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Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, American (New)
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
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Coming from the Barnsdall Center for an art show, we figured we would stop at my girlfirend's favorite restaurant in the Los Feliz area... Alcove. Not knowing what to expect, I pulled into this long driveway. We valet, and walk into a packed restaurant @ 3pm. Very good sign.
While waiting in line, i noticed the specials menu which had eggs de parma (poached eggs, prosciutto, goat cheese, with a pesto sauce on focaccia bread) and claimed that as my order. My girlfriend got one of her standards, Salmon salad. We ordered the cheese platter and 2 carafes of bellinis to complement the brunch.
Sitting at the outside patio was nice, surroundsed by old school fencing and bushes.
the cheese platter arrived, with multiple layers of deliciousness. I don't remember what the cheeses were, but all were good. the raisins still on the vine was a nice touch.
the eggs de parma was totally heaven on foccacia. the goat cheese melted well with the proscuitto.
the salmon salad was good, and the bellinis were too smotth.
Would recommend to anyone in the area. But judging by how packed the restaurant was while we were there, even at odd hours, everyone does know.
VERY CUTE GARDEN-ESQUE cafe!! came here on a saturday for lunch and they were busy but finding a seat was no problem!!
it's kind of pricey for breakfast dishes but we ended up gettin three dishes for three people WHICH WAS A MISTAKE.. their PORTIONS ARE HUGE.. you could get by with two dishes for three people FOR SURE..
we got the smoked salmon quesadilla.. it was good but nothing to melt over.. and the turkey pesto sandwich was the same.. and the third dish was the eggs benedict with ham i think.. the hollandaise sauce was really bland. but i like it that way since i think hollandaise is NNNNAAsty
the quesadilla and eggs ben came with REALLY FRESH FRUIT SALADS.. mm berries and melons!! the sandwich came with fries and for 2 bucks we upgraded to sweet potato. but they weren't seasoned or anything
so the food isn't THAT great and for those prices i doubt i'll be back .. especially since i don't live in the area!
AND OF COURSE.. we had to get the RED VELVET CAKE to go .. buUUTttt... honestly the cake wasn't as moist as susie cakes (MY FAV CAKE PLACE) who's cake slice is twice as big and 5 bucks vs 7.50 .. alcove's cake had a burnt edge .. as if it burnt to the pan ..that was a downer .. the cream cheese frosting was right on!! but the cake.. was not that great... ON TOP OF THAT.. i saw a guy eating a slice of it at the restaurant.. and his slice was twice as big as our togo slice..
there is parking in the back but it's valet only so i found street parkin!!
Dear Little Chess Table,
"The Darts of the Details"
With sucha surfeit of rave reviews, I was logically charged with eager excitement as I approached the steps to this quaint 1917 Spanish duplex that has been heavily remodeled to it's current charm. As you enter the Alove your can't help but cast your eyes on the most mouth watering dessert case, adorned with sky high layered cakes, shiny chocolate ganaches, berry cream centers, frosted cupcakes, & colorful cookies your head spins from all the options. With ample customers lining the counters & hipster latte lovers dotting the patio, how could I expect anything less than deliciousness? So you would think...
Unfortunately, the exorbitant number of frank misses in both accuracy and precision that unfolded during our "picturesque" brunch left this placing looking more like a riddled dart board. Framed by overgrown trees, piles of soiled dishes, and furnished by mismatched weather beaten chairs, this Mad Hatter Tea Party patio is where my tale of madness begins.
With no wait staff, you line up like humgry ants to place your order. Please keep in mind that my distaste for this ordering style has nothing to do with an opposition to burn more calories while ordering or increasing my chances of varicose veins, or even being unappreciative of the owners' desire to offer "quick" lunches, but rather the chaotic air it breeds that is contradictory to the serene microcosm.
How can this be so anxiety provoking for you Vic? Well perhaps it was the giant slice of bunt cake that came to it's demise before my eyes when it committed suicide off its pedestal. Or perhaps it's the conflict of considerateness and confusion that leaves you too uncomfortable to ask for recommendations or clarifications because you don't want the flow of the line be be dammed by your inquiries. Or perhaps it's that despite the "Soup Nazi-esque" quality of ordering, they still get your order wrong, forcing you to linger about the glass display to ensure that you will get your French Toast rather then the Vegetable Panini that you didn't order. Whatever evokes this anxiety, I must say that it is quelled by the bubbly, friendly, & polite staff.
So anyway, what we ordered:
Brioche French Toast, Smoked Salmon Breakfast Stack x2, Kinda Classic Benedict, Bacon, spinach omelet.
So where the darts didn't land...
