In The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3, episode 2, “Special Circumstances,” Mickey and Andy playfully argue about the true origins of the French Dip sandwich, raising questions about which restaurant really created the iconic Los Angeles dish. Outside of his law career, Mickey Haller has a strong love for food, family, and friends. With Neve Campbell’s Maggie only appearing in 2 episodes of The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, Mickey’s romantic focus shifts to Andy, a prosecutor with a soft side.

Mickey’s new romantic interest in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 has an interesting dynamic with the defense attorney, where they connect through flirty banter and teasing. Early in the third season, they start lightheartedly bickering about the origins of the French Dip sandwich. Andy passionately argues that Cole’s created the sandwich, while Mickey thinks it was Philippe’s. This argument has existed among Angelenos for over half a century, making it the perfect conversation topic for the couple in The Lincoln Lawyer.

Los Angeles’ Historic Cole’s Vs Philippe’s French Dip Originator Debate Explained

Two Los Angeles Restaurants Claim To Have Created The French Dip Sandwich

When it comes to Los Angeles restaurants, one of the best-known feuds is that of Cole’s French Dip (previously called Cole’s Pacific Electric Buffet) and Philippe the Original, known mononymously as Cole’s and Philippe’s. As indicated by Andy and Mickey’s debate in The Lincoln Lawyer season 3, both of these companies claim to have created the French Dip sandwich, and they each have fervent defenders.

According to Cole’s’ website, in 1908, the restaurant’s chef, Jack Garlinghouse, dipped French bread into the dripping pan to accommodate a customer with bad gums, creating the French Dip. However, Philippe’s website tells a different story. According to them, the owner, Mathieu Philippe, was making a sandwich for a police officer in 1918, and he accidentally dropped the bread into a pan with juices hot from the oven, creating the French Dip. The fact that Andy and Mickey argue about the origin further solidifies the Los Angeles setting. Their opposite sides also mirror the contrast between their jobs.

Which Restaurant Is Really Believed To Be The Originator Of French Dip By Historians

Phillipe’s Probably Created The Original French Dip Sandwich

It’s difficult to dub one of the two restaurants as the true originator, and historians can’t agree on the matter, because different factors lean in favor of both. Philippe’s story has more origin stories that have been told over the past century, but the restaurant has a firsthand account of the sandwich’s creation. On the other hand, Cole’s story is more consistent across time, but the story only comes from secondhand sources. There’s also no record of Cole’s discussing the French Dip until after Philippe’s promoted the sandwich.

The name directly connects to Mathieu Philippe – a French man nicknamed “Frenchy” whose restaurant was in Frenchtown and who had a connection to French culture, where the French Dip was a fashion style.

Despite historians’ disagreement, The Thrillest investigated the matter and settled on Philippe’s restaurant for several reasons. First, Mathieu Philippe’s firsthand account of the creation is highly persuasive. Second, they find it more convincing that the invention would be a happy accident rather than a “eureka moment.” Last, the name directly connects to Mathieu Philippe – a French man nicknamed “Frenchy” whose restaurant was in Frenchtown and who had a connection to French culture, where the French Dip was a fashion style. Ultimately, it seems Mickey was the correct character in The Lincoln Lawyer’s restaurant debate.