Food

No more free coffee for breakfast at Original Pantry

The 84-seat landmark now charges 50 cents a cup on orders from owner Richard Riordan. L.A.'s former mayor says he's looking to offset higher food costs. The Original Pantry has been serving free morning coffee since 1924, though the manager says most folks aren't even noticing the extra charge. From the LAT:

Of course, coffee price increases are not unheard of among L.A.'s classic restaurants. Philippe the Original, which opened in 1908, raised the price of a cup of joe in 1977 from a nickel to its current 9 cents. "It helps two ways," Riordan said Wednesday. "We didn't have to charge more for breakfast, and we no longer automatically pour coffee for everyone in the morning."

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