Brioche french toast was slightly burnt to the point of blackness but not bitterness, otherwise the brioche with it's high butter & egg content made for a very fluffy and rich product. But wait, where was the Vermont maple syrup? "I'll be right back with the maple syrup," remarked the pseudoserver as he set down our entrees, but like the elusive Yeti he never reappeared. I could feel my french toast getting colder and colder and colder...until I just couldn't take it anymore. So I did it, I went back to the anxiety counter battled my way through the ant nest and asked for my maple syrup and guess what, they gave me a number for it! The gentlemen behind the counter informed me it wasn't ready, wasn't ready? How so? Were they tapping if from one of the trees at Alcove? Well they certainly weren't warming it because it came out cold & w/ a disappointing weak maple flavor. Probably a personal preference for Grade B amber, rather than Fancy or Grade A. So if you've had the french toast you may be thinking, why didn't you just inhale it with that orange juice rum infused reduction? Well if you've tasted it you'd understand, but I think this dart definitely landed into someone's eye it was so unpleasant, especially because the acidity of the orange juice complemented...uhh nothing.
So if I had an iron, not a waffle iron or a curling iron, but a regular iron...I would iron out EVERY single fold of the chef's hat that prepared our food because as you know each fold represents the number of methods you know how to prepare eggs. From the over hard, as in solid creamy yolk "poached" egg atop the Benedict to the runny undercooked transluscent poached egg on the salmon stack to the overcooked dry eggs on the omelet, I just couldn't believe it. Also they don't even roll their french omelets, they "fold" them, like a kid does... Worse-not enough hollaindaise to supplement the missing runny yolk.
Even the fruit sides were off bull eyes. So 2 identical entrees, yet only one w/ strawberries, blackberries & raspberries, definitely some seedy berry business.
The metaphorical rosemary potatoes were also studdingly appalling...greasy, flavorless, and barely crispy.
Even the Creme Fraiche's consistency was a miss, dense and runny, really! Perhaps they could use the hot air they use to inflate this places reputation & whip it back into the Creme Fraiche.
Good bold roasted coffee, but flavor's a bit flat.
Guess we all have bad days, so I'll have to consider a second visit in given all the rave reviews.
Late night dessert/coffee place, 5 stars is for thei choco souffle!! Hot and drippin'! Yum!!!
Came here on a freeezzinnng night and got a mint ice tea while sitting outside. Baaaddd idea. Sooo cold.
Besides that though Alcove's great! There cakes are unbelievable and their lamb burgers are so juicy and perfectly seasoned.
There's valet parking there but the guy leaves after 9:30 so you could probably park there for free a little later.
All in all a pretty cool place to get a quick bite and catch up with friends.
This place was very trendy and hip! Met with some friends for Sunday Brunch and definitely had a fantastic time. I didn't mind the crowd or line at all, it kind of set the mood and gave me more appetite!
I cannot believe I haven't reviewed Alcove Cafe before! I totally adore this place - it has that "I'm not in LA but I am. Oh my gosh it's so pretty" vibe that you can only get in a few places in this city. This is a great place to catch up with a friend because you can sit on the patio for hours! The coffees and teas are yummy and the pastry case is insanely impressive. Not to mention - if you do actually bite the bullet and pay for the slightly overpriced food, it's really quite good!
Great people watching too.
I love to commit a sin from time to time, the confessional loves me on Sunday.
One of the seven deadly sins sometimes sneaks up on me and before I know it, I am deep in the throws of gluttony.
Medieval church leader Thomas Aquinas went so far as to prepare a list of six ways to commit gluttony, including:
Praepropere - eating too soon.
Laute - eating too expensively.
Nimis - eating too much.
Ardenter - eating too eagerly (burningly).
Studiose - eating too daintily (keenly).
Forente - eating wildly (boringly).
I did them all here ! The minute the tiramisu hit the table, I had a big fork full of it in my mouth. Mmmmmm. And the minute I walked into Alcove, I was in love. The sparkling trees with lights, fountains, flowers, the smell of coffee, friendly staff, beautiful people chatting with each other.......I loved it all.
I wanted to shout out loud, "why oh why did you not bring me here first my friend?". Slightly expensive but well worth it( two coffees and two desserts for $20). The bread pudding type muffin we purchased didn't get eaten til the next day and I cursed the heavens that I didn't buy more.
I might even buy a plane ticket back to LA to just see you Alcove. Let another sin enter my soul....... ENVY....I envy all you lucky LA peeps that get to come here on a daily basis.
1ST TIME-
I came here before with a small group of friends. Service (pretentious staff that does not serve) was bad and the food was not so bad.
2ND TIME-
My mom got the idea from somewhere that I loved this place. She goes back and forth with management to make reservations for my birthday brunch. She is promised the room in the back, and they would be happy to host a large group. My mom then informs my family and me of the plans. Not wanting to complain or burst her bubble I go along with the plans. I meet up my relatives, parents and sisters at this place. . .
WAIT!! WHAT!!!! The management staff that "greets" my mother by talking to her like she is stupid, "OH NO, We do not take reservations on a SUNDAY!" Well just so happens my mom being who she is pulls out the EMAIL'S that went back and fourth with the plans. The dumb girl then puts to small tables together that do not have enough room for all of us.
