Support Cynthia's

One of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles has always been Cynthia's. It's a restaurant of about 15 tables on Third Street. The spot is famous for three things: great fried chicken, even greater blackberry cobbler and a grating owner whom many have wanted to punch.

People go there for all three reasons. The first two are easy; Cynthia herself - that's another story. She can be the nicest person in the world, coming to the table, chatting, making sure everything is OK; but, if you're not nice to her, she just won't take it and then devilspawn can come out of her.

It's the latter part that has gotten her a lot of attention in the last three weeks, when the friend of an assistant from Paramount sent an e-mail to everyone she knew, in hopes of ruining Cynthia after Cynthia "ruined" the girl's birthday party.

I was glad to read in the article in LA Weekly that Cynthia's business has actually picked up since this bitchy studio-exec-wannabe-stuck-at-assistant sent around that nasty e-mail. Anyone who goes into Cynthia's unprepared for what they might get from the owner is just oblivious - it's part of what makes Cynthia's Cynthia's. Probably why this Lorie Juckett is a thirty-something ASSISTANT at Paramount.

I can just see this group of fools sitting around thinking, "she can't get away with this. We've got to ruin her." Except, she's been doing it - and getting away with it - for 20 years! THAT'S WHAT THE RESTAURANT IS, dumbasses.

Too many people think they can walk into a restaurant, demand whatever they want, and vent all of their life's frustrations on the staff. As a former waiter, I'm glad there are Cynthias out there, standing up for herself and the people who work for her.

My friend Joe (above) works at Cynthia's. Has for a while. He's regaled me with stories about Cynthia's tyrades - and many other things. But, at the end of the day, he likes Cynthia - and, frankly, I like Cynthia. Yes, she can be caustic and self-absorbed. But, there's a quality about her that keeps people going back to that restaurant - and it's not just the cobbler (which Cynthia, of course, won't let you order alone - you MUST order an entree, as well).

Head into Cynthia's. It's a good spot. You'll see she's not bad at all - as long as you don't treat her badly, she won't treat you badly - in fact, if you're a table of gay guys, she'll probably FLIRT with you. And ask for Joe - he's a hottie - and, as long as you don't give him shit, you'll be just fine.

MY ZAGAT RATINGS (out of 10): CYNTHIAS - Food, 9, I've never had a dish there I didn't like; Service, 7, the staff is friendly and attentive - they just have too many tables to deliver perfect service; Atmosphere, 9, there's always energy and fun at Cynthia's.