Savory bfast + good coffee? (Pasadena environs)
I'm constantly looking for new b'fast spots and need some new suggestions.
On the current rotation (in no particular order):
Martsons (Pasadena)
Julienne's (Pasadena)
Cafe Verde (Pasadena)
Yaharia's (Pasadena)
Dish (La Canada)
Leroys (Monrovia)
Peach Cafe (Monrovia)
Bottega Louie (downtown)
Auntie Em's (eagle rock)
Le Petit Beaujolais (eagle rock)
Square One (hollywood)
I'm looking for savory items (eggs, sausage, bacon) vs sweet/bready type things (due to current diet restrictions (no wheat)).
Ideas?
Blue Star (downtown) is the only thing on my 'to try' list.
I know I'm missing out on others! Please share. TIA
Would prefer the Pasadena-ish environs (15-20 minute radius is fine).
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Cafe Verde
961 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91106
Blue Star
2200 E 15th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Le Petit Cafe
2842 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017
By The Oracle
on Feb 16, 2011 11:39 AM
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I haven't been but have heard good things about Mike and Anne's in South Pasadena.
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Mike and Anne's is a great little restaurant. Not a very extensive menu, but well executed in a very nice setting. Prices are reasonable. It is a very good neighborhood restaurant and well worth trying.
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I've been several times for brunch, wanting to love it, and it always fell short - so, it's off my list for good. Small portions and wretched service keep me away.
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Agreed...service is awful and food was disappointing on recent visits. I did enjoy this restaurant when it first opened.
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I'd disagree with the idea that their prices are reasonable. For what you get, I think they tend to charge about 20% over what's earned. That's especially true for dinner. I wish it weren't so - they're a super cute place to go eat.
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Well, the Mike and Anne haters can go elsewhere. I had an excellent oriental chicken salad, the best I've ever had and service was great. Sorry your experiences didn't live up to your standards, but really, the restaurant is picturesque, well designed and unless your expectation of prices is from the Jack in the Box menu, quite reasonable indeed. Just check out the prices on S. Lake in Pasadena or on the Westside. Where are you guys eating anyways??
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not the "oriental chicken salad", that's for sure.
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Well, I guess you'd better stick to the food trucks, guy.
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I don't think you have to be a food-truck fanatic to experience cognitive dissonance on seeing oriental chicken salad on a breakfast thread!
Mike and Anne's is a pleasant space, and though its prices are at the upper end of my everyday budget they're in line with my favorite brunch joint, Square One. We had an excellent light lunch at M&A one day. Our only annoyance with the place came one Saturday afternoon when we stopped by for refreshments, and were told that they were closing until dinner time. If this were some fancy-pants dining establishment we might understand that, but to our minds it's a neighborhood eatery, like Green Street, and should be expected to open at the beginning of its work day and close at the end. But it's their business, not ours.
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plate 33, never been, but it seems to fit your criteria.
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Think you mean Plate 38, no? Corner Colorado and Sierra Madre (Pas.).
I've been several times. It's kind of an odd place - very aspirational for dinner ($20-30 entrees with long descriptions) but the few items I've ordered have just been off, like the chef has an idea of what needs to be served at a nice place, but things are getting short-circuited. A few examples - oatmeal served "with fruit and brown sugar". Ok, fine, but whole grapes and unpeeled apple chunks? The egg sandwich was supposed to be served on an English muffin but instead it was on a fairly stale brioche with this herb-y aioli. I don't like mayo on anything, but a breakfast sandwich is really beyond the pale. And the sausage, rather than being patties, was thick links split down the middle, which sort of busted up the sandwich.
But these aren't grave offenses (I can't remember if I've posted on this place, so hope this isn't repetitive), and all this aside, it's not really a bad place for breakfast in the area, just some rough edges. Coffee is really strong Peet's and freshly-brewed, so that's a plus. It's a great place to work, has a nice, clean vibe, and service is great. It just might need a Ramsey-esque makeover one of these days, since it's trying to be a lot of different things at once and not really nailing it.
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Well, I haven't been there yet, but that egg sandwich sounds like the egg sandwich of my dreams; I can't imagine eating one without mayo, and aioli is what I expect to eat in Heaven (if I go to the other place I expect nothing but ketchup and Miracle Whip!). I do agree that if I'm getting grapes on my oatmeal they need to be dried … and apple is just wrong.
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Okay, five months later and I *HAVE* been to Plate 38, though not yet for breakfast. Twice, once for lunch and once for supper, both good enough to convince me that breakfast oughta be trip #3. That brioche must have been a burger bun; if the egg sandwich is as good as my burger was I may need to drop my slavish allegiance to Sausage-and-Egg McMuffins ...