So it goes my aunt mom and sisters all sit with me, but I have to have my dad sit at another table. So needless to say it is not a family brunch. Whoever said this place is good for groups has NEVER been here before. The order takes 1 hour to get out to us. Everyone around us (who sat down after us) were serviced before us, they forget my dads meal, and the staff was super rude. Hey, I used to work customer service, I UNDERSTAND IT GETS BUSY AND FRUSTRATING, BUT THAT IS ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS I DON'T WORK IT ANY MORE!!!!!
The last girl very rudely talked to my mother in front of all of us. At that point I wanted to get up and pop her in the face. Realizing that 3 different tables we disgusted, she changed he tune, apologized and brought out a piece of cake. A piece of cake!!!! Not one person in that party will be back!
This place really really needs to change its management style. The food is decent but pricey. Nothing is mind-blowing good. The fact of the matter is that more people would rather be treated good and are more likely to go back for that reason. The service at this place fell down every which way possible. Instead of trying to fix problems it seems like the staff just ignores them. Yeah we got a piece of cake and a fake smile at the end but, NOTHING IS GOING TO FIX THE WAY MY MOM FELT WHEN SHE WAS TREATED THE WAY SHE DID. THAT WILL ALWAYS BE INEXCUSABLE. I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO STAY AWAY!!!!
4.5
In need of a good brunch place? Check out Alcove!
To be honest.. the price wasn't too enticing. But the food is delicious as well as very pretty! The outdoor seating is also very cutesy. The seats were just regular metal chairs painted in green or orange.. but just general decor of the place screams "BRUNCH." I wouldn't say it's my favorite.. I've had a lot better in New York (woot woot. don't mind my nyc pride! :)) ) but anyways.. not the best but definitely one of the good ones.
I ordered the (kinda) classic benedict. Next to it was a medley of berries. LOVED IT. The colors of the fruit was just sooo pretty. And yumm hollandaise with poached eggs and spinach on top of huge slices of bread. so tasty tasty! Their house blend iced tea was also very good. It wasn't sweet but it wasn't bitter at all.
My friends ordered salmon stack, salmon and mushroom omelet, and a ham, mushroom and onion omelet. everything was delicious! if your order comes with toast, they give you a small jar of jam. ADORABLE!
One thing I should mention though is if you ordered a drink, make sure to pick it up from the counter that you ordered and paid. Because I thought they would bring it out with the food, but they apparently only bring out the food.
At least they were nice about it when I went to go claim my drink. :))
TRY ALCOVE! it's yummy!
I came here with the Bf, his brother and sister-in-law one Saturday morning. THe menu was extensive but I opted for special super thick brioche french toast. THe french toast was great and the portion was huge.... the bananas and creme fraiche were add ons but I was happy with just the french toast. Sampled the salmon scramble.... tasty food and a nice outdoor patio.... Great for breakfast and catching up :)
I like visiting the Alcove on warm summer days. I haven't been in a while, but this was a spot for me and co-workers to meet up for a Sunday brunch.
The outdoor seating adds to the ambiance, but make sure someone in your group grabs a table ASAP. This is the type of place where people will linger after eating their meals.
The main dishes I have eaten at Alcove are pancakes with bacon & scrambled eggs (my all time favorite breakfast), the crab cakes Benedict & the crabcake sandwich dish.
My only complaint with the pancake breakfast is that it was always lukewarm when ordered. Pancakes are meant to be nice, fluffy & hot so that the sweet joy of butter will melt it's ooze all over.
The crabcake dishes were/are awesome! No breading & made like crabcake should be made. BTW, the coffee and lemonade are must haves. Please make sure you order both upon arriving!
meh. I've experienced better.
Word had it this place served killer salads and sweets. I'm pretty hungry, so I ask what the soups are that day and Buffalo Chili sounds good, I order a cup to go with my grilled summer veggie salad. Wine is $8 a glass, so I get a diet coke. My meal is like $24 or some such. Come again? Apparently the cup, not bowl, but CUP of buffalo chili is $7. WHAT?
For waiting in Starbucks-ish line to place and order and then fetch my own silverware and then wait in the brisk weather for my order to find its way to me via the so-not-perfect order placard system, that's a hefty bill!
In fact, my mediocre salad finds its way to my table way before the seven dollar soup ever does. I picked at the bland salad for fifteen mintutes, wondering why it looks so much better than it tastes. The grill marks on the veggies have a bitter flavor instead of sweet. I take out my frustration on a poor server/busser "Excuse me? Have you seen my seven dollar chili??"
The chili was good. But seven dollars a cup?? I'm gonna get some buffalo meat at the farmer's market and try making my own buffalo chili.
My friends' food didn't convince me that I had just ordered the wrong things. I guess the panini looked like the best way to go, especially in terms of value. The fries and onion rings were nothing to write home about, though the sweet potato fries may merit an email.
The worst part of all was dessert. Yes, there are a million gorgeous desserts singing to you from within the glass cases. Simply beautiful, I'll give you that, and variety up the ying yang.
