GOOD JAZZ, GREAT VALUE.Byline: Larry Lipson Restaurant Critic The Money Tree is truly a Toluca Lake landmark. For more than half a century, this Riverside Drive A number of cities around the world have a Riverside Drive. In the United States:
There aren't many places like this anymore. Current owner Luigi Ruggieri points out that often the jazz musicians This is a list of jazz musicians on whom Wikipedia has articles. Some of the most notable jazz musicians
Some of the well-known jazz artists who've appeared here are Jack Sheldon Jack Sheldon (born November 30, 1931) is an American bebop and West Coast jazz trumpeter, singer, and actor. Sheldon was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He originally became known through his participation in the West Coast jazz movement of the 1950s, performing and recording , Ross Tompkins, Page Cavanaugh, Earl Palmer Earl Palmer (born October 25, 1924) is a legendary drummer and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He started his career at the age of five as a tap dancer, joining his mother and aunt on the black vaudeville circuit in its twilight. and Marty Harris. Clarence Webb and singer Pat Livingstone are the current Wednesday and Saturday headliners. Frank Wilson's Trio appears Tuesdays and Thursdays featuring singers like Dina Bennett and Laura Persall. Friday nights it's the After Hours Adv. 1. after hours - not during regular hours; "he often worked after hours" Quartet. Brian O'Rourke Sir Brian na Murra O'Rourke (1540?–1591), hereditary lord of West Breifne (modern County Leitrim) in Ireland during the later stages of the Tudor reconquest of that country, was proclaimed a rebel and became the first man to be extradited within Britain. plays with his trio on Sundays with singer Kelly Pappas. And the Richard Glazer Trio plays on Mondays. Food is mostly Italian with an emphasis on steaks, chicken and pastas. Name: Money Tree. Address: 10149 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake. Phone: (818) 752-8383. How long in business: According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. current owner Luigi Ruggieri, the restaurant was built in 1951 by Moe Howard, one of the Three Stooges. Menu/cuisine changes: With several ownerships over the years, the food has changed many times, though it has veered from continental to Italian since the '70s. Decor/physical changes: Actually, the restaurant generally remained the same for a long, long time, until 1996, when previous owner Edwardo Ruggieri pulled the old red booths out and replaced them with new chairs and tables. There are now nine deuces (tables for two), four foursomes and one three-seater table near the bandstand. Nothing really has been done to the exterior other than an occasional painting. Inside, tables are covered with maroon tablecloths topped with white ones. Green place mats give another touch of color. Between the bar and the dining room, likenesses of ``Our Gang'' and ``Little Rascals'' stars are embossed em·boss tr.v. em·bossed, em·boss·ing, em·boss·es 1. To mold or carve in relief: emboss a design on a coin. 2. on glass dividers, and framed musical icons Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand grace the walls. Personnel changes: Owners over the years, in addition to those mentioned, have included Clara Carone and Val Messmer. Today, the restaurant is owned by partners and ex-spouses Fran and Luigi Ruggieri, who purchased it in 1997 from his brother. Chef Vinicio Perez has been the Money Tree chef since February 1996. Recommendable dishes: Soups, antipasto caprese, calamari Livornese, pork chop Pork Chop An arrangement on the floor of the NYSE whereby clerks cover the booth of a floor broker and accept orders, phone calls, and associated tasks. Notes: The clerks in charge of maintaining the booths are directly compensated by the floor brokers who own them. with red wine mushroom sauce, linguine with clams, chicken marsala. Service quality: Attentive waitresses seem to know their business. Pricing: Obviously, prices have increased over the years, but the Money Tree is one of the few entertainment spots in town where you can have a satisfying meal and not pay extra for the entertainment. Currently starters run from $3.50 to $9.25 (includes antipasti Antipasti can refer to:
Wine list/service: The list here is a limited, old-fashioned selection, possibly done for the restaurant by a single distributor, yet it has some reasonably priced wine (mostly Robert Mondavi's Woodbridge) for those who prefer to sip, nibble Half a byte (four bits). (data) nibble - /nib'l/ (US "nybble", by analogy with "bite" -> "byte") Half a byte. Since a byte is nearly always eight bits, a nibble is nearly always four bits (and can therefore be represented by one hex digit). and listen to jazz. Corkage cork·age n. A charge exacted at a restaurant for every bottle of liquor served that was not bought on the premises. corkage Noun a charge made at a restaurant for serving wine bought elsewhere : $5. Policies worth mentioning: No cover charges. Jazz entertainment nightly. Reasonable (under $10) lunch menu. Miscellaneous comments: Live jazz entertainment of this quality without admission and cover charges is almost unheard of today. Money Tree is no clip joint. If you like what you see and hear, there's a jar to leave tips for the musicians. And the food and drink prices are competitive with those restaurants that have no entertainment at all. Our latest ratings: Food: Two and one half stars. Wine: One and one half stars. Service: Three stars. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Owners Luigi and Fran Ruggieri, with chef Vinicio Perez, serve up Italian fare along with the jazz, at the Money Tree, a Toluca Lake landmark since 1951. Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer |
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