Venice, CA. Market? Cafe? Pastries? Glass coffee cups? Oh my! I have come to this eatery a few times for brunch and have always had a pleasant time. The restaurant has a shaded outdoor patio that generally gets a lovely ocean breeze (which is only a few blocks away). The indoors can be a bit noisy, but the exterior isn't too loud. The service is prompt and delightful, and sometimes humorous. There is validated parking in a lot next door, but be mindful of your time if you want to avoid paying.
Berry Danish - was a flaky pastry with a sweet almond paste filling and topped with blackberries and raspberries. Whole raisins were baked into the crust, which I was able to eat, despite my distaste for raisins in general. The pastry was a crusty on the outside, with a had a very moist center. It was alright, but not something I would get again with the number of other options available.
Homemade Granola - was served with a side of nonfat yogurt and strawberries. The granola had a very good crunch. It was light, tasted fresh, and a great addition to my meal. It had a bit more raisins than I would have preferred, but it is definitely worth trying if you want a wholesome breakfast.
Pancakes - were made with whole wheat flour, healthy, but a little too earthy for my taste. I found it needed a lot of syrup to be palatable.
French Toast - This item blew me out of the water. It is made with fresh croissant and served with a berry compote and whipped mascarpone cream. The bread was dense, moist, and perfectly sweetened. The sign of a good french toast or pancake is when you can eat it plain without any toppings. I thought the compote and cream were fantastic, and although I could have easily eaten the dish plain, I gobbled up all of it.
Peet's Tropical Iced Tea - tasted too bitter when paired with something sweet. It was odd, but it didn't stop me from drinking it.
After you're full, split a dessert, why not? Then walk it off at the boardwalk. That's the way it should go...
On the side with Andrew: This was one of the first non-franchise feel, eclectic spots I ventured to when I moved to Los Angeles a few years ago. When I'm on the "west side" in the morning, I'm naturally inclined for a quick bite.
On the side with Kristopher: The tables are rather close together at this restaurant. At one point I heard some pretty colorful personal details of a fellow patron, which are really things I don't want to hear or imagine when I'm enjoying my french toast. :-)
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 392-4191