But a slice of banana cake cost me, you guessed it, seven dollars! (They could call this place the Seven Buck Cafe, 'cept that would be misleading because you could only order from the appetizer, dessert, or beer menu.) My seven dollar cake does not taste as good as it looks! At all! It's boring and dry, not at all worth the five thousand some odd calories I just put into my body. If I'm going to sin on a gigantic slice of cake, it should taste like Hansen's on fairfax or what the hell is the point?
My friend was moaning over some equally uninspiring strawberry shortcake. What's going on here?? Why do people think these desserts are the shit when they're actually just shitty?? Is a perception problem between seeing and tasting? Is a "this-is-seven-dollars-it-must-taste-good" phenomenon?
Wake up and smell the seven dollar Meh, people!
Parking at the rear is valet. Metered parking available on the streets and non-metered in the neighborhood.
Walk up to the counter to order your food and drink. Coffee are to be picked up after you pay. Serve-your-own water available with choice of lemon or orange behind the counter. You need to pick up you own flatware.
They have awesome breakfasts and desserts. Luckily they serve breakfast for lunch too!
Food is pricey but worth it coz of the quality, quantity and the little special touches. I got a miniature jar of jelly to go with our dill toast, which came with the shrimp and lobster omelette.
My French toast was made not with any old bread but with brioches. It didn't just come with maple syrup as a condiment either: it came with creme fraiche, sweet butter and a citrus compote with banana slices!
ZERO STARS!!!!!!!!!!!
effffff this place. i have never been treated so rudely IN MY LIFE. i went to the alcove for an important meeting on a late Sunday morning. i got there first and stood in line for over 20 minutes patiently waiting to place my order. during this time i watched tons of people hawk around for empty tables and swoop in as they became available.
so, when we got close to ordering, i left my dining mates inside with my order and hunted for a table. i politely waited until someone left, and sat down.
moments later, a snarky waiter swoops over and says "you have to have a number to sit at a table!" really? where were you for the past 20 minutes as tons of people did just what i did? where are the directions stating that these are the rules?! he insisted i leave, and i told him "you've got to be joking, i'm not getting up from this table." i could have SWORN i saw my friend walk to the back with a number and told him so. turns out i was wrong, because the server WENT AND CHECKED TO SEE IF I WAS TELLING THE TRUTH. (she was wearing all black and i hadn't seen her in a while, forgive me.)
he imperiously returns to the table and demands that i get up. well guess what yelpers, i got up, yanked my friends out of the line and walked to little dom's for a perfectly civilized brunch.
what a crappy, half assed excuse for a restaurant. there are no staff up front directing people as to the particular customs of the restaurant. as a matter of fact every single person that got in line after me was asking me, "is this the line for a table?" and then you have the gall to insist i get up from a table?
sadly, this business will probably not fail as people in LA have become conditioned to crappy , rude and downright hostile treatment in restaurants. the customer is not only not always right, clearly the alcove thinks the customer is also an asshole.
The first time I came here was back in '05 and since then I have been here too many times to count. If I had written this review after my first experience here, I would've given it 5 stars, but since then the quality of the food and service as well as the people that patron here have gone way down.
I mean, don't get me wrong, Alcove is like a staple brunch spot for me (when in the area), and since my first visit, I've introduced many many people to this spot, but i'm just saying, before they had valet, before the mini cheese/wine store in the back, before the extended menu + hours, and before long ass lines, I liked Alcove better. That's all.
A few things over the years that have never disappointed:
- Breakfast Burrito
- Brie and Apple Panini
- Turkey Burger
One of their new things I heart:
- Sliders, (Kobe Beef, Lamb, Bison)
Salads:
- For some reason, their salads always taste a little dirty or something. Like the greens weren't fully washed.
Desserts:
- I would skip it. Nothing I've tried here was exceptionally delicious. (Many Yelpers out there might kill me for that) But that's just my honest opinion. I love sweets/baked goods, it's just I've had better, and they don't have anything unique to tie me down.
Cute Story:
**If you can get a table inside, sit in the back, near the restrooms. there's this one table w/drawers. Open the drawers and leave your own little memory. One time, my friend and I were digging through the pile of papers, and we found this one envelope that said "open me, but only if you are willing to follow the instructions on the inside" So we opened it, found $5 and then it said "go and treat yourself to a cookie". So then we drove to SLJ and grabbed a slice of cake instead**
The end.
Hands down my favorite brunch spot in the city. The garden seating affords you some sweet people-watching and is a lovely place to plop yourself down for an easy morning. I always take out-of-towners here after a morning hike in Griffith Park and they inevitably declare they want to move to Los Angeles.
It's not the cheapest place to get breakfast and service isn't always fast but the food more than makes up for that. Really rich coffee, perfect omelets (try the Cobb -- you'll be eating it for days), rosemary home fries, to-die-for eggs Benedict, and pastries galore. Yum.
It's not bad for dinner either but it's prettier during the daytime.
