Thursday, October 14, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Grizzly Manor Cafe
41268 Big Bear Blvd
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Grizzly Manor Cafe Online Menu
First, let me apologize for the delay in adding new reviews; it's been a hectic and pancakeless few weeks. Fall now appears to be in full swing, though, and what's better in autumn than pancakes? That's right, there's nothing better!
Part of the reason things have been hectic is that I've been out of town more than usual lately, which leads us to this review, the first featuring a non–LA area restaurant. I wouldn't normally review an out-of-town place, but this one deserves some love.
I spent a great weekend in Big Bear Lake with some good friends. On Sunday we all wanted a big Sunday brunch, so our lovely host recommended we go to the Grizzly Manor Cafe.
It. Was. FANTASTIC. It's a small, cozy place in a standalone building on the city's main drag. We got there just before closing time (it's breakfast-only on weekends) and pretty much had the place to ourselves. So far, very good!
The service was extremely friendly, and check out the menu, linked above. The prices are a little out of date on that menu, but not by much—nothing on their current breakfast menu is more than $9.95. When you're used to LA prices, that's impressive.
Even more impressive was the food. The portions were outrageous in the best way. Our hostess warned us that the pancakes were ginormous, so a friend and I agreed to share a single blueberry pancake. I also ordered a ham, cheese and mushroom omelet and had an order of iced coffee.
The pancake was so large it hung over the plate. Often, oversized pancakes are very mushy in the middle, but this one was cooked to perfection. It was fluffy and so tasty I didn't even add syrup; the fresh blueberries and a little bit of butter were all that was needed to make it one of the best pancakes I've had. Size be damned; the next time I go back, I'm ordering a stack!
The omelet was also very good and also generously oversized. My order also came with hash browns, so I was a very happy camper indeed. My friends were also pleased with their orders.
The Grizzly Manor Cafe proved to be the perfect place to end a perfect weekend. If you ever find yourself in Big Bear Lake with a hankering for pancakes, you now know where to go. And let me repeat my hostess' warning: Just order one unless you're extremely hungry or a competitive eater.
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Grizzly Manor Cafe Online Menu
First, let me apologize for the delay in adding new reviews; it's been a hectic and pancakeless few weeks. Fall now appears to be in full swing, though, and what's better in autumn than pancakes? That's right, there's nothing better!
Part of the reason things have been hectic is that I've been out of town more than usual lately, which leads us to this review, the first featuring a non–LA area restaurant. I wouldn't normally review an out-of-town place, but this one deserves some love.
I spent a great weekend in Big Bear Lake with some good friends. On Sunday we all wanted a big Sunday brunch, so our lovely host recommended we go to the Grizzly Manor Cafe.
It. Was. FANTASTIC. It's a small, cozy place in a standalone building on the city's main drag. We got there just before closing time (it's breakfast-only on weekends) and pretty much had the place to ourselves. So far, very good!
The service was extremely friendly, and check out the menu, linked above. The prices are a little out of date on that menu, but not by much—nothing on their current breakfast menu is more than $9.95. When you're used to LA prices, that's impressive.
Even more impressive was the food. The portions were outrageous in the best way. Our hostess warned us that the pancakes were ginormous, so a friend and I agreed to share a single blueberry pancake. I also ordered a ham, cheese and mushroom omelet and had an order of iced coffee.
The pancake was so large it hung over the plate. Often, oversized pancakes are very mushy in the middle, but this one was cooked to perfection. It was fluffy and so tasty I didn't even add syrup; the fresh blueberries and a little bit of butter were all that was needed to make it one of the best pancakes I've had. Size be damned; the next time I go back, I'm ordering a stack!
The omelet was also very good and also generously oversized. My order also came with hash browns, so I was a very happy camper indeed. My friends were also pleased with their orders.
The Grizzly Manor Cafe proved to be the perfect place to end a perfect weekend. If you ever find yourself in Big Bear Lake with a hankering for pancakes, you now know where to go. And let me repeat my hostess' warning: Just order one unless you're extremely hungry or a competitive eater.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Snug Harbor
2323 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
My friend and I decided to check out Snug Harbor for Labor Day pancakes because he's often seen long lines outside the place, which indicates it's pretty special.
I'd never heard of it, and it doesn't seem to have a Web site, but the Yelp reviews were very positive, so my hopes were high.
Parking was a bit of an issue, even on a very slow and quiet holiday. There might be some parking in the alley in back, but we drove through there and couldn't really figure out where it was, so we ended up parking about a half-block away on Wilshire.
We got there around 9:30, and though there were no inside booths available (the place is very small; maybe 10 booths total), there was patio seating, and after confirming it was a nonsmoking patio, we were more than happy to sit outside.
The patio area is nice; small but very shaded and MUCH quieter than inside, which is deafeningly loud. However, the patio furniture is dimestore plastic stuff, and more than once one or the other of us would shift slightly and cause drinks to spill.
The service was very prompt and very friendly. We both ordered Snug Harbor's version of the 2+2+2, and when I couldn't hide my disappointment that the banana pancakes were pancakes with bananas on top rather than cooked in the batter, the waitress suggested I go for the chocolate chip pancakes with bananas, which sounded perfect. They have an impressive list of flavored sausages, so I got the chicken mango. My friend got blueberry pancakes and bacon with his combo. I also had regular coffee, while he had orange juice.
Within 10 minutes, our meals arrived. They were certainly pretty to behold:
The meal ultimately looked better than it tasted, however. The sausage was fantastic and the eggs were fine, but the pancakes were hardly thrilling. The texture was okay, but the taste of the pancakes on their own was very bland. I had expected the chocolate chips to be in the batter, but as you can see, there was simply a small, melted pile on top beneath the sliced bananas. This meant that there was way too much chocolate concentrated in a very small area and no extra flavor at all anywhere else. My friend voiced no complaints about his blueberry pancakes, but there, too, the blueberries were simply clustered on top, and not in a very generous portion, either.
