Current best sunday brunch buffet?

[ming]

Apparently, the Langham Pasadena has changed to an ala carte sunday brunch according to their website. Can anyone confirm this? This would suck b/c that was my favorite brunch buffet in LA.

What's the best brunch buffet these days?

[rvd72]

I like the St. Regis Monarch Beach (in Dana Point) also. I also enjoyed the brunch at Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes (although I don't think it was champagne).

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Terranea Resort
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

[Jeryy]

Has anyone been to the Loews Santa Monica recently? - they used to have an awesome brunch.

[Servorg]

I believe they only do the buffet brunch at Loews for Easter (maybe some other special occasions too, but not sure). Here is my write up from last Easter: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/774904

[wienermobile]

I have not been but they still do a Sunday Brunch at Ocean & Vine in the Loews Hotel Santa Monica. Cost is $49.
Here is a link to the menu:
http://www.santamonicaloewshotel.com/dining-and-lounges/documents/SundayBrunchMay2011.pdf

My favorite brunch is Zengo's at Santa Monica Place. Not a buffet but all the Latin-Asian small plates you can eat for $35 with drinks included. Love that duck hash.
http://www.richardsandoval.com/zengos...

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Loews Santa Monica Hotel
1700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Zengo
395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Chowriffic]

Scarpetta at Montage Beverly Hills is supposed to have a Sunday brunch buffet now. Haven't tried it yet, but the reviews/pix/menu look awesome! I def plan to go one of these days!

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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[J.L.]

Update: Yeah, I tried the Scarpetta brunch a few weeks back.

Verdict: Best restaurant buffet brunch I've ever had in L.A. Pricey, but worth every cent.

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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[torchsong]

Is champagne included at Scarpetta? Thanks.

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Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[Servorg]

No

[lileor]

A mimosa was $16!

[J.L.]

How does the brunch at The Peninsula Beverly Hills rank these days?

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Peninsula Beverly Hills
9882 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA

[kbtass]

Almansor Court in san gabriel is fantastic, and very under-priced. $22 per person ($18 with an online coupon) includes all you can drink champagne, omelet bar, eggs benedict bar (made fresh in front of you), pasta bar, carving station, waffle bar, sushi, crab legs, oysters, menudo, carne asada, and numerous other dishes...oh, and loads of desserts. :)

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Almansor Court
700 S Almansor St, Alhambra, CA 91801

[The Oracle]

I went here yesterday and was NOT impressed. We got there when they opened (10am) and it seemed like the food had already been sitting out for hours (it had that glazed over/stale look in the chafing dishes).

There was a very wide assortment of food (bbq short ribs, chicken, cod, pasta/pizza, mexican bar, crab legs, oysters, misc. pasta and potato salads... but nothing that was particularly appetizing or good. It reminded me of a really bad buffet you'd find in a run-down Vegas hotel.

The stand outs were the eggs benedict (eggs poached to perfection) and the waffles (warm, right from the waffle iron). They also had ice cream and syrup toppings available at the dessert bar, which I thought was a nice touch.

It's a ton of food for the amount you spend for it, but I'd rather have better food and pay more.

The service was VERY good (glasses were continually refilled, plates bussed, etc); very helpful and friendly service.

The dining area had a very perfumed smell to it (as if the carpets had been cleaned with a perfumed powder or something). Tables were nicely spread out - you didn't feel like you were in any one else's space.

Needless to say, I wouldn't recommend it and I would not go back.

[ipsedixit]

Cima is pretty good. Sort of a Pan-Asian, not traditional American sunday brunch, however.

[ming]

Just called the Four Seasons Doheny. They said that the Sunday brunch buffet is still going on in the Culina restaurant. Thinking about going tomorrow. Has anyone been? Is there a seafood selection like at the old Langham/Ritz?

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The Doheny
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Culina
300 S Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[Hoc]

So, did you go? Was it still any good? We're thinking about going this Sunday. A special occasion -- my wife's brother is in town from Korea for a day, and we want to take him someplace spectacular for brunch.

[The Oracle]

Just tried Cima for the first time on Sunday. $42/per person and it was so-so. Best thing around the general area, I'd imagine. The omelet bar and bread pudding were the standouts. I didn't try the smoothie bar, personally, but those in our party that did said it was great. Besides the omelet station, there was a pasta station, asian station (dim sum items, fried rice, etc), mexican station (tacos), sushi spread, and standard buffet salads and seafood items (crab legs, shrimp, oysters).
Glad I went and checked it out... but won't be back.

[Jack Flash]

That's seriously lame. I LOVEd the Ritz Carlton/Langham Sunday Brunch. It was a special treat. Oh well.

[iL Divo]

Our favorite is Golden Cantina @ $35 pp with all the champagne you can drink. I may have to start up again *~))))) (not) < wink

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Golden Cantina
4001 Knox Ave, Rosamond, CA 93560

[The Oracle]

I was there 3 weekends ago, on a Sunday for brunch. Like you, I was disappointed that they changed their brunch - but I was pleasantly surprised when they offered a brunch option (in addition to their ala carte menu). It's basically a paired down version of their 'old' brunch. It's an omelet station, most of the b'fast items in chafing dishes (eggs, sausage/bacon, the yummy cheese blintzes), the large bread/pastries spread, a wide selection of fruit, some cheese selection and charcuterie items. What's missing from the original was the meat carving stations and the other savory items in the chafing trays, the dim sum station. I don't recall seeing any desserts (like the extensive dessert/crepes they used to have either). It's basically more b'fast foods. Price is much less than before - I think either $30 or $35/per person. Hope that helps! ...oh, and no champagne like before (that's included, at least). It definitely sufficed the old brunch and was plenty of food... and I liked the cheaper price :)

[ming]

Thanks for the update. What I really loved about the Langham/Ritz was the seafood.

[Servorg]

Higher end AYCE buffet brunches that get high marks are the Four Season's on Doheny for Sunday brunch (around $70 pp) and the one at Pacific Trails Golf Course in Palos Verdes (the Trump property) and the one at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel.

Lesser (but still good ones) examples can be found at Cafe Sierra in the Universal Hilton in Universal City and down on the Queen Mary.

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Queen Mary
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802

[outshined]

I can't figure out if Four Seasons still has their opulent brunch now that Culina is open... I love the dim sum when I'm too lazy to go to SGV.

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Culina
300 S Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[Servorg]

My understanding was that they were still going to have their Sunday buffet. I haven't called lately but that was the situation just after Culina opened.

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Culina
300 S Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[BubblyOne]

I prefer posts when the person has actually been. Second hand info, not so much.

[Servorg]

The Ritz-Carlton was a buffet brunch when we went around 2 or so years ago. They also still do a buffet brunch for Christmas.

[orythedog]

St Regis Hotel, Dana Point...Brunch is $75 and worth every penny. The view and grounds are spectacular also.

[BubblyOne]

Love the St. Regis..agree that it is worth it (we usually drink that much in champagne alone).
Unless things have changed recently, the Ritz down here is not AYCE.

[Servorg]

Right about the Ritz-Carlton in LN, it's a 3 course brunch with champagne for $65 pp.