
The back room became the hangout for literary icons and post-Prohibition revelers—famously, no photos were allowed, preserving an air of privacy and mystique .
Design and Atmosphere: Walking Into the Past
Stepping inside Musso & Frank is to enter an era of high ceilings, dark wood paneling, and plush red leather booths . The waiters, dressed in distinctive red jackets as they have for decades, recall a time when service was an art. The centerpiece grill fills the air with unmistakable aromas, while the polished mahogany bar at the back has become the stuff of legend, serving martinis as cold and precise as any in the nation .
The ‘New Room’, added in 1955, retains the bar and fixtures from the original Back Room—a space once reserved for Hollywood’s elite. Décor touches like antique wallpaper said to contain “Humphrey Bogart’s cigar smoke” linger as quirky testaments to the past .
The Menu: Classic Dishes with an International Flair
Chef Jean Rue’s original menu has set the tone for a century, blending classic French, Italian, Hungarian, and American favorites. Many dishes remain unchanged, providing a sense of culinary continuity for regulars and newcomers alike .
- Grilled lamb kidneys with bacon
- Lobster Thermidor
- Steak tartare (prepared tableside)
- Hungarian goulash
- French onion soup
- Filet mignon, ribeyes, and classic steaks
- Traditional American fare: Chicken pot pie, salads, and desserts
Musso & Frank is perhaps most famous for its martinis, voted america’s best by GQ in 2008 and the heart of countless tales. In 2018 alone, the restaurant sold more than 55,000 martinis, shaken table-side in icy perfection .
Prohibition and the “Back Room”
During the Prohibition era (1920-1933), Musso & Frank became legendary for its discretion. While official sources never confirm, stories abound that Musso’s continued to serve alcohol in hidden rooms to Hollywood’s elite . The storied ‘Back Room’, opened in 1934, became a haven for filmmakers, writers, and actors, who could gather away from public scrutiny. When the Back Room’s lease expired, furnishings and the famous bar were moved to what is now the New Room, keeping a piece of that secretive, gilded age alive .
Generations of Ownership: A Family Affair
The ownership of Musso & Frank is itself a portrait of American family business. After a decade under the founders, the restaurant was sold to Joseph Carissimi and John Mosso (who is not related to Musso) in 1927. Today, John Mosso’s granddaughters and their children run the establishment, preserving tradition while ensuring continuity . The family’s unwavering dedication has allowed Musso & Frank to survive Hollywood’s many eras of transformation, from silent film to streaming age.
Milestones and Honors
- Centennial Anniversary: In 2019, Musso & Frank celebrated 100 years of operation, a rare feat for any restaurant
- Hollywood Walk of Fame: In 2019, it became the first restaurant awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Major Expansion: In 2021 and again in 2022, Musso & Frank expanded for the first time in 66 years, adding new private dining spaces
- Martini Legacy: Named best place in America for a martini by GQ in 2008
Staying Power: Why Musso & Frank Endures
Many restaurants have vanished through Los Angeles’s tides of change, but Musso & Frank remains exceptional for several reasons:
- Unchanged menu: Classic dishes offer a sense of comfort and continuity for regulars
- Authentic ambiance: Time-capsule interiors transport guests to Old Hollywood
- Celebrity heritage: Generations of stars and locals frequent the grill
- Dedicated family ownership: Multigenerational stewardship guarantees consistency
- Impeccable service: Waiters and bartenders—many with decades of tenure—deliver old-school attention
Musso & Frank in Contemporary Los Angeles
True to its roots, Musso & Frank remains a beacon of history amid a changing city. Tourists gather for a taste of nostalgia, while Hollywood studios host discreet meetings, and regulars preserve family traditions started generations ago. Recent additions, such as two new private rooms and expanded bar menus, blend with the unchanged classics to ensure Musso & Frank remains relevant without losing its identity .
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Established | 1919 |
| Location | 6667-9 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles |
| Signature Dish | Lobster Thermidor, Grilled Lamb Kidneys |
| Famous Cocktail | Martini |
| Ownership | Mosso Family (since 1927) |
| Clientele | Actors, writers, locals, tourists |
| Recent Expansion | 2021–2022: New private dining rooms added |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Where is the Musso & Frank Grill located?
A: The restaurant is located at 6667-9 Hollywood Boulevard, in the heart of Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Q: What is Musso & Frank most famous for?
A: Musso & Frank is renowned for its classic American steakhouse cuisine, time-honored cocktails (especially its martini), and its historic setting favored by Hollywood legends.
Q: Can you still order dishes from the original menu?
A: Yes; many of the restaurant’s original dishes—like lobster thermidor and grilled lamb kidneys—are still served, often prepared with traditional methods.
Q: Who owns Musso & Frank Grill today?
A: It is owned and operated by members of John Mosso’s family—the same family that acquired it in 1927.
Q: Why is the Chaplin booth famous?
A: The Chaplin booth by the front window was the favorite table of silent screen legend Charlie Chaplin and remains the most requested table in the house.
Q: Has Musso & Frank Grill appeared in movies?
A: Yes, its distinctive interior and Old Hollywood vibe have made it a popular location for film and television shoots.
Musso & Frank Grill: A Living Legacy
No other restaurant in Los Angeles so wholly embodies the city’s dreams, glories, and reinventions as Musso & Frank Grill. From Prohibition-era secrets to Academy Award after-parties, from novelist hangouts to family Sunday dinners, the grill has witnessed—and helped shape—the story of Hollywood. Dining at Musso & Frank is not just a meal, but a rite of passage and a journey into the heart of Los Angeles history.