The price, however, wasn't bad at all; our bill came to just over $28 before tip, which seemed reasonable given that we both substituted flavored pancakes in our combos and we each had a beverage, though of course it wasn't that much of a bargain given that the pancakes were rather disappointing.
Snug Harbor offers very good service and has a nice little patio area that is pleasant despite extremely cheap and uncomfortable furniture. The food itself, however, was simply average, not at all bad but not the least bit exciting. I have no real desire to go back and certainly wouldn't wait in line for the privilege of having another breakfast there.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
My friend and I decided to check out Snug Harbor for Labor Day pancakes because he's often seen long lines outside the place, which indicates it's pretty special.
I'd never heard of it, and it doesn't seem to have a Web site, but the Yelp reviews were very positive, so my hopes were high.
Parking was a bit of an issue, even on a very slow and quiet holiday. There might be some parking in the alley in back, but we drove through there and couldn't really figure out where it was, so we ended up parking about a half-block away on Wilshire.
We got there around 9:30, and though there were no inside booths available (the place is very small; maybe 10 booths total), there was patio seating, and after confirming it was a nonsmoking patio, we were more than happy to sit outside.
The patio area is nice; small but very shaded and MUCH quieter than inside, which is deafeningly loud. However, the patio furniture is dimestore plastic stuff, and more than once one or the other of us would shift slightly and cause drinks to spill.
The service was very prompt and very friendly. We both ordered Snug Harbor's version of the 2+2+2, and when I couldn't hide my disappointment that the banana pancakes were pancakes with bananas on top rather than cooked in the batter, the waitress suggested I go for the chocolate chip pancakes with bananas, which sounded perfect. They have an impressive list of flavored sausages, so I got the chicken mango. My friend got blueberry pancakes and bacon with his combo. I also had regular coffee, while he had orange juice.
Within 10 minutes, our meals arrived. They were certainly pretty to behold:
The meal ultimately looked better than it tasted, however. The sausage was fantastic and the eggs were fine, but the pancakes were hardly thrilling. The texture was okay, but the taste of the pancakes on their own was very bland. I had expected the chocolate chips to be in the batter, but as you can see, there was simply a small, melted pile on top beneath the sliced bananas. This meant that there was way too much chocolate concentrated in a very small area and no extra flavor at all anywhere else. My friend voiced no complaints about his blueberry pancakes, but there, too, the blueberries were simply clustered on top, and not in a very generous portion, either.
The price, however, wasn't bad at all; our bill came to just over $28 before tip, which seemed reasonable given that we both substituted flavored pancakes in our combos and we each had a beverage, though of course it wasn't that much of a bargain given that the pancakes were rather disappointing.
Snug Harbor offers very good service and has a nice little patio area that is pleasant despite extremely cheap and uncomfortable furniture. The food itself, however, was simply average, not at all bad but not the least bit exciting. I have no real desire to go back and certainly wouldn't wait in line for the privilege of having another breakfast there.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Cafe 50's (Sherman Oaks)
4609 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
http://www.cafe50s.com/
Cafe 50's (West LA) on Twitter
Cafe 50's (West LA) on Facebook
There's no point in being coy. I love this place. I love it madly. It's my neighborhood diner, and I've been going there for many years...but not for breakfast.
However, that is likely going to change after my experience there yesterday, when a friend and I went for brunch. The atmosphere I've always loved, the great service I've come to expect and tasty pancakes. SCORE!!!
There are many things I love about this place. The atmosphere is great. It lives up to its name in decor—the booths and counter are all old school, the walls are plastered with period movie posters and photos, there are antique jukeboxes in each booth (for decoration only, though there's a real jukebox in the restaurant as well) and '50s and '60s music is always playing. It's übercasual and friendly, the kind of place where you can get great comfort food and then linger over coffee; you won't be pressured to hurry up and move out. In fact, they even provide free wireless access, so lingering is encouraged.
While they have a very big menu that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner options, Cafe '50s isn't where you're going to go if you want pages and pages of exotic pancake concoctions. However, they have some surprising and delightful offerings even beyond what's listed on the online menu (have I mentioned how much I love online menus, especially when they include prices? Viva Cafe '50s!). The Sherman Oaks branch's menu includes a s'mores pancake combo and a banana Oreo combo. BANANA OREO COMBO!!!!
I, uh, ordered the banana Oreo combo as part of my usual 2+2+2, and my friend got the blueberry pancakes as part of hers. We also went crazy and ordered sides of hash browns as well as coffee.
Here's what I got about 10 minutes later:
That doesn't even include the hash browns or the coffee. Note the generous tray of syrup and butter, which I loved—is anything worse than having to deal with a sticky syrup dispenser as you're trying to enjoy a gorgeous breakfast? Cafe '50s makes sure that isn't a concern.
I did put syrup on these bad boys, though not too much. The bananas were cooked in the batter, and there were just enough Oreos to provide a decadent kick, but the whole effect, even with syrup, was just right. It was very much a treat but never felt overwhelming, which is exactly what I wanted. They looked and tasted like pancakes you'd get as a kid on Sunday mornings...except with OREOS AND BANANAS!!!...and that's exactly what I wanted, too. I so love Cafe '50s. My friend was equally enthusiastic about her blueberry pancakes, which were almost like jelly pancakes, so stuffed were they with fresh blueberries.
The portion was just right, too. The meal wasn't dominated by the pancakes, so I was able to finish everything without any guilt (well, okay, maybe a bit, but not too much). The scrambled eggs, sausage and hash browns were as tasty and satisfying as the pancakes. The coffee was good as always, and our cups never got empty. We were also provided with lots and lots of cream.