Weekends in Los Angeles are made for late nights followed by lazy mornings spent in the pleasant warmth of the rising sun at one of the many sidewalk cafés scattered around the city. From what I've heard Alcove generally has quite a line and wait on the weekends but I did not find that to be the case on this particular Saturday. Evidently, either the LF hipsters don't rise from their drunken and hungover stupors before 10am, or they were still snorting lines off each other's Macbooks in the midst of a 3 day coke binge and couldn't be bothered with something as silly as breakfast.
The set up at Alcove strongly reminded me of another favorite, Aroma Café in Studio City, in that you order at the register, get a number, grab a seat, preferably on the patio at a table in prime people watching position, and then wait anxiously for your food. Also in similar vein, the prices are a touch higher then you'll likely be accustomed to paying for breakfast, but ultimately will be worth it given the size and quality of the dishes brought forth from the kitchen.
I went with the steak benedict featuring an NY strip over warm focaccia topped with the traditional poached eggs and hollandaise but sans the spinach. The steak was cooked a bit past the medium rare I requested but was still enjoyable and I really liked the focaccia bread twist Alcove threw in the mix. It was dense and doughy and soaked up all the runny yolk and sauces perfectly. Only complaint was that the poached eggs contained a bit of cracked eggshell that ruined my last two bites as I had to discard them in my napkin rather than swallow shell.
My dining companion selected the seafood omelet complete with lobster chunks, shrimp, and veggies, topped with a crab meat vinaigrette. Truth be told this item was the reason we came to Alcove as the online description trumped all other options. However be warned it is not for the faint of heart, and she was unable to take down the massive portion. We also split an order of the over roasted rosemary potatoes which were some of the best of this variety I've encountered. For drinks we both went with iced teas which were tasty and large enough that I made it through my meal without refill for the first time in forever.
All in all the damage was a little over $40 for two without tip; a little pricier than your run of the mill weekend café but at the same time the food was a cut above and entirely satisfying. I'm rarely over in the neck of the woods but when I am I wouldn't hesitate to hit up Alcove for some comfort food and may even have to make a special trip here and there when my weekend meals need a change of pace from Toast Café et al.
If I had to pick my favorite place to eat in LA county, this would be it. Alcove is fantastic. I love their brunch omelettes, the alcove burger with blue cheese and bacon, and their pastries are to die for. It's pricey, but I'm telling you, it's absolutely worth a try.
When you walk into the little cottage, go ahead and grab a menu, take a look around, then get in line, place your order, grab your drinks, and find a table outside. It's a beautiful setting, and even when it's busy, it's worth the wait.
Despite a failed attempt to eat at Little Dom's for Monday Night Supper, I'm glad it didn't work out because the Alcove is amazing! I'm still thinking about the turkey and hummus panini I ate last night. It was so delicious. The hummus was so flavorful and they piled on the turkey. I had it served on sourdough bread and the bread had a nice toasted cheese taste to it. I opted to have the Caesar salad as a side and it was a generous portion. The employees were so friendly and made you feel welcome. The ambiance is very cozy too. You can come here on a date or catch up with friends. There are tables outside and have patio heaters.
To celebrate my friend's birthday, we got him a slice of their strawberry shortcake cake. YUMMY! The cake was very moist and wasn't too sweet. The girl behind me in line bought the last piece of red velvet cake and it looked so moist too...it kinda made me want to have a taste even though I don't like cream cheese frosting. I would definitely come back here again because there were many things on the menu I still want to try. Lastly, they serve breakfast all day! My favorite meal of the day! They've got my stamp of approval!
Downside: parking and it's a bit pricey.
I go here for their vanilla latte, and the red velvet cookie...yummy. cant wait to go back.. i love how this area is becoming a cooler hang out area.. i see this place growing in the next few years..
I've been here a couple of times for Brunch and Lunch.
It's so cute and the such a nice place to sit outside and eat, that I would only go on good weather/bright days.
I always get the burger. It's really juicy and fresh! The fries are perfection.
Last time, my friend got the French toast. It was really good. I don't even like French toast, but I almost ate all of hers. It was a lot too!
This is a great place to have a lunch date with the girls.
There's also a back room where you can have private gatherings. I went for a bridal shower! It was so cute and the salads, sandwiches, and desserts were so appropriate.
The Alcove is rad.
I need to say this to anyone who's listening out there.
My wife and I had our first date at the Alcove. I had never been there but she loved the pastry. Well, we went out on our first date and it was love at first date.
And, THEN, when we were trying to find a place to host our wedding rehearsal party, I wondered "Maybe there's some secret place at the Alcove" though it always seemed crowded with hungry patrons. There is this SECRET bungalow out back. it is a charming little house out back with lots of windows and for some reason it has a bathtub.
The food was delicious; we had our own personal server who was very sweet and attentive; everyone had a fantastic time.
And it was all very easy to set up with the manager.
Thanks very much to the Alcove for making my wedding rehearsal dinner unforgettable.
