I was turning 50. I wanted to eat a place with a 1950s (my birth decade) feel to it. I checked around and learned about a little supper club in Pico Rivera, where very little has changed since it opened in 1958.

When you drive up, you can't miss it. It has one of those great neon signs that light up the sky. The font and design says Jetsons. Palm trees surround the modern building. Today, the building in squeezed in on Washington between fast-food restaurants and strip malls. I imagine that, in 1958, it sat here pretty much alone.

The moment you enter, you are in another decade. A valet parks your car at the door. Inside there is a roaring fire in a mid-century fireplace. At the bar there is a wrap-around piano bar with folks gathered and singing.

The hostess sat us in the very stylish dining room. The room has large black-and-white booths, and the entire room is a step back to the day it opened. We got a nice table with a view of the whole room. This was a Monday night and the place was packed.

Our waitress was charming, friendly, and welcoming. She had pride in her job and always did the little things, like making sure our bread basket was always full. She also knew her menu and was able to give us some suggestions and tips.

My favorite part of the meal was the relish tray that shows up when you sit down. It's loaded with radishes, celery, carrots, and peppers, all chilled on a bed of ice. This was exactly the small touches I remember when I went out to eat with parents in the 1960s. This is something that you seldom see these days.

We all started by sharing a Caesar salad, which is made fresh tableside. There is one woman who all she does is go around and makes the Caesars. They were authentic and very delicious.

I had a steak, and it was tender and juicy - cooked to perfection. I think the way to go here is with the steaks. Some are large enough to share and they are carved tableside.

As it was my birthday, I had to indulge in dessert. I had a piece of chocolate cake with a cream cheese chilled filling. It was delicious, and way too big for one person to finish.

We were surprised at our bill. I guess we have been living in LA too long. The whole bill, with drinks, salad, and dessert, came to just over $100. We thought that this was a real deal by LA standards.

Dal Rae is a step back in time. I may have been in a nostalgic mood, but I miss this type of dining, when portions were huge, the service friendly, and the prices in line. Dal Rae is a winner, and it's no wonder it has stood the test of time since the 1950s.