The cost for all of this delicious food and drink? Less than $28 before tip. !!! What's there to complain about??
Not much, really. Parking could be an issue, I suppose—there are a few spots available in the alley behind the restaurant as well as street parking all along Van Nuys (metered) and Hortense (free), the street just south of the restaurant. I've been going to Cafe '50s for years and have never had to park more than a minute's walk away, so chances are good that parking isn't going to be a problem.
Were Cafe '50s' pancakes the most incredible I've had so far? No. That award would belong to Vivian's Millennium Cafe or the Griddle. But they were really good, and Cafe '50s absolutely delivers the best bang for your buck. I will continue to explore LA's pancake options, but I certainly won't need to travel far at all to get a pancake fix the next time I get a hankering!
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
http://www.cafe50s.com/
Cafe 50's (West LA) on Twitter
Cafe 50's (West LA) on Facebook
There's no point in being coy. I love this place. I love it madly. It's my neighborhood diner, and I've been going there for many years...but not for breakfast.
However, that is likely going to change after my experience there yesterday, when a friend and I went for brunch. The atmosphere I've always loved, the great service I've come to expect and tasty pancakes. SCORE!!!
There are many things I love about this place. The atmosphere is great. It lives up to its name in decor—the booths and counter are all old school, the walls are plastered with period movie posters and photos, there are antique jukeboxes in each booth (for decoration only, though there's a real jukebox in the restaurant as well) and '50s and '60s music is always playing. It's übercasual and friendly, the kind of place where you can get great comfort food and then linger over coffee; you won't be pressured to hurry up and move out. In fact, they even provide free wireless access, so lingering is encouraged.
While they have a very big menu that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner options, Cafe '50s isn't where you're going to go if you want pages and pages of exotic pancake concoctions. However, they have some surprising and delightful offerings even beyond what's listed on the online menu (have I mentioned how much I love online menus, especially when they include prices? Viva Cafe '50s!). The Sherman Oaks branch's menu includes a s'mores pancake combo and a banana Oreo combo. BANANA OREO COMBO!!!!
I, uh, ordered the banana Oreo combo as part of my usual 2+2+2, and my friend got the blueberry pancakes as part of hers. We also went crazy and ordered sides of hash browns as well as coffee.
Here's what I got about 10 minutes later:
That doesn't even include the hash browns or the coffee. Note the generous tray of syrup and butter, which I loved—is anything worse than having to deal with a sticky syrup dispenser as you're trying to enjoy a gorgeous breakfast? Cafe '50s makes sure that isn't a concern.
I did put syrup on these bad boys, though not too much. The bananas were cooked in the batter, and there were just enough Oreos to provide a decadent kick, but the whole effect, even with syrup, was just right. It was very much a treat but never felt overwhelming, which is exactly what I wanted. They looked and tasted like pancakes you'd get as a kid on Sunday mornings...except with OREOS AND BANANAS!!!...and that's exactly what I wanted, too. I so love Cafe '50s. My friend was equally enthusiastic about her blueberry pancakes, which were almost like jelly pancakes, so stuffed were they with fresh blueberries.
The portion was just right, too. The meal wasn't dominated by the pancakes, so I was able to finish everything without any guilt (well, okay, maybe a bit, but not too much). The scrambled eggs, sausage and hash browns were as tasty and satisfying as the pancakes. The coffee was good as always, and our cups never got empty. We were also provided with lots and lots of cream.
The cost for all of this delicious food and drink? Less than $28 before tip. !!! What's there to complain about??
Not much, really. Parking could be an issue, I suppose—there are a few spots available in the alley behind the restaurant as well as street parking all along Van Nuys (metered) and Hortense (free), the street just south of the restaurant. I've been going to Cafe '50s for years and have never had to park more than a minute's walk away, so chances are good that parking isn't going to be a problem.
Were Cafe '50s' pancakes the most incredible I've had so far? No. That award would belong to Vivian's Millennium Cafe or the Griddle. But they were really good, and Cafe '50s absolutely delivers the best bang for your buck. I will continue to explore LA's pancake options, but I certainly won't need to travel far at all to get a pancake fix the next time I get a hankering!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
More Reviews Are Coming!
Sorry for the extended radio silence; my pancake plans for last weekend had to be rescheduled, and then summer arrived with a vengeance in Los Angeles, and I haven't wanted to leave the house, even for pancakes.
I have plans for brunch on Saturday, however, so unless that falls through, look for a new review this weekend.
In the meantime, here is an article from Yahoo! Travel that has me thinking about a road trip:
America's Best Pancakes
Stay cool, pancake fans! See you soon...
I have plans for brunch on Saturday, however, so unless that falls through, look for a new review this weekend.
In the meantime, here is an article from Yahoo! Travel that has me thinking about a road trip:
America's Best Pancakes
Stay cool, pancake fans! See you soon...
Monday, August 16, 2010
Vivian's Millennium Cafe
10968 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
http://www.venturablvd.com/vivians-cafe
Vivian's Millennium Cafe on Twitter
Vivian's Millennium Cafe on Facebook
I realize I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but Vivian's is the bomb. Great food, great service and the best prices on my quest so far add up to a can't-miss brunch experience.
This was my second trip to this wonderful cafe; my first visit happened a week or two before I started this blog—in fact, the way I raved about Vivian's pancakes caused my friends to suggest that a pancake blog might be a good project for me. So far, no complaints on my end!
Vivian's did not disappoint in the least. For starters, my friend and I arrived just after 11 on a Sunday but were able to sit immediately; the outdoor patio was filled, but their 10 or so indoor tables were almost empty. We wanted to sit inside (more about that later), so this worked out perfectly.