I can see how this place can inspire fondness in many. It's a great place to chill and people watch. The food is good, but expensive - you're paying for how cute the place is. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's not my thing. Nor is it my thing to deal with scoping out a table, negotiating my way through the maze of other tables only to find the chairs are uncomfortable and we should move somewhere else. The curmudgeon in me wants to knock off a star for that, but I can't in light of how much my wife and friends love this place. I wouldn't choose the Alcove for myself, but as a place to take friends/family it's a solid choice.
alcove used to be made of win but now, it can be made of suck. this is because there are too many hipsters there, and because of the fact that the food is also sometimes suck.
hipsters: i don't care about you and i don't like you taking over my neighborhood. take your emo hair and your horn-rimmed glasses and your skinny jeans and plaid shirts and go live in hell. thanks.
Came here for brunch with a group of friends today and it was an overwhelmingly positive experience.
The moment we walked (squeezed might be more appropriate, considering how busy it was) inside, we were greeted with a display of some of the most delicious-looking cakes I've ever seen. There was a triple berry one that looked divine. Before I could linger on the baked goods, the long line ahead of us had disappeared and we were at the registers. Talk about fast service.
We grabbed a number and had no trouble finding two tables to push together. The food came out within 20 min -- not bad at all. I ordered the custom scramble with applewood smoked bacon, Virginia ham, and mozzarella cheese. The dish came with potatoes, sourdough toast, and the cutest little jar of strawberry jam I've ever seen. The scramble was mediocre. I wasn't a huge fan of the sausage, and the eggs were kind of limp/soggy. The potatoes were on the greasy side, which I can usually tolerate, but not for breakfast. The toast was amazing, though (can toast even be amazing?). My friends all loved whatever they got.
The highlight of the meal was the arrival of a slice of red velvet cake for one of the girls' birthday. Oh. My. God. Where do I even start? The cake was dense and moist, and the cream cheese frosting tasted like cheesecake. No, seriously. It wasn't overly sweet at all. I wanted to devour the whole thing.
Food and price were 4 stars, everything else was 5. Try their baked goods if you stop by. I'll definitely be back for the triple berry cake.
Five stars for the atmosphere and customer service. Maybe two for stars for the food. Didn't try the delicious looking baked goods, unfortunately.
It was a lovely, warm evening out on the patio, and if you go at an off-time like we did, there aren't too many people. But the fried chicken wrap wasn't a great combination of flavors, and the quality of the chicken was obviously really low--lots of fried grizzle parts. My crabcake sandwich was pretty gross, with fishy, mushy, nasty crab. Doubt that shit was fresh. The side salads were even strange: who puts big parm shavings with overly sweet candied pecans and loads of shaved carrots on a salad? The whole eating experience was kind of gross, but the patio made everything A-OK.
I could actually write 2 reviews on this place because after I went there for dinner I came back the very next day to buy my Auntie some birthday cake.
Thank YOU thank you Yelp! This was perfect place to hit up pre-concert at the Greek (for the YYY's). The Alcove was only like 1/2 mile away so we were able to walk to the concert and save $15 on parking nonsense. No stacked parking for me :). The Alcove is sooo freakin' cute too. It's like the reality of my perfect date spot. The Alcove is this little French looking cottage covered in vines and lights. During the day they have misters on going off. The Seating is virtually all outdoors and we didn't have a problem finding a place to sit. But I would definitely go with a date. So that someone scopes out a seat while the other is ordering.
Now for the Eats
Grilled Black TIger Shrimp Salad $13.95
Super yum and filling. They serve it in this huge bowl. Which is lovely bc it's really easy to mix up your salad without it falling out of the bowl. They put peaches in this salad that go great with the Apple vinaigrette. Also they have little square pieces of Beets and Point Reyes cheese (tasty blue cheese). I cannot recommend this salad enough. But honestly I love all of the components so this was a given for me.
Brie & Apple Panini $10.95
Granny Smith Apples with Brie. So my gf ordered this but she let me get in a bite. Her biggest complaint and mine would be the bread that they use on this. I think it was a Foccacia but it didn't give you that crunch that you yearn for in ordering a Panini. To add insult everything else in the sandwich is gooey the sandwich really needed a crunch.
Wine - bottle: $27, glass: $9
Kris Pinot Grigio 2004 Montagna Bolzano, Italy
So seriously this wine was so good! It had a nice crisp, Apple taste. A good pick. Luckily I know I like Pinot Grigio but the cashier could not recommend anything. He said he had never tried any of the wines :(.
Cakes
So the next day I came back to buy a couple of slices of b-day cake for my Auntie that I was going to visit in Fullerton. I bought 3 different slices to please everyone. Their desserts vary per day depending on what they sell out of.
Tipsy Chocolate Cake
Rich devil's food cake flavored with Godiva Liquor layered with silky chocolate buttercream. So I am not really one for chocolate. I should be shot I know. My family has told me this a 100 times. They are all chocolate fiends. But even though everything on this cake is chocolate it isn't too much chocolate. You know where you take a bite and you need a glass of milk. The mousse in between the layers is really light so it breaks up the richness nicely.
Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting
Three layers of vividly red vanilla cake, topped in a creamy white butter cream frosting and topped with pecans. One of my Aunts loves this type of cake. It was good.
