Though kitschy knickknacks make the dining room and charming patio feel like the home of a sassy grandma, our grandmother usually caters to fewer studio execs and "Bachelor" alums.

Besides, the two attractive women that run the place—Denise DeCarlo and Betty Fraser, who are often (incorrectly) assumed by regulars to be a lesbian couple—are too young and energetic to enter grandmother-dom anytime soon. To a tourist, Grub's middle-of-nowhere location would be baffling; in-the-know locals are quick to explain its vicinity to studios and production facilities. Still, it feels like a secret spot even though it's been winning local best-of awards for years. At any given time, DeCarlo, Fraser and the waitstaff seem to know about half the clientele, made up of families with hip kids, execs in designer shades (and T-shirts on the weekends), cute girls and charming gay couples. Our math could be off, though, since they're equally chummy and enthusiastic with first-timers. The comfort-food menu is full of soups, salads, sandwiches, huge egg dishes and many a specialty with an accurate if decidedly non-humble name like "our friggin' amazing French toast." —Lonny Pugh