The second way in which Vivian's scored bonus points even before we got our iced coffees was that the outrageously fantastic white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes I'd gone crazy for on my first visit were again on the "specials" menu. Whoo! It was definitely a good day for this pancake fanatic.
Less than a minute after we took our seats, a server took our drink order and promptly delivered our iced coffees, which, like before, were very good—tasty but not even a little bitter. We looked over the menu (available online in PDF form; click here to check it out but note that it may download to your computer if your browser is not configured to automatically open PDF files—but yay, Vivian's, for making the full menu, including pricing info, available online) and quickly settled on their Pancake Combo: two eggs, two pancakes, two pieces of bacon AND two sausages. My friend ordered Vivian's signature banana pancakes; I of course got the white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes. Less than 10 minutes later, look what we received:
Pancake Combo with banana pancakes:
Studio City, CA 91604
http://www.venturablvd.com/vivians-cafe
Vivian's Millennium Cafe on Twitter
Vivian's Millennium Cafe on Facebook
I realize I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but Vivian's is the bomb. Great food, great service and the best prices on my quest so far add up to a can't-miss brunch experience.
This was my second trip to this wonderful cafe; my first visit happened a week or two before I started this blog—in fact, the way I raved about Vivian's pancakes caused my friends to suggest that a pancake blog might be a good project for me. So far, no complaints on my end!
Vivian's did not disappoint in the least. For starters, my friend and I arrived just after 11 on a Sunday but were able to sit immediately; the outdoor patio was filled, but their 10 or so indoor tables were almost empty. We wanted to sit inside (more about that later), so this worked out perfectly.
The second way in which Vivian's scored bonus points even before we got our iced coffees was that the outrageously fantastic white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes I'd gone crazy for on my first visit were again on the "specials" menu. Whoo! It was definitely a good day for this pancake fanatic.
Less than a minute after we took our seats, a server took our drink order and promptly delivered our iced coffees, which, like before, were very good—tasty but not even a little bitter. We looked over the menu (available online in PDF form; click here to check it out but note that it may download to your computer if your browser is not configured to automatically open PDF files—but yay, Vivian's, for making the full menu, including pricing info, available online) and quickly settled on their Pancake Combo: two eggs, two pancakes, two pieces of bacon AND two sausages. My friend ordered Vivian's signature banana pancakes; I of course got the white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes. Less than 10 minutes later, look what we received:
Pancake Combo with banana pancakes:
Pancake Combo with white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes:
It was like Christmas in August! The food was just fantastic; the "combo" dishes were all cooked to perfection, and, oh, my, those pancakes!! They are the richest ones I've had on my quest so far, but in the best possible way, exactly the way you want if your goal is to indulge on Sundays. The texture of the pancakes is perfect, light but still dense enough to stand up to butter and syrup, and the in-batter toppings are beyond divine. I adore those white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes. I kneel before them. They. Are. AWESOME!!!
That said, if you're looking for a variety of exotic pancake concoctions, you won't find it at Vivian's. The two we ordered are all that's on offer beyond regular buttermilk pancakes and the "Ultimate Pancakes," seven-grain oatmeal pancakes with walnuts and granola—and the white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes I had were on special. (Though, based on my two Sunday visits so far, they appear to be a regular Sunday offering and may be offered on other days as well. I would hope so!)
That said, if you're looking for a variety of exotic pancake concoctions, you won't find it at Vivian's. The two we ordered are all that's on offer beyond regular buttermilk pancakes and the "Ultimate Pancakes," seven-grain oatmeal pancakes with walnuts and granola—and the white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes I had were on special. (Though, based on my two Sunday visits so far, they appear to be a regular Sunday offering and may be offered on other days as well. I would hope so!)
As mentioned above, the service at Vivian's is top-notch. Our servers were extremely prompt and attentive but not at all invasive, and even as the cafe got more crowded we never felt as if we were being rushed. In fact, when we finished, our plates were removed and we were offered refills on our iced coffees, which we accepted, as we both needed a little time to rest after demolishing all that glorious food.
And the prices almost certainly will not be beaten. Our order of two Pancake Combos with fancy-pancake substitutions and two iced coffees came to less than $28 before tip. $28 for bacon AND sausage AND fancy pancakes!! Vivian's also has a presence on both Facebook and Twitter, and subscribers to one or both feeds get access to many specials that could reduce your bill even more. Oh, Vivian's, you make my carb-loving heart sing.
But this is a review, so I have to be honest and say that even though Vivian's has more than enough to offer to keep me coming back again and again, it's not perfect. The first time I ate there, my friends and I sat at the outdoor patio. The setup is really nice—lots of tables, lots of shade, very comfortable. However, they allow smoking in this area, which not only surprised me but made my meal quite unpleasant at times. On the other hand, my friends, who are also nonsmokers, were not bothered by this, and the fact that we couldn't have been seated on the patio when we arrived yesterday suggests people in general are less bothered by this than I am. So while I will never again eat on that outdoor patio, I will concede that the smoking may not be an issue for everyone or even a majority...but if you are like me, you will want to make sure you sit inside when you visit so that your meal will be as enjoyable as possible.
Vivian's also has no real parking lot (there may be parking in the alley behind the restaurant, but even if there is, there is likely not much), so you have to find street parking. Both times I've visited we've had to park several minutes' walk away. This is certainly not a deal-breaker, not least because even a little exercise after a huge breakfast is a good thing, but be prepared to hunt for parking when you go.
Although Vivian's has some flaws, it's one of my favorite places so far based on their crazy-good pancakes and incredible prices. I will be going back many, many times...so I hope they save an inside table for me!