Peaches & Whipped Cream Frosting with White Cake
This one was my fave. The actual cake was the most moist out of the 3. I also liked the Whipped Cream frosting over Buttercream. I've made Buttercream before so it's harder to eat it once you know they literally put like 3 lbs of butter in it. But believe me i ate the frosting on the other 2.
I have no idea how much each cake cost. But add a carrot ginger soup (yum) and all these and it was a little over $20.
You get the jist. I will definitely be back for as long as this place is open! I think the Asian scallop salad looks nice or the Alcove chiili dog
This place is wonderful. It's a restaurant that has established itself where you would normally find a house on a residential street. It has a warm eating at someone's house feel to it. When I was there we ate outside. There are tables where the front yard would normally be as well as on either side of the house. There are also a couple of tables on the inside.
My girlfriend's aunt took us there for a late breakfast last saturday and it was packed. You have to find your own table which can be quite a challenge as it is extremely busy. We initially were seated on the left side but we quickly discovered we were sitting next to the trash cans and decided to move. By luck another table in a nicer spot freed up and we took it. The only downside is that it was near where a flock of birds were nesting. The birds were flying so close to the patrons that you could feel the breeze on your forehead. It was different.
My girlfriend and I had their Make Your Own Mimosas and the Country Breakfast. With the mimosas they give you a small bottle of spanish cristalino cava champagne and a carafe of orange juice. I like this idea a lot as you get to decide how strong you want to make it. If you do it 50/50, you get enough for like 3 mimosas for one person.
The country breakfast was absolutely divine. They give you eggs however you want them made (I had scrambled), two pancakes with either sliced bananas or strawberries and powdered sugar, and your choice of chicken-apple sausage or applewood smoked bacon. My girlfriend mixed and matched and then we tried each other's plates. The maple syrup was so delicious. I thought it had a hint of apricot in it. I wanted to lick the plate clean but alas I didn't want to embarass my girlfriend and her aunt.
I would definitely return there. In fact, I drove by later in the day and it was still absolutely full. I guess when you are that good you never run out of business.
Still same great people. Same great environment, same great food. Sort of. Minus one star this time for the crab cake benedict cake being extremely wet, almost like a tuna-out-of-the-can consistency. Seems like Tania J. had a similar experience with her crabcake sandwich. It almost didn't seem like a crab cake at all, save it was in the shape of a puck.
I also learned that you only get one refill on the ice tea, maybe that's how they hint that it's time to go. But honestly they really wont give you any huff for just hanging around.
My favorite brunch place in LA hands down. Great portions, good flavor, and awesome outdoor… Read more »
I think this place tries to make you think it's a one of a kind place but it's a copy of a place in Studio City called Aroma Cafe and maybe owned by the same people? The food is just OK, and over priced, hey it's LA. It's cute for sure and full of hipsters. Just like the place in Studio City. They call themselves a bakery but I don't know if they make much of the stuff in their bakery case.
It's LA...over priced, just OK and the hip funky quality makes the place a success. Nice vibe, ok but costly food, just OK..
Came here on Friday with Kevin C. for some good eats. The vibe of the place is similar to The Grub in which there is outdoor patio seating that makes you feel a lil quaint... a lil indie... a lil cool maybe.
I have to say that this place, although a tad helter skelter, was thoughtfully planned out. Why? Because when you first walk in, you immediately see all the baked goods in display. And then... you have to stare at said baked goods lustfully as you wait in line. There were so many cakes, pies, tarts, brownies, and cookies... I was almost overwhelmed with sensory overload.... a blue velvet cake?! Holy shites.... me wanty noooooow.
Fortunately as we waited in line Kevin C. and I were able to snag some free samples (in shot form) of the carrot cake. That alone was able to prevent the impending "sugar frenzy" until I made my order. I decided on the philly cheese steak panini with a house salad on the side. I also ordered the red velvet cookie as a treat for later.
Food analysis:
1. Philly cheese steak: huge in size and flavor. The beef itself was a tad dry, but fortunately the red peppers, onions, and cheese were able to compensate. This is not a sandwich for the dainty-types! It can get messy eating this steak monster.... but oh it's so worth it. Plus, the portions of the meal were so large, that I was able to make a lunch out of my left overs. In fact.... I'm eating the 2nd half of my steak panini as I'm typing this review. That's right, I'm a gifted multi-tasker.
2. House salad: I'm a fan of the flavor combination. The crunch from the pecans and the saltiness of the fresh Parmesan melded well with the sweetness of the vinaigrette. Plus... it's salad! It makes me feel less guilty for eating a huge wad-o-steak and cheeeeese.
3. Red velvet cookie: Two red velvet cookies sandwiching a cream cheese filling. Foodgasms galore. Now... I have to say that this must be the doppelganger of the cookie from Fratelli's. It's eerie because it looks exactly the same... and tastes exactly the same. I think it's a tad cheaper here though.
