Patra's Charbroiled Burgers: Serving Glassell Park with More Than Just Good Food

The NELA River Collaborative project builds upon the growing momentum of efforts already underway to transform the Los Angeles River into a "riverfront district" and to create a focal point of community revitalization. For more information visit www.mylariver.org

Off of San Fernando Road in Glassell Park, there's a neighborhood landmark that has provided good food, memories, and a place to meet and gather for generations. Patra's Charbroiled Burgershas been at this location for over thirty years, and according to owner Dino Perris it has flourished because of the mutual appreciation that he and the community has for each other -- an appreciation that has been nurtured with hard work and a commitment to serving the community first. An example of this is the recent healthy additions to their menu, spurred on by a visit by world famous chef Jamie Oliver. Dino and Jamie collaborated on the creation of the Revolution Burger as well as other healthy fast food alternatives.

In the interview above, Dino shares some of the history of his family restaurant and his pride in serving the Glassell and Cypress Park communities. He discusses his enthusiasm for the changes along the L.A. River, including the new Rio de Los Angeles Park and the Sotomayor Learning Academies -- both of which offer young people a positive place to be. His goal for Patra's is to be a part of this neighborhood transformation by offering students and residents alike a safe and nourishing place to gather and enjoy good food.

The interview was conducted by Youth Voices student producers from ArtLab, as part of the exploration of their neighborhood and the implementation of the multimedia skills offered by the program. Click HERE to learn more about their exploration of San Fernando Road.

Scroll down to see some of the photos the students took while visiting Patra's.