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Plate 38
2361 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107
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I've always had solid breakfasts at The Monrovian in Monrovia. Also, basic coffee shop fare at Andy's in Pasadena. I am not a coffee drinker, so I can only talk about the food!
For really good Chilaquiles, I love El Matador on Irwindale in Irwindale. Very, very good.
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Same as the El Matador truck at the end of the Western off ramp off the 405?
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Don't know! That would be interesting if it was!
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Twohey's
Mix N Munch
Mike and Anne's
Black Cow
Nano Cafe
Uncle John's Ham & Eggs
Armon's
Nick's Cafe
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Uncle John's Ham & Eggs is now known as Uncle John's Cafe
834 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 623-3555
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Good coffee @ Twohey's?? Maybe I'm just remembering wrong, but I'm picturing a Farmer's Bros. set-up.
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I look at OP's list and take the phrase "good coffee" to be a euphemism for a high profit margin item to cover the cost of the rest of the menu items.
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Twohey's coffee is terrible and while my daughter loves 'em for breakfast ("pigs in a blanket!") I do not share her enthusiasm. It's passable but that's about as kind as I can be.
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Twohey's Restaurant
1224 N Atlantic Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91801
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+1
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Nick's Cafe
Homegirl Cafe
Philippe's
Urth Caffe
Moles la Tia
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Philippe the Original
1001 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Homegirl Cafe
130 Bruno St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Moles La Tia
4619 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90022
urth caffe
451 S Hewitt St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
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The Chilaquiles at Homegirl are AWESOME! The salsa is made there and is so bright and tasty, I just dive in.
And a wheat free carb fest is available at Wild Thyme in Pasadena --
HUEVOS – SOUTH PASADENA Twice cooked Potatoes topped with two over- easy Eggs, Homemade Salsa, Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream, Avocado & Olives. Choice of Toast.
Only available on the weekends, slightly tawdry (like potato nachos) but very very tasty : )
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I know it's a bit further east, but try Village Eatery in Glendora (in the Village). Breakfast potatoes are perfect - crispy & savory on the outside, light as a cloud on the inside. Simple and delicious breakfast fare.
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Village Eatery
221 N Glendora Ave, Glendora, CA 91741
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I'll third Mike & Anne's.
Another option is dim sum -- plenty of savory options. No coffee, though. (If I could find a dim sum place that offered coffee instead of tea, I'd marry it.)
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Mike & Anne's
1040 Mission St, South Pasadena, CA 91030
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Gus's in South Pasadena serves breakfast on weekends.....
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Forgot - Novel Cafe on Colorado. It is part of a chain but is decent, the coffee is never burnt tasting, and their sun dried tomato omelet with goat cheese is nice.
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Perhaps Tonny's on Orange Grove if you don't eat too many tortillas.
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Tonny's Restaurant
843 E Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104
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Oh yeah - Antigua Bread in Highland Park on Figueroa. Great coffee, huevos rancheros. There's also one on Huntington near the El Sereno/South Pas. border.
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Antigua Bread
5703 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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Thanks, everyone! I have quite a nice, new list!
At the top is Nick's Cafe & Blue Star - would you pick one over the other? And, why?
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Antigua Bread
5703 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Blue Star
2200 E 15th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
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Nick's Cafe over Blue Star.
You looking for ham & eggs, The Original Pantry (coffee included free).
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Original Pantry Cafe
877 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Blue Star
2200 E 15th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
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UPDATE: Checked out Nick's Cafe and LOVED it. Thank you so much for this rec! Great ham, loved the service and free coffee. The biscuits were also an unexpected treat. Will definitely be back and put this on the b'fast rotation.
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Free coffee only on Satuday & Sunday.
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Elements Cafe is a great breakfast/brunch place in Pasadena. Quiche, mac n cheese and their breakfast sandwiches are awesome. Duck breakfast burrito is quite good as well but a bit heavy for my taste. Not really a coffee drinker so cant help you there. I know they have coffee though lol
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It hasn't come up and I'm sure there are some mixed reviews of this place, especially since it on the pricey side, but Amy's Patio Cafe has a good savory breakfast. I'm especially a fan of their Savory Omelet - goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. The eggs are always well cooked, they have a variety of meats to chose from and you always get zucchini bread to start your meal. As for the coffee, I don't drink the stuff, but my fiance likes it. It's not a big place, though and you may have to wait for a table on the weekends. They serve lunch too, and served dinner last summer (not sure if they will do it again).
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Amy's Patio Cafe
900 E Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA 91001
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