Vivian's also has no real parking lot (there may be parking in the alley behind the restaurant, but even if there is, there is likely not much), so you have to find street parking. Both times I've visited we've had to park several minutes' walk away. This is certainly not a deal-breaker, not least because even a little exercise after a huge breakfast is a good thing, but be prepared to hunt for parking when you go.
Although Vivian's has some flaws, it's one of my favorite places so far based on their crazy-good pancakes and incredible prices. I will be going back many, many times...so I hope they save an inside table for me!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
More Than Waffles
17200 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA 91316
http://www.morethanwaffles.com/
Great pancakes in the Valley! Whoo!!!
More Than Waffles was recommended by friends, and the restaurant's online menu (yet again, let me repeat that having a good Web site that includes menu information is a Very Good Thing, and More Than Waffles' site even includes prices. Bonus!) certainly looked promising.
My friend and I showed up at 10:00 a.m on a Wednesday. Seating was plentiful indoors and out; we chose inside seating and got a nice, large table. The atmosphere was calm and friendly; no doubt things are more hectic on weekends and busier times, but the tables were spaced well enough that it seems likely that, even when filled to capacity, one would not feel too boxed in, which is a definite plus.
We were seated less than a minute when we were asked for our drink order. I had my usual coffee, and it was good and fresh and, even better, I got a huge cup filled with those little plastic creamers even though I'd forgotten to specifically request extra cream. So far, very good!
Our server returned quickly to see whether we were ready to order. I got the "2 pancakes, 2 eggs," with coconut pecan pancakes (I happily paid the extra $3.50 for the fancy pancakes) and scrambled eggs. The meal also comes with a choice of bacon, sausage or ham, and I got sausage. My friend ordered a spinach and mushroom omelette, which came with a Belgian waffle.
The food arrived incredibly quickly—easily within 10 minutes. And it was glorious. Check out these pancakes!
They tasted as good as they looked. That sauce is caramel, not syrup, by the way, and as with the best topping-filled pancakes, no butter or syrup was necessary. But for all that, they were wonderfully light, delicious and sweet but not overwhelming at all. I cleaned my plate without problems or regrets other than the fact that I can't eat like this three times a day, every day.
My friend was also very happy with her breakfast; the Belgian waffle was light and perfect, very much a treat but barely a sin—the menu, which includes nutritional info (some of which is also online), reports that even with strawberries, their Belgian waffles are only 225 calories. You almost could eat that three times a day, every day. Wouldn't that be the life??
We had no complaints at all about the bill, which came to less than $31 before the tip, even with the surcharges for the fancy pancakes. It felt like a very fair price for a generous but not outrageous amount of food.
In addition to excellent food, reasonable prices and fantastic service, More Than Waffles has ample parking, thanks to the fact that it is located in a small courtyard mall with a huge lot that includes parking in the back. Be warned, though, that the restaurant itself is on the inside, lower level of the mall, facing the courtyard, so make sure you know where you're going because it isn't visible from the road, and it would be easy to miss the sign amidst the signs for all the other shops in the mall.
Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about More Than Waffles. I am so going back to this place. They might have to keep a table on reserve for me!
Encino, CA 91316
http://www.morethanwaffles.com/
Great pancakes in the Valley! Whoo!!!
More Than Waffles was recommended by friends, and the restaurant's online menu (yet again, let me repeat that having a good Web site that includes menu information is a Very Good Thing, and More Than Waffles' site even includes prices. Bonus!) certainly looked promising.
My friend and I showed up at 10:00 a.m on a Wednesday. Seating was plentiful indoors and out; we chose inside seating and got a nice, large table. The atmosphere was calm and friendly; no doubt things are more hectic on weekends and busier times, but the tables were spaced well enough that it seems likely that, even when filled to capacity, one would not feel too boxed in, which is a definite plus.
We were seated less than a minute when we were asked for our drink order. I had my usual coffee, and it was good and fresh and, even better, I got a huge cup filled with those little plastic creamers even though I'd forgotten to specifically request extra cream. So far, very good!
Our server returned quickly to see whether we were ready to order. I got the "2 pancakes, 2 eggs," with coconut pecan pancakes (I happily paid the extra $3.50 for the fancy pancakes) and scrambled eggs. The meal also comes with a choice of bacon, sausage or ham, and I got sausage. My friend ordered a spinach and mushroom omelette, which came with a Belgian waffle.
The food arrived incredibly quickly—easily within 10 minutes. And it was glorious. Check out these pancakes!
They tasted as good as they looked. That sauce is caramel, not syrup, by the way, and as with the best topping-filled pancakes, no butter or syrup was necessary. But for all that, they were wonderfully light, delicious and sweet but not overwhelming at all. I cleaned my plate without problems or regrets other than the fact that I can't eat like this three times a day, every day.
My friend was also very happy with her breakfast; the Belgian waffle was light and perfect, very much a treat but barely a sin—the menu, which includes nutritional info (some of which is also online), reports that even with strawberries, their Belgian waffles are only 225 calories. You almost could eat that three times a day, every day. Wouldn't that be the life??
We had no complaints at all about the bill, which came to less than $31 before the tip, even with the surcharges for the fancy pancakes. It felt like a very fair price for a generous but not outrageous amount of food.
In addition to excellent food, reasonable prices and fantastic service, More Than Waffles has ample parking, thanks to the fact that it is located in a small courtyard mall with a huge lot that includes parking in the back. Be warned, though, that the restaurant itself is on the inside, lower level of the mall, facing the courtyard, so make sure you know where you're going because it isn't visible from the road, and it would be easy to miss the sign amidst the signs for all the other shops in the mall.
Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about More Than Waffles. I am so going back to this place. They might have to keep a table on reserve for me!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
CiCi's Cafe
18912 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, CA 91356
(Just west of Wilbur)
http://ciciscafe.com
A friend and I went to CiCi's for Sunday brunch because the restaurant came up when I was doing an Internet search for good pancakes in the Valley, and I had had breakfast there once before, early on a weekday morning, and found it very pleasant.
The place is a zoo on Sundays! My friend and I arrived around 11:15 and were told there would be a half-hour wait. It ended up being closer to an hour, but we were game based on the strength of their online menu (as always, it's a huge plus when a place has a good Web site, so props to CiCi's for theirs, though pricing information would make it even better) and, of course, the fact that there was a long wait suggested this was a place worth waiting for. So we found a shady spot and waited for our names to be called.
We were a little disappointed with our table, as we were seated right next to the door at a small table that was only about a foot from the next table over. In addition to feeling like we were on display with the constant foot traffic in and out, it was such a tight squeeze that there were at least two or three occasions when we had to guard our plates from passing butts as people tried to squeeze to or from their tables. This didn't ruin the experience but definitely made it considerably less pleasant than it could have been. It's hard to criticize a restaurant for being so popular that it has too many people even when it uses pretty much every inch of available space for seating, but I probably won't ever go to CiCi's for Sunday brunch again because it was just too crowded for my taste.
The menu, however, went a long way toward making up for the rather unnerving seating arrangement. Take a gander at their offerings via the menu link above—if you, like me, like your pancakes to be like amusement park confections, CiCi's is your Disneyland. They have everything—in fact, when you get there, you learn that their online menu doesn't even cover all the bases.
In particular, I squealed with delight (seriously—ask my friend, who will confirm this) when I saw they had not one but two types of red velvet pancake options on the menu. Two! I have been dying to try red velvet pancakes, so I went for the version with strawberries and whipped cream (the other featured chocolate and whipped cream) and ordered them as part of "the Chopper," CiCi's version of the 2+2+2. My friend ordered the Chopper as well and got his pancakes with Oreos, bananas, caramel and whipped cream, and we made a pact to share the pancakes so we could each try both kinds. We also ordered iced coffee.
The portions were outrageous—apparently the reason CiCi's doesn't call the Chopper the 2+2+2 is that they give you a full stack of three pancakes. And they are large pancakes—not plate-sized but much larger than CDs. They are not stingy with the toppings, either; each came with generous amounts of fruit and a huge dollop of whipped cream. There were at least three eggs as well, and three or four strips of bacon. As you can imagine, having a small table in butt central was quite a challenge when all this food arrived.
It seemed like way too much food, but I actually finished it all and did not and do not feel like I ate too much, which is quite a trick. But I still think the portions were too large. I'm a big Teuton and can eat like a champ, but even though I finished it all, I definitely didn't need that much and would have been happier paying less and getting a more modest portion—more about that later.
But a bigger problem is that even though the food was incredibly decadent, it didn't taste all that rich. Now, on the one hand, this is certainly a good thing, as I did not want to feel overwhelmed by my breakfast two bites in. On the other hand, though, we ordered Oreo and red velvet pancakes with whipped cream and fruit—they should have tasted zippier than they did. So while I realize this is an odd criticism in many ways, I feel that CiCi's did a great job of toeing the "too sweet" line but, ultimately, they erred on the side of caution. For all their topping-opulence, the pancakes were almost bland. This is likely why we had no problem finishing them, and while that appeals to the part of me that is loath to leave food on my plate, if I wanted a blah pancake for Sunday brunch, I could have just made some myself. So this, too, is why I won't be going back to CiCi's for Sunday brunch—it just wasn't satisfying enough in terms of what I wanted for a diet-be-damned Sunday breakfast extravaganza, and combined with the wait and the overcrowded atmosphere, it proved somewhat disappointing.
On top of all of this, our bill came to more than $40 before the tip. Granted, we ordered an extra side of bacon because we didn't realize the Chopper came with bacon (our fault entirely, as it clearly lists bacon on the menu, but we'd managed to miss that). But the Chopper itself was quite pricey, more than $13. As above, the portions were larger than a normal 2+2+2, but I would have preferred to spend less money (even factoring in any extra charged for the fancy pancakes) and get portions more like those for a 2+2+2 than pay so much and get more than I really wanted or needed. If CiCi's has a 2+2+2 equivalent on the menu, I missed it.
On the upside, however, the service was very good, especially taking the crowd into consideration. Our server was prompt and patient, and our iced coffees were attentively filled. Parking was easy enough, as the restaurant is in a strip mall with a large lot, so that's also a plus.
Overall, I liked CiCi's but was not blown away by it. I will certainly go back on a weekday or very early on a Sunday; I think I would be very happy there during a less chaotic time, especially if I can find a menu option that allows me to get smaller portions for a smaller price.
Tarzana, CA 91356
(Just west of Wilbur)
http://ciciscafe.com
A friend and I went to CiCi's for Sunday brunch because the restaurant came up when I was doing an Internet search for good pancakes in the Valley, and I had had breakfast there once before, early on a weekday morning, and found it very pleasant.
The place is a zoo on Sundays! My friend and I arrived around 11:15 and were told there would be a half-hour wait. It ended up being closer to an hour, but we were game based on the strength of their online menu (as always, it's a huge plus when a place has a good Web site, so props to CiCi's for theirs, though pricing information would make it even better) and, of course, the fact that there was a long wait suggested this was a place worth waiting for. So we found a shady spot and waited for our names to be called.
