Today we’d like to introduce you to Fred Schleicher.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Fred. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The Kitchen opened its doors in 2000. Owned and operated by neighborhood residents, our intention is to reflect the diversity, color, and vibrancy of our neighborhood and to create a place people feel at home.
Everything is fresh and made from scratch. We make all our own stocks, dressings and sauces and we work hard to be consistent in our preparations. We’re not trying to re-invent the wheel here. Our goal is to create fresh comfort food that is inspired. And while we maintain a stable core menu, we also like experimenting with new trends, exploring which ones work and which don’t, and coming up with new dishes to keep it fresh for you.
Most of the staff began working here over 10 years ago, some from the start. Whether it’s a sous-chef working in the kitchen since the beginning or a server with a developed and detailed knowledge of everything on our menu, our staff is an essential part of our operation and they know it. Our staff is happy and respected and we believe our product is a direct result of this, from the food to the general atmosphere.
We like what we do. We like serving delicious food in an unpretentious, relaxed atmosphere. We are friendly, but not intrusive, and always efficient! A satisfied customer represents our hard work, of which we are very proud. We get a lot of compliments for our food, and we like that and we work hard to keep those compliments coming.
Has it been a smooth road?
Owning a restaurant is never a smooth road. There were and have been many obstacles along the way. Still are. I think the challenge is recognizing all the joy in what you do on a daily basis.
Every day, a meal is a little celebration of life. From preparing food to serving food to enjoying food — very simple — but can be easily pushed aside by the stress of what making that happen entails. It’s hard work, but it’s also fun and very rewarding.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I think it’s going back to the fact that we’re not trying to re-invent the wheel; that everything is make from scratch and with great care. The most popular items on our menu are the Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie, Salmon, but you can also get a delicious Cheeseburger or Fish & Chips. In other words, one can order an entree or a splendid sandwich.
Also, a big part of our business is our regulars. We always encourage new business, but all the customers who have come back time and time again are like family to us. We’ve seen kids grow up, people move away and come back, and we’ve celebrated engagements and anniversaries, anything from first dates to birthdays. The whole gamut.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
It does seem like opening a restaurant these days is something only someone with very deep pockets can do. I’m really not sure that we would have the resources today to do that. That said, it is a very exciting time to be in Los Angeles. We have seen a lot of changes in the Los Feliz / Silver Lake / Echo Park area in the past 17 years.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4348 Fountain Avenue
- Website: thekitchen.la
- Phone: 323.664.3663
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: thekitchen.silverlake
- Facebook: facebook.com/thekitchensilverlake
