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Billboard (1999) - Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's

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"Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's" is reviewed.

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OFF THE MENU: THE LAST DAYS OF CHASEN'S

New Video, 90 minutes, $24.95

When Chasen's restaurant—one of Hollywood's most famous gathering spots for the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Stewart, and thousands of other stars—closed its doors in 1995, a chapter of Hollywood history went with it. This documentary is a loving tribute to the staff that made it great, especially waiter Tommy Gallagher, who died while the film was in production. Shot during the last six months of the restaurant's run, the film features interviews with each of the restaurant's principal players, many of whom had worked there for decades. Bartender Pepe Ruiz makes his famous "Flame Of Love" drink for Ed McMahon, Tom Snyder digs into the famous chili, and Rod Steiger slices up a steak fried in butter, another house specialty, while telling wonderful stories about the people who once dined there. There are also segments about several "lasts," such as the last wedding and last Oscar party. Directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini do an excellent job cutting in old footage and present-day interviews with some of the famous clientele and family members. A must for any Hollywood collector.

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