We were a little disappointed with our table, as we were seated right next to the door at a small table that was only about a foot from the next table over. In addition to feeling like we were on display with the constant foot traffic in and out, it was such a tight squeeze that there were at least two or three occasions when we had to guard our plates from passing butts as people tried to squeeze to or from their tables. This didn't ruin the experience but definitely made it considerably less pleasant than it could have been. It's hard to criticize a restaurant for being so popular that it has too many people even when it uses pretty much every inch of available space for seating, but I probably won't ever go to CiCi's for Sunday brunch again because it was just too crowded for my taste.
The menu, however, went a long way toward making up for the rather unnerving seating arrangement. Take a gander at their offerings via the menu link above—if you, like me, like your pancakes to be like amusement park confections, CiCi's is your Disneyland. They have everything—in fact, when you get there, you learn that their online menu doesn't even cover all the bases.
In particular, I squealed with delight (seriously—ask my friend, who will confirm this) when I saw they had not one but two types of red velvet pancake options on the menu. Two! I have been dying to try red velvet pancakes, so I went for the version with strawberries and whipped cream (the other featured chocolate and whipped cream) and ordered them as part of "the Chopper," CiCi's version of the 2+2+2. My friend ordered the Chopper as well and got his pancakes with Oreos, bananas, caramel and whipped cream, and we made a pact to share the pancakes so we could each try both kinds. We also ordered iced coffee.
The portions were outrageous—apparently the reason CiCi's doesn't call the Chopper the 2+2+2 is that they give you a full stack of three pancakes. And they are large pancakes—not plate-sized but much larger than CDs. They are not stingy with the toppings, either; each came with generous amounts of fruit and a huge dollop of whipped cream. There were at least three eggs as well, and three or four strips of bacon. As you can imagine, having a small table in butt central was quite a challenge when all this food arrived.
It seemed like way too much food, but I actually finished it all and did not and do not feel like I ate too much, which is quite a trick. But I still think the portions were too large. I'm a big Teuton and can eat like a champ, but even though I finished it all, I definitely didn't need that much and would have been happier paying less and getting a more modest portion—more about that later.
But a bigger problem is that even though the food was incredibly decadent, it didn't taste all that rich. Now, on the one hand, this is certainly a good thing, as I did not want to feel overwhelmed by my breakfast two bites in. On the other hand, though, we ordered Oreo and red velvet pancakes with whipped cream and fruit—they should have tasted zippier than they did. So while I realize this is an odd criticism in many ways, I feel that CiCi's did a great job of toeing the "too sweet" line but, ultimately, they erred on the side of caution. For all their topping-opulence, the pancakes were almost bland. This is likely why we had no problem finishing them, and while that appeals to the part of me that is loath to leave food on my plate, if I wanted a blah pancake for Sunday brunch, I could have just made some myself. So this, too, is why I won't be going back to CiCi's for Sunday brunch—it just wasn't satisfying enough in terms of what I wanted for a diet-be-damned Sunday breakfast extravaganza, and combined with the wait and the overcrowded atmosphere, it proved somewhat disappointing.
On top of all of this, our bill came to more than $40 before the tip. Granted, we ordered an extra side of bacon because we didn't realize the Chopper came with bacon (our fault entirely, as it clearly lists bacon on the menu, but we'd managed to miss that). But the Chopper itself was quite pricey, more than $13. As above, the portions were larger than a normal 2+2+2, but I would have preferred to spend less money (even factoring in any extra charged for the fancy pancakes) and get portions more like those for a 2+2+2 than pay so much and get more than I really wanted or needed. If CiCi's has a 2+2+2 equivalent on the menu, I missed it.
On the upside, however, the service was very good, especially taking the crowd into consideration. Our server was prompt and patient, and our iced coffees were attentively filled. Parking was easy enough, as the restaurant is in a strip mall with a large lot, so that's also a plus.
Overall, I liked CiCi's but was not blown away by it. I will certainly go back on a weekday or very early on a Sunday; I think I would be very happy there during a less chaotic time, especially if I can find a menu option that allows me to get smaller portions for a smaller price.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Griddle Cafe
7916 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90046
(On the corner of Sunset and Fairfax)
http://thegriddlecafe.com/
The Griddle Cafe on Twitter
The Griddle Cafe on Facebook
Well, this was one hell of a place to kick off the quest for LA's most awesome pancake. Wow!
For starters, the Griddle came highly recommended, which is certainly a good sign, particularly when you have friends who are no slouches when it comes to LA's dining options. So the bar was quite high right off the bat.
The Griddle scored bonus points with me even before I got there thanks to the fact that they not only have a Twitter account, they post frequently and respond. When I asked for a recommendation, I quickly received a reply along with a note to ask for a particular server. When I got there this morning and asked for him, he shook my hand and offered me and my friend mimosas on the house. Needless to say, I was in love even before I placed my order.
I had already checked out their menu online (another big plus is having a good Web site, and the Griddle scores high marks here as well; the only improvement I could suggest is that they add pricing information), so I had a good idea of what I wanted, but the offerings were so many and so deliciously extravagant I decided to peruse the menu again.
After seriously considering their "Black Magic" pancakes—pancakes with crushed Oreos right in the batter—I settled on their "Golden Ticket" concoction: sugar-baked bananas cooked inside the pancake batter, filled with caramel, walnuts and steusel...and topped with whipped cream, caramel and steusel. On the advice of friends, I ordered a single pancake. I also ordered a side of bacon and some mild-brewed coffee. My friend ordered the "Addicted to Noisella" stuffed French toast (French toast stuffed with Nutella) and a scrambled egg on the side.
The food was incredible, to say the least. My single pancake was a plate-sized wonder, crusted in a thin layer of caramel and topped with a rich dollop of whipped cream. Although it was an outrageously decadent combination of ingredients, it came together wonderfully—it was rich but not sickeningly sweet, helped, no doubt, by the fact that the pancake was the perfect texture, not too mushy and definitely not overdone. It needed no syrup or butter, as it was delicious on its own. My only regret is that I was unable to finish the whole thing, not because it was too rich but because it was so big. But the price was reasonable for the serving, so while I hate wasting food (I decided not to bring the leftovers home but am now thinking I should have!), I have no complaints at all about the portion size even if it did defeat me.
