A crowded crowd-pleaser off the beaten path in Hollywood, Grub serves up a no nonsense lunch in a charming atmosphere. We've wanted to hit up Grub for sometime now; we noticed recently that it ranked high on the list of city lunch spots in the past couple of years, and will probably hold its lead in this year's polls, thanks to its quirky charm and good eats. We were surprised at how tucked away the re-purposed house on Seward is, although it's certain the surrounding studios and related service businesses keep the table full from breakfast meetings to the mellower of the power lunches. We arrived at the peak of the lunch rush, and sat outside on the charming patio to wait for a table. This gave us a chance to take in the menu--full of traditional sandwich and salad fare served with little twists and surprises in spices and flavorings--and to giggle over the casual, joking tone of the items' names and descriptions.

Once we were seated under the shade of an umbrella on the patio, our overwhelmed but kind server took our order with gusto. We sipped their Famous Homemade Ginger Ale with ginger and lime, and chatted enough to cover the noise of the massive demoliton work that was going on across the street. Instead of the usual heavy bread that is often provided in most restaurants, Grub serves up a complimentary basket of veggie and dip with a handful of mini-pretzels to take the edge of the midday hunger pangs. There was a bit of a wait to get our entrees, so when they showed up, we dove in eagerly. We had the Peruvian Saltado, under the "Special Grub" section of the menu, which is a dish of Latin piced roasted potatoes, red onions, tomatoes, and chicken in garlic sauce on a bed of greens. The ingredients were fresh and tasty, although there was a bit too much sauce, so our greens went soggy before long. Our dining companion had the Hot Chicks! Salad, which is chicken done up in hot sauce on greens with blue cheese and buttermilk ranch dressing, which was very much enjoyed. We'd been intrigued by the sassy dessert menu, which declares: "If your ass can still fit through the door...then what the hell, order dessert." Since we were on the patio, we didn't need to give even a second thought to the door, so we ordered up a Big Ass Ice Cream Sandwich (yes, that is the name)--it's neopolitan ice cream pressed between two chocolate chip cookies and drizzled in chocolate and caramel sauces, perfect for splitting and to cap off a leisurely lunch on a gorgeous spring afternoon. Though the service was on the slow side, and our server's attention clearly divided, the charm of the atmosphere and the menu and the downright good grub made our trip to Grub a positive one.

Grub: 911 Seward Street, Hollywood (323) 461-FOOD (3663)