Eddie Murphy said it first, and best, when impersonating Elvis in “Delirious,” but the California fast casual eatery chain, Lemonade (@LemonadeLA, www.lemonadela.com), takes “cool” and “refreshing” to a whole new level. The drink is just the beginning.
While living in Los Angeles in the late 90s, one of my favorite chain restaurants was Koo Koo Roo, serving fresh cooked chicken and awesome sides. Their concept was fresh, real food fast. Koo Koo Roo began closing their stores in 2008, and Lemonade seems to have picked up the torch and ran with it.
My friend Meredith suggested we stop by Lemonade on the way to a sushi lunch. Whoa! There in a clean, bright modern-retro cafeteria-styled space lay a small smorgasbord of freshly prepared seasonal salads, gourmet sandwiches and scratch-cooked hot foods for everyone from meat eaters to vegans, plus an assortment of sweets (biggest macarons I’ve ever seen) and their signature unique flavors of housemade lemonades, all at ridiculously affordable prices, too!
I tasted only at the Lemonade in Studio City but jumped at a chance to dine in Mid City days later with friend Deanna and her daughter Bianka. Chinese long bean salad with plums and hoisin vinaigrette and fig; black Tuscan kale salad with hazelnuts; Gandolfini sandwich with turkey, chicken, ham, Swiss cheese, pepperoncini and olives; a chocolate chip cookie; and blood orange lemonade were enjoyed.
Lemonade is now my new cool and refreshing fast casual restaurant chain to tuck into when in LA. Congratulations! Great work!