The bacon was also fantastic, thick and perfectly cooked, just the right counterpoint to the sweetness of the pancakes. The coffee was also excellent.
I also sampled my friend's French toast and can vouch for that as well, though she did say that she would probably ask for the Nutella on the side next time because in the end there was just too much of a good thing. Not the worst problem in the world.
We went bright and early and beat the morning rush, so there was no wait at all, and the place was still only about half full even as we were leaving. The service was excellent (never mind the free mimosas!); our server was very attentive and friendly, which made an already wonderful breakfast that much nicer. The prices were good for the portion sizes; our bill came to just over $30 before the tip, which felt right.
My only complaint turns out to have been a nonissue—it took me several trips around the block to find street parking because there is no parking on Sunset between 7 and 9 a.m., and I ended up parking on a side street just north of Fountain Ave. However, my friend told me she had discovered that you can park in the Rite Aid lot just off Fairfax, as the lot doubles as a lot for the Griddle. Now that I know this secret, return trips to this place will be frequent and parking–stress free.
Overall, the Griddle scores high marks in every category. I feel bad for all the LA pancake joints I have yet to visit and review: Be warned, competitors, you are going to have to work very hard to impress me more than the Griddle did!
Hollywood, CA 90046
(On the corner of Sunset and Fairfax)
http://thegriddlecafe.com/
The Griddle Cafe on Twitter
The Griddle Cafe on Facebook
Well, this was one hell of a place to kick off the quest for LA's most awesome pancake. Wow!
For starters, the Griddle came highly recommended, which is certainly a good sign, particularly when you have friends who are no slouches when it comes to LA's dining options. So the bar was quite high right off the bat.
The Griddle scored bonus points with me even before I got there thanks to the fact that they not only have a Twitter account, they post frequently and respond. When I asked for a recommendation, I quickly received a reply along with a note to ask for a particular server. When I got there this morning and asked for him, he shook my hand and offered me and my friend mimosas on the house. Needless to say, I was in love even before I placed my order.
I had already checked out their menu online (another big plus is having a good Web site, and the Griddle scores high marks here as well; the only improvement I could suggest is that they add pricing information), so I had a good idea of what I wanted, but the offerings were so many and so deliciously extravagant I decided to peruse the menu again.
After seriously considering their "Black Magic" pancakes—pancakes with crushed Oreos right in the batter—I settled on their "Golden Ticket" concoction: sugar-baked bananas cooked inside the pancake batter, filled with caramel, walnuts and steusel...and topped with whipped cream, caramel and steusel. On the advice of friends, I ordered a single pancake. I also ordered a side of bacon and some mild-brewed coffee. My friend ordered the "Addicted to Noisella" stuffed French toast (French toast stuffed with Nutella) and a scrambled egg on the side.
The food was incredible, to say the least. My single pancake was a plate-sized wonder, crusted in a thin layer of caramel and topped with a rich dollop of whipped cream. Although it was an outrageously decadent combination of ingredients, it came together wonderfully—it was rich but not sickeningly sweet, helped, no doubt, by the fact that the pancake was the perfect texture, not too mushy and definitely not overdone. It needed no syrup or butter, as it was delicious on its own. My only regret is that I was unable to finish the whole thing, not because it was too rich but because it was so big. But the price was reasonable for the serving, so while I hate wasting food (I decided not to bring the leftovers home but am now thinking I should have!), I have no complaints at all about the portion size even if it did defeat me.
The bacon was also fantastic, thick and perfectly cooked, just the right counterpoint to the sweetness of the pancakes. The coffee was also excellent.
I also sampled my friend's French toast and can vouch for that as well, though she did say that she would probably ask for the Nutella on the side next time because in the end there was just too much of a good thing. Not the worst problem in the world.
We went bright and early and beat the morning rush, so there was no wait at all, and the place was still only about half full even as we were leaving. The service was excellent (never mind the free mimosas!); our server was very attentive and friendly, which made an already wonderful breakfast that much nicer. The prices were good for the portion sizes; our bill came to just over $30 before the tip, which felt right.
My only complaint turns out to have been a nonissue—it took me several trips around the block to find street parking because there is no parking on Sunset between 7 and 9 a.m., and I ended up parking on a side street just north of Fountain Ave. However, my friend told me she had discovered that you can park in the Rite Aid lot just off Fairfax, as the lot doubles as a lot for the Griddle. Now that I know this secret, return trips to this place will be frequent and parking–stress free.
Overall, the Griddle scores high marks in every category. I feel bad for all the LA pancake joints I have yet to visit and review: Be warned, competitors, you are going to have to work very hard to impress me more than the Griddle did!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Let's Do This!
I have become obsessed with pancakes, the more exotic and decadent the better. This blog is dedicated to my search for Los Angeles' most awesome pancake.
I will try to post at least two reviews per month. If anyone has favorite pancake joints in the Los Angeles area (I'm going to purposely leave that vague so that the ideal pancake will not be overlooked because it's on the wrong side of a freeway), please feel free to suggest them in the comment sections, which will be moderated for now until I can gauge whether spam will be an issue.
Let's do this!
I will try to post at least two reviews per month. If anyone has favorite pancake joints in the Los Angeles area (I'm going to purposely leave that vague so that the ideal pancake will not be overlooked because it's on the wrong side of a freeway), please feel free to suggest them in the comment sections, which will be moderated for now until I can gauge whether spam will be an issue.
Let's do this!
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