SoCal: Sportsmen’s Lodge debuts retro TV dinners

Even Swanson wasn’t clever enough to name its classic 1960s TV dinners after popular TV shows.

Enter the Patio Cafe, a redone restaurant at the recently redone Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, where a “Gilligan’s Island” (beer-battered fish and chips) and “The Twilight Zone” (eggplant-tofu lasagna) are on the menu.

The reimagined TV dinners come in their own customized trays (but not made of tin foil) with little places for peas and carrots, and dessert — just like the originals. Prices are in the $16 to $17 range.

Hollywood’s silver screen isn’t left out of the retro grub either. Items such as “Fist Full of Dollars” Fish Tacos and “Spellbound” Mac & Cheese are among the offerings.

It’s all part of the redesigned cafe that features white-tile floors and walls set off by orange chairs. Black-and-white portraits of TV and film stars line the walls, connecting the Throwback Thursday vibe with the menu.

The lodge at 12825 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City spent two years on an $8-million makeover that exudes a ‘60s-cool image and banishes all signs of creakiness. BroughtonHotels, which created boutique hotels including the Moment in Los Angeles and the Sunburst in Calistoga, Calif., led the renovation.

Rooms and the outdoor pool area that once attracted stars like Clark Gable, Bette Davis and John Wayne sparkle with orange chairs (which the hotel labels “tangerine”) and other bold accents. Rooms start at $179 a night.

Info: Sportsmen’s Lodge, Patio Cafe, (818) 769-4700(818) 769-4700

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