Things worth noting:
1. You must stand in line to make your order. Then you're given a number that's put on a metal stand. Pick your table o' choice... and they'll serve it to you. If you decide on ordering something extra... you can't order at the table. You must go back in line.
2. The bathroom is hidden! Just look for the door with a giant picture in a gold frame.
3. I wouldn't bother buying a drink. If you are on a budget like me, suck it up and just serve yourself some water. For the panini and cookie, I was charged $18. No need to add more to the bill.
This was definitely a positive experience. I'd like to come back when I'm in one of those moods where I'm in denial of my student-loan-induced-poverty. Blue velvet cake... one day... you shall be mine.
Update: Seat yourself on weekdays, look for a waitress to come up to you out of the blue and she'll "eventually" haphazardly pick out a seat on weekends. This whole system put me off. Seriously, it's kind of dumb. I can find an empty table myself thank you. If someone isn't clever enough to figure out how to do that, then they don't deserve a seat now do they?
Everything I've had at Alcove is yummy. They have a great selection of food and drink choices - they'd be perfect if this place wasn't ridden with aspiring actors that hog the table all day (hey go over to the Coffee Bean down the street & start a support group). Other than that, I love Alcove. Only, I'd prefer to sit on the side gardens instead of the see-and-be-seen front patio, and take the valet option behind the restaurant.
This place is yum. I hadn't seen my sister who lives 5 minutes away from me for over a week so I was getting sibling withdrawal syndrome (sws - look it up, its a real thing). I locked her down an manipulated her by telling her that we were going on a sibling breakfast place and she got really excited and told me about the Alcove.
What a flippin' cute spot (can I say the word cute?). There are a bunch of tables situated outside like you are in Wonderland with Alice. We usually order two or three things and just share it all which is what we did and although the portions were tiny we found that three dishes did the trick (She is 5'1" and I am 6'2" so we average about 5'7.5"). Order anything there as I have tried pretty much every breakfast item on the menu.
One thing to note is that the service is substandard. You don't go for the service at all, which if they had good service, I'd have given them 5 stars, but the ambiance and the food make up for a lot of their flaws.
Also, be weary of getting sprinkled by the mist from the roof. It's been more than once that I was sitting there and got hosed down by their misty fog sprinklers.
Best cappuccinos ever!
And I would know I make some pretty good cappuccinos myself.
Desserts are nothing less of awesome!
Place does get rather crowded. Great place! (Although service is non existent during rush times).
I really like this place, a perfect fit in los feliz.
out of town guests will love it.
I do not know what all the hype is about because every time I eat here it is disappointing. Also I really hate ordering first then finding a table, usually it works out but if you order desert and coffee they expect you to wait then carry your own out to your table, does not work well with more than one person unless everyone comes and gets there own food and drink.
First time I went the cream for my coffee was leaking all over and I asked for new cream and napkins several times then finally took the container, dripping a pool into my palm upfront. They promptly refilled the same one and gave it back! Also no refills on the coffee!
A few weeks ago I went with a friend and the meal was great and we decided to get dessert. When ordering the guy helping me said they were closing in 20 minutes but feel free to stay as long as we want. Then while doing a final walk around he told us to feel free to sit and stay as long as we want. 5 minutes later the busser comes over and rudely tells us we have to leave, now, and that they are closed! He even grabbed my plate the table of my $9 cake and waited for us to leave. Mind you there was several other tables and they literally had just shut the doors on a saturday night so we were not holding anyone up.
Today I decide to give them another try. I order the burger with avocado and bacon and it comes out to $20, they said 10 minutes and I waited 25, no big deal. I get home and first bite in it is bloody raw. I cut it in half, it is completely raw through out, not rare RAW! I call them to see what can be done and basically I could drive back down wait another 30 minutes for my burger or wait till next week for a manager to call me back. After biting into the raw burger I was in no mood for more food and happy with eating the fries but having to wait to even get to talk to anyone about a partial credit or something is just stupid! They should have let me take the burger back and get my money back, I would have just settled for a partial credit but they said only the manager can do it and one wont be in for a week! So I am shit out of luck and will never eat there again.
This place is generally pretty tasty. I haven't had anything that was mindblowing, but nothing that was a bummer either. Oh and one time i saw Geena Davis here. That's all i have to say.
I soooo HEART The Alcove and will happily use any excuse to drive down there for a nice brunch out on the patio area and have a Salmon Salad or some pastries.
Love the make your own Mimosas, chatting for hours with GFs, seeing the tag-along pooches, and lounging about in the sun. It's about as close as we get to a European lifestyle in the midst of Lalaland.
The downside of the adorable-not-so-secret spot, L.A.-style parking (as in lack-of), steep prices, and long line for the order at counter style service.
I am happy to report that Alcove now has a nifty website:
http://www.alcovecafe.com/
Take a look!
NAME: Alcove Cafe and Bakery
TYPE OF CUISINE: Phenomenal desserts, very tasty savory stuff
ADDRESS:…
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Wkly Specials & Sunday Brunch…
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
10% off
Neighborhood: Glendale
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
Category: Specialty Food
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