Derrick Pipkin says he has been coming the restaurant now famously known as Pips on LaBrea located at 1356 S La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles since he was about 10 years old. That’s when his father would bring him to eat Italian cuisine, but now he comes there because he owns it.
Pips has evolved into the place where Black movers and shakers gather to meet for cigars and cocktails or where the neighborhood hangs out to watch a Lakers game over sliders and pizza.
His Argentine chef doesn’t speak a bit of English and Pipkin does know how to cook. There are two constants when anyone patronizes Pips on La Brea. First the food will always blow you away and second you will likely be entertained by Barbara Morrison’s band. Morrison was a staple at the bar before she passed away, but Pipkin continues to book the band.
So, when Pips celebrates its 13 year anniversary on Thursday May 13, it will be like a Black rendition of Cheers, everybody having a good time and can’t